
England should just forfeit the semi final
England should just forfeit the semi final
Third place is still a good achievement and a fantastic improvement on the 2015 and indeed 2011 efforts 

Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
Scotland should leave the six nations
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
Well that’s a fabulous non sequiturjohnuknow wrote:Scotland should leave the six nations
- Lemoentjie
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
The Ireland pack is so underpowered and weak. Don't think England will be anywhere as feeble.
- CrazyIslander
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
Historically the ABs never play well after a great performance in the knockout stage.
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
I have no idea why people are judging England's chances based on the NZ-Ire QF.
Have you lot not been watching Ireland this year?
England on the other hand have been developing very nicely.
Have you lot not been watching Ireland this year?
England on the other hand have been developing very nicely.
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
This. Ireland have been terrible today, almost as bad as against Wales in the 6N, and their run of form this year has been poor. Today’s match means nothing for the eng v nz semi.Conservative Eddie wrote:I have no idea why people are judging England's chances based on the NZ-Ire QF.
Have you lot not been watching Ireland this year?
England on the other hand have been developing very nicely.
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
I expect NZ to win, but this game was very similar to England in Dublin in the 6 Nations and to the warm up against Ireland. Ireland de-powered themselves somehow over the last year and got everything wrong. Very much like England 4 years ago. NZ are hot favourites in the semi, but they won't get the same level of puddingy ruck flopping and weak tackling that they got from Ireland today.
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
I'll have a quiet twenty on them.
- eldanielfire
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
I was reading a good article in the Athletic about Spurs decline. Basically playing and training so hard for years takes it's toll both physically and mentally. Schmit had Ireland play an inefficient and draining physical game and in doing so he's f#cked your forwards.elfieldinho wrote:I expect NZ to win, but this game was very similar to England in Dublin in the 6 Nations and to the warm up against Ireland. Ireland de-powered themselves somehow over the last year and got everything wrong. Very much like England 4 years ago. NZ are hot favourites in the semi, but they won't get the same level of puddingy ruck flopping and weak tackling that they got from Ireland today.
I've also long said Ireland read to much into those All Black victories. New Zealand were at the end of some seasons, Hansen doesn't put his best stuff out there before a World Cup and tries out certain tactical tweaks, NZ missed key players and weren't as up for it and it was everything to Ireland and just a game to NZ.
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
I think this is a lot like 2015Seneca of the Night wrote:I think we have to remember that Ireland are way past their best and lost to Japan. The biggest challenge by far for the All Blacks now is keeping that in perspective and psychologically prepare for the fact that England are a serious physical challenge and more than capable of stopping their momentum. There are real shades of 95 about this: we played our final in the semi as we had unsettled business with England. Then were extremely flat in the final (notwithstanding other reasons). There was definitely a score to settle with Ireland and the team was extremely amped today. They need to regroup for an entirely different order of challenge with England. That's the game ahead of them, and the focus of the week.
Nz made a statement vs France and then had a close call vs the boks - even though the boks never looked like scoring a try
England will be more of a challenge as they will retain the ball a lot better- but I expect the abs to come out firing again next week -our defensive work was exceptional tonight - will need that again vs England
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
Lets be fair, both England and wales have manshamed Ireland this year too
- Lord Denning
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
Bait it may be, but in fairness to the thread the prospect of anyone stopping NZ is very remote.
All other teams are looking just like cannon fodder.
All other teams are looking just like cannon fodder.
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
And 2 months ago England 57-15 IrelandConservative Eddie wrote:I have no idea why people are judging England's chances based on the NZ-Ire QF.
Have you lot not been watching Ireland this year?
England on the other hand have been developing very nicely.
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
Even if England pack outmuscles NZ's pack, NZ are so good that it will be hard to see how England will beat them.Lemoentjie wrote:The Ireland pack is so underpowered and weak. Don't think England will be anywhere as feeble.
It will probably take the best English performance ever to do that.
Last edited by franch fan on Sat Oct 19, 2019 1:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
At twickenhamPetros wrote:And 2 months ago England 57-15 IrelandConservative Eddie wrote:I have no idea why people are judging England's chances based on the NZ-Ire QF.
Have you lot not been watching Ireland this year?
England on the other hand have been developing very nicely.
Only 12 pts in it in Dublin when it wasn’t a warm up
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
I'm especially amazed by the quality of passing from ALL NZ players, including their forwards.Lord Denning wrote:Bait it may be, but in fairness to the thread the prospect of anyone stopping NZ is very remote.
All other teams are looking just like cannon fodder.
They are leagues above everyone in that aspect.
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
NZ won't dominate the collisions as much against England. Daly and Farrell will keep them in the kicking game. It probably won't be enough though.
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
As well as the ABs played, Ireland didnt turn up tonight. England are simply a much better team than Ireland right now and I expect an incredibly tough game from England next week. As an ABs fan I'll be nervous as fudge next weekend.
Last edited by Davedj77 on Sat Oct 19, 2019 1:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
We’ll give it a crack
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
That’s been our point of difference for a long long timefranch fan wrote:I'm especially amazed by the quality of passing from ALL NZ players, including their forwards.Lord Denning wrote:Bait it may be, but in fairness to the thread the prospect of anyone stopping NZ is very remote.
All other teams are looking just like cannon fodder.
They are leagues above everyone in that aspect.
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
Ireland were utter gash and England are not. Advantage still to England the world number 1's on paper
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
That and your support play.brat wrote:That’s been our point of difference for a long long timefranch fan wrote:I'm especially amazed by the quality of passing from ALL NZ players, including their forwards.Lord Denning wrote:Bait it may be, but in fairness to the thread the prospect of anyone stopping NZ is very remote.
All other teams are looking just like cannon fodder.
They are leagues above everyone in that aspect.
- ManInTheBar
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
Sinkler, George, Vunipola (M) are VERY good in this regardfranch fan wrote:I'm especially amazed by the quality of passing from ALL NZ players, including their forwards.Lord Denning wrote:Bait it may be, but in fairness to the thread the prospect of anyone stopping NZ is very remote.
All other teams are looking just like cannon fodder.
They are leagues above everyone in that aspect.
We will be far more aggressive in defence and sharper in attack than the Irish were (sadly for them). Might not be enough but.....
- terryfinch
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
Remember this AB side were hammered by the Wobblies. We can do this.
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
I think England will beat New Zealand
They look the real deal
They look the real deal
- CrazyIslander
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
I think the ABs gameplan would be the same regardless of opponent. There whole point of their plan is to maximise their fitness and skills for the 80 mins. So it's more about getting the most out of themselves.Seneca of the Night wrote:I think we have to remember that Ireland are way past their best and lost to Japan. The biggest challenge by far for the All Blacks now is keeping that in perspective and psychologically prepare for the fact that England are a serious physical challenge and more than capable of stopping their momentum. There are real shades of 95 about this: we played our final in the semi as we had unsettled business with England. Then were extremely flat in the final (notwithstanding other reasons). There was definitely a score to settle with Ireland and the team was extremely amped today. They need to regroup for an entirely different order of challenge with England. That's the game ahead of them, and the focus of the week.
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
Their skillset is, and always has been, superior to everyone else.franch fan wrote:I'm especially amazed by the quality of passing from ALL NZ players, including their forwards.Lord Denning wrote:Bait it may be, but in fairness to the thread the prospect of anyone stopping NZ is very remote.
All other teams are looking just like cannon fodder.
They are leagues above everyone in that aspect.
However, a well drilled team with some form, a decent pack... England have all of that and I reckon it'll be close.
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
Silly thread. Just coz Ireland were dirt doesn't mean England will be
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
I think eng nz will be a cracker and all fans looking forward to it - too close to call really.
Semis today had similar scorelines, England were good today at the bits Ireland were bad at (tackling, defence organisation , scoring tries , kicking , fitness)
Semis today had similar scorelines, England were good today at the bits Ireland were bad at (tackling, defence organisation , scoring tries , kicking , fitness)
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
Not to mention JapanTheflier wrote:Lets be fair, both England and wales have manshamed Ireland this year too
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
It will be closer than against Ireland but I still see a confortable NZ win, something like 35-17 similar to the last RWC final scoreline.
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
Eddie Jones has been waiting for this match for years. This is what he lives for (on his way to winning other things) - to beat the All Blacks. Tbf, he has a good record against the ABs.
The Blacks will have to turn up and dial it up several notches again to try and unlock the English defence.
The Blacks will have to turn up and dial it up several notches again to try and unlock the English defence.
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
England and SA are the two teams that I would suggest have a very strong probability to beat NZ. England just beat Australia by 30 points ffs.
Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
This isn't going to be any walk-in-the-park! England were awesome on defence today, and took almost every chance on attack.
- sonic_attack
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
England looked real vulnerable wide tonight though.
I think Japan have shown the way to everyone. Pace.
NZ executed everything tonight with a snappy sharp vigour and just created space with it. Shut down that quick ruck and don't leave defence to a scrambling chance.
England definitely need to shore up whatever they're up to out on the edge though, vulnerable barely describes it.
I think Japan have shown the way to everyone. Pace.
NZ executed everything tonight with a snappy sharp vigour and just created space with it. Shut down that quick ruck and don't leave defence to a scrambling chance.
England definitely need to shore up whatever they're up to out on the edge though, vulnerable barely describes it.
- ManInTheBar
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
It seems to be The Plan - rush up very hard and try to force EITHER big speculative pass OR play back into the middle.sonic_attack wrote:England looked real vulnerable wide tonight though.
I think Japan have shown the way to everyone. Pace.
NZ executed everything tonight with a snappy sharp vigour and just created space with it. Shut down that quick ruck and don't leave defence to a scrambling chance.
England definitely need to shore up whatever they're up to out on the edge though, vulnerable barely describes it.
Agree it opens doors but it's working well so far....
- Lord Denning
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
Overblown, but still broadly fair.sonic_attack wrote:England looked real vulnerable wide tonight though.
I think Japan have shown the way to everyone. Pace.
NZ executed everything tonight with a snappy sharp vigour and just created space with it. Shut down that quick ruck and don't leave defence to a scrambling chance.
England definitely need to shore up whatever they're up to out on the edge though, vulnerable barely describes it.
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Re: England should just forfeit the semi final
Tbh the Japanese front rows interplay against Scotland was at times exceptional. Even the replacement props handling was excellent.ManInTheBar wrote:Sinkler, George, Vunipola (M) are VERY good in this regardfranch fan wrote:I'm especially amazed by the quality of passing from ALL NZ players, including their forwards.Lord Denning wrote:Bait it may be, but in fairness to the thread the prospect of anyone stopping NZ is very remote.
All other teams are looking just like cannon fodder.
They are leagues above everyone in that aspect.
We will be far more aggressive in defence and sharper in attack than the Irish were (sadly for them). Might not be enough but.....
I can't see anyone beating NZ, that said England ar ethebteam best equipt to do so if they click with their front 5