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Post by Seluman on Nov 3, 2009 17:21:15 GMT 10
Well how big is this weeks NZ vs Eng game! woowee!
All I can say is, it's all on, take no prisoners, and may the best team win!
G O - T H E - K I W I' S! New Zealand have really impressed me with their professionalism and mental toughness. England will need to rise a level if they're to have a chance against the Kiwis.
Interestingly, one of the reasons the bookies wrote off NZ was due to the number of senior, established stars that were unavailable, and also with the number of youngsters picked in this squad. One point of note, there are 8 stars missing/ unavailable from last years WC winning team;
Simon Mannering
Manu Vatuvei
Nathan Cayless
Jeremy Smith
Sika Manu
Sam Rapira
Jerome Ropati
David Fa'alogo
To be fair, I'd have to say Ropati would struggle to push Sa'u out and also Fa'alogo would struggle... but Mannering, Vatuvei, Smith, Sika Manu & Cayless would normally walk straight into the side. To be fair Cayless has retired from Int footy, but Moimoi has easily stepped up for him...
Just goes to show, how fast NZ's player depth is growing. Still light years behind Aus, but the gap is closing and will continue to esp with the huge # of Kiwi's playing in the Toyota cup...
I'm not too clued up on the ESL scene, so can anyone advise of any English stars missing etc... just to clear things up 
Bring on the English! ;D |
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Post by supersteve on Nov 5, 2009 10:25:22 GMT 10
I wonder if the Poms will make many changes for this weekends big game. I personally would take Mcguire out for Myler. Also, Lee Smith I must say hasnt impressed me much at all. I would have thought since hes going to Union they would have played someone else, perhaps a young up-and-comer to give them some experience at International level and build for the future.
Bloody hard game to pick the winner. I guess Ill tip the Kiwis, but it really could go either way with the Poms at home. Also I dont think the Aus V France game will be as big a blowout as some people predict, as long as they get the majority of their top players back. Interesting to see the Aussies rest a few players, I think it can be dangerous resting guys the game before the final. You would think they would want to keep the same group together as much as possible to get the group running tip top.
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Post by HKR AWAY DAYS on Nov 6, 2009 9:55:37 GMT 10
Looks like we are going for it boys, Tomkins and Eastmond are starting, I'm led to believe. These two are the brightest prospects we hav had in a few years so let us see how they go. My brother played against Tomkins last year too, he played against Myler this year.
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Post by supersteve on Nov 6, 2009 10:31:29 GMT 10
Strange shifting Tomkins from half to five-eighth. I know its not a huge difference these days but Tomkins was so good at half, why change it?. Same with Eastmond, he did well in the centres last game...whats wrong with Myler?.
Does look like a better lineup though overall. I must say I havent heard much of Peter Fox, how do you guys rate him?.
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Post by Seluman on Nov 6, 2009 16:28:29 GMT 10
Not long to go now lads...
Looking forward to the forward battle in particular... battle of the ruck including Moimoi vs Burgess II ;D
Hmmm I thought Kearney would've went with Inu instead of Foran... oh well... we'll see I guess.
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Post by supersteve on Nov 6, 2009 17:06:38 GMT 10
I thought Locke instead of Foran  |
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Post by Druzik on Nov 6, 2009 19:20:50 GMT 10
Not long to go now lads...
Looking forward to the forward battle in particular... battle of the ruck including Moimoi vs Burgess II ;D
Hmmm I thought Kearney would've went with Inu instead of Foran... oh well... we'll see I guess. Burgess will ownz him ;D |
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Post by Seluman on Nov 7, 2009 7:45:47 GMT 10
Not long to go now lads...
Looking forward to the forward battle in particular... battle of the ruck including Moimoi vs Burgess II ;D
Hmmm I thought Kearney would've went with Inu instead of Foran... oh well... we'll see I guess. Burgess will ownz him ;D
She'll be different this time, at least Fui has a powerfull pack to actually support him this time... plus, he'll be keeping an eye out for him too hehehe! Adds to the hype 
Go The Kiwi's! |
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Post by Druzik on Nov 7, 2009 8:59:30 GMT 10
lol... Fuifui-gate will probably get owned by peackok or Morley or someone totally un-expected. lol
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Post by arh21980 on Nov 7, 2009 19:32:25 GMT 10
TBH I'm looking forward to Jared Warea-Hargreaves vs Sam Burgess
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Post by Seluman on Nov 7, 2009 20:07:28 GMT 10
Hell, I'm looking forward to the Kiwi pack thumping this Eng bunch, doing it NRL styles too... Peacock & Morley in their 40's now? 
Let's see what happens after they meet Blair, Lima, Moimoi, Frank Paul 'the wrecking ball' & co...
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Post by Seluman on Nov 8, 2009 5:52:48 GMT 10
Well done to Eng, too good for the World Champions tonight...
Good luck in the final
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Post by Druzik on Nov 8, 2009 10:13:05 GMT 10
I got a very excited text from Marv this morning that England had won.
HKR AWAY DAYS was meant to be keeping me posted as well, but I think he was too drunk after the first try to continue ... lol
Yes this has been a very different England that we have seen. In many ways this is a very good thing that its England and Australia as its showing that the depth in International RL is still there.
I think England can roll the Aussies next week. The Kiwis showed it in 2005 that it can be done and I don't see why the POms cant do it either.
Watching the France game last night, it seeemd to me quite obvious how to punch through the Aussie defence, yet teams dont seem to want to take the option of the chip and chase... like they are too scared.
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Post by supersteve on Nov 8, 2009 10:39:41 GMT 10
Sam Tomkins has been using his short kicking game very effectively, so it owuldnt surprise me if they did the chip and chase or grubber through next week. Every time I see Tomkins play, the more he impresses me. He is a great asset for the English.
If the Poms play like they did today then they can definately beat Australia. They used the high ball to great effect agsint the kiwis, something they may try against the Roos.
Very disappointing crowd at the Aus V France game, I was hoping theyd get better than that.
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Post by arh21980 on Nov 9, 2009 11:48:48 GMT 10
Goulding puts Elima in the same class as Hanley
Glenn Jackson | November 9, 2009
PARIS: French captain Olivier Elima was likened to English league greats Ellery Hanley and Shaun Edwards after scoring the only try against the Australians, and rousing the biggest cheer of the contest in Paris.
''If you don't have the team spirit from the captain, it goes right through the camp,'' France coach Bobby Goulding said of the 26-year-old. ''He's a champion kid and a champion player as well. He was coming up against the best back-rowers in the world and I thought he was right up there with them today. He is one of the best back-rowers in this competition.
''He deserves all the credits that he gets. I can put on record his attitude, the way he adapts himself in life, the way he adapts himself in training is first-class. He's up there with the best that I've played with, with Ellery Hanley, with Andy Goodway, Shaun Edwards. This man is up there and whatever credit you give him, he thoroughly deserves. You only see it out there on the field, I see it day in and day out. He's like my long-lost son.''
Goulding said when Elima's contract ended with French Super League club Catalans next season, there would be clubs ''looking over the water for him'', referring to the England-based clubs. But Elima said if he was to be classed in the same league as Hanley, he might have to travel even further.
''I've got one more year with the Dragons, so there will be a decision this year,'' Elima said. ''I'm open to all offers from any clubs. Australia is the best championship in the world. It's always tempting to play in the best championship. If I want to be a Hanley, I will have to be there.''
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