England could be All Blacks biggest challenge for 2012

Title says it all really!

We COULD be the biggest challenge they face if we get the basics right, by the time they get to HQ no doubt they'll be expecting another NH Grand Slam, you never know we might catch them cold.

Swing Low Sweet Chariot

i think they will give them a real fright...just hope for your guys sake you keep lancaster

Ruby

In fairness, not much dafter than the Wales one - there isn't all that much in it.

Wasp - I'm just having some banter with my mate Hersh - He responded with the same emoticon to the welsh thread yesterday - I thought it was funny - I think NZ have dropped a step or 2 and whilst they will always be a challenge I now think they are more beatable than Australia.

Very true I think if both Wales and England play to their max NZ potentially could lose both games.

I think on our day we can beat anyone

us too.

HERSH wrote:us too.

I wouldn't go that far

HERSH wrote:Very true I think if both Wales and England play to their max NZ potentially could lose both games.

Potentially. I wouldn't waste any money on it down at the bookies though

(not without seeing how the June internationals and the 4N goes and respective injury lists anyway)

Wouldn't that feel good though

Maybe Wales and England could work together and formulate a plan to shoot down the All Blacks this autumn?

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Hold on........................

Wales and England work together

Wales and England work together

Nope. Does not compute

I agree wicked, where's the bickering?

THey've been kidnapped by aliens & replaced with doppelgangers - it's the only possible answer

Must be, when Rubyguby and Hersh is getting along there is something fishy going on.

On their day, Wales can even beat England

gregortree wrote:On their day, Wales can even beat England

Again

I almost look forward to Wales becoming worldbeaters..................

Only so that I never have to hear that again.

On their day

wickedwasp wrote:I almost look forward to Wales becoming worldbeaters..................

Only so that I never have to hear that again.

On their day

You'll still hear it, it will be, "in their day, Wales beat..."

One day at a time please,

RubyGuby wrote:Wasp - I'm just having some banter with my mate Hersh - He responded with the same emoticon to the welsh thread yesterday - I thought it was funny - I think NZ have dropped a step or 2 and whilst they will always be a challenge I now think they are more beatable than Australia.

How does that work Ruby? NZ have lost more players than Australia and Kaino along with Thorn are big players who aren´t easy to replace? But how have we dropped a step or 2 after winning the World Cup? I think that´s a tad hasty to judge the ABs and Australia before they have started playing test rugby this year. The traditionally strong Super XV teams are not going well in either Australia or NZ but that is not always a reflection of test form. Australia at home are not easy by any stretch, but are you honestly saying NZ are more beatable at home?

i think nh teams may be in for a shock come summer internationals

Kia - At the moment I think Australia pose more danger than NZ - I think that they have the most dangerous back line in world rugby and up front they can hold their own. Their problem is if they lose Pocock as they then become a different team. No offence mate its just my opinion, which although is usually right, even I can have an off day. Not much in it but Aus look more of a complete team and I think Hansen is a poor choice as a coach for NZ - Really think he's out of his depth and we will see some concerns when results start going the wrong way

Well I have no problem with you thinking that way. Just wanted to know why.

It´s a tough order this year playing lots of teams that have never or haven´t beaten NZ in a while. A good test for Hansen. I realise from his Wales days you don´t have a high opinion of him and along with Ian Foster, many Kiwis think that we are underclassed in the coaching department. I prefer to wait and see but IF (not when you cheeky sod! ) results don't go our way, you´ll certainly hear my views on the matter.

Without sounding contradictory they will still be the team to beat - I just sense that they do not have that element of invincibility about them and thus teams such as Wales actually fancy their chances in realistic terms as opposed to any irrational wishful thinking that has been the case of many past matches

Well I have no problem with your confidence but it´s easy to say before the match. Get a win or even better a series win in Australia and that´d make the SH sit up and notice that´s for sure. But the ABs have a nasty habit of appearing to be weaker and just when you say they can be taken and are not as good as the past, they end up beating you and make you eat your words.

Don´t get me wrong, I like the spirit and I think you have every right to talk up your chances. You should see these games against the SH as genuine chances. But the AB shirt has a proud legacy of consistency particularly in the North. That may well change with more games in the professional era but it´s a change that will encounter a lot of resistence. kia kaha

Why do you think the AllBlacks have switched a notch,and Australia are THE team.?Eden park in the 3Ns and the the RWC SF[without Dan Carter and McCaw on one leg]different.3Ns was sacrificed for a RWC,shameful but true.
Equally the AllBlacks have a Better pack,and backs who can rip any side apart too.England[like Wales]will do well to win one of there tour matches,and that season finish.With Fiji and Samoa roughing them up before the AllBlacks,injuries could mean a big difference to England too.
Of all the places is to tour Australia is the easiest of the 3SH sides,and player depth least.
Friday we will know who the new England Coach is,Lancaster deserves a shot,before the Money boys are moved in.But deserves the support SCW had to with a Manager/media officer etc.

I agree with emack, I think that Wales have the easiest tour of the lot this summer and expect them to take the series. There isn't that air of invincibility around playing them at home like you get with NZ at Eden park or SA on the highveld. The aussies can be got at thats for sure.

gregortree wrote:On their day, Wales can even beat England

Weren't you watching on 25th Feb? We don't even need it to be our day anymore to beat England

amen knows it!

Deans must be loving reading this...hope he is...

Hate to burst your bubble, but that was your day! - last one for a while I fear

gregortree wrote:On their day, Wales can even beat England

Yes they can well said and i totaly agree with you.

But even on their day Wales cannot get above England in the IRB world rankins.

wickedwasp wrote:Hate to burst your bubble, but that was your day! - last one for a while I fear

You're in for quite a shock if you think that was our day. You'll see us on our day next year when you make the trip to Cardiff

day, day day day, day, day day day day.................
............DAY!

Night!

Ha I love the 'On their day' banter.

I love it when it's 'NZ's day'. As when it is we kick the bejesus out of everyone

I feel Australia and NZ are tied for the title of world's best backline as Australia are more mercurial and the Kiwis are more consistent. Cooper is just like Spencer, when he's on he's great but when not he infects the team. NZ's backs have more ability when it comes to getting over the gain line whereas Australia's lines are a little sharper. If Aussie's backs were as physical in general (don't get me wrong they do have a couple of beasts) then they could make up for the forwards if they are on the wrong end of a physical battle.

The vulnerability thing could be valid as there's such a sense of mission accomplished. But you don't become the most consistent side in world sport without having pressure on you 24/7. Be confident for sure and it'll be a tonic that the NH won't have to face Kaino and Thorn, but remember that Carter and McCaw should both be 100%, and the only other AB side to lift the Webb Ellis trophy remained unbeaten for two and a half years afterwards. It's taken us a long time to learn how to become world champs again, but we know how to play as world champs.

England pose massive threat to Newzealand …..............
By capping all their players before they do and more raids on the south sea islands planned next season the Kiwis cupboard will start to look bare.

viewtothegym wrote:England pose massive threat to Newzealand …..............
By capping all their players before they do and more raids on the south sea islands planned next season the Kiwis cupboard will start to look bare.

Don't worry mate, we've still got a few players with [possibly] Welsh grannies

viewtothegym wrote:England pose massive threat to Newzealand …..............
By capping all their players before they do and more raids on the south sea islands planned next season the Kiwis cupboard will start to look bare.

View - what choice do we have with Wales poaching English players?

No, No, No. England will not pose a huge problem to the Kiwis. No northern hemisphere nation will.

drsambo

Because.......?

why do you think. England always build themselves up to be world beaters and always lose. Wales will go in over confident and arrogant and will rightfully get smashed. Can really only see Ireland getting closest to the All Blacks but still will lose.

HERSH wrote:Title says it all really!

We COULD be the biggest challenge they face if we get the basics right, by the time they get to HQ no doubt they'll be expecting another NH Grand Slam, you never know we might catch them cold.

Swing Low Sweet Chariot

+ 1

No northern hemisphere nation will pose a huge problem to NZ.

drsambo

2002-03 England built themselves up then and .....won th RWC, beating all the SH sides in the previous season at home.

Not saying we'll do it again, but clearly it's possible.

I think you're a bit too overconfident there

I am not from NZ and don't support NZ but I hate the way England say how great they are and will beat the All Blacks and always lose. In 2002/03 they had a solid team and gameplan that was effective, I don't think they have that now.