All Blacks on Grand Slam Tour

chch_legend

Ok now that the AB's have got to the UK and the team has been named for Saturday's Test against Wales what are the opinions out there.

Will we see the All Blacks take the Grand Slam or will 4 tests in 4 weeks be too much for them at the end of an already huge season?

I figure they will thrash Scotland, beat Wales and England well, but may come up against a fired up Irish side at Lansdowne Rd. Especially after "Speargate" during the Lions tour.

MountainPro

'thrash' Scotland? I doubt that. We'll kick your arses mate...

oh i get it, you stand about doing the hakka and while the staduim pisses themselves laughing you sneak in a few lucky tries?

nice stragegy...

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HARD
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darkboong

Naw, I think the Irish will keep it to a low-scoring scrappy game but ultimately they will get ripped to pieces in the last quarter. I believe that Wales have enough to deliver a knockout blow to the All Blacks, *IF* they can set a high-tempo pattern on the game.

England, dunno. They seem to lack direction somehow, still struggling to find a pattern for this new team. They are still struggling with the basics such as line-out throwing too. It doesn't look great for England tbh. I want to see the ABs play against France with Laharrague at fullback linking with Rougerie on the wing.

darkboong

With all due respect for local customs : It is way too early to be starting drinking on a week day.

limerickman

Oi mate !
Only joking.

Wales are missing some important players for tommorrows game (Peel/Stephens etc) : I think if a full strength Welsh team was out there, it would be a closer contest.

Drico's doing the publicity round touting his book and doing a lot of interviews about "that tackle".
The supporters here are not too pleased with the way NZ handled the situation.
Was it a deliberate tackle ? I am not sure that it was to be honest.
But I think the aftermath has left a bad taste.
I don't think we'll put up a fight - we're missing O'Connell and he's vital.

I think England will show well and I hope Scotland turn up and improve on their recent performances.
But a lot of players on this side of the world are involved in the Heineken Cup
and I don't think they will be going full bore.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets" - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

MountainPro

what are you insinuating?

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HARD
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FredC

When is the match between the all blacks and the KKK?

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The media is a self perpetuating publicity stunt.

chch_legend

Don't know but we'd still kick their arses.

Good to see the Australians got beaten, doesn't matter how it's just great to see them lose.

As for the Welsh, they forgot to show up, so much for the singing putting the AB's off. Welsh rugby is a joke, they are the 6 nations champions and they still got thumped by lots. Doesn't say much about the state of rugby in the northern hemisphere.

limerickman

The AB's were very impressive yesterday - althought they still live on the Off side, they outplayed a very poor Wales, yesterday.

Carter had a great game as did the NZ number 7.
The Welsh scrum was in trouble but it settled down once Horseman came in tight head.

NZ deserved to win.

I didn't see the Aussie game.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets" - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

chch_legend

I think both teams were guilty of breaching the offside rules on many occasions. It's a pity the referee didn't pick either side up on it more often.
Chris Mascoe did play well, but reading the NZ papers this afternoon it looks like there will be wholesale changes for the weekends match.

It's a pity the Irish have been hit with injuries, cos i think it could have been a great game. Mind you the Irish always lift themselves when they come up against the AB's.

limerickman

I think the AB's will beat Ireland : that NZ team look very strong : to think the likes of McCaw wasn't playing last week is frightening.
Throw in the likes of Howlett, Mauger : ah we're on to a hiding.

I just hope that NZ haven't done what they've managed to do for the last few world cups, that is peak in the 18-24 months prior to the world cup !

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets" - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

EoinC

I started another thread yesterday before I found this one today (twat). As I rambled on the dead thread, I wasn't a big fan of Henry when he took over from Mitchell, but I'm impressed that he is blooding a whole new team for Saturday's match against Ireland. He has stated that he wants to have 2 World Class players available for every position on the field and I'd say that he's just about there. There are some good young players coming through for the AB's and they are looking like a class act. I'm pleased to see McCaw getting another run as Captain, although Umaga is (in my book) still as good as it gets.
Eddie Jones has, in my opinion, brought the Wobblies to their knees. The old guard are looking...old. He should have been pulling in more of the young Super 12 players, but appears to have left it too late.
Ireland may be suffering the loss of O'Driscoll and O'Connell for this match but, hopefully, they'll put on a good strong show.
The near-offside flat play has been picked up from the now-excellent Springbok game and the Northerners are going to have to get used to it. The Boks' flat line, looking for the opportunistic intercept, is very hard to defend against when they pull it off. The sudden reversal of game direction leaves everyone flat-footed. As always, you're only offside when you get caught.

equus

I am afraid that the Kiwi's are going to blow all of the home nations away. I would love to see the Irish "do one" on the AB's, but I expect a similar story to last week.

I am very interesetd so see how England do at the weekend. Wouldn't be surprised if we get beaten.

limerickman

As Eoin said, the AB team to face Ireland is as strong as the team that played Wales last week.
When you consider the likes of McCaw being on the bench last week, that just shows the strength of the AB's.

I can't see Ireland making any headway against the AB team and I agree with the view that Graham Henry appears to be getting it more right than wrong (although he was disasterous as Welsh coach).
The raw material available to any NZ coach should make the job relatively easier.

England are recalling the likes of Cohen for the Aussie game - I think Eddie Jones is in atight spot but so is Andy Robinson.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets" - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.