England vs All Blacks + Munster vs ABs XV

[Guy Smiley]

All Black team named...




BB starting, DMac on the bench. A week ago I thought that unlikely but I didn't see the Japan game. The ARP boys reckoned it was the end of the DMac experiment. That's my choice of words and the kindest thing I can think of to say about it.

Clarke in for Reece. Ioane at 13, Jordie at 12. Jordan stays at 15, Telea on the other wing. That I can live with.

Ratima gets to start with the Roigod on the bench. I think that's a fair reflection of form, Ratima has been excellent and Roigard coming off the bench is an impact move. TJ's experience and leadership is now a mid week thing, I guess.

Happy to see Vaa'i starting along with Tamaiti Williams, otherwise the pack is pretty much what we've seen this year and looks to be a solid unit.

Finau is on the bench. He'll want to play a blinder.

[Guy Smiley]

Our recent malaise took years to develop.

Sigh.

Don't worry ours took decades

Thanks mate... that feels



shithouse.

[inactionman]

All Black team named...




BB starting, DMac on the bench. A week ago I thought that unlikely but I didn't see the Japan game. The ARP boys reckoned it was the end of the DMac experiment. That's my choice of words and the kindest thing I can think of to say about it.

Clarke in for Reece. Ioane at 13, Jordie at 12. Jordan stays at 15, Telea on the other wing. That I can live with.

Ratima gets to start with the Roigod on the bench. I think that's a fair reflection of form, Ratima has been excellent and Roigard coming off the bench is an impact move. TJ's experience and leadership is now a mid week thing, I guess.

Happy to see Vaa'i starting along with Tamaiti Williams, otherwise the pack is pretty much what we've seen this year and looks to be a solid unit.

Finau is on the bench. He'll want to play a blinder.

Roigard looked very lively on the few times I've seen him, is he fully over that knee-knack or is it a case of time will tell?

[Guy Smiley]

Roigard looked very lively on the few times I've seen him, is he fully over that knee-knack or is it a case of time will tell?

Straight back into it and on fire... but he's only played something like a game and a half all up. He came back at the end of the NPC and joined the ABs straight away. He looks fine.

[OomStruisbaai]

Joe Marler on the haka again. How is stupid is this before an All Blacks test.

[Ovals]

I liked the one where the Tongan team did the Sipi Tau at the same time as New Zealand did the Haka - that was real theatre.

I like the Haka, it's part of the folklore of our sport, like the Welsh anthem in Cardiff, but I agree with the comment that it has become a marketing tool for World Rugby, which probably wasn't/isn't the intention.

I agree, I love it and it's a big part of rugby. It has got a little bit up it's own arse in recent years, but how much of that is NZ and how much is WR is up for debate.

At the end of the day I think rugby would be poorer without it.

Exactly. If you don't like it, go for a leak before the kickoff....

That's what I normally do - I really don't care about the dances and anthems - I'm only interested in the actual game.

[Sandstorm]

Joe Marler on the haka again. How is stupid is this before an All Blacks test.

Joe isn't known for his smarts.

[Gumboot]

All Black team named...

OP updated.

No surprise that Beauden's starting. McKenzie has only himself to blame, after repeatedly failing to maintain control for the full 80. I advocated for hiving him an extended shot at starting, but enough's enough.

The exclusion of Ethan de Groot will leave some scratching their heads.

Robertson offered a vague explanation in the press conference saying “Ethan didn’t meet internal standards”. However, Robertson confirmed that in theory, he should be available to play in Dublin next weekend.

Hmm, wonder what that's all about.

[Enzedder]

Joe Marler on the haka again. How is stupid is this before an All Blacks test.

Not a man to take seriously really. He's just taking the piss.

[Sards]

Joe Marler on the haka again. How is stupid is this before an All Blacks test.

Joe isn't known for his smarts.

He got more of a reaction than he expected.
I don't agree that it will fire up the ABs.
That only appears that way if you allow it.

Regarding this match. Really looking forward to the ABs firing first game up and putting the English away convincingly to set the mood for the Irish to go the same way.

[Slick]

I agree, I love it and it's a big part of rugby. It has got a little bit up it's own arse in recent years, but how much of that is NZ and how much is WR is up for debate.

At the end of the day I think rugby would be poorer without it.

Exactly. If you don't like it, go for a leak before the kickoff....

That's what I normally do - I really don't care about the dances and anthems - I'm only interested in the actual game.

You’d feel differently if you had a decent anthem

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Exactly. If you don't like it, go for a leak before the kickoff....

That's what I normally do - I really don't care about the dances and anthems - I'm only interested in the actual game.

You’d feel differently if you had a decent anthem

So the French can enjoy it, and after that tumbleweed?

I normally just mute all the pre-match singing and dancing, especially if it's a channel that will cut to commercials, but if people do enjoy it all that's cool

[Slick]

That's what I normally do - I really don't care about the dances and anthems - I'm only interested in the actual game.

You’d feel differently if you had a decent anthem

So the French can enjoy it, and after that tumbleweed?

I normally just mute all the pre-match singing and dancing, especially if it's a channel that will cut to commercials, but if people do enjoy it all that's cool

Slightly tongue in cheek of course….

I love the anthems, genuinely spoils the day out a bit for me if I miss them

[Certain Navigator]

They did and it was very puerile. I don't see why NZ should have an inalienable right for their dance to be the final thing before kick off, especially when playing in someone else's home.

because when they clip a game up it's consistently one of the most popular if not the most popular clip from a given game on social media. which might say much for rugby that what the casual fan wants to watch isn't even part of the actual playing of the game

viewer participation and engagement are among the most loved things by the IRB, especially with young people on social media, so the haka gets as much protection as it wants

That explains why the haka is important to broadcasters and perhaps World Rugby, but it doesn't really explain why the Kiwis threw their toys out of the pram about being asked to do it before the home team's anthem and why everyone just has to accept them doing it as the most immediate act before kick off. A clip of the haka is a clip of the haka, whether it was performed before the host anthem makes no difference to the broadcaster's ability to clip and share it on social media.

Agreed.

But saying that in NZ is a sure way to get blackballed...

[Certain Navigator]

Yeah throwing your toys out of the pram and suggesting a racial angle because someone asks why the haka should have primacy over everything else in the pre match running order is doing nothing to change the view that a section of kiwi fans need to climb down off their high horses

Like all religions, the haka evokes strong, and not particularly rational, emotions.

[PCPhil]

Fuk sake guys. Can you shut up about Joe Marler's piss take. He got the reaction and now get back to the game.

(bleedin chippy colonials)

[ScarfaceClaw]

I can see the All Blacks losing three out of the four matches on this tour. Only a token effort against a plucky Italy to offset the general malaise that’s settling into the team.

[Sandstorm]

I can see the All Blacks losing three out of the four matches on this tour. Only a token effort against a plucky Italy to offset the general malaise that’s settling into the team.

That's the spirit!

[PCPhil]

Well since I have paid my £30 for discovery+ I now invested in the conversation.

No kne knows what England will turn up. No matches recently to let patterns gel n stuff. Despite all the doom from the NZ contingent if England win it will take a lot of luck.

[epwc]

Do you have to watch that live?

[PCPhil]

Do you have to watch that live?

Don't know i had to tag it onto my sky subscription so I'll test if it can be recorded. Wonder what will happen to a recording, if it can be done, after I don't renew it?

[epwc]

Do you have to watch that live?

Don't know i had to tag it onto my sky subscription so I'll test if it can be recorded. Wonder what will happen to a recording, if it can be done, after I don't renew it?

I dread adding anything to my Sky, you have to call them to downgrade, have you ever tried that? A proper pain

I was just going to do it on my PC

[JM2K6]

Exactly. If you don't like it, go for a leak before the kickoff....

That's what I normally do - I really don't care about the dances and anthems - I'm only interested in the actual game.

You’d feel differently if you had a decent anthem

This also explains why the kiwis are desperate to keep the haka as it is

[Gumboot]

That's what I normally do - I really don't care about the dances and anthems - I'm only interested in the actual game.

You’d feel differently if you had a decent anthem

This also explains why the kiwis are desperate to keep the haka as it is

So true, the NZ anthem is dreadful. Most anthems are pretty dull and boring, but ours is borderline aural assault.

[Bullet]

Do you have to watch that live?

Don't know i had to tag it onto my sky subscription so I'll test if it can be recorded. Wonder what will happen to a recording, if it can be done, after I don't renew it?

You'll need to have a password linked to an email to watch it anytime on Discovery + App.

[epwc]

Thanks, will sign up

[Slick]

That's what I normally do - I really don't care about the dances and anthems - I'm only interested in the actual game.

You’d feel differently if you had a decent anthem

This also explains why the kiwis are desperate to keep the haka as it is

this is also true

[Slick]

Well since I have paid my £30 for discovery+ I now invested in the conversation.

No kne knows what England will turn up. No matches recently to let patterns gel n stuff. Despite all the doom from the NZ contingent if England win it will take a lot of luck.

Yeah, also paid my £30. Well actually my wife has without realising yet so looking forward to that conversation

It has got me thinking about a Rugby Channel. I reckon I’d stretch to £30 a month for that if everything (except 6N) was on it.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Do you have to watch that live?

Don't know i had to tag it onto my sky subscription so I'll test if it can be recorded. Wonder what will happen to a recording, if it can be done, after I don't renew it?

From memory, and this would be going back over 10 years, the recording on a sky box sits there but you can't access it

[SaintK]

AB's by 11 I'm afraid

[Slick]

Twickers struggling to sell out for any of these games is a bit of a shocker

[C T]

Do you have to watch that live?

Don't know i had to tag it onto my sky subscription so I'll test if it can be recorded. Wonder what will happen to a recording, if it can be done, after I don't renew it?

I dread adding anything to my Sky, you have to call them to downgrade, have you ever tried that? A proper pain

I was just going to do it on my PC

I'm exactly the same. After 20mins of AI hell of trying (and failing) to get through so someone I end up emailing their complaints team, for the most basic of queries (usually to remove TNT Sports).

Dreadful set up, I imagine their big bosses are dead chuffed and the reduced contact volumes and the lower need to employ. Can only presume their complaints team has quadrupled in size

[Bullet]

Well since I have paid my £30 for discovery+ I now invested in the conversation.

No kne knows what England will turn up. No matches recently to let patterns gel n stuff. Despite all the doom from the NZ contingent if England win it will take a lot of luck.

Yeah, also paid my £30. Well actually my wife has without realising yet so looking forward to that conversation

It has got me thinking about a Rugby Channel. I reckon I’d stretch to £30 a month for that if everything (except 6N) was on it.

That's exactly what I said recently, paying that to see Prem games at the moment but that's less painful now all 5! games a weekend are available in full (and other Discovery stuff) but don't know if would pay much more for URC, T14 to be included

Justifiable as it was a months match fees when I finished playing

[SaintK]

Twickers struggling to sell out for any of these games is a bit of a shocker

AB and SA matches sold out quickly a while ago.
Tickets left for Australia and even more forJapan.
I maanage international tickets for my club and have been receiving lots of "special offers" for the last two matches

[Slick]

Twickers struggling to sell out for any of these games is a bit of a shocker

AB and SA matches sold out quickly a while ago.
Tickets left for Australia and even more forJapan.
I maanage international tickets for my club and have been receiving lots of "special offers" for the last two matches

Paper this morning saying there were tickets available for all 4 yesterday and they were only confident of an SA sellout.

I know most of my mates that are pretty regular in attending have cut back massively due to the cost

[Sandstorm]

I was offered tickets to Cardiff for £130 and Twickers for £156. Fuck. That.

[And 1 guest]

Would anybody's friend have a link for my friend?

[Deepsouth]

Lovely the English jersey.

Looks like someone spewed icicles on them.....

[Insane_Homer]

What channel in the UK is showing this?

[Guy Smiley]

Would anybody's friend have a link for my friend?

https://www.vipbox.lc/rugby/england-vs- ... and-2-live

I suggest you mute that until the game starts