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Originally Posted by nelsonone
Agree with Dawsey + AllyB above..................the All Blacks are way above anyone else's standards at present and England did a mighty job of holding them to just a few points difference.......some stickling yellow card refereeing helped them greatly in this however........
Yep, the AB's have been in this position less than 2 years out from a World Cup on more than one occasion only to be beaten in the semis by those they would consider lesser teams (Australia for example) so they must be concerned that they are peaking too soon......however who wouldn't want to be in their position at present with almost 2 full sides capable of beating almost any other side??
I think that England and South Africa are the only other sides at present who can take it to them...........Australia is too weak (in the forwards in particular) and the rest of the 6 Nations have very little hope unless Ireland can get their A team back on the pitch and keep them fit through the World Cup
Whilst the AB's have been good on this tour I reckon that they were better against the touring Lions............I was at every one of those matches and they were just pumped up for it every time.....so I don't think that picking all England playing for the Lions is the way to go.....apart from that a Lions Tour is just as much about touring and mateship as it is about winning at Rugby
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Yep Nelsonone,I think just about all you say is correct. Don't forget that the ref also did the ABs a big favour for not whistling for an obvious forward pass for the first try
It was so obvious that I'm surprised all the officials missed it.
But its history,you get the decisions some days and not others.
Incidentally,the England v Wales match in the 6Nations will be one hell of a scrap. There is no love lost between them on the pitch and I fancy England want to settle the score for that penalty from Henson last season that pipped us.