England v New Zealand 8/11/14 - Pre Match Thoughts & Teams

Well here we go again if it is November, then it has to be the season of Moustaches and the QBE Autumn Internationals at Twickenham.  Not sure how many moustaches we will see but I know we have some stiff tests coming up for England.  First match up is the New Zealand 'All Blacks' playing for the Hillary Shield.

England v New Zealand 'All Blacks'

Twickenham (The Home of Rugby) - Saturday 8th November 2014 - KO 2.30pm

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

Although this match will be tough, the team I think we need to fear most will be South Africa the following week, and the referee for that match is Steve Walsh --- oh! lordly!!!   but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

With all the chat this week coming from the 'All Blacks' about wanting to take down the so called 'fortress that is Twickenham'?  Err Really!!,  personally I think 'fortress Twickenham' has been long gone and dispatched to the dustbin of another era to be honest.   I prefer, the talk of one game at a time and the winning is the most important thing, let the bricks and mortar stand on their own.

One thing I do feel strongly about is respecting the 'HAKA' and I am in full agreement with England forwards coach Graham Rowntree who believes facing the Haka is a "special moment" for rugby players.  "I like the Haka, it is a part of rugby history. You just have to absorb it because it is a special moment and use it to motivate you as well, that is what I always used to do,'' Rowntree said.

Although England have had a few injury worries the camp appears to be in good spirits.....

"We've had a good few days' training on the back of last week," said Lancaster. "The players have worked really hard and everyone who has been in camp has pushed hard for selection and their attitude has been fantastic.  "We are excited about the squad we have picked and we are looking forward to getting back to Twickenham this weekend and taking on a team of the quality of New Zealand."

England need to focus, make their tackles, keep their cool (no stupid penalties) and defend well against the New Zealanders, no doubt about it, this will be a very tough game but they can win it as they have done before 1st December 2012  England 38 v 21 New Zealand

This opening match will be the setting stone not just for the Autumn Internationals., but the psyche going into next year's Rugby World Cup, because although I fancy South Africa to beat us..... I think they maybe peaking a year too early, and for my money again the 'All Blacks' will be the ones to beat.

The danger from the 'All Blacks' is the speed on the break and their passing skills especially out wide, England must be ready to deal with this.   The one thing I am hoping NOT TO SEE, is the aimless kicking down the middle.  It appears many teams are doing this now from International to Club level and I just can't see the point.  It just gives the ball to the opposition to run at you and I really don't want to see this at Twickenham on Saturday, because given the chance the New Zealanders will have a ball.

Always the first match up of any series you can talk about players in form, debuts etc., but I don't think you can really get the feel of the team/squad untill they have played the first match.  Only then can you really get the measure of the players.

So Good Luck everyone and the team are.... and straight away we have no DanCarter but we do have Sonny Bill Willams for the 'All Blacks', can't wait to see him.  And Semesa Rokoduguni to make England debut.

England:  Brown; Rokoduguni, Barritt, Eastmond, May; Farrell, Care; Marler, Hartley, Wilson, Attwood, Lawes, Wood, Robshaw, Vunipola.

Replacements: Webber, Mullan, Brookes, Kruis, Morgan, B Youngs, Ford, Watson.

New Zealand: I Dagg; B Smith, C Smith, S B Williams, J Savea; A Cruden, A Smith; W Crockett, D Coles, O Franks, B Retallick, S Whitelock, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), K Read.

Replacements: K Mealamu, B Franks, C Faumuina, P Tuiipulotu, L Messam, T J Perenara, B Barrett, R Crotty.