1st Test v the All Blacks this morning. Someone at the RFU organised this tour at the end of a hard season and we're short of 13 of our best players because of the Premiership Final last week. I have a feeling we could be on the wrong end of a hammering today as the All Blacks have won their last 64 matches at Eden Park. On the upside what a chance for some of the replacements to make a name for themselves...
It always seems to be the same when we play in New Zealand. We turn out with a mainly reserve team that gets absolutely slaughtered!
Started quite lively. Not sure it will lst sadly but we're holding our own right now. Edit: 9-3 up to the English. Good stream on wizwig if anyone doesn't have sky.
9-9 coming up to half time. England sounding good. Anything less than a slaughter will be huge for England confidence, given the team we have and being in NZ. As usual the All Blacks will step things up second half, we'll see how we handle it. The commentators seem genuinely surprised at how close this is.
I would have said we'd be 12 points behind before the game. I agree that anything less than a loss by cricket scores would be a positive.
Has looked even-Stevens so far; Sir Clive's half time analysis on a flip chart...I feel like I'm in one of my management meetings in Piccadilly.
I think they've really done well, hard to tell whether NZ have underestimated them or we've played above ourselves. A bit of both I think...
It's NZ first game so they might be a little rusty. Seems like they've up'd their game though. As they always do.
Yeah we have. The longer we can keep the score close the more I could see England doing a smash and grab.
Not that familiar with the NZ bench but the commentators seem to think we have the stronger bench. Could also work in or favour. Good I thought we might get that down then.
Not sure that was a yellow. But we should have had one for the foul on their line and maybe even a pen try.
That is a shyte decision from the ref, the penalty England got on the try-line was just as deliberate...