All Blacks v England. Oh sh**.

[Which Tyler]

Is this the match thread? Or the EMBl?

[J Dory]

Very disrespectful V formation for the haka.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah I wish they'd just merge them across boards.

[Mikey Brown]

Why is a v disrespectful?

[J Dory]

Kidding Mikey.

[canta_brian]

The only good news is that England should really be out of sight after that half and they aren’t

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I've never seen NZ play this bad. It was around 30 mins or later but Anton Lienert-Brown was running a support line while out of play ffs.

[zer0]

The only good news is that England should really be out of sight after that half and they aren’t

Pretty much. Given England's overwhelming weight of possession, only being down 10-0 at half time is entirely manageable.

Of course it's going to require quite the turnaround in performance to overturn it, mind.

[canta_brian]

Well indeed. We have been a bit arrogant so far. We haven’t committed the required numbers to secure possession.

[canta_brian]

We are playing so poorly atm

[zer0]

Good decision from England to go for it. Now it becomes exponentially more difficult.

EDIT: Something of a harsh call given the on-field decision was a try. Regardless, still need to exit and then recover well...

[zer0]

On the plus side, Fosters chances of becoming HC in 2020 are currently dropping by the minute...

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Why do you keep running into touch? I cannot understand it.

[canta_brian]

We have pushed pass after pass in poor positions.

[Mikey Brown]

I hope Matt Dawson is writing a grovelling apology to George ford.

[zer0]

Well this will hopefully end Foster's claims to being HC in 2020, and put an end to the talk of Hansen being our best ever professional coach.

Assuming that's the case, Dave Rennie has probably come sharply into focus as a (the?) leading candidate.

[Puja]

Bad luck guys - it's a testament to how great a side that you are that I only stopped being terrified that you'd snatch it from us when there were 2 minutes to go. We had to work ridiculously hard for that and you pushed us all the way.

Puja

[paddy no 11]

Needed laumape

[Lizard]

Ah well. Nice to let someone else have a go for a change.

I really Hope England don’t win the whole thing though - it would be unbearable. I’d prefer Wales (unlikely) but even the Boks would be better than England.

Mind you, bit of a damp squib if the 100th All Blacks v Springboks test is a bloody bronze final.

[switchskier]

Well this will hopefully end Foster's claims to being HC in 2020, and put an end to the talk of Hansen being our best ever professional coach.

Assuming that's the case, Dave Rennie has probably come sharply into focus as a (the?) leading candidate.

Rennie's about to take the Australian job isn't he?

[zer0]

Rennie's about to take the Australian job isn't he?

Supposedly. Though I imagine that was predicated on the AB's winning, or at least, making the final. They've failed there, so it should be open season for the HC role.

EDIT: Of the other contenders, Schmidt's absence from 2020 (assuming it remains) would be deemed too tricky. Gatland is at the Chiefs, but could easily be upgraded I suppose. Cotter seems to have accepted he won't get it. Robinson is both probably too green and doesn't satisfy the requirement of having international HC experience. I believe Joseph has signed an extension with Japan (?).

Think that's all of the realistic HC candidates?

[francoisfou]

The grapes have turned sour!

[francoisfou]

The grapes have turned sour!

So would there be no discussion of it if the roles were reversed?

Surely not! and may the banter continue!

[francoisfou]

I couldn't undertsand why Youngs' try was disallowed. Offside? The ball seemed to "slide" from one player to another.

Yeah, the Blacks were below par but were endlessly hassled by English tackling. The entire match offside? Dunno, but they played the ref well and won the spoils.

[Spiffy]

Agree about Owens' terrible reffing performance - the All Blacks were allowed to pass the ball forwards the whole game. A shocker.