England v All Blacks, Twickers, 17 November 2013

[Lee Grant]

Eng attacking NZ line and drive ball over from lineout.

AR Owens says ball was grounded before line so TMO question is try or no try.

Stuart Barnes whingeing before TMO decision.

TMO says no clear evidence for try.

Barnes still whingeing but 5 metre scrum England.

Ball pops out from scrum and Read knocks on but were Poms offside?

TMO says try to England after the pinball.

Try England

25 mins - NZ 17 - Eng 10.

 

[RoffsChoice]

Carter limping off - I hope he hasn't become injury prone. Bad way to celebrate your 100th cap.

 

[RoffsChoice]

btw, England on top right now. Cruden needs to kick start the momentum.

 

[Lee Grant]

26 mins - Carter gets a knock and is replaced by Cruden.

27 mins - NZ gets warned for too many ruck infractions

28 mins - Eng in NZ 22 looking better but knock-on.

31 mins - 36 in front of kicker on own 39 metre line

32 mins - Cruden slots goal - NZ 20 Eng 10

33 mins - Read dives in side of tackle and gets card - Stuart Barnes happy.

34 min - Farrell slots NZ 20 - Eng 13
.

 

[BDA]

Good to see a ref keeping the blecks honest at the ruck

BTW am i the only one that thinks the English LH is just boring in with every scrum. They did the same thing against us.

 

[RoffsChoice]

If they aren't playing Corbisiero, they have to use techniques other than being the best LHP in the world.

 

[RoffsChoice]

That card has to be a team yellow, no way that was a yellow by itself.

 

[ACR]

Love listening to Northern commentators...

Decent enough game so far.

 

[badabing59]

Eng attacking NZ line and drive ball over from lineout.

AR Owens says ball was grounded before line so TMO question is try or no try.

Stuart Barnes whingeing before TMO decision.

TMO says no clear evidence for try.

Barnes still whingeing but 5 metre scrum England.

.

Barnes is pissing me off. Here's a thought-neutral commentators? Gotta be better than the tripe we are dished up with on a regular basis.

 

[Lee Grant]

36 mins - Piutau executes a quick throw but one foot in field of play so Joubert gives England option. Eng gets lineout in NZ half.

Another penalty to England. Farrell slots.

39 mins NZ 20 - Eng 16.
.

 

[Lee Grant]

NZ indiscipline and mistakes could lose game whilst England are picking up.

Launchbury shining for England who are again near NZ 22.

But NZ hold and half-time score is NZ 20 - Eng 16.

NZ will have to wake up in 2nd half.

Joubert having a top game.

England not as good as last year but finish half on top.

.

 

[ACR]

Good to see a ref keeping the blecks honest at the ruck

BTW am i the only one that thinks the English LH is just boring in with every scrum. They did the same thing against us.

I could pick out 3 or 4 clear ruck penalties from England going unpunished. It's just one team gets chosen to get pinged and it's the All Black's turn at the moment.

 

[hawktrain]

Loss of Carter was massive, AB's have been on the back foot ever since.

On another note, Stuart Barnes makes me long for Kearnsy to be commentating.

 

[BabyBlueElephant]

England giving it more than a game. I thought the game would be like this. England have an edge to them now, under Lancaster they remind me of the team of the early 2000's. They've such an abrasive edge to them, its hard to see anyone hammering this team unlike the weak, limp, lethargic England teams between 2005-2010 where they'd usually get a pasting at some point each year.

Before the game I predicted NZ to be ruthless as this is there only blip in a flawless campaign internationally as world champs, but equally England to be incredibly hard to break down, and NZ to win by 5-10. But now who knows, NZ haven't had a lick of the ball since Reads try, and are on the backfoot again in a way I haven't seen for a while. Conceding a try, losing your talisman, getting a sin bin and even Richie being told off, they'll need a hell of a half time speech!

Edit: Woodcock reported to be out with a hamstring injury, as if England needed more reason to scrum

 

[ACR]

OKAY, that is just farcical ruling of the rucks, come on.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

What's going on ruck time?

Meanwhile Fiji get their 5th yellow card.

 

[ACR]

What's going on ruck time?

Meanwhile Fiji get their 5th yellow card.

The same infringements that New Zealand built up for a yellow card are just being called play on for England.

Look at what happened after the penalty hit the post, Joubert has just lost the plot hasn't he?

 

[Lee Grant]

42 mins - Myth has hamstring injury - Crockett on and NZ scrum goes back. Faumuina also on.

43 mins - Read back on park. Eng get FK for early shove.

45 mins - Eng pick and go well - in NZ 22 but poor Farrell grubber wastes good opportunity.

46 mins - A Smith box kick out on full - Eng lineout near NZ 22.

48 mins - Piutau up touch but Brown defuses in Eng 22.

49 mins - Eng inside 10 meters on kick. Cruden from 38 metres - hits upright and 36 runs ball out to 22 and Eng on attack.

.

 

[Lee Grant]

51 mins - Savea break but passes to Ashton. England break out and Crockett stupid and blocks Ashton after kick.

52 mins Farrell slots goal - NZ 20 - Eng 19.
.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Shit, that game is getting tight.

(also 37-31 Italy over Fiji with just under 5min to go).