The All Blacks are looking imperious

[pieceofme]

And I expect a clean sweep in the Autumn internationals.

They dispatched of Scotland, although to their credit Scotland scored 3 tries against them. The first time in 2012 the All Blacks have conceded three tries. Impressive for Scotland considering their inability to score tires recently.

However, I see nothing but New Zealand victory against the home nations. England probably stand the best chance. I would have said Wales a year ago, but they are missing key players, woefully out of form, and being managed by Rob Howley.

[demolition23]

Funny, everyone here was talking about the flaws in their performance. 50 points or not, giving up three tries to Scotland isn't that great. All Blacks have been patchy this year, with a couple of great performances to balance things out.

I was more psyched to see Argentina deal to Wales so fully. FINALLY allowed into real international competition and while they didn't score a win in the new southern hemisphere competition, but the experience showed against Wales.

But yeah, I don't think we've lost to a Northern Hemisphere team (not counting the Barbarians) since the 2007 cup.

[pieceofme]

After the very disappointing results for the last two weeks, this more than makes up for it.

Although when the prop Mako Vunipola was sent off I feared the worst. What an idiot.

The unbeaten run had to end at some point!

[pieceofme]

New Zealand went in at the break pointless for the first time this millennium.

Australia broke Welsh hearts.

One of the commentators said England attacked the All Blacks, and it has been so long since any team has done this that didn't know how to handle it!

[demolition23]

That comment's ridiculous. Most teams make a point of at least trying to attack the All Blacks.
Normally the All Blacks withstand it.


It's been a slightly lacklustre year for the All Blacks, and a very lacklustre tour, between poor discipline, disrupted preparations and some very uninspired play. Seems like teh post World Cup hangover finally caught up with them.

Not taking anything away from England though,. They played pretty well and deserved one of their most decisive victories against the All Blacks.

[pieceofme]

That comment's ridiculous. Most teams make a point of at least trying to attack the All Blacks.
Normally the All Blacks withstand it.


It's been a slightly lacklustre year for the All Blacks, and a very lacklustre tour, between poor discipline, disrupted preparations and some very uninspired play. Seems like teh post World Cup hangover finally caught up with them.

Not taking anything away from England though,. They played pretty well and deserved one of their most decisive victories against the All Blacks.

Yeah i thought that comment was absurd as well. I mean I'm sure Australia attacked here and there!

A lacklustre year for the All Blacks is a 20 game unbeaten run and a rugby championship!

You guys are spoilt. I wish England had lacklustre years like that!

[demolition23]

That comment's ridiculous. Most teams make a point of at least trying to attack the All Blacks.
Normally the All Blacks withstand it.


It's been a slightly lacklustre year for the All Blacks, and a very lacklustre tour, between poor discipline, disrupted preparations and some very uninspired play. Seems like teh post World Cup hangover finally caught up with them.

Not taking anything away from England though,. They played pretty well and deserved one of their most decisive victories against the All Blacks.

Yeah i thought that comment was absurd as well. I mean I'm sure Australia attacked here and there!

A lacklustre year for the All Blacks is a 20 game unbeaten run and a rugby championship!

You guys are spoilt. I wish England had lacklustre years like that!

We totally are spoilt. For our sins, we also have the New Zealand cricket team.

But yeah, the World Cup semi-final vs Australia was a fantastic, world-beating performance, but since then, there's only been a couple of complete performances. With international rugby having been somewhat reduced to a World Cup cycle, this year seems like a bit of a non-event. I think next year is when we'll start getting a real sense of who is where.

For me the highlight of the season is Samoa and Argentina's northern wins, and Argentina's long overdue entry to the top flight of southern rugby.

[pieceofme]

That comment's ridiculous. Most teams make a point of at least trying to attack the All Blacks.
Normally the All Blacks withstand it.


It's been a slightly lacklustre year for the All Blacks, and a very lacklustre tour, between poor discipline, disrupted preparations and some very uninspired play. Seems like teh post World Cup hangover finally caught up with them.

Not taking anything away from England though,. They played pretty well and deserved one of their most decisive victories against the All Blacks.

Yeah i thought that comment was absurd as well. I mean I'm sure Australia attacked here and there!

A lacklustre year for the All Blacks is a 20 game unbeaten run and a rugby championship!

You guys are spoilt. I wish England had lacklustre years like that!

We totally are spoilt. For our sins, we also have the New Zealand cricket team.

But yeah, the World Cup semi-final vs Australia was a fantastic, world-beating performance, but since then, there's only been a couple of complete performances. With international rugby having been somewhat reduced to a World Cup cycle, this year seems like a bit of a non-event. I think next year is when we'll start getting a real sense of who is where.

For me the highlight of the season is Samoa and Argentina's northern wins, and Argentina's long overdue entry to the top flight of southern rugby.

You may have the New Zealand cricket team but we have the England football team! Given up on them tbh.

I'm so glad Argentina got a place in the Rugby Championship. Long overdue. And yeah it is good seeing these teams perform in the northern hemisphere.

You follow the Crusaders in super rugby right? Wasn't there a mass exodus of players to the Hurricanes or Chiefs?
Might have completely dreamt this!

[demolition23]

You follow the Crusaders in super rugby right? Wasn't there a mass exodus of players to the Hurricanes or Chiefs?
Might have completely dreamt this!

Not really. There were a few people shifting around (particularly guys not getting regular starts in Canterbury) but I don't think anything too drastic. McCaw is taking the Super season off next year though.

[pieceofme]

You follow the Crusaders in super rugby right? Wasn't there a mass exodus of players to the Hurricanes or Chiefs?
Might have completely dreamt this!

Not really. There were a few people shifting around (particularly guys not getting regular starts in Canterbury) but I don't think anything too drastic. McCaw is taking the Super season off next year though.

Yeah I heard that. He is going paragliding in Arizona. Or so I read. Although who knows as I was well off with the Crusader assumption.

[pieceofme]

The World Cup draw happened today:

Pool A: Australia, England, Wales, Oceania 1, play-off winner.

Tough group.

Was hoping for Tonga and Argentina!

Here are the groups so far:

Pool A: Australia, England, Wales, Oceania 1, play-off winner.

Pool B: South Africa, Samoa, Scotland, Asia 1, Americas 2.

Pool C: New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga, Europe 1, Africa 1.

Pool D: France, Ireland, Italy, Americas 1, Europe 2.

Pool D could be interesting. Italy are always improving and could potential get through.

In Pool B South Africa should qualify no problem. Could be tight between Scotland and Samoa.

For Pool C it will be New Zealand and Argentina. No doubt about it.

[demolition23]

By the next World Cup Argentina will be tougher than Ireland, Scotland or Wales IMO.

[pieceofme]

By the next World Cup Argentina will be tougher than Ireland, Scotland or Wales IMO.

Potentially.

But I can't seen Tonga threatening, so New Zealand should qualify with ease.

Of course Argentina could pull off a shock and thus make the next round for New Zealand a lot more difficult.