ozbash
Referee
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Danger game for us,
Zinzan Brooke has put the boot into the All Blacks, predicting they will struggle to beat England tonight - and will finish last in the Tri-Nations.
But his pessimism has been countered by one of the All Blacks sternest British critics - Times rugby writer Stephen Jones - who says the theory that England have chosen the perfect time to play a feeble New Zealand has been exploded.
Brooke, a veteran of 58 tests between 1987 and 1997 who is now based in England, said in his BBC column that he was concerned about tonight's test.
"We were not that convincing in the game against Ireland ... It was an OK performance, but if the Irish had been disciplined it could have swung either way and the 10-point margin was a little bit flattering to the All Blacks."
While some England fans were predicting a comfortable New Zealand win, Brooke was less confident.
"I have been talking to a few England fans, who think the All Blacks will win by 20 or 30 points, but I really do not think it is going to be like that.
"But I am concerned about how New Zealand will do when the Tri-Nations comes round and I actually think they will come last."
Jones said it was difficult to say which of the teams was more denuded of its best players.
However, the test against Ireland showed the traditional staples of New Zealand's game, pace and raw power, had survived, he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4583477a1823.html
Injured All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina has passed a fitness test at Friday's Captain's Run and will take his place in the starting XV for Saturday night's test against England at Eden Park.
Muliaina came through fitness testing well at the All Blacks' Captains Run on Friday and was cleared to start in the No 15 jersey for what will be his 58th test. Muliaina strained a hamstring on Wednesday and was rested during Thursdays training.
Impressive Highlanders utility Paul Williams had been called into the All Blacks squad as cover, but he will now not be required, with Leon MacDonald remaining on the bench where he will cover fullback.
That means the All Black backline remains unchanged from last week's 21-11 win over Ireland in Wellington where they saw few quality opportunities in atrocious conditions.
Muliaina will be hopeful that he sees a few more openings than he did in Wellington, where the All Blacks scored two quality tries from about the only two line-breaks they could muster in the backline.
A delightful run from Conrad Smith, in which he beat Brian O'Driscoll for skill and pace, set up the opener, while Dan Carter's second-half breakout put Ma'a Nonu in for the only other try of a tough night.
The All Blacks coaches have said they felt the backline deserved another chance en masse to show their stuff after they'd been redeuced largely to spectator roles at the Cake Tin.
Henry said apart from the scare around Muliaina, the All Blacks had otherwise had a "sound" week as they prepared for a match they were fairly certain would present a formidable challenge.
"There's a good feel in the camp. We know we've got a major contest on. We've done a bit of homework and those people who know the England team particularly well are very upbeat about the qualities of the side playing.
"We understand that it's going to be a major contest."
NEW ZEALAND: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andy Ellis; 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Rodney So'oialo, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Neemia Tialata. Reserves: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17, John Schwalger, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Sione Lauaki, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Leon MacDonald.
London Irish winger Topsy Ojo is one of three new faces in a revamped England squad for the first test of their two-match series against New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday.
Ojo has been named in the starting side, while scrumhalf Danny Care (Harlequins) and hooker David Paice (London Irish) will start from the bench.
The new-look England squad is vastly different from the one that finished runners-up to South Africa at the 2007 Word Cup, with loosehead prop Andrew Sheridan the only player remaining from the starting line-up that lost in Paris.
England manager Rob Andrew said the squad was chosen with the aim not only of beating the All Blacks but also of grooming players for the 2011 World Cup.
"We've got a group of players that need to start on that journey," Andrew said.
"The majority of the players here will be around in three years' time - a lot of selections for the trip were made on that basis.
"For some of the guys, this will be the only time they play in New Zealand (before the 2011 World Cup)."
Luke Narraway has been chosen at No 8 in place of Nick Easter, who returned to England on the weekend after he broke his hand playing against the Barbarians a fortnight ago.
Mike Tindall will partner Olly Barkley in the centres, with Mathew Tait named on the bench.
England: 15-Mike Brown, 14-Topsy Ojo, 13-Mike Tindall, 12-Olly Barkley, 11-David Strettle, 10-Charlie Hodgson, 9-Richard Wigglesworth, 8-Luke Narraway, 7-Tom Rees, 6-James Haskell, 5-Steve Borthwick (captain), 4-Tom Palmer, 3-Matt Stevens, 2-Lee Mears, 1-Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16-David Paice, 17-Tim Payne, 18-Ben Kay, 19-Joe Worsley, 20-Danny Care, 21-Jamie Noon, 22-Mathew Tait.
Zinzan Brooke has put the boot into the All Blacks, predicting they will struggle to beat England tonight - and will finish last in the Tri-Nations.
But his pessimism has been countered by one of the All Blacks sternest British critics - Times rugby writer Stephen Jones - who says the theory that England have chosen the perfect time to play a feeble New Zealand has been exploded.
Brooke, a veteran of 58 tests between 1987 and 1997 who is now based in England, said in his BBC column that he was concerned about tonight's test.
"We were not that convincing in the game against Ireland ... It was an OK performance, but if the Irish had been disciplined it could have swung either way and the 10-point margin was a little bit flattering to the All Blacks."
While some England fans were predicting a comfortable New Zealand win, Brooke was less confident.
"I have been talking to a few England fans, who think the All Blacks will win by 20 or 30 points, but I really do not think it is going to be like that.
"But I am concerned about how New Zealand will do when the Tri-Nations comes round and I actually think they will come last."
Jones said it was difficult to say which of the teams was more denuded of its best players.
However, the test against Ireland showed the traditional staples of New Zealand's game, pace and raw power, had survived, he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4583477a1823.html
Injured All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina has passed a fitness test at Friday's Captain's Run and will take his place in the starting XV for Saturday night's test against England at Eden Park.
Muliaina came through fitness testing well at the All Blacks' Captains Run on Friday and was cleared to start in the No 15 jersey for what will be his 58th test. Muliaina strained a hamstring on Wednesday and was rested during Thursdays training.
Impressive Highlanders utility Paul Williams had been called into the All Blacks squad as cover, but he will now not be required, with Leon MacDonald remaining on the bench where he will cover fullback.
That means the All Black backline remains unchanged from last week's 21-11 win over Ireland in Wellington where they saw few quality opportunities in atrocious conditions.
Muliaina will be hopeful that he sees a few more openings than he did in Wellington, where the All Blacks scored two quality tries from about the only two line-breaks they could muster in the backline.
A delightful run from Conrad Smith, in which he beat Brian O'Driscoll for skill and pace, set up the opener, while Dan Carter's second-half breakout put Ma'a Nonu in for the only other try of a tough night.
The All Blacks coaches have said they felt the backline deserved another chance en masse to show their stuff after they'd been redeuced largely to spectator roles at the Cake Tin.
Henry said apart from the scare around Muliaina, the All Blacks had otherwise had a "sound" week as they prepared for a match they were fairly certain would present a formidable challenge.
"There's a good feel in the camp. We know we've got a major contest on. We've done a bit of homework and those people who know the England team particularly well are very upbeat about the qualities of the side playing.
"We understand that it's going to be a major contest."
NEW ZEALAND: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andy Ellis; 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Rodney So'oialo, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Neemia Tialata. Reserves: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17, John Schwalger, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Sione Lauaki, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Leon MacDonald.
London Irish winger Topsy Ojo is one of three new faces in a revamped England squad for the first test of their two-match series against New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday.
Ojo has been named in the starting side, while scrumhalf Danny Care (Harlequins) and hooker David Paice (London Irish) will start from the bench.
The new-look England squad is vastly different from the one that finished runners-up to South Africa at the 2007 Word Cup, with loosehead prop Andrew Sheridan the only player remaining from the starting line-up that lost in Paris.
England manager Rob Andrew said the squad was chosen with the aim not only of beating the All Blacks but also of grooming players for the 2011 World Cup.
"We've got a group of players that need to start on that journey," Andrew said.
"The majority of the players here will be around in three years' time - a lot of selections for the trip were made on that basis.
"For some of the guys, this will be the only time they play in New Zealand (before the 2011 World Cup)."
Luke Narraway has been chosen at No 8 in place of Nick Easter, who returned to England on the weekend after he broke his hand playing against the Barbarians a fortnight ago.
Mike Tindall will partner Olly Barkley in the centres, with Mathew Tait named on the bench.
England: 15-Mike Brown, 14-Topsy Ojo, 13-Mike Tindall, 12-Olly Barkley, 11-David Strettle, 10-Charlie Hodgson, 9-Richard Wigglesworth, 8-Luke Narraway, 7-Tom Rees, 6-James Haskell, 5-Steve Borthwick (captain), 4-Tom Palmer, 3-Matt Stevens, 2-Lee Mears, 1-Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16-David Paice, 17-Tim Payne, 18-Ben Kay, 19-Joe Worsley, 20-Danny Care, 21-Jamie Noon, 22-Mathew Tait.
