Second Test - ENG v NZ (Sat 7th 2:30PM GMT/Sun 8th 1:30AM AEST / 3:30AM NZDT)

[Burns]

Welcome to the Official Match Thread for Discussion of the Second Test in the test series for the Baskerville Shield!

TEAMS

1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2 Jason Nightingale 3 Jordan Kahu 4 Dean Whare 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6 Peta Hiku 7 Tuimoala Lolohea 8 Jesse Bromwich 9 Issac Luke 10 Sam Moa 11 Kevin Proctor 12 Tohu Harris 13 Adam Blair
14 Lewis Brown 15 Martin Taupau 16 Ben Matulino 17 Alex Glenn 18 Isaac Liu 19 Kodi Nikorima

John Bateman, Joe Burgess, Thomas Burgess, Mike Cooper, Leroy Cudjoe Liam Farrell Brett Ferres, James Graham, Ryan Hall Zak Hardaker, Chris Hill, Josh Hodgson, Sean O’Loughlin (c), James Roby, Kallum Watkins, Ben Westwood, Elliott Whitehead, Gareth Widdop, George Williams

TEST INFORMATION
Played at the Olympic Stadium, London. Capacity of 50-55,000 - Dependent on layout.
Referee: Gerard Sutton (Aus)
Touch Judge: TBA
Video Referee: TBA

TEST SERIES RESULTS

ENG 26 defeated NZ 12 at Hull. Match Highlights -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-OP37Rv6fM&feature=youtu.be

BROADCAST
Televised in ENG on BBC 1 at 2:00pm Saturday.
Televised in AUS on Fox Sports 1 at 1:30am Sunday.
Televised in NZ on SKY Sport 2 at 3:30am Sunday.​

 

[Burns]

The Stadium!

How many tickets have been sold?

According to England RL 43,000 have been sold so far. https://twitter.com/England_RL/status/662018829841793025

Bonus Trivia

James Graham becomes highest capped player for England at 28 appearances on Saturday. http://www.smh.com.au//breaking-news-sport/grahams-joy-at-england-rl-cap-record-20151105-45pkt.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

 

[roughyedspud]

good work lad..

 

[Foreign Legion]

James Graham true legend loves his league and england hope they win it for him

 

[Last Week]

The effort you put into these is impressive Burns. If you start doing NRL matches, Timmah might have competition on his hands.

 

[Evil Homer]

Referee is Gerard Sutton. http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_19974-autumn-series-officials-confirmed.html

 

[roughyedspud]

certainly won't be a 2-7 penalty count !! we need to clear the ruck alot quicker than last week or sutton will be blowing his whistle like he's at a 90s rave!



its just another hurdle we have to cross though..1. beating the kiwis & 2 beating the aussie ref..

 

[Burns]

Referee is Gerard Sutton. http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_19974-autumn-series-officials-confirmed.html

Ah, completely forgot it was announced in advance, thanks Homer!

good work lad..

The effort you put into these is impressive Burns. If you start doing NRL matches, Timmah might have competition on his hands.

Thanks for kinds words dudes, the International forum is a labour of love. Inspiration is from Timmah's NRL Match Day Section.

James Graham true legend loves his league and england hope they win it for him

Absolute legend, most passionate player I've seen Paul Harragon.

 

[roughyedspud]

@EnglandRL just tweeted the DW is sold out for the 3rd test


we're gonna go really close to reaching 100,000 for the series

 

[Burns]

@EnglandRL just tweeted the DW is sold out for the 3rd test


we're gonna go really close to reaching 100,000 for the series

Woha, wow! That should lead to big push for London!

 

[miguel de cervantes]

Still single tickets DW available on the internet - they really should stop announcing sold outs for games that aren't sold out.

They have opened up all of Olympic now. Lower Bowl is all gone, maybe 3/5 of the top levels gone.

It actually looks like a really average stadium viewing wise for rugby going on that photo so I'd imagine some of the first game hype will wear off for the next time when people realise this.

 

[undertaker]

Looks like its time to play the next England vs New Zealand series at larger venues, rather than 25k seat stadia (e.g. Elland Road, City of Manchester Stadium etc.)

 

[hazzadis]

i thought the ref was okay last week and nothing to do with why the kiwis lost, we judged played shit the second half. Not playing to the whistle dropped ball missed tackles. Hopefully they got there shit together this week. Too much for the England supporters for getting to the games

 

[roughyedspud]

Thaler was fine last week.....but we all know sutton will do his best to level it up!

 

[Burns]

Teams updated in OP. England unchanged, NZ slight changes to bench.

Also, for those wondering if Sam Burgess would pull on a jersey, seems like it won't be happening yet.

An estimated $500,000 deal to bring Sam Burgess back to the NRL may see him presented to the crowd at London's Olympic Stadium on Saturday – but to suggest he'll play in the current series against New Zealand is "ridiculous" according to England coach Steve McNamara.

http://www.nrl.com/burgess-bound-for-nrl-but-not-england-yet/tabid/10874/newsid/90793/default.aspx

 

[roughyedspud]

Nowt stopping him being in the changing room or as a water carrier

 

[morningstar]

Still single tickets DW available on the internet - they really should stop announcing sold outs for games that aren't sold out.

I don't mind it as a marketing strategy. It's basic supply and demand, pushes focus onto the Olympic Stadium game if there are people still mulling their options. They can put out a press release early next week and say a special batch of extra tickets are being released for the DW Stadium to knock off the few singles that are dotted around the place.

 

[jimmyo]

Can someone explain the rationale of Hiku at 6 for New Zealand? Picking an outside back from a team that didn't make the top 8 in the NRL in a half position is a sure way to lose. Everywhere else NZ is streets ahead of England (although the English forwards have their advantages).

I want to tip NZ here but I feel like a bad halves pairing could cost them in a close game. Will NZ's top class backs and tough, mobile forwards with Isaac Luke hopefuly playing a big part in the game be enough?

 

[miguel de cervantes]

ok, so a french fta channel, equipe21, is going to show this game live. or so they say because they are advertising it as being live on sunday.

in any case it will probably be shown at some point on FTA. hope it is a good game.

 

[Wizardman]

I saw on the online foxtel guide that the second test will be shown on foxtel live.