New Zealand v England 3rd & Final Test 2014 - Thoughts


By KBM
June 20 2014

England have lost the series overall but will be desperate to get one win over the 'All Blacks', personally I am not sure I can see this happening but I would love to be proved wrong.

 

 

New Zealand v England
3rd and Final Test
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Saturday, 21 June
Kick-off: 08:35 BST

 

Englands Joe Launchbury claims the ball from a lineout during the QBE International match at Twicken


England have suffered another injury and lock Joe Launchbury will replace the injured Geoff Parling who has a hamstring injury from the second Test defeat so Launchbury will partner Courtney Lawes, with Dave Attwood coming onto the bench.


Freddie Burns gets the nod to start at fly-half ahead of Danny Cipriani who is on the bench, this is one of seven changes to the side for Saturday's third and final Test against New Zealand in Hamilton. Ben Youngs, Chris Ashton, Kyle Eastmond, Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes and Billy Vunipola all return.

England's Freddie Burns during the QBE International at Twickenham Stadium, London


Fly-half Freddie Burns says the team are "massively confident" of beating the All Blacks in Hamilton. "We fronted up fantastically well in the first two games and ran them very close," said Burns, 24. "Hopefully we can go that step further and get the win, which would be fantastic."


Why do I not have this optimism, I am not sure but I just feel we missed the best opportunity we had in the first test and we have lost momentum now. To my mind the ' All Blacks' are on a roll and they won't let anyone let alone England stop them. Oh well we shall see tomorrow morning.


I do feel England need to concentrate for the full 80mins or even 90 mins for that matter. Our danger areas are the beginning and end of games, I feel the team and some players don't seem to be focused and ready/aware for the sudden rush or the last minute push. However. our Captain is sounding positive so let's hope eh?


England captain Chris Robshaw says "the tourists can still make their mark in New Zealand, even though they have already lost the three-match series". "Only two English teams have ever come here and won so we've still got an opportunity to do something special," he said. "We want to leave achieving something and we've got a chance to do that."

 st.george on horse

Cone on England!

England: Mike Brown, Chris Ashton, Manu Tuilagi, Kyle Eastmond, Marland Yarde, Freddie Burns, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, David Wilson, Courtney Lawes, Joe Launchbury, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw (capt), Billy Vunipola
Replacements: Rob Webber, Matt Mullan, Kieran Brookes,Dave Attwood , Ben Morgan, Lee Dickson, Danny Cipriani, Luther Burrell


New Zealand: Ben Smith, Cory Jane, Malakai Fekitoa, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Tony Woodcock, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Samuel Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Kieran Read
Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Liam Messam, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Ryan Crotty

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New Zealand v England 3rd & Final Test 2014 - Thoughts
Discussion started by Unofficial England Rugby Union , 20/06/2014 11:45
Unofficial England Rugby Union
20/06/2014 11:45
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