The All Blacks second XV could win the World Cup

Dont forget ya medication Marto.

Excellent - thanks birdy, i can start blaming the refs now......

I don't think I am guilty of the same thing actually, I am on record here as commenting on a wide variety of sports including the tennis, league, and cricket and in a positive and constructive way not always negative. As for your comment "I’ll give you the supporters one, but let’s be frank here, I’m in a very large majority who find a good number (by no means all) of kiwi posters on here either insufferably smug or amazingly insecure. " is precisely the sort of comment I'd expect from you. Two points on this, 1) you have a habit of claiming a majority opinion on things which are completely unsubstantiated, and 2) insufferably smug is something I could easily (and have) turn back on you as far as English supporters are concerned on public forums in the UK. But I think I am flogging a dead horse. You have your views and I have mine. I'd be happy to have a whine or beer with you anytime, but somehow I think that would be unlikely to ever happen unless you are travelling through the Cook Islands. Cheers.

Well; if they're not better than they were in the EOYTs the coaching staff want shooting. They'll have the team together for 3 months; are more likely to have a full squad (unless they pick-up injuries in the warm-up games); and have been planning and analyzing their opponents for probably at least a year. If that doesn't produce a 'significant' increase in performance over the shambles of the June tour to NZ or having the team together for a week before their first international in 5 months in November, then there doesn't seem much point in having a coaching staff or preparation time.

Why will England be 'significantly' better than they were in the EOYT's Birdy? they weren't in the last World cup. Is it because they'll try harder or because they're better in NH World cups? Or just cos 'you say so'? How is 'significantly' derived at?

Hee Hee; good wind-up Jerry. I take all your's, Taylorman's and Piru's points. The other side of the coin, though, to AB fans expressing their 'pride' in their team (on a fairly constant basis), is that let's not read any posts of hurt and injured 'what have we ever done to deserve this' stuff if you lose at the RWC and people take the mickey.

Agreed.

Coconut, I thought we had got over all this, but evidently not. You accused me of only having commenting on one topic, but I'm afraid you're becoming guilty of the exact same thing. I'd like just one example of when I've criticised the administrators of NZ rugby please. I think you may struggle somewhat, as I haven't done so. I'll give you the supporters one, but let's be frank here, I'm in a very large majority who find a good number (by no means all) of kiwi posters on here either insufferably smug or amazingly insecure. The examples you give, could be attributed to any number of posters on here but they IMO are fairly accurate in describing as I said before a good number of the kiwi posters (but not all). With regards to everything else 'New Zealand', I think you're in danger of being a bit dare I say it...precious. I've never been to NZ but it looks a beautiful place and it makes some great wine so frankly it's got to be right up there as far as I'm concerned. Believe it or not I've actually got a few kiwi mates so maybe I should just get myself over there and who knows, I could buy you a beer or a glass of wine and we could just hug it out, what do you say?

Well I give you credit JimmyB, you are subtle in how you go about your sordid little business. The ABs are one thing and aren't generally deserving on too much criticism in and of themselves, its the administrators, supporters and everything else 'New Zealand' you seem to have a problem with. Too insular as a country, too chippy, too precious, too one-eyed, etc, etc etc ad nauseam. But don't want to belabour the point. As you were.

Agree with pretty much all of that Birdy.

its a fairly standard 1st xv but I'd have SBW starting on the wing if I was selecting.

I agree with KC on this one. Retallick, Whitelock, Tuipulotu then Broadhurst. I think Romano will get nod ahead of broadhurst though for some reason. But Broadhurst is definetly one for the future. But i will be having a closer look at Whitelock NB.

Very fair assessment birdy. But wc format is simple. You play who you play. Full stop.

Not sure previous world cups are particularly relevant. Lomu running over Catt in 1995 isn't going to matter a damn in 2015. We can speculate with regard to other world cups. The ABs would have absolutely slaughtered England if they'd met in 2007. I think England were a better team than the ABs in 2003, but not by such a margin that you could confidently predict the result if they'd met, although you'd probably go for England because they were a side that simply knew how to win. I'll stick with my 7 point difference at this RWC. England will be significantly better than they have been in EOYTs etc. The ABs will be better as well, but they're by far the most consistent side in the world, the only downside to which is that they improve relatively less than other teams at World Cup time.

I stand corrected Jerry, must have just completely blocked the '99 tournament out. All I can remember really is bloody Jannie De Beer.

oh get it now

SBW??!!

I recall Wendell scoring one very good try against the AB's stepped a couple and bumped off Mils, from memory. Probably got a couple of less memorable ones too. I also remember him being horribly out of position and letting in a fair few more. There was that one test in 03 where he let in 2 or 3 down his wing and picked up a YC for good measure.

Come on Jerry you know the rules, no being proud of the All Blacks or criticising the Wallabies, Don't want to be a "Kiwi wiv a cheep on hees shouldah" now do you?

Marto when did Wendell ever run through the entire All Black pack? I mean that seriously as I don't recall it - I remember Wendell being good against second rate sides and an absolute liability against tough competition.