Pro D2 : L’international espagnol Martin Alonso Muñoz prêté à Colomiers

I stand to be corrected but the ABs have never won a game in which a jet plane was flown overhead the stadium before kickoff.

Unfortunately the last quarter of the game against NZ demonstrated failure of the basics. Regardless of the substitution activities (which made little sense), the paucity of real try scoring opportunities (which is an obvious problem), and the inability to prevent NZ tries (which were well-constructed, to be fair), the telling thing about the game was that England somehow found themselves in a position to close it out with basic execution, but could not make it happen.

This is the opposite of evidence for solid foundations. Good teams raise their games in critical moments, and when it matters theyy win the arm wrestle by consistently getting the little things right.

I had a lot of time for Borthwick when he came on board. But on the strength of the last England performance I don't see that he is performing at the required level.

On the other hand, NZ manger, team and supporters had a year long whinge after the series loss to Ireland (TMO's fault apparently). Are still whinging about the RWC final loss (also TMO's fault) and indeed are still whinging about "poisoning" in the 1995 final. Infact 'whinge' could also describe the output from NZ for the entire period between 1987 and 2011.

Irish supporters just think NZ are arrogant, and we hate arrogance. Not a whinge, just the way it is.

Can’t cover the backline (I guess) like Kwagga can. But he has the game of Kwagga and the size of Wiese. I’d give him a run. Come on!

I see a young Cameron Hanekom being used as a chaser. Going to be einah.

If RM or BB were playing I’d have NZ as clear favourites (not necessarily by a landslide though…). As things stand I’d say NZ by a few but could go either way with Ireland at home.

I agree re your assessment of England as better than they are given credit for. Surely you can see that your above assessment is for the birds?

France have beaten NZ by 14-15 times in the last two matches. Ireland beat NZ in Durban with a lot of first team players missing almost all of which will start tomorrow.

Yet you maintain that doling out heavy defeats to Ireland and France in Dublin and Paris will be a sign that things are on the up?

I agree the NZ forwards are very good. But this Irish pack, dominated SA in Durban (not in the scrum but everywhere else).

In short, good luck with that prediction but this is 2024 not 1984!