It'll be New Zealand in the semis, barring an astonishing result elsewhere, so can England do it ? My view is that the forwards are good enough, but so far the backs haven't shown enough to suggest they can overcome, or hold, the NZ backline. I suspect we're looking at another Aussie-NZ final. But what do people think ?

They won't make the final.

DON'T THINK SO.... not after watching the Kiwi's last friday, the first half they were awesome, played error free lightning paced rugby.

They need an 80 minute performance which they haven't produced yet. England have looked excellent in 20 minute spells in all their games so far.

New Zealand look very very good and clinical and are just as good if not better than Australia now. Tall ask r England, but with a huge home crowd at Wembley they have a chance. 1-17 needs to have the game of their lives thougj

Can England win the semi-final? Yes

Will they? I don’t know

England are more than capable of beating the Kiwis, they have a big monster pack but it isn’t all that mobile. The halves have been on fire but the three-quarters should hold no fear for England. They can be got at.

NZ have yet to be tested, and have been complacent in a few games. If England hit hard and hit early im not sure the Kiwis have what they would need to come back.

I think England have a better fullback, better wingers, probably better centres, we have a better kicking game, Roby is the equal of Luke. We don’t have the size up front that they have but Burgess, Graham, et al are a more mobile and speedy pack than the likes of Warea-Hargreaves and big Frank-Paul the wrecking ball

If we play like we did against Australia we'll give ourselves a very good chance. But we shouldn't treat it like a disaster of epic proportions if we do lose in the semis, the Kiwis are very, very good.

They are certainly capable of beating the Kiwis, but it will have to be the complete 80 minutes.They won't get away with anything less.So far in each game we have had good patches but can we maintain that level?

I would say NZ to win in a close match and i fancy them to go on and take the trophy.

NZs record against England/GB over here is generally poor. Their recent record against Oz is terrible. They are not as good as Oz but they are much more ruthless than us against lesser opposition for some reason.

I think we'll beat them and make the final.

New Zealand are not good in defence. A few times PNG tore them up but didn't have the class to finish the play. England will without a doubt put points on them.

New Zealand are very good in attack but this is because they are constantly winning the ruck and getting the vital fast PTB. That sets them rolling and makes them unstoppable. England will do much better at the ruck and slowing them down in this area will go a long long way to winning the game. NZ won't be used to things not going their way and will certainly not be battle hardened. It will be a belting game but I reckon England can most certainly beat them and do a good job of it.

The only time that NZ been tested is the 20 min when Samoa came at them - and they looked distinctly beatable at that point. If England come out like they did against Aus, I think we will be in a very strong position.

NZ were fantastic for 20 mins against PNG; but equally England were fantastic for a similar spell against both Ireland and Fiji (Fiji being stronger than PNG).

Should be a cracker if both teams can put together 60-80mins rather than 20. I cant wait.

NZ are a better side, but with a home ground advantage and a bit of passion, England can win for sure. Probably should win in fact.

They've got the talent and they've shown that they are capable of causing major problems the number one ranked side.

If they put it together for 80 minutes, they will do it.

I think that game against Aus will be a blessing, and they'll produce what's needed in the Semi's.

They shouldn't necessarily have to in my opinion. I think that the tournament would have been much more exciting if the semi-final matches were drawn out of a hat. They are both being held at one venue so there is no issue with that. The group stage finishing positions provided advantages in the QFs and I cannot see why that needed to extend to the SFs. As it was widely predicted that only 3 teams could conceivably win it to give one (arguably the favourites) a guaranteed "easier" SF was not good for the tournament, IMO. (This all assumes the SF's actually become those anticipated by all!).

Unfortunately I think England missed their chance of making the final in week 1 when they were beat by Oz. Everyone knew the loser of that game would face NZ in a semi, and the last 3 weeks has confirmed that its highly likely to be and Oz v NZ final.

Having said that, I hope England do get to OT but can anyone see the current England team beating NZ and Oz in the space of 7 days?

Why not! NZ are a very good side but they're beatable and they don't hold that same mental edge over us that the Aussies do. If we can start quick and get on a role I think we can take the game to them and tire their big men out. We would lose a bit of physicality in defence by leaving out McIlorum but we need Roby and Burrow in there running out of dummy half at Kasiano and co.

It should be a classic tussle either way.

Still remember the pain of the 2008 group game, when England were 24-8 up after about 30 mins against NZ, only to lose 24-36.

:24aa1f0d

That was the group game not the semi final

8 November 2008
England 24–36 New Zealand
Report
Newcastle International Sports Centre, Newcastle
Attendance
Referee/s: Tony Archer (Australia)
Despite getting out to a 24 – 8 lead early in the match, England's woes continued as they were blitzed in the second half by New Zealand's five unanswered tries.


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Of course we don’t know if England will make the final but they certainly can. The plaudits being handed out to this NZ team are way over the top, they have some world class players (three who would challenge for a place in a world 17 in Tuivasa-Sheck, Williams and Waerea-Hargreaves) but also some players who have been made to look good by some easy group games

England can beat this New Zealand team but not will beat them – and alongside so many other unpredictable games, this is what is making this world cup so good

Yes, you're right, it was the Group Game (edited original post).

We were always trying to play catch-up in the Semi.

England: Wellens (St Helens); Calderwood (Wigan), Sykes (Bradford), Senior (Leeds), Smith (Leeds); Gleeson (Warrington), Burrow (Leeds); Morley (Warrington), Higham (Wigan), Peacock (Leeds, capt), Jones-Buchanan (Leeds), Ellis (Leeds), Purdham (Harlequins).

Interchange: Sinfield (Leeds), Westwood (Warrington), Hock (Wigan), Langley (Bradford).

looking back at the team that day too and we really have come a long way since then.We moan about our centres but crikey, Paul Sykes! Our halves get slated but look, Gleeson pulling the strings!

With home advantage this time and a much improved side we do have hope.

Looking at that side I'd say the current 1-5 are much stronger (although weaker at 4)/

6 and 7 about the same.

8-13 - overall a little stronger now.

14-17 - stronger now (although interesting that Sinfield only made the bench back then).

Hang on everybody...there is a little team called France to get past first. I don't for one minute hope France will beat England, and based upon performances so far in this tournament, France won't, but that is EXACTLY the point for me. I think France are DUE a performance and it might just be at the DW Stadium this weekend!

Not an unfair point, and I want France to put in a good performance, but I simply cannot see them mustering sufficient improvement to beat an England team which is better both in every department, as a team, and man on man. The only QF I don't expect to be one-sided is the Fiji v Samoa one, which promises to be absolutely cracking. I wish I could get to see that one.

They have no chance, they've scored 2 tries all tournament. We'll put 40 past them.