Regardless of the Aussie result v Samoa, England can assure themselves of a place in the final by beating the Kiwis by more than 18 clear. A tough ask and I don't think the Kiwis will play as badly as they did at the weekend, but it can be done.

Indoor stadium, so the weather won't play a part in the contest....2 evenly matched teams, semi-final type environment........I think this could be the game of the tournament.
Not sure abut the rest of you, but I can't wait....

England (+2) require a 10 point win to overhaul NZ (+20). Maths isn't your strongpoint then?

They only have to win by ten. I think they're good enough to do it. O'Loughlin's fit, the halves have had more time together and they know what they did wrong, which wasn't much, against Aus.

I don't have any strong points. No redeeming features either.....

TBF points difference rarely enters a London fans thoughts.

I am looking forward to it and have really enjoyed the last couple of weeks games.I am not too worried about the winning by 10 or whatever to go through.Just win please.

It has been 8 years since we beat either of the big 2 in the SH and NZ are at this time clearly the stronger of the two, so just beating them would be enough to make this a good tournament overall even if we were not to make the final.

TBF points difference rarely enters a London fans thoughts.

Nah...not the second time either.

Yet again, no less the truth.

Yet again, no less the truth.

Seriously?
Are you new to this internet malarkey

Maybe my smartphone is experiencing the same problems as the Cougars website

Or maybe not.

Nothing from where you hail from has ever been described as "smart".....

I think it's clear where we went wrong vs Australia. We shouldn't make the same mistakes again.

Let's take revenge for last year

It's being a great tournament so far and the gaps in the standards seem not to be as wide as they have being the last 20 years

Very much looking forward to it, I think the kiwis are the better but I have faith we can do it

2 best packs in the world at present going toe to toe.....england's kicking game will have to be spot on IMO.

Shows how little you know then.

Anyone know what sections of the ground we have been allocated. Just trying to book my tickets and it doesnt seem to say

Sad fact of life 1: The Kiwis have the best halves combination.

Sad fact of life 2: If Manu Vatuvei plays on the same side of the field as Joshua Charnley, New Zealand will run up a cricket score.

Yes, you are, aren't you!

The only fact about your post is that neither of those statements are facts.

FACT.

Charnley's the one threequarter I'd change anyway. This game is do or die, and I'd put Burgess or even Hardaker in there as we need some physicality on the wing rather than just a dodgy haircut.

The other changes would have to be in the pack. Farrell, Tomkins and Ferres have been vastly inferior to their opposite numbers in two games, making no yards with the ball plus poor defence. I'd bring in Whitehead and Cooper for any two of them as its hard to see them being any worse.

Despite his mistakes, I'd ask Clark to try to play 80 mins, with SOL (or Smith) acting half if he needs a short breather. Hodgson's off the pace at this level, and McNamara needs to realise that rotating hookers isn't mandatory.

The only other change I'd make is to ask Matt Smith to run the sodding ball a few times early. Its not his strong point but he needs to offer something to put the defence in two minds. If he can't/won't do that then I'd move Tomkins to 7 and Hardaker to full back.

Will this thread alter the result? No. So no point discussing it.

It's got a better chance of altering next weeks result as opposed to the post mortem thread........