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'I wanted England to win... to know we're capable of that is pretty cool' - Brad Shields

Brad Shields in training

England’s World Cup cricket triumph has fired the imagination of their rugby counterparts after Eddie Jones’ squad gathered together to watch the dramatic victory over New Zealand.

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Brad Shields revealed that the nerve-shredding scenes in Sunday’s final at Lord’s brought home the reality that Japan 2019 is fast approaching, with the second training camp of the summer already under way in Bristol.

Shields was born and raised in New Zealand but made his debut for England against South Africa in 2018, qualifying through his English parents, and was cheering on Eoin Morgan’s one-day heroes.

“We had a team meeting after the final so that kept being pushed back and back because the final was still going with the super over!” Shields told PA.

“The emotion in the room when England won really showed, it was crazy. It brought us down to earth, making some of us realise ‘now this is real, we can be those people on TV’.

“I’m glad I was with the team to watch it. To know we’re capable of that and to have that opportunity is pretty cool.

“I wanted England to win! Because of the final being at Lord’s, it was fitting for England to win.

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“We know that we could be the next team to win the World Cup for England and that’s our goal.”

– PA

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Comments on RugbyPass

J
JS 54 minutes ago
Four All Blacks whose international careers are at a crossroads

Reiko distributes when he needs to. Have there been times he could have passed to return a better result? Sure definitely!! but he’s needing to process a lot of milli-second data evolving in front of him with his primary purpose being “how do I contribute toward stressing this approaching defensive line” NOT simply passing to a winger for the sake of passing to a winger…..thats dumb! We dont want him passing to a winger if that winger gets bundled into touch or goes to ground and because now the ruck is 20-30 metres away further down the field from his support cleaners the risk of t/o is increased.


Core to a 13’s mindset in the ‘current’ game of every defender is a jackler, rush defences and playing a ‘pace’ game of width requiring fast ruck ball to try and stress a defensive line to find weaknesses to attack (the AB’s style) …..is to always be assessing if passing to your winger is going to see him scoot down the touchline for a try untouched OR (aware of the defensive strength of your opponents) do you make the decision instead to be the point of attack yourself - try to use your strength to step or break through BUT if tackled, back your own strength and skill to goto ground and recycle quickly and in doing so create a blind that immediately spreads the defenders from sideline to sideline giving your halves 2 options to ‘attack’ or box kick into behind Reiko’s ruck v just the 1 option if he passes to his wingers ALL the time.


I would suggest the above is why we keep seeing Reiko starting at 13 coming up 40+ tests….. because of the options Reiko attacking the pictures he sees provides for his halves


Watch the interplay between him and Fainganuku in Leicesters try v Ireland in the 1/4 final.

22 Go to comments
J
JS 1 hour ago
Four All Blacks whose international careers are at a crossroads

At last some sense!! 😍


Funnily, Reiko was dropped for that game by Razor (I think this was possibly the straw that broke the Leon/Razor relationship) against Leon’s advice, because of Reiko’s perceived poor distribution by Razor - anyhow, he adapted and there has been a noticeable shift in Reiko’s distribution pictures since.


Yeah the Argy 13 skinned ALB down his channel that game to score aye? Would never have happened to Reiko.

22 Go to comments
C
Cantab 1 hour ago
South Africa match Lions' scoreline in one-sided romp over Barbarians

That and security under the high ball.

14 Go to comments
C
Cantab 1 hour ago
South Africa match Lions' scoreline in one-sided romp over Barbarians

Lot of truth in what you say. Boks were not tested at all in this game and can only play what is in front of them which on this occasion was mediocre at best. Early days yet.

14 Go to comments
C
Cantab 1 hour ago
Can the All Blacks regain their aura and maintain their winning legacy?

Yes it does take a long time for NZR to get their heads out of the sand and allow players to develop their game overseas without losing their AB eligibility.

155 Go to comments
C
Chiefs Mana 1 hour ago
Four All Blacks whose international careers are at a crossroads

You’ve listed our captain and VC which is ridiculous - both Barretts are key parts of our team. Codie Taylor is the best of the hookers and has turned around his poor form from a few seasons ago to be one of, if not the best in the world again.


I would like to see further depth developed across all positions this year but your list is a silly one.


I also don’t agree with the article…de Groot has been a big part of a fantastic scrum across multiple seasons and Finau in the infancy of his career. ALB is largely in the same position he’s been in since he debuted for the ABs…trying to stay healthy and providing some versatility off the bench/in the squad.

22 Go to comments
C
Chiefs Mana 1 hour ago
New Zealand U20's open campaign with tight victory over Italy

Celebrating a knocked out Italian player was disgraceful

3 Go to comments
g
gordon campbell 2 hours ago
Finn Russell played like an NFL quarterback and got away with it

I nearly did rise to this dafty. Bet by some great forward passing 🤣

10 Go to comments
P
PaPaRumple 2 hours ago
Junior Springboks hand Australia U20 reality check in Calvisano

Sure pal, was you toxic comment that's started this but you do you reverse psychology bs.

11 Go to comments
J
J V 2 hours ago
New Zealand U20's open campaign with tight victory over Italy

The yellow could (should ?) have been red. And then it’s a whole other game. I found the referee very harsh with the Italian team (I have to precise I could watch only the first half).

3 Go to comments
S
SadersMan 2 hours ago
Junior Springboks hand Australia U20 reality check in Calvisano

Low self esteem much bro? You’ll be fine, you’ll be fine. 😂

11 Go to comments
M
MB 2 hours ago
Western Force player ratings vs British & Irish Lions | 2025 Lions series

I thought the 4 starting wingers were arguably the 4 best players on the ground. Only problem for the Force is that the Lions has 13 other strong contributors, whereas the Force only has 4-5 others making an impact…

7 Go to comments
S
SadersMan 2 hours ago
New Zealand U20's open campaign with tight victory over Italy

What a mess. Two cards, 12 penalties, 10+ basic skills errors, yes we won all our scrums but were crunched whenever they scrummed for penalties on their feeds, not clinical & composed on attack thus wasting several scoring opportunities, loads to work on . . .

3 Go to comments
B
BA 2 hours ago
'Four good 10s': Robertson weighs in on All Blacks first fives and Mo'unga situation

Both Sexton and Farrell do not possess the running game of Richie

19 Go to comments
S
SadersMan 2 hours ago
Italy U20 vs New Zealand U20 | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

Agreed. The clown raging above the seriously injured Italian prop in the first minute was distasteful too.


As for the cards, I don’t know why a lightweight winger thinks he needs to “clean” a static ruck. It was a cheap shot, totally unnecessary. And the second yellow, again, a static ruck with zero chance of affecting possession. Totally unnecessary.


With 12 penalties & 2 cards, these numbies better get their heads right from now on. And then, there’s the 10+ knockons & other unforced basic skills errors . . . . .

2 Go to comments
d
d 2 hours ago
'Four good 10s': Robertson weighs in on All Blacks first fives and Mo'unga situation

where did I say that? I am just saying that he is inferior to players like Sexton and Farrell in his tactical kicking so the suggestion that he is the world’s best 10 are classic one-eyed AB fandom.

19 Go to comments
J
JD 3 hours ago
Italy U20 vs New Zealand U20 | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

Some of those Kiwis are thugs. Hard to understand how they only got yellow cards.

And additionally, they’re a pretty average team.

2 Go to comments
B
Bruiser 3 hours ago
Four All Blacks whose international careers are at a crossroads

Agree, Jordie and Reiks are in their prime and experience wins world cups. TT will give us impact top bring games home in last quarter

22 Go to comments
B
Bruiser 3 hours ago
Four All Blacks whose international careers are at a crossroads

Agree our midfield isnt broke. Having Timici and Proctor gives us strong bench impact. Reiko is close to best defensive 13 in world rugby. We fell to pieces in D when was dropped against Argies last year. Start with Jordie and Rieks, then bring on TT at 50 to do the damage. Our problem last year was the last 20 mins…we couldnt score points in last quarter. TT and Proctor provide real impact

22 Go to comments
T
Tk 4 hours ago
Stadium PA takes multiple digs at the British & Irish Lions in Perth

I don't disagree that the regs need working on. But right now they are what they are and if qualified for a home nation they should therefore qualify for the Lions. The world has changed a lot over last few decades around immigration and where children are born, even before you start on residential qualification.

31 Go to comments
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LONG READ Can the All Blacks regain their aura and maintain their winning legacy? Can the All Blacks regain their aura and maintain their winning legacy?
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