Rugby Union Autumn Internationals
Discussion
Predictions for the weekend tests anyone?
Eng Vs SA
First of all Steve Walsh is officiating.......
With both teams somewhat backed into a corner after the result/performances of last week it should make for an intense and highly physical encounter. I started out saying England needed to win 3/4 of these tests to be seen as moving forward and progressing from where they were. I think it will be tight. I've gone on about this quite a bit but our backrow is completely unbalanced particularly for this clash we need a stronger physical presence/carrier in the from of Haskell, as much as I like Tom Wood as a player I don't see him as a sub and isn't bringing enough to the team with what seems to be the first choice 7/8. Same goes for Billy V, he's just a bit too one dimensional for me and up against a physical well drilled opposition pack gets stopped on the gain line. Unlike Wood though I think Vunipola is an impact player and could do a job from the bench when the opposition is tiring. Robshaw is part of the problem but is the least likely to be dropped, without a fetcher in there teams aren't having to worry too much about the breakdown.
The Saffers don't have the physical edge you'd have come to expect and they've been trying to vary their game. Bismark starts on the bench, Etzebeth was out injured for a while and doesn't look to have got anywhere near to the form he was showing a couple of years ago. Matfield despite being in good shape for his age is pushing 39 and shows the issues the Boks are having at lock. No Alberts available in the back row, no crash ball type centre currently available. New wonder kid Pollard dropped to the bench, generally whole sale changes after the Ireland defeat is good news for England. The rolling Faumuina try last week was worrying that our forwards couldn't kill it but I think we may have the edge tomorrow up front.
I get that Farrell is your first choice #10 Mr Lancaster, I've never been his biggest fan but have come to realise he's young but overall a good if limited player WHEN on form. If for any reason something happens this season and he's not available for the WC we've limited experience within this side to step up. Ford although flaky at times is in better form and would have given him some starts.
Young Watson starting on the wing, exciting player hope he does well.
Eng Vs SA
First of all Steve Walsh is officiating.......
With both teams somewhat backed into a corner after the result/performances of last week it should make for an intense and highly physical encounter. I started out saying England needed to win 3/4 of these tests to be seen as moving forward and progressing from where they were. I think it will be tight. I've gone on about this quite a bit but our backrow is completely unbalanced particularly for this clash we need a stronger physical presence/carrier in the from of Haskell, as much as I like Tom Wood as a player I don't see him as a sub and isn't bringing enough to the team with what seems to be the first choice 7/8. Same goes for Billy V, he's just a bit too one dimensional for me and up against a physical well drilled opposition pack gets stopped on the gain line. Unlike Wood though I think Vunipola is an impact player and could do a job from the bench when the opposition is tiring. Robshaw is part of the problem but is the least likely to be dropped, without a fetcher in there teams aren't having to worry too much about the breakdown.
The Saffers don't have the physical edge you'd have come to expect and they've been trying to vary their game. Bismark starts on the bench, Etzebeth was out injured for a while and doesn't look to have got anywhere near to the form he was showing a couple of years ago. Matfield despite being in good shape for his age is pushing 39 and shows the issues the Boks are having at lock. No Alberts available in the back row, no crash ball type centre currently available. New wonder kid Pollard dropped to the bench, generally whole sale changes after the Ireland defeat is good news for England. The rolling Faumuina try last week was worrying that our forwards couldn't kill it but I think we may have the edge tomorrow up front.
I get that Farrell is your first choice #10 Mr Lancaster, I've never been his biggest fan but have come to realise he's young but overall a good if limited player WHEN on form. If for any reason something happens this season and he's not available for the WC we've limited experience within this side to step up. Ford although flaky at times is in better form and would have given him some starts.
Young Watson starting on the wing, exciting player hope he does well.
I am in two minds on this one I think we should win tomorrow if we can stop being naive. I too have not been Faz's biggest fan - for me he is just too one-dimensional and when you figure in to the equation he's out of form.... Still not 100% on May (a few more tries will help his cause though) and I too think that Haskell should be playing
for what it's worth I'd be looking at a backline of:
F/B Foden
W Watson
W Yardee
C Eastmond
C Slade
F/H Ford (with Cip on the bench for when defences start to tire)
S/H Care
Suspect the Kiwis are going to win <grin> but I am looking forward to seeing Fiji/Wales
for what it's worth I'd be looking at a backline of:
F/B Foden
W Watson
W Yardee
C Eastmond
C Slade
F/H Ford (with Cip on the bench for when defences start to tire)
S/H Care
Suspect the Kiwis are going to win <grin> but I am looking forward to seeing Fiji/Wales
Was at a rugby dinner last night and Matt Dawson gave his first team (with everyone available) and he made some slightly surprising choices - I will try and remember them....
Point here is that he really rates Watson. Says he is immensely talented and with searing pace. One to watch and a realistic option for a bolt on starter at RWC next year.
He had no hesitation whatsoever re Faz at 10. None. He laughed and mocked the idea of Myler at 10 but seemd open to Ford. He wasn't too keen on Cips either.
Oh, and he is a bit of a c**k
Point here is that he really rates Watson. Says he is immensely talented and with searing pace. One to watch and a realistic option for a bolt on starter at RWC next year.
He had no hesitation whatsoever re Faz at 10. None. He laughed and mocked the idea of Myler at 10 but seemd open to Ford. He wasn't too keen on Cips either.
Oh, and he is a bit of a c**k
We're doing our best to gift this game to the Saffers, who other than showing some ferocity at the breakdown haven't looked all that.
You can't gift points against top sides and expect to win. We were lucky not to have conceded those last 3 points-that would have been Tom wood responsible 6 points then.
Sorry I keep on going on about this but our backrow is just not balanced, Robshaw plays with his heart on his sleeve, carries (without getting over the gain line) and tackles well there's no room in this side for him and Tom Wood IMO. Some very static stuff in attack allow the Boks to target the breakdown a pilfer ball.
In attack we're just f
king useless. Very frustrating half of rugby, I don't expect us to get back in to this unfortunately.
You can't gift points against top sides and expect to win. We were lucky not to have conceded those last 3 points-that would have been Tom wood responsible 6 points then.
Sorry I keep on going on about this but our backrow is just not balanced, Robshaw plays with his heart on his sleeve, carries (without getting over the gain line) and tackles well there's no room in this side for him and Tom Wood IMO. Some very static stuff in attack allow the Boks to target the breakdown a pilfer ball.
In attack we're just f
king useless. Very frustrating half of rugby, I don't expect us to get back in to this unfortunately.irocfan said:
I hope you're wrong - but I'm beginning to think that you may not be 
My Jedi mind trick reverse phycology is working then..........That wasn't a lineout though.
Well lets see where the game goes now.........
ETA can we pitch in and subsidise a move to France for Farrell? He shouldn't have been involved in these Autumn internationals at all due to lack of play. Win or loose today Lancaster needs to start picking people on form.
Edited by a311 on Saturday 15th November 15:49
FFS I'm really becoming disillusioned with this current England set up now.
There's a lot of talent out there it's just not being managed correctly end of IMO.
Lancaster has built his team around Owen Farrell and with his dad sat next to him in the coaching box doesn't seem to want to look at anyone else. There's no fking point having two wingers on the pitch in this current set up may as well have another two forwards on the pitch....
Brown looked more assured today, I thought Barrit also had a good game. Morgan to start over Vunipola for the Samoa and Australia.
South Africa weren't great they were just less bad than us.
There's a lot of talent out there it's just not being managed correctly end of IMO.
Lancaster has built his team around Owen Farrell and with his dad sat next to him in the coaching box doesn't seem to want to look at anyone else. There's no f
king point having two wingers on the pitch in this current set up may as well have another two forwards on the pitch....Brown looked more assured today, I thought Barrit also had a good game. Morgan to start over Vunipola for the Samoa and Australia.
South Africa weren't great they were just less bad than us.
Farrell is holding this team back at present. Major management problem.
Vunipola / Morgan. Both monsters. V dropped the ball a couple of times early on, but Morgan is 2nd to none as an impact No8 with 20mins left.
Brown, big improvement, we know what he is capable of.
Wings: never got the ball in a position to run wide. We have seen what May can do.
Danny Care. 50th cap. Fatal mistake of holding onto the ball put us 7 points down. Youngs came on and was distributing with more urgency.
Home made chips need to get into oven!
Vunipola / Morgan. Both monsters. V dropped the ball a couple of times early on, but Morgan is 2nd to none as an impact No8 with 20mins left.
Brown, big improvement, we know what he is capable of.
Wings: never got the ball in a position to run wide. We have seen what May can do.
Danny Care. 50th cap. Fatal mistake of holding onto the ball put us 7 points down. Youngs came on and was distributing with more urgency.
Home made chips need to get into oven!
steveT350C said:
Farrell is holding this team back at present. Major management problem.
Farrell reminds me of the Andrew/Barnes dilemma for the 10 shirt.....he's incredibly limited with the ball in hand at this level. Unless there's some serious beef at 12 and 13 who have the muscle to overcome the ste ball he serves up England have nothing to offer behind the scrum.Farrell is certainly not going to have defences worried with his broken field running either which makes things even harder for those outside him....the oppo don't need to be worried about him making a break.
Surely we have to have different half back for the next two matches. If nothing else we need a reserve 10 with more than 5 caps in case the golden child is injured.
Cheib said:
steveT350C said:
Farrell is holding this team back at present. Major management problem.
Farrell reminds me of the Andrew/Barnes dilemma for the 10 shirt.....he's incredibly limited with the ball in hand at this level. Unless there's some serious beef at 12 and 13 who have the muscle to overcome the ste ball he serves up England have nothing to offer behind the scrum.Farrell is certainly not going to have defences worried with his broken field running either which makes things even harder for those outside him....the oppo don't need to be worried about him making a break.
Surely we have to have different half back for the next two matches. If nothing else we need a reserve 10 with more than 5 caps in case the golden child is injured.
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