England A vs All Blacks XV, 8 November at the Rec

[FKAS]

Happy with this weeks side. Only issues I have are Bracken’s not being involved and Joseph being injured.

On last week, Blamire the real disappointment. Post World Cup we’re likely in a bit of pickle at hooker and was hoping he could step up as a more experienced option to Jibulu and Kepu. Options with experience will likely be Langdon and Oghre. Dan will still have about 10 career starts to his name.

Very much an issue. Langdon doesn't seem to be in favour and perhaps lacks the ball in hand impact that Borthwick wants from his hooker. Skillful and mobile though he is he's not the most physical. Oghre maybe falling foul of a similar thing despite his abilities.

Blamire, Jibulu and Kepu all being physical hookers that can carry does seem to set more of a type that England are looking at this time. Blamire seemingly fluffing his lines this time does open up opportunities for others. I'm still a fan of Seb Blake at Glaws as he offers the size and carrying ability that is seemingly favoured as well as good lineout skills.

[Puja]

Happy with this weeks side. Only issues I have are Bracken’s not being involved and Joseph being injured.

On last week, Blamire the real disappointment. Post World Cup we’re likely in a bit of pickle at hooker and was hoping he could step up as a more experienced option to Jibulu and Kepu. Options with experience will likely be Langdon and Oghre. Dan will still have about 10 career starts to his name.

Very much an issue. Langdon doesn't seem to be in favour and perhaps lacks the ball in hand impact that Borthwick wants from his hooker. Skillful and mobile though he is he's not the most physical. Oghre maybe falling foul of a similar thing despite his abilities.

Blamire, Jibulu and Kepu all being physical hookers that can carry does seem to set more of a type that England are looking at this time. Blamire seemingly fluffing his lines this time does open up opportunities for others. I'm still a fan of Seb Blake at Glaws as he offers the size and carrying ability that is seemingly favoured as well as good lineout skills.

There must be something about Seb Blake that doesn't fit - he looks a really good player to me, but England have shown absolutely no interest whatsoever, nor have Australia (who are even worse off at 2 than we are).

Puja

[SixAndAHalf]

I liked the look of Craig Wright at u20 level - seemed to have good size, solid in the set piece and decent around the park. He hasn't broken through yet at Northampton but he's still young.

[Captainhaircut]

Beat Spain 29-25 with 2 late tries. The accuracy was dreadful in the bits that I saw although conditions were dreadful. They played it like a proper game, kicking lots of penalties whilst we kept going for tries.

Hodge seemed to play well. Hendy and Caluori lively. Fisilau very busy as always. Jibulu disappointing but Kepu did ok.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Just watched the first half. Fair to say conditions are awful, which makes them marginally better than the officiating.

But if a half to forget for England. Barely got any ball and did next to nothing with it when we got it. Kicked it away mainly.



Sodeke and Fisilau the pick of the forwards. Bamber and Jibilu have been poor.

Hard to judge the backs. Caluori OK, couple of nice touches from Hall. Hodge the pick. Hendy and Atkinson not so good.

A word of note to the Spanish 9, who has been an utter cunt all half. And I mean that as a compliment! Channeling his inner Nic White!

[Which Tyler]

I'm on 35 minutes
Spain will be taking far more from this than England.
Spain are taking this seriously, and treating it like a proper test (and so they should) England look like they didn't play together last week, and their idea of "team building" involved beer rather than training sessions.

Yeah, that first try was definitely a forward pass, shame though, they'd deserve the try.

I love that EngA are playing matches again, but we need better coaching and to build some more sessions into the year (I guess this will come) and IMO better coherence with the senior squad in terms of playing style, probably a firmer idea of what it's for as well.

[Which Tyler]

I fully support EngA being a bridge between age-grade and full international, rather than just 2nd XV.
I'd say that they should have a wider squad for the year, and join senior training for those 2-3 day camps through the season, overseen by Borthwick.

Limit selection to being U25 or so, but targeting players who best fit the gameplan - which should be part of building an England identity. So if (for example) England snr want a boshing 12 and a play making 15, then EngA should play a boshing 12 and a play making 15. If England play a kick-dominated game, and a blitz defence, then EngA should play a kick-dominated game, and a blitz defence etc.

We know that SA will brutalise you with their power game. Whether snr, A, age grade or women.
We know that NZ will play an all-court game. Whether snr, A, age grade or women.
We know that France will play a big pack, a petit-general at SH and jouer jouer. Whether snr, A, age grade or women.

For England, the U18 play a different game to the U20 - even when it's the exact same players 2 years later - who play differently to EngA, who play differently to snr

[Captainhaircut]

I fully support EngA being a bridge between age-grade and full international, rather than just 2nd XV.
I'd say that they should have a wider squad for the year, and join senior training for those 2-3 day camps through the season, overseen by Borthwick.

Limit selection to being U25 or so, but targeting players who best fit the gameplan - which should be part of building an England identity. So if (for example) England snr want a boshing 12 and a play making 15, then EngA should play a boshing 12 and a play making 15. If England play a kick-dominated game, and a blitz defence, then EngA should play a kick-dominated game, and a blitz defence etc.

We know that SA will brutalise you with their power game. Whether snr, A, age grade or women.
We know that NZ will play an all-court game. Whether snr, A, age grade or women.
We know that France will play a big pack, a petit-general at SH and jouer jouer. Whether snr, A, age grade or women.

For England, the U18 play a different game to the U20 - even when it's the exact same players 2 years later - who play differently to EngA, who play differently to snr

Regarding the playing style, isn’t that what they did? Picked a mobile back row (Fisilau instead of Barbeary for example), picked wingers who were very strong in the air and picked a full back and scrum half with a good kicking game.

[fivepointer]

Just caught the highlights and whatever failings overall the team deserve credit for turning it around and coming through to win in the closing minutes.