England vs New Zealand - Saturday

[Stom]

Blocking, surely?

ETA, okay, I'll take TMO's word for it. Thankfully the commentators had shut up for 5 seconds and we could hear the explanation

Absofxxinglutely

[Mellsblue]

And round the fringes.

[Mellsblue]

Is it blocking if he’s stood still?

[Which Tyler]

Blocking, surely?

Right??

TMO checked and said that Jordan was onside, which didn't look right, but camera angle was terrible to judge that

[Stom]

I’m not sure Genge is a better player than Baxter anymore

[Mellsblue]

And round the fringes.

Just quality 3 v 3 attack.

[Mellsblue]

This is a very fun game.

[Which Tyler]

Forward pass anyway

[Stom]

Wtf was that advantage?!? About 1.5 seconds.

[Stom]

This is a very fun game.

I like how we play. It’s entertaining, which is just what rugby needs

[Which Tyler]

Wtf was that advantage?!? About 1.5 seconds.

Kick the ball with a KO advantage, and you can't expect anything but "advantage over", which TBF, he did call before anyone got hands on the ball

[Which Tyler]

I don't like it, but I get having a pot shot when playing advantage - I don't get the need there though. Especially if you're not St Jonny who can actually nail them.

[Puja]

Wtf was that advantage?!? About 1.5 seconds.

Kick the ball with a KO advantage, and you can't expect anything but "advantage over", which TBF, he did call before anyone got hands on the ball

If you've got the ball in your hands and choose to kick, then fair enough, but calling advantage over when someone chucks a boot at a dropped ball on the deck is very harsh. It's a fly-hack, not a deliberately placed kick.

Decent enough from England so far, although only in patches. Our defence looks like it's a second away from falling apart at all times and we could quite easily have let in more tries. On the other hand, scrum is good, lineout is good, discipline is good, and the attack shows real verve and bite. Spencer's been a handbrake though - still not bringing through his domestic form.

Something to build on, but we need to step it up in the second half.

Puja

[Puja]

I don't like it, but I get having a pot shot when playing advantage - I don't get the need there though. Especially if you're not St Jonny who can actually nail them.

You'd have to assume he's been potting them all day long in training with the confidence that they're going back to him. Doesn't look like it from the results on the pitch though.

Puja

[FKAS]

Smith looks hesitant in attack to me. He started brightly but as the half went on seemed like he was trying to do a bad George Ford impersonation. Drop goal attempts haven't been the best.

We aren't playing with a sweeper and the ABs are really going after that with those little dinks over the top and moves around the breakdown.

Physicality has been good, set piece is working but it feels like we are stuck in third gear in attack. If we can just kick on and find those extra gears we can fine roaring back into this. New Zealand's poor discipline really does tell to the pressure we are putting on them.

[Mellsblue]

The ol’ Farrell technique of miss a couple and then kick one later and so be ordained the ice animal test man.

[Which Tyler]

If you've got the ball in your hands and choose to kick, then fair enough, but calling advantage over when someone chucks a boot at a dropped ball on the deck is very harsh. It's a fly-hack, not a deliberately placed kick.

Personally, I agree.
But I'm not the ref, and ref did shout "advantage over" loudly enough to be heard over the commentators, and before anyone had got hands on the ball.
You play the ref, don't assume he'll change his mind, and stop playing.

[Mellsblue]

Wish they’d put a guard in for Spencer’s kicks from the base.

[Which Tyler]

Nice.
And excellently delayed by Marcus to make the pass.

Was that Slade cutting from outside shoulder to inside? Ws also a good decision

[Mellsblue]

World class assist from Furbank.

[Which Tyler]

World class assist from Furbank.

Yep, that last angle, clearly the Wing Commander

[Mellsblue]

World class assist from Furbank.

Yep, that last angle, clearly the Wing Commander

The slide after the huge pinpoint pass was the icing on the cake.

[Stom]

I thought head contact was automatically a foul? Is it not?

[Which Tyler]

I thought head contact was automatically a foul? Is it not?

Of course not

[Which Tyler]

If you average out the visual age of Baxter and Cole, youd have 2 props in their prime.