RugbyRebels

Not exactly a polished performance! Against a top side with 15 players, we might have been 20 points down after 20 minutes.

Beasties wrote:Our plan is clearly to not look that great in the group stages so as not to concern NZ and SA.

To be fair, SA have been similarly underwhelming. Kolbe aside, they were pretty poor against an abject Italian team who also played a good chunk of the game with 14.

Oakboy wrote:Not exactly a polished performance! Against a top side with 15 players, we might have been 20 points down after 20 minutes.

I doubt it. Our problem is attack, not defence.

15 points from 3 games

Some good player performances there, just didn't seem to gel together still

The silver lining to a clouded finish..
Eng first through to the last 8, with a game in hand.
& only team to bag max points from the opening 3 games.
Can't say fiarer than thta..

Cheeeeeky question there about Farrell's kicking

Did Faz just say "we got control back when we got some cherry-tree.." ..surely needs chickin.

Really hope marler and billy are ok.

Scratchy at times. Good spell before and after h/t sealed the game. Generally defended very well and did have some good attacking shape. Just a bit inconsistent.
Red card obviously a major factor but i got the feeling we were on course to win even against 15 men.
Underhill and Curry stood out. I'm really liking Sinckler's development in the scrum and Daly had his most assured game.
Of the subs I like Ludlam's energy and Nowell did score a very good try.

Yep. Adding in the relatively routine 9 points Farrell missed would have made that a hefty score.

Japan v Samoa is already more fun to watch.

Can I just remark on the fact we comfortably won despite the fact our 9 and 12 were utter shite. Farrell probably should get a 2/10 for that, and Youngs a 4...and only that high because of a couple of redeeming acts. Youngs' try, and Farrell's off the ball...Basically avoid giving him the ball and it's much better.

Stom wrote:Can I just remark on the fact we comfortably won despite the fact our 9 and 12 were utter shite. Farrell probably should get a 2/10 for that, and Youngs a 4...and only that high because of a couple of redeeming acts. Youngs' try, and Farrell's off the ball...Basically avoid giving him the ball and it's much better.

This. Every time I think Youngs has had his worst game he manages to surprise me. Farrell's sole contribution (other than sacrificing his head for the card) to impress me was the pass to Nowell. Youngs' was being mistaken for Farrell by commentary

Danno wrote:

Stom wrote:Can I just remark on the fact we comfortably won despite the fact our 9 and 12 were utter shite. Farrell probably should get a 2/10 for that, and Youngs a 4...and only that high because of a couple of redeeming acts. Youngs' try, and Farrell's off the ball...Basically avoid giving him the ball and it's much better.

This. Every time I think Youngs has had his worst game he manages to surprise me. Farrell's sole contribution (other than sacrificing his head for the card) to impress me was the pass to Nowell. Youngs' was being mistaken for Farrell by commentary

For the first time, Heinz looked no better than Youngs when he came on. Chopping two wingers for an extra SH and another TH is looking more desirable by the game.

Oakboy wrote:

Danno wrote:

Stom wrote:Can I just remark on the fact we comfortably won despite the fact our 9 and 12 were utter shite. Farrell probably should get a 2/10 for that, and Youngs a 4...and only that high because of a couple of redeeming acts. Youngs' try, and Farrell's off the ball...Basically avoid giving him the ball and it's much better.

This. Every time I think Youngs has had his worst game he manages to surprise me. Farrell's sole contribution (other than sacrificing his head for the card) to impress me was the pass to Nowell. Youngs' was being mistaken for Farrell by commentary

For the first time, Heinz looked no better than Youngs when he came on. Chopping two wingers for an extra SH and another TH is looking more desirable by the game.

I disagree on that. Heinz looked clearly better in distribution and speed of thought.

Samoa - Japan:
Well, Peyper eventually realised that the charge down clumsiness there was the same issue as Lawes' charge down attempt - it'd have been amusing if that wasn't given then

The Samoa game pretty much sums up my thoughts. If the rules were being consistently enforced Samoa would be a couple of men down. The Japanese try ended with a Samoan swinging round his neck.

Farrell was pretty awful throughout. His kicking was poor and his attempted "running".......well, really. He is seriously limited and should have been taken off instead of Ford.
Youngs was typically mediocre. No surprise there. Unfortunately i didnt think Heinz looked much sharper. Weakness at SH is this team's achilles heel.

Maybe we were wrapping Ford up in cotton wool.

Banquo wrote: They have a script. Iceman, wriggle worm etc

Don't forget the 'truffle pig' who was possibly Eng best player today. Plenty of controlled impact in attack & defence, and good form for the full 80.

Youngs and, particularly, Farrell were mostly guff. Ford and Itoje were superb. Marler is playing the best I’ve seen him. Everyone else was average or above. Mako isn’t fit. Curry is wasted at 6.

Raggs wrote:Maybe we were wrapping Ford up in cotton wool.

This was my thought when it happened. Mostly out of hope rather than expectation, though.

Mellsblue wrote:

Raggs wrote:Maybe we were wrapping Ford up in cotton wool.

This was my thought when it happened. Mostly out of hope rather than expectation, though.

The players have had their time managed this group stage. Ford has played all the games, so gets a rest. Farrell hasn't started every game, so he stays on. I think it's as simple as that.

Stom wrote:

Mellsblue wrote:

Raggs wrote:Maybe we were wrapping Ford up in cotton wool.

This was my thought when it happened. Mostly out of hope rather than expectation, though.

The players have had their time managed this group stage. Ford has played all the games, so gets a rest. Farrell hasn't started every game, so he stays on. I think it's as simple as that.

There’s also the possibility that he still favours Farrell - Tuilagi - Slade. I think you’re right, though.

Job done. Scrappy, messy at times, but five points and we’ve qualified. First pressure game overcome. I’ll take that. Some nice moments and individual performances, equally some less so, but job still done. And we’ve got through Owens refereeing. Not that he’s a bad ref at all just that we always seem to struggles somewhat with his breakdown interpretation.