England vs New Zealand - Saturday

[Oakboy]

From Charlie Morgan in the Telegraph -

Lawrence registered only two carries against New Zealand, and not a single one after the 11th minute. That is an awful waste of one of their most dynamic runners.

Indeed, as statistician Russ Petty has outlined, Lawrence has totalled 11 carries across his past three Tests. George Martin has made 22 in the same period.

That is a stark demonstration of how England are struggling to bring Lawrence into games. Freeman was similarly peripheral against the All Blacks, registering just four carries. Slade himself had three.

Thought it was bad.

But, wasn't Lawrence top of the tackle count? I thought he was doing what he had to do based on the game situation. I was more concerned about Freeman's contribution. He seemed nowhere near as keen to look for work as IFW, for example.

[Mellsblue]

From Charlie Morgan in the Telegraph -

Lawrence registered only two carries against New Zealand, and not a single one after the 11th minute. That is an awful waste of one of their most dynamic runners.

Indeed, as statistician Russ Petty has outlined, Lawrence has totalled 11 carries across his past three Tests. George Martin has made 22 in the same period.

That is a stark demonstration of how England are struggling to bring Lawrence into games. Freeman was similarly peripheral against the All Blacks, registering just four carries. Slade himself had three.

Thought it was bad.

But, wasn't Lawrence top of the tackle count? I thought he was doing what he had to do based on the game situation. I was more concerned about Freeman's contribution. He seemed nowhere near as keen to look for work as IFW, for example.

I’m not sure anyone is blaming the players…

[Which Tyler]

I’m not sure anyone is blaming the players…

Possible exception of Sack'n Back

[fivepointer]

From Charlie Morgan in the Telegraph -

Lawrence registered only two carries against New Zealand, and not a single one after the 11th minute. That is an awful waste of one of their most dynamic runners.

Indeed, as statistician Russ Petty has outlined, Lawrence has totalled 11 carries across his past three Tests. George Martin has made 22 in the same period.

That is a stark demonstration of how England are struggling to bring Lawrence into games. Freeman was similarly peripheral against the All Blacks, registering just four carries. Slade himself had three.

Thought it was bad.

But, wasn't Lawrence top of the tackle count? I thought he was doing what he had to do based on the game situation. I was more concerned about Freeman's contribution. He seemed nowhere near as keen to look for work as IFW, for example.

With the exception of IFW none of our backs got involved much. Nothing new though. We're not getting the ball into the hands of our backs nearly enough.
5 carries from your centres is really quite pitiful.

[Stom]

From Charlie Morgan in the Telegraph -

Lawrence registered only two carries against New Zealand, and not a single one after the 11th minute. That is an awful waste of one of their most dynamic runners.

Indeed, as statistician Russ Petty has outlined, Lawrence has totalled 11 carries across his past three Tests. George Martin has made 22 in the same period.

That is a stark demonstration of how England are struggling to bring Lawrence into games. Freeman was similarly peripheral against the All Blacks, registering just four carries. Slade himself had three.

Thought it was bad.

But, wasn't Lawrence top of the tackle count? I thought he was doing what he had to do based on the game situation. I was more concerned about Freeman's contribution. He seemed nowhere near as keen to look for work as IFW, for example.

We're just unable to use our backs under the current system. One wing is given licence to roam, the other isn't. Freeman has previously been given that licence, and looked good. But now he's playing right wing, he's not involved, because for some reason it always seems to be the 14 who roams.

This is only the eye test, though. I may be misremembering or just downright wrong.

On the centres, it's pathetic.

Unless Soggy Ballsacks can make a sharp turnaround in how we play, I'm afraid my IBWT is moving more toward IBWDNT...

[Mikey Brown]

It does feel that way, but I don't know if it's a chosen strategy. Freeman's aeriel ability is spoken about a lot but I remember a lot more kick chases down the right hand side as well. It feels like we very rarely passed more than 2 or 3 times per phase.

Freeman has been relatively quiet ball in hand but that's a long way down my list of concerns until we actually get him (and Lawrence etc) more ball in good positions.

[FKAS]

From Charlie Morgan in the Telegraph -

Lawrence registered only two carries against New Zealand, and not a single one after the 11th minute. That is an awful waste of one of their most dynamic runners.

Indeed, as statistician Russ Petty has outlined, Lawrence has totalled 11 carries across his past three Tests. George Martin has made 22 in the same period.

That is a stark demonstration of how England are struggling to bring Lawrence into games. Freeman was similarly peripheral against the All Blacks, registering just four carries. Slade himself had three.

Thought it was bad.

But, wasn't Lawrence top of the tackle count? I thought he was doing what he had to do based on the game situation. I was more concerned about Freeman's contribution. He seemed nowhere near as keen to look for work as IFW, for example.

We're just unable to use our backs under the current system. One wing is given licence to roam, the other isn't. Freeman has previously been given that licence, and looked good. But now he's playing right wing, he's not involved, because for some reason it always seems to be the 14 who roams.

This is only the eye test, though. I may be misremembering or just downright wrong.

On the centres, it's pathetic.

Unless Soggy Ballsacks can make a sharp turnaround in how we play, I'm afraid my IBWT is moving more toward IBWDNT...

That's how Simple Ballplay used the wingers at Tigers. One looked for work and the other kept the width. The one who kept the width was the primary target for kick chases and crossfield kicks. It was more often than not Nadolo as the roaming winger and Potter as the winger keeping the width.

We had plenty of attacking ball and didn't do a lot with it. Some questions will be asked of the coaches but Smith had plenty of ball and didn't do a lot with it. I'm somewhat perplexed by the media tugging themselves dry over his display and citing him as being subbed the turning point. He played solidly but lacked composure at times. The ABs tackling support runners didn't help the few opportunities we created. Marcus needs to take a grip on the game and dictate for more than 10/15 minutes at a time.

[Oakboy]

From Charlie Morgan in the Telegraph -

Lawrence registered only two carries against New Zealand, and not a single one after the 11th minute. That is an awful waste of one of their most dynamic runners.

Indeed, as statistician Russ Petty has outlined, Lawrence has totalled 11 carries across his past three Tests. George Martin has made 22 in the same period.

That is a stark demonstration of how England are struggling to bring Lawrence into games. Freeman was similarly peripheral against the All Blacks, registering just four carries. Slade himself had three.

Thought it was bad.

But, wasn't Lawrence top of the tackle count? I thought he was doing what he had to do based on the game situation. I was more concerned about Freeman's contribution. He seemed nowhere near as keen to look for work as IFW, for example.

With the exception of IFW none of our backs got involved much. Nothing new though. We're not getting the ball into the hands of our backs nearly enough.
5 carries from your centres is really quite pitiful.

Your 3rd sentence sums it up for me. Our back row, arguably, had an adequate spoiling presence but absolutely zilch in the creative sense. CCS smashed and disrupted. Curry could claim to have slowed opposition ball. Earl ran into blind alleys and whinged as usual. The question, of course, is 'did they play as planned?' If so, it was a coaching inadequacy.

I don't care how good the opposition is, there should always be plans to be constructive when we have the ball and a competitive edge to win it when we don't.

Would it be such a surprise if that back row got the better of Australia but failed again v SA? I think SB needs a re-think.

[Banquo]

we just aren't very good. Need an upgrade in almost every unit....again. Second row is ok, back three tbc but we have the players there/big fan of Furbank with the ball, but question marks without; back row possibly ok, but haven't found the combo. Half backs and midfield are pretty average frankly; Mitchell would make a difference, but can't see an obvious answer to the centres, other than Lawrence being asked to do what he's best at.

The bench selection was stupid, as everyone bar Sliding Backwards knew. The back up players he has selected are very conservative, with zero wow factor or even promise. He's coaching and subbing by numbers, with no feel for the game, or vision for what actually suits the players he has at his theoretical disposal.

That said, we have run the AB's close three times in a row, beaten Ireland and should have beaten France; so there is a core of something there

[p/d]

Need a 10 that can control a game. Anthing at Leicester coming through?

[Banquo]

Need a 10 that can control a game. Anthing at Leicester coming through?

Not heard of him, is he an u19?

[FKAS]

Need a 10 that can control a game. Anthing at Leicester coming through?

Not heard of him, is he an u19?

Not anytime soon.

[p/d]

Need a 10 that can control a game. Anthing at Leicester coming through?

Not heard of him, is he an u19?

Very good.

[Mikey Brown]

I'm sure everyone else is long past this, but the latest Squidge video does show an angle that gives a bit of perspective of Randall's pass for the drop goal and, well... lol



Maybe Isiekwe was in his eye line, but damn.

[Mellsblue]

Need a 10 that can control a game. Anthing at Leicester coming through?

Not heard of him, is he an u19?

Very good.

I’ve heard Anthony Hing is going to be some player.

[SixAndAHalf]

we just aren't very good. Need an upgrade in almost every unit....

That said, we have run the AB's close three times in a row, beaten Ireland and should have beaten France; so there is a core of something there

Agree with this assessment - currently we don't have the talent to complete with the best across the park but Smelly Bread must be doing something right as we are competitive.

We have talent coming through in key areas but not sure if they will be top international class in this world cup cycle. Back row is one area where we aren't making the most of our talent I would say. 12 appears to be a consistent problem but I assume we are waiting on BJ van Rensburg.

[jngf]

we just aren't very good. Need an upgrade in almost every unit....

That said, we have run the AB's close three times in a row, beaten Ireland and should have beaten France; so there is a core of something there

Agree with this assessment - currently we don't have the talent to complete with the best across the park but Smelly Bread must be doing something right as we are competitive.

We have talent coming through in key areas but not sure if they will be top international class in this world cup cycle. Back row is one area where we aren't making the most of our talent I would say. 12 appears to be a consistent problem but I assume we are waiting on BJ van Rensburg.

Can he play openside?

[FKAS]

we just aren't very good. Need an upgrade in almost every unit....

That said, we have run the AB's close three times in a row, beaten Ireland and should have beaten France; so there is a core of something there

Agree with this assessment - currently we don't have the talent to complete with the best across the park but Smelly Bread must be doing something right as we are competitive.

We have talent coming through in key areas but not sure if they will be top international class in this world cup cycle. Back row is one area where we aren't making the most of our talent I would say. 12 appears to be a consistent problem but I assume we are waiting on BJ van Rensburg.

Can he play openside?

More important than that he's a lineout option (or at least LI used to use him as one at times).

[Puja]

Telegraph have an article today analysing what went wrong in each of the games lost at the death - not especially deep, but the factoid I took away from it was that Ben Earl has conceded the vital penalty through a tired-looking error in three of the four games where we threw away a lead. No arms tackle against France, not rolling away in NZ first test, and no-arms tackle (plus the failed jackal that gave them the advantage they used for Telea's try) against NZ in the AIs.

Not a great look for him and backs up what I said earlier in the thread about it being better to ask him to empty the tank and then bring him off to let Dombrandt roam after 60, rather than make him do all the carrying at 8 and then ask him to shift to flank for the last 20. Those aren't errors he makes in the first half of games.

Puja

[Oakboy]

Telegraph have an article today analysing what went wrong in each of the games lost at the death - not especially deep, but the factoid I took away from it was that Ben Earl has conceded the vital penalty through a tired-looking error in three of the four games where we threw away a lead. No arms tackle against France, not rolling away in NZ first test, and no-arms tackle (plus the failed jackal that gave them the advantage they used for Telea's try) against NZ in the AIs.

Not a great look for him and backs up what I said earlier in the thread about it being better to ask him to empty the tank and then bring him off to let Dombrandt roam after 60, rather than make him do all the carrying at 8 and then ask him to shift to flank for the last 20. Those aren't errors he makes in the first half of games.

Puja

You could be right but I can't get my head around a professional international No 8 not being able to maintain his best for 80 minutes. If he can't do it, find someone who can.

On top of that, I think Dombrandt should be a starter or not in the 23. He's not exactly a rampaging stallion champing at the bit to get stuck into the opposition. I see him as a clever link-man who fits or does not (probably not).

[p/d]

a rampaging stallion

been going through your vintage mag collection again Dors!!

[Banquo]

a rampaging stallion

been going through your vintage mag collection again Dors!!

Rivals has given Dors a new lease of life.

[p/d]

a rampaging stallion

been going through your vintage mag collection again Dors!!

Rivals has given Dors a new lease of life.

I had to look that up................no doubt he will be thumbing his way through Tackle

[Oakboy]

been going through your vintage mag collection again Dors!!

Rivals has given Dors a new lease of life.

I had to look that up................no doubt he will be thumbing his way through Tackle

Jilly Cooper? - must be 30 years since I read any of that. Mind you, at my age, anything that hints at a new lease of life is worth a crack.

[p/d]

Rivals has given Dors a new lease of life.

I had to look that up................no doubt he will be thumbing his way through Tackle

Jilly Cooper? - must be 30 years since I read any of that. Mind you, at my age, anything that hints at a new lease of life is worth a crack.

Now, if she was ever looking to pen another book ..........