Rugby Union RWC and Season 2011-12

Thanks for update (for us country mice without Sky).

Oh, by the way, I'm a Tigers' Season Ticket holder for 2012-13.  Way hay!

Mark -

The NZ:Ireland game wasn't one-sided in the first half - I think possession stats were pretty much the same but the score wasn't! For me, the crucial aspect was the ability of the NZ backs to run the ball back from kicks and in open play. Ireland had a go at this and seemed to want to play an open game, but all they did was to open up the field to a much more potent back line. Can't blame them for trying.

As to England, I still don't think they move the ball fast enough with Youngs @ SH and they still truck the forwards up almost as a matter of course, and some still get in the way when the ball needs to be spread quickly. It seemed to me there were few real line breaks by the forwards and the passing 9-10 and onwards was very poor at times. And as you say, trying to arm wrestle the SA forwards ain't gonna work in their homeland.

Far far too many mistakes,and I was disapointed with the lack of a yellow card for the Boks for to many high tackles.

Also I thought that there was to much kicking from us

James look on the Tigers unoffy for live links to watch on your Pooter

Forgot to say well done to the TIGERS for scoring all Englands points today 

I thought so too. Multiple missed tackles right from the off, spilled ball, wild passes and static support players in contrast to the Boks who were running on to the ball from deep and smashing in to the English defensive line with huge inertia.

I thought Waldrom made a huge difference coming on for Morgan who looks a pale shadow of the monster who played in the Six Nations. Corbisiero in for Marler also made a big difference in the scrum I thought, although taking off Youngs was a mikstake as he had been our best player and the man most likely to score again.

England had the confidence smashed out of them by the first 20 mins onslaught from SA and at one point I feared the worst as it looked like being north of 50 points. England did show spirit though and gained a foothold when Alberts and du Plessis went off as they were tormentors-in-chief in the first half.

England will need to learn quickly from this. They cannot give SA a 20 point/20 minute start like they did and rely on superior fitness to pull them through. They must be ready for the physicality of the contest from the whistle. They must also make their tackles and double up to stop them smashing through. They must also not panic and throw the ball around wildly as they did, mainly because SA were able to push them back in defence as they did not run on to the ball from deep.

We also need a bit of blood and patriotic thunder from chest-thumping Englishmen like Botha, Waldrom, Tuilagi, Hartley and Corbisiero.

Mark

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"We also need a bit of blood and patriotic thunder from chest-thumping Englishmen like Botha, Waldrom, Tuilagi, Hartley and Corbisiero." Quote

Would that be tongue in cheek......

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"I thought Waldrom made a huge difference coming on for Morgan who looks a pale shadow of the monster who played in the Six Nations" Quote

Your starting to love the Tigers....it`s only a matter of time now....

My commiserations 

Possibly!

Also, you missed this, "taking off Youngs was a mikstake as he had been our best player and the man most likely to score again."

Sorry not to join in before, I've been busy working.

Once they take off their coloured jerseys to pull on the white one, I thought (hope) it's a case of playing nicely together.  So Mark's comments are very welcome on England, as is the club banter from Maxi (the name of a skirt).  The SA tour is a very helpful workout for Lancaster's England beyond the Six Nations.  There have been both encouraging and frustrating aspects.  But for my money, probably better than generally anticipated/feared.

Turning to a club subject for a mo, I hear that the phenomenal Horacio Agulla is going to the old Tigers' retirement home, the old foe Bath (then they're all 'the old foe' if you're a Tiger!) which is at least better than Wasps.  I still think Tigers will rue the day of not coming to a deal with Agulla.  Mindful of the usual attrition rate through injuries etc in the first half of the season, binging a fresh Speedy Gonzales into the picture at the season's half-way mark around Christmas (if he's not knackered on Argentinan international duty) will be a very useful card to have up the sleeve.

A much better performance from England today. They were much more physical both at the breakdown and in the tackle at the defensive line. They could have won the game if they had kept their composure and their discipline which veered off a little in the second half. Unfortunately, when Flood went off, England's attacking options dried up. Farrell just kicks, kicks and kicks again just to make sure you don't confuse him with someone who doesn't kick. And his kicking was terrible. Far too deep with little hope of a successful chase. Perhaps he is still a little young for such an arena.

 I thought that Geoff Parling (pictured below) had a good game today and it was nice to see him finally challenging the Springbok lineout.

Tom Johnson played well and Tuilagi finally showed why he wast taken down to SA.

So to summarise, the players who I thought played well today were Parling, Cole, Tuilagi, Flood, Waldrom....................b*gger!

Some encouragement for England then going in to the Autumn tests with a young team that is still learning steeply.

Your getting ever closer to becoming a Tiger.......