Just caught the England game, and was quite happy with the first half performance, but the second we were over run. The pace, power and relentlessness that the boks attack at is irresistible.
Now, I'm watching the NZ v Ireland game. Wow, the all blacks are pure class. They do the basics so well. Quick ball, accurate passing, fix your man, work the overlaps, mismatches, run the lines and angles and attack at pace!
England's creative play today was very poor. Tuilagi smashed into the bok line time and again, many time flattening de villiers. But for what? All he looked for was the big bosh. He showed his inexperience today. He needs to get his head up, if hes looking for contact he needs to free up his arms for the offload.
Farrell, although young looks very uncreative at 10, which isn't a massive problem. His opposite number isnt a magician with the ball in hand but he released players outside him well with accurate passing.
Our most dangerous attacking back line for me:
SH: Youngs
FH: Flood
WG: Ashton
12: Tuilagi
13: Foden
WG: Sharples
FB: Brown
Bags of pace out wide, creativity at 9 and 10. Tuilagi can play the battering ram at 12, creating gaps and space for Foden and Ashton on the off load. Farrell, Barrett and Tuilagi may be good defensively, but like the commentary team said earlier, against certain teams, you simply cannot defend your way to victory
Foden at 13
posted on 11/6/12
how exactly did mike brown get a "lacerated eyeball" ?
posted on 11/6/12
"how exactly did mike brown get a "lacerated eyeball" ?"
Pretty standard injury against the boks!
posted on 11/6/12
it's disgusting. it seems to be accepted as a part of the game out there. remember when burger stuck his finger right in someone's eye in front of the touch judge and the tv camera in the lions test ? got about a 2 week ban didnt he ?
posted on 11/6/12
They have come a long way in the last twenty years though...
posted on 11/6/12
To be fair JPB I was only kidding...if it had been an eye gouge we would have heard about it....i've scratched my eyes a few times in games usually from the edge of someones shirt scrapping across my eye or something equally innocent.
posted on 13/6/12
Interestingly Jerry Guscott seems to back "Persies ankle" in having Joseph at 13. I have to say I'm not so sure, if we were playing Italy maybe, but I'm less sure about South Africa at altitude - thats a real baptism of fire.
On Foden at 13, my main - and very strong - reserve is the size of the Boks centres and back line, with whom Foden would be in frequent contact as a centre, I think this would play to his weakness (size) rather than his strengths (speed and fleetness of foot).
Finally on the eye injury, yeah it seems to be accidental, unlike the Schalk Burger "assault" on Luke Fitzgerald, which was absolutely shameful - a clear red card - made worse still by the way South Africa responded, which would have been disgraceful for an 8 year old playground bully in detention. Though fortunately the Boks do seem to have lost that sort of stupidity with a change in management
posted on 15/6/12
SARS,
Glad to hear it about the eye injury...I assumed it was accidental but didnt have the details
posted on 15/6/12
Care hasnt even made the bench for tomorrow
posted on 19/6/12
Can England not find a better winger than Ashton? I really dont rate this guy, all he seems to do is finish of moves with a run in. Will very rarely create anything himself.
Wales are starting to benefit by playing a load of youngsters on the wing, surely England can unearth one or two as well.
posted on 11/12/22
Phil