England vs All Blacks
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@taniwharugby said in England vs All Blacks:
@booboo he should set up a try with a spectacular off load with every touch, while carrying the English forwards on his back.
Or just do something? Get involved?
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@snowy said in England vs All Blacks:
@taniwharugby said in England vs All Blacks:
@booboo he should set up a try with a spectacular off load with every touch, while carrying the English forwards on his back.
Or just do something? Get involved?
So given the choice of chase the ball and be a glory hog to satisfy some internet warrior's expectation of your superhuman abilities, or stay in the pattern the coaches have instructed you to ...
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Criticism of SBW is not just based on that performance. Given what he is (was?) capable of and what he's producing on the pitch he is well below his best. His lack of pace can be fairly easily exploited on defense as well.
He's not a disaster, but I think he's lucky to be starting. Right now I'd prefer either ALB-Goodhue or Crotty-Goodhue.
SBW should not be a lock for RWC19. Am hoping he has an injury free Super season to show he still has what it takes.
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@snowy said in England vs All Blacks:
@booboo You think that not getting involved is a coaches instruction?
I'm sure staying in the pattern and doing your job is, along with instructions to not do random shit.
In that 30 minute period England had the vast majority of ball and were generally running at areas SBW wasn't. So for him to go to those areas to "get involved" would take him out of the defensive pattern. Not a good outcome.
When the All Blacks had the ball SBW got it in hand 4 times ( should have been 5 but he dropped one...
)- once he was SBW and offloaded to Ioane
- once he rescued a crabbing backline
- once he rescued flatfooted ball
- once he angled a grubber slightly wrong (btw if messing up a grubber was the measuring stick for selection we'd be calling up backup from NZ after that Twickers game)
Not sure how or where he would be expected to "get involved" where that meant disrupting team systems. Does he push one of the forward runners out if the way?
Honestly, he was not "bad" or deserving of never playing again, as has been suggested on this thread, on the basis of that performance.
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@no-quarter said in England vs All Blacks:
Criticism of SBW is not just based on that performance. Given what he is (was?) capable of and what he's producing on the pitch he is well below his best. His lack of pace can be fairly easily exploited on defense as well.
He's not a disaster, but I think he's lucky to be starting. Right now I'd prefer either ALB-Goodhue or Crotty-Goodhue.
SBW should not be a lock for RWC19. Am hoping he has an injury free Super season to show he still has what it takes.
Totally agree with the second half of your post. The problem is that plenty HAVE been using this game as definitive proof he is past it and should be dumped completely.
The only thing this game reinforces is that he injury prone which is by far his biggest issue.
He is injured so often it is impossible to string enough consecutive minutes together to even assess his form. -
@booboo said in England vs All Blacks:
Honestly, he was not "bad" or deserving of never playing again, as has been suggested on this thread, on the basis of that performance.
I never said that (and great reply) but if he was more "involved" and that 'is the wrong word then I apologise. Maybe he could look for work"? Lazy fuckers annoy me and he isn't making an impact so appears to be one.
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Very late report from Dublin hotel. Quick chat last night to Joe Schmidt, who seems quietly confident.
Had seats with other NZ fans in the rafters behind South Stand. Amazing lateral view, which gives a totally different perspective from TV pictures.
Unexpected to find myself applauding English play in first 30, when it was bucketing...
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After BBBR shells kick off, England make simple, safe, passes making a few yards each time, get close and run a decoy move to leave Ashton unmarked. He dives early to ensure try certain.
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Whereas our tactical kicking was inaccurate and seemed to involve Benda making miraculous recoveries in such conditions, Poms were excellent. Young's box kick landing three metres in from touch. Runners make no attempt to catch, but know AB receiver will be vulnerable to a strong tackle on landing and can easily be bundled into touch. Thirty metres gain and put in to lineout.
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Pressure on our lineout, leading to Taylor overthrow.
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As they recovered ball from our kick off and AB defence hanging back to resist big runners, OF drops in to pocket for easy droppie. Three points and means ABs have to guard an extra threat next time.
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Good use of touchline as extra defender. Even Benda forced out when getting within 5m of touch as very slippery.
15-0 was entirely deserved.
In contrast, ABs tried to shift ball as if it were dry. A pragmatic approach needed in the conditions.
Kicking too optimistic, and ill directed. When we get penalty BB kicks for distance, and although crosses line of touch low enough to be pulled back into play under new laws. In contrast 5m shorter and we have lineout in their 22, at a time here we desperately needed to get some momentum.
Some observations, some of which I'm sure have already been made.
- Crotty coming on was pivotal. Not that SBW was that bad. Main thing was Crotty's 'grey hair' allowed him to settle BB down and play the percentages, something which SBW can't bring. Also Crotty kept it simple. In the conditions good lines and hard running paid lots of dividends. No need for the fancy dan plays.
Which brings me on to Josh Goodhue. Sitting high behind the posts I could appreciate just what good lines he ran in first half. Very Conradesque. Not given proper credit. The try was a direct result of him running a brilliant line and getting many yards up to their 22, from which point others did their part.
Not reported, but the rain stopped after 30ish and the ABs (with Crotty) were a different team. Secure handling, fast ball and the Poms were right under the pump.
Likewise, rain started to lash again in last 15 or so at which point England much more dangerous.
Not sure picked up here but Itoje said in press that when Barrett (S) came on ABs shifted from zonal lineout defence to man for man. Poms never came to grips with that. BBBR owned them, although why they kept throwing to Itoje is beyond me.
One last thought -- with today's refs you don't ever want to be within seven in last five. Had Ardie and Aaron executed that try in third quarter, TJP chargedown would have been of academic interest. Big kick up RRRs for the two As.
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