Burrel was left out of the world cup for Burgess too. I'd be off to France if I was him.
Indeed a_a, if Cipriani thought he was hard done by then he should have a chat with Burrell to lift his spirits 😀
On a different subject, did you see the interviews with Anscombe out in NZ? Literally looked like he couldn't give a sh1t about playing for Wales... [sarcasm] such a difference to the attitude he shows on the pitch [/sarcasm]. I honestly believe that he is a mercurial reader of the game and of defensive positioning as he is strikes the perfect balance of always being just far enough away from the attacking opposition to not have to do anything but be just close enough to say he made a brave effort to cover
1 week ban for CJ. Misses 2nd test. Back for 3rd. That's grand.
The issue was that the defence wasn't keeping its shape, so they put the person who best understands Gustards defensive system into the position where he could have the most effect. We were still too narrow and it looked as if Aus could score at will out wide. In that respect, I actually think we'd have been better off with Goode playing and I wouldn't be surprised if he starts the next game(!)
The people who actually won the game for england were the pack. Haskell, Itoge, Robshaw, Hartley and Mako were machines.
The people who actually won the game for england were the pack.
Can't agree more. Immense.
I hadn't seen until today, but Pocock is out for the rest of the series with a fractured eye socket. I wonder what the odds are 3-0 series win??? 😉
Were England running a combined rush / drift defence? I've played in teams that used that and it works really well if you get it right but can take a while get new team members up to speed; that said you'd have thought a pro would grasp it pretty quickly. Also makes you look pretty stupid if you get it wrong...
@dd that's a result
Farrell is a world class placekicker
Chokes on beer and peanuts (don't all cheer at once 🙂 ) Farrell is pretty reliable at basic kicks (to international standard) but he has no real range and imo not world class out wide. He is however the best we've got right now as Ford has been off-key.
Yup our forwards where excellent and thankfully we made the change in midfield before the game was out of sight.
1 week ban for CJ. Misses 2nd test. Back for 3rd. That's grand.
Unconfirmed reports that he arrived at the hearing by jumping into the door arse-first.
HT @WelshDalaiLama
Were England running a combined rush / drift defence?
Yep, but it didn't work at all. Aus always seemed to have a big overlap outside and made hay. Brown was at 6s and 7s in defence I thought.
Say what you like but Farrell has been the starting 10 and has played as big a part in the season as anyone for a team which has won the not-heinekin cup and the prem. The man is comfortably world class at present. I never thought I would say that but you have to give a player his dues when he lifts his game by as much as he has. He's obviously worked like a dog. Most pundits rated him at 9/10 for saturday and have him in their (world) team of the week.
Hartley seems to be doing ok at this captaining lark doesn't he.
He is the No1 ranked international kicker in 2016 - combination of success and difficulty.
The real long-rangers often aren't the primary kicker, as their accuracy isn't as good.
It worked better once they swapped Farrell back to inside centre - and iirc that's the key defensive decision making position (at least from first phase) for that system.
As someone who isn't a fan of either Farrell or Haskell (for different reasons) I have to say they both had absolutely storming games. Haskell even gave a decent pass rather than just smashing it up into contact!
inside centre - and iirc that's the key defensive decision making position (at least from first phase) for that system.
Bang on. Let's not forget where the defensive coach came from, and how long Farrell has been working with him.
Farrell is a world class placekicker
Hey Jamba, I'm no fan of Farrell but if you want any of the current England crop to be taking a last minute kick to win the match - you want him.
He is the No1 ranked international kicker in 2016 - combination of success and difficulty
There ya go......
I would agree he's the best kicker we've got, my question is that enough to keep him in the side. I would not be totally surprised to see him at full-back in the future.
Really??? He plays 10/12 for England and the best team in Europe. Why not say 2nd row, he has just as much chance of playing there.
Ellis Jenkins injured so Sam Warburton starts this morning v the chiefs..dear god the man is made of glass as it is...... glad I'll be working and not able to see us get beaten.
Wales/Ireland are racking up some serious injuries!
On the bright side, it will give exposure at the highest level to more players. The "Tour of Hell" by England to Australia led to the RWC winning side. Wasn't 72-0 our worst result on that tour???
Getting humped by the Chiefs 😥
40 points to 7. Good to see the famous poor Super Rugby defence rearing its head 😆
Thought Wales would struggle against the strongest SR side, but they were missing 9 top players to the ABs squad, so it was hard to predict.
Still, like sending an international football team to play Barcelona! Who's idea was it to play the Chiefs midweek?
Tough for a touring side's confidence and motivation going forward I would think.
0uch!!!
Thought Wales would struggle against the strongest SR side, but they were missing 9 top players to the ABs squad, so it was hard to predict.
Not really Wales were missing an entire 15 apart from Sam who played a test match on saturday! The rest of the team wouldnt have played together before and have no doubt spent the last 3 weeks holding tacklebags.
"Not really" but you agree with me? huh. Oh, you mean you predicted Wales thrashing?
Wasnt it obvious?
It is now.
@dan yes it was an a certain Johnny Wilkinson came on and missed a kick from in-front. I had a points spread bet with a friend for the tour and lost about £150, most expensive bet ever. I persoanlly think the top players need more rest. I would rethink these tours all together. Make them a week and play 1 game ?
I guess Wales 2nd string, especially with all the injuries, is a bit different to the Lions midweek team. Even without the AB players, these Chiefs have played/trained together with this one match as their focus.
DezB
glad I'll be working and not able to see us get beaten.
It's funny, I watched the start of the 1st half and the first 20 mins of the 2nd half and all I saw was Wales making numerous breaks and lots of goal line pressure but coming away with nothing except a single try.
Missed all the Chiefs scores except the first. They did defend extremely well though - both in terms of organised defence and scrambling back when Wales got in behind them frequently.
For anyone interested in kicking stats I found the excellent www.goalkickers.co.za which I think dantsw13 was referring to.
It goes back to 2012 and analyses the difficulty of kicks using:
• distance of the kick
• angle of the kick
• altitude
• side of field and foot used
• score difference (to indicate pressure)
• home/away
• 1st half/2nd half
I think the bloke is an actuary (plus a rugby nut). He uses the stats to produce rankings based on whether the outcome is better/worse the success probablity.
THe top 6 international kickers since 2012, in order, have been:
Leigh Halfpenny
Owen Farrell
Dan Carter
Greig Laidlaw
Nicolas Sanchez
Dan Biggar
Halfpenny is also the top rated kicker across all competitions.
I hope none of the welsh contingent think what I'm about to say is a slight, because it's not meant that way at all.
This;
A few questions were answered for us about the fringe players and where they are at the moment. Players have been asking me for an opportunity and asking me why they haven’t been selected. There are some very simple answers. They have got to be honest about looking themselves in the mirror.
Said by Gatland is bang out of order. Wales have never had huge strength in depth, the lack of an "A" team (like the Saxons, Wolfhounds etc) is evidence of this. There is no shame in having your effective reserve team lose to the Chiefs, one of the best club sides on the planet even if they are missing a few players. I'd bet that a well drilled quality side like Saracens who play together week in, week out would beat most international "A" sides and I include the Saxons in that.
Publicly shaming your squad is detrimental to team spirit and damages player confidence. I neither like nor dislike the chap ordinarily, it's disappointing to hear what should have been said behind close doors.
Interesting @namaste, I wonder it would make a difference if he factored in weather which is generally rubbish in NZ ? As Insaid I wouldn't be surprised to see Farrell at full back sometime in the future.
FWIW I think Saracens would get a good spanking from the Chiefs in NZ too.
FWIW I think Saracens would get a good spanking from the Chiefs in NZ too.
Not by the chiefs side that played this morning they wouldnt.
Wrecker, I have no problem with him saying what he thinks, I think we should be looking for a new coach though, the team has become more experienced and less effective over the last few years. We should have improved in that time.
I think we should be looking for a new coach though
9 Years (less 1 for lions) in the same job is a long time - you're probably right.
Can't see why anyone would want Farrell playing Full Back, he is an excellent inside centre and a very good fly half - certainly the best inside England have had in recent years.
I wonder it would make a difference if he factored in weather which is generally rubbish in NZ
Yeah I don't think he does factor in weather but maybe he should. It's not exactly great in the UK either, with half our season in the middle of winter though is it?
The model doesn't allow for temperament either. I think Chris Paterson had a better % than Jonny Wilkinson but even if Wilko missed a few kicks you knew it wouldn't affect him if he was lining up a last minute kick to win the match. By contrast I'll always remember when Paterson was at Gloucester and they had that home Heineken Cup 1/4 against Munster - a huge game for them - and he fluffed 3 straightforward kicks in the first 20 minutes or so.
@mefty I suggested Farrell at 15 so as to find him a spot in the team, once (if) Tuilagi is fit plus all the other taelnt we have I think there is a time he's not picked in the centre. He's never going to be making many line breaks and he's not te rollicking / crash ball type either. At full-back he can catch and kick and run the ball back ok to the forwards. He has a place in the side primarily as goal kicker.
@aa I'd like to see Shaun Edwards given a go but there is Rob Howley too. I can't see Gatland stepping down, what does he do then ? Earning good money now, fairly decent quality of life. Can't see him being fired. Perhaps a job in France ?
Rob Howley can **** off. In his time as attack coach our attack has been shit.
I see Marler is spending his time off wisely!!
In all fairness he is right. A contribution will be invited to the RFU doubles all round fund for his use of language however.
I see Marler is spending his time off wisely!!
Saw that this morning - he doesn't learn does he? Idiot.
I've never been a fan of Farrell, but he is in great form at the moment and seems to have developed as a player this year. Wouldn't want him at full back though.
As it stands, I don't think Manu would walk back into the side - he's a great player (but with his own limitations) but the current combinations appear to be working pretty well. The back row isn't that quick, but it seems to be working well - Haskell was immense. Hopefully he can maintain that form in the next two games.
I didn't see the other games but have only read the reports etc. Fair play to Ireland to beat SA with a man down for 60 minutes. Wales task will only get harder I fear as the AB's settle into a routine again.
In all fairness he is right
True, but he should have the sense to keep his views private.
Having watched that Aus Fox promo vid - the must be gutted to lose to a side that bad!!
I remember during the 2008 Historic Ashes win at Lords there were Marstons Beers Adverts on the walls in the gents Loo:
"We Are English - we brew great beer. You're Australian - you serve it!!"
😀
Ford at 10, Farrell at 12 this weekend seemingly.
Well we can expect some big lumps of Aussie centre smashing it up the 10 channel then!! To be fair to Ford, I've never watched an England match & thought " ooh, Fords missing loads of tackles"
