Anyone noticed with O'Keffe that he gives very short advantage? did it once in that game. make 10 m and kick the ball - advantage over even for a pen. He is consistent with it - I have noticed it before.
Did not see that 2nd half performance coming, France looked a bit leaderless for much of the second half you could see the lack of game intelligence. The ref was ok didn't make any game changing mistakes. I am even beginning to like Darcy.
I rate O'Keeffe. One of the best. Has his quirks as they all do but I am always happy if we have him.
AA – a try every 2 internationals? I know no scot would get into the welsh team but
He'd get in the Wales team but he's not as good as Shane
Darcy beat 5 men in that match, Duhan 8. No one else more than 2 on either side.
the combo of the two works really well. Bludgeon and rapier
Darcy beat 5 men in that match, Duhan 8. No one else more than 2 on either side.
World beaters no doubt
I just looked at the scoring rates - Shanes really is remarkable. 3.3 a game average ( Darcy is 2.7) What I really meant tho was very similar players not that Darcy was better.
That's true
Turgid stuff in Wales games, Welsh props getting stuffed.
This is like 2 one legged men in an arse kicking contest. Teej, Bennetts but off to whatever the junction is called now; cask and barrel?
Ah - I thought you were down leith!
Cockasinga proving he can’t catch, leaving a door open for Watson.
Well England are shite, we already knew Wales are. Being on Biggar, change the props and we could sneak this 😆
Don't think England or Wales need to be thinking about clearing a space in their trophy cabinets
Agreed, it’s Scotlands day today unless the the next 40 mins explodes with excellence *
* I doubt it
Well I was fearing worse from Wales, so I'm not too disheartened. Some Wales players looking good to me:
Wainwright, North, Rowlands and LRZ...
Don’t think England or Wales need to be thinking about clearing a space in their trophy cabinets
There are only 4 teams who should New Zealand, South Africa, France, Ireland.
There are only 4 teams who should New Zealand, South Africa, France, Ireland.
I'm not so sure, being on the other side of the draw has definite benefits - get to the semis and anything can happen.
Good play by Wales but lost due to Cockasinga being swapped out to avoid the catching issue. Malins catching for him on one wing, Care on the other.
Aside from Marchant and Steward who are proving mediocre, England have no threat out back… again.
those 4 teams are all in one side of the draw. France and SA in particular have a very tough route to the final.
Was that try the first bit of creativity all game?
Good god England are bad!
What has happened to Englands tradition strengths? Forwards are playing like they have no pride in the set piece. While I would like both teams to lose, I almost feel sorry for their supporters…Almost.
I cannot see England beating Argentina at the mo.
Argentina are a good side. NOt easy to beat them. Playing SA tonight
Jeezo this is dire stuff.
Bull shit decision that, no clear separation!
I canr remember seeing an England performance as bad as this.
I think Wales realised how poor England actually were, then loosened up a bit and looked much better for it
England handed Wales a bit of a confidence boost
I canr remember seeing an England performance as bad as this.
So, so many handling errors. No real attacking threat. Certainly there's plenty of room for improvement. However, they've got just about enough time to improve a fair bit - but there's no clear structure/game plan that I can see.
Well thats 80 mins I am not getting back!
Can anyone explain why Marcus is so highly rated? He did nothing much of note. Is it the tactics he is being told to play? Overrated by the media? Struggling to adapt to the international game ( I have not seen him in any club matches) But where was the clever stuff to create space for others? I'd be playing Ford at 10 if i was selecting.
Why so many handlingerrors across the team?
Wales didn't have to do a lot to winthat game easily. Englanddid nothing
Steward is another I just don't get. He is too slow to be an international FB. LRZ should have been nowhere near that disallowed try. OK steward can catch a ball
I’ve got tickets for next weeks game. I hope the beer is good.
From memory it isn’t, sorry Kryters.
Oh well 2 games down and 2 predictions wrong. Could it be a famous night for Italy?
From the guardianlive text coverage:
England are in the Wales 22 and attacking with all the vim of a bulldog on mogadon.
🙂
From memory it isn’t, sorry Kryters.
Not my first rodeo at Twickers so let’s hope the FIL has his wallet open to drown my sorrows. The media is crucifying England and Borthwick already
LRZ should have been nowhere near that disallowed try.
TBF LRZ is bloody quick!
he is but he took 5m out of Steward in 15m. Steward IMO is too slow to be an international full back.
Pumas 10: 3 up at HT
There is a lot of commentary about stewards running. Not as fast as you'd think and pretty straight running.
Superb in the air and a big unit, like all big lads in the back 3 makes a big impact until teams figure out his weaknesses then no longer stand out.
I can’t understand why England can’t get a dominant tight 5 who get set piece ball. The line out was especially unforgivable as Borthwick is meant to be a lineout savant. Scrum wise, neither Genge or Shinkler are going to guarantee you ball. I can’t get my head around how the most resourced country in the world have to rely on those two. As for Wales,hard times for them until they even out their spending but Gatland is a hell of a sticking plaster.
I think its two issues. The way they play in the club game and the mythology about how good the english league is. They come unstuck when playing teams that play in different ways and also coaching - it seems England are all about power and size - not technique
As for Wales
Wainwright was excellent as a makeshift 8, we need to wrap him in cotton wool incase Faletau doesn't make it. Rowlands adds much needed grunt at lock. Tschunza needs to go away and bulk up and be a lock. Plumtree looks good. Halfpenny has 100th cap, so long and thanks for all the fish, Dyer won't make the first team as long as Williams doesn't break on first contact. Would be nice if Grady could step up and replace the ghost of George Norths past
Wainwright I thought was the standout player. Welsh props held the English scrum really well. other than that I did not see much that was good from either side apart from Wales play Warrenball better than England 🙂
Oh well as I seem to be the last Ireland fan on here, with a poor grasp if rugby (I did play though), we seemed to make hard work of Italy, which is concerning.
