[RWC2019][Pool C] Round 1 - England vs. Tonga (22/09/2019)

[Reiser99]

I think we had the wrong tactics to start. Tonga coped with our kicking game and we've looked the most dangerous running it. Unfortunately this is where England have struggled in the past, which is to make their own on field choice to ditch pre-game tactics that aren't working.

 

[Jimbo]

Like the widely celebrated, very illegal, hit on Binny

The same people up in arms over the hit in Aus vs Fiji are rubbing themselves raw over that

Now that was probably worse than Faz’s in the AI bit because it wasn’t England it’s acceptable...

 

[Jashay]

Ok so what do you think of England?

Not sure All Blacks or South Africa will be nervous at all after watching them struggle against Tonga for 40mins

When they've strung together some phases they've started getting quick ball and looked dangerous. However, the tactic seems to be to kick to a team with two fullbacks and good aerial half backs and then looking surprised when it doesn't work.

Just trying to be too clever when basic rugby, well executed, would be more than enough

 

[HenryChinaski]

Like the widely celebrated, very illegal, hit on Binny

The same people up in arms over the hit in Aus vs Fiji are rubbing themselves raw over that

I need to see that again from the side, on first view I thought he managed to wrap

 

[Iron Lion Zion]

My biggest worry is how reliant England are on Tuilagi.
Don't get me wrong JJ is a great replacement but no one in the squad can do what he does.

Every team has those type of players. Tuilagi is very good though.

HE is Englands Ma'a Nonu for sure.

 

[Scotty]

For me that half is fine. We have been attacking through the middle, keeping it tight not unleasing our backs fully or as much as we could. It will open up and we will change our game plan and get a good scoreline in the second. For me its the stupid penalties that are bugging me. Itoje is an epic player but can be stupid.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Yup,
Aus -14, France -1, NZ -6, Ireland -9 and now England -45
All at either 1.9 or 2.0

Not sure what their line on the Italy game was as I didn't get up in time for it

Interesting, I wish I knew the tab odds for those games. Unfortunately didn’t get registered for bet366 in time for my perfect hedge this time.

Tonga going well so far though

 

[Iron Lion Zion]

England should bring the pain in the 2nd half.

Be much more ruthless and less respecting of Tonga.

Would like to see Tuilagi crashing onto the ball through the back line

 

[donmcdazzle]

Like the widely celebrated, very illegal, hit on Binny

The same people up in arms over the hit in Aus vs Fiji are rubbing themselves raw over that

The one on Vunipola wasn’t high though? You could make a (pretty convincing) argument for no arms though.

 

[Iron Lion Zion]

I expect England to rack up 50+ pts 2nd half

Final score

68 - 3

 

[ncurd]

You have 4K, super high FPS video of it not touching his head and wrapping and still you think it’s a head shot.

Eh I'm going to agree to disagree. Far worse stuff has been ignored and this is the first thing they've deemed even worth looking at (and it is mild) it's been pretty poor.

Reason I'm quoting there's a 4K feed? I thought ITV were just doing this in HD

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Every team has those type of players. Tuilagi is very good though.

HE is Englands Ma'a Nonu for sure.

nonu had over 100 caps for ABs and was equally comfortable at 12 and 13. Plus he has two World Cup winners medals. Manu has been injured on and off since 2011. Still has some way to go to reach Nonu’s consistency on field. If he can stay fit and reach a half of what Nonu was capable of I’d be happy.

 

[Jimbo]

Not really sure what’s with all the negativity England growing in strength as the game goes on, a bit of rust here and there and some silly decisions but on the whole not a bad start it’s game 1 not sure what putting xx points would prove anyway in all honesty.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I need to see that again from the side, on first view I thought he managed to wrap

https://twitter.com/markoyaaaay/status/1175719988943966214?s=19

Tucked right arm, left kind of makes an attempt to wrap but it's more just moving from the impact

 

[donmcdazzle]

On the face of what we've seen England wouldn't beat either of them. We'll have to see what happens in the second half but the intelligence of England to me is the most worrying part

I wouldn’t read much into games against tier 2s. Would expect England to go up several notches in the games against France and Argentina

 

[ratsapprentice]

Eh I'm going to agree to disagree. Far worse stuff has been ignored and this is the first thing they've deemed even worth looking at (and it is mild) it's been pretty poor.

Reason I'm quoting there's a 4K feed? I thought ITV were just doing this in HD

They are, down-scaling the native 4K (that’s why there’s a lot of aliasing, annoyingly). The point is that it’s about as forensic as you’re going to get.

And you can disagree all you like, it doesn’t change the objective reality of what occurred.

 

[Reiser99]

The thing about Manu is that he terrifies opponents. He either creates a break with his power or he creates space by drawing in defenders and opening up the defence for others. I think he does it better than Billy. Certainly no one else in the backs who can do it to the same level.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The one on Vunipola wasn’t high though? You could make a (pretty convincing) argument for no arms though.

Aye, not high but not legal
I just meant people are celebrating this illegal hit while being on their high horse over others. Just be consistent with the condemnation

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Not really sure what’s with all the negativity England growing in strength as the game goes on, a bit of rust here and there and some silly decisions but on the whole not a bad start it’s game 1 not sure what putting xx points would prove anyway in all honesty.

yeah two more tries and get that bonus point and get out of this match without any injuries. I think as this is the first match there was so much expectation that England would just blow Tonga away. Could still do in the second half.

 

[ratsapprentice]

https://twitter.com/markoyaaaay/status/1175719988943966214?s=19

Tucked right arm, left kind of makes an attempt to wrap but it's more just moving from the impact

That’s how a good 50+% of tackles are made. Fair enough if you want them penalised, but the fact it was impactful isn’t totally relevant to that.