[2014 EOYT] England v Australia

[Mumbles119]

I was reasonably happy with Eastmond against NZ, although he didn't set the world alight in the second half I don't really see how he was supposed to when England didn't have the ball at all for 40 minutes. In the first half he looked brighter and was one club second team standard piece of handling away from a really high class assist at a crucial time. Other than that, he defended pretty solidly - the big worry following the notorious "Third Test Of Doom".

Against SA was worse but again no issues with his defence and at least when he messed up he messed up trying stuff - the first knock on, for e.g.. I don't mind seeing because he broke the line and was looking to make an offload which could, had there been a support runner there, been a match-changing play. Unfortunately there wasn't, and he misjudged it, but he had got himself into a better position than any other England player did all half before he dropped it. The weak pass over the top was less defensible, but the feeling I got from both incidents was that, as the only ballplayer in a dour backline he was forcing things a bit too much and that was causing bad decisions.

As Tommi points out, in both games he was outside an off form half-back pairing and inside a solid but unremarkable attacker at thirteen, there's only so much one can offer in that situation. I, like many, would like to see him pairing up with Ford, taking a bit of pressure of both of them.

EDIT: ... and just to prove it's not sheer Bath bias, I have a Tiger agreeing with me! Just need to get a Glaws on board to prove unequivocally that I am speaking gospel truth!

I agree too (I am Wasps). Does that count?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I've not been impressed with Twelvetrees for Gloucester at all, but I'd rather him at 12 than Farrell.

Ford, Twelvetrees, Burrell could work well - though I'd still rather Eastmond come back in at 12.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Care, Eastmond and Roko returned to clubs.

Bring George Ford in, send the guy who he's played extremely successfully with home.

Jesus ****ing wept....

 

[goodNumber10]

though I'd still rather Eastmond come back in at 12.

I think that's what everyone in English rugby wants, but is unlikely to get.

***google translation below for Henry***

Owen Farrell is the second coming of Dan Carter and Johnny Wilkinsons love child, he can do no wrong, EVER, and should be cloned so he can be selected in all 23 places of the match day squad.

Care, Eastmond and Roko returned to clubs.

Bring George Ford in, send the guy who he's played extremely successfully with home.

Jesus ****ing wept....

That's pish!

***google translation below for Henry***

HURRAH!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

fascinating thread...love the Aussie output on here.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Have you perhaps thought it's actually you being unclear rather than everyone else misreading your posts, gn10?

 

[j'nuh]

Care, Eastmond and Roko returned to clubs.

Bring George Ford in, send the guy who he's played extremely successfully with home.

Jesus ****ing wept....

Care, I get. He has been very poor (not that the replacements have been much better).

I can tolerate Roko being released but ideally he should at least be on the bench. Hoping that Nowell will get the nod.

Eastmond released though?! Outrage.

Also, am I the only one who actually likes Waldrom?

 

[goodNumber10]

Have you perhaps thought it's actually you being unclear rather than everyone else misreading your posts, gn10?

Yes of course, and No.

I could understand the initial confusion between "I understand this" and "I Want this" but i have clarified what it is I have meant on a number of occasion and it's been ignored.

So yes, while i think it was originally that, I now think people are clearly and deliberately ignoring/misrepresenting/refusing to actually read what it is I've written (which is the no part) as they just want to argue something

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I like Waldrom at the moment - back to his destructive best.
He gets a lot of criticism because he's a one trick pony, but he does that trick very well. He's what England want from their number 8s.



I hope Wigglesworth starts this test, if Care's back at Quins. I know Youngs has torn Australia apart in years gone by, but that all happened like 4+ years ago.

 

[TommiG88]

I'm really not surprised to be honest. I don't know what goes through Lancaster's head. He gives some players unlimited chances and then gives others with good potential little time. Twelvetrees had a year in the team and didn't prove anything.

 

[goodNumber10]

I like Waldrom at the moment - back to his destructive best.
He gets a lot of criticism because he's a one trick pony, but he does that trick very well. He's what England want from their number 8s.

Owen Farrells a better 8 than Waldrom.

I hope Wigglesworth starts this test, if Care's back at Quins. I know Youngs has torn Australia apart in years gone by, but that all happened like 4+ years ago.

i'd like to see Wiggleswerve start.

 

[Wendigo7]

I'll chuck it out there.

They don't believe Ford and Eastmond can work at international level. Not an issue in attack, but it's far too much in defence. I actually do agree, can you imagine Wales running at those 2 for 80 mins....

 

[Patchey]

Care, Eastmond and Roko returned to clubs.

Bring George Ford in, send the guy who he's played extremely successfully with home.

Jesus ****ing wept....

Are you f**king joking???

I am slightly Welsh, maybe I'll just switch allegiances. Doesn't seem worth the pain to hope for sense with England anymore.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I think that's what everyone in English rugby wants, but is unlikely to get.

***google translation below for Henry***

Owen Farrell is the second coming of Dan Carter and Johnny Wilkinsons love child, he can do no wrong, EVER, and should be cloned so he can be selected in all 23 places of the match day squad.




That's pish!

***google translation below for Henry***

HURRAH!!!

You should actually thank me for being one of the few who hasn't given up on the possibility of one day understanding your presently unfathomable arguments.

"I can see why this is a good idea for hastily cobbled together reasons a - z......*

I might actually conduct a pre-post intervention on you ...measure your opinion at 2 points in time and see how far its changed incrementally...without you ever acknowledging any, even slight realignment of your opinion.


*NB I don't actually think any of this!

 

[j'nuh]

Are you f**king joking???

I am slightly Welsh, maybe I'll just switch allegiances. Doesn't seem worth the pain to hope for sense with England anymore.

I'm not even slightly Welsh and I wonder the same thing :lol:

What I love about this forum is that we all get in an uproar about player X not being picked and player Y getting picked instead and it's normally quite a consensus. Lancaster disagrees at the time and plays a conservative team and then does what we said all along, months later. He's like perpetually several months behind this board.

We said pick Burns back when Burns was amazing. Burns form goes to **** and then Lancaster starts picking him. Then we said pick Ford. Lancaster gives Burns the most pointless caps in history before realising that we were right and started to make Ford the second-choice half a year later. (So for those who want Cips in as the third-choice, just give it time. )
We say change up the centres because Barritt-Tuilagi is too limited. He disagrees for aaaaages then finally makes the change, bringing in Twelvetrees and Burrell. We see an improvement. Then Twelvetrees goes off form and we say pick Eastmond. He doesn't pick Eastmond, he keeps picking Twelvetrees, and now months later he's getting round to picking Eastmond.
We say Ashton needs to go. 2 years later, Lancaster agrees. Nearly instant improvement.
We say picking two fullbacks is madness. He persists through several tournament/tours with it, before seeing our point.

The RFU should make us the England selectors.

 

[TommiG88]

I'll chuck it out there.

They don't believe Ford and Eastmond can work at international level. Not an issue in attack, but it's far too much in defence. I actually do agree, can you imagine Wales running at those 2 for 80 mins....

Yeah, they're top players. With Barritt at 13 you have the defensive player. Who cares about conceding the odd try if you can score more. I haven't seen Eastmond miss any tackles to be honest to the guy. Puts his body on the line and ford showed get defence against a powerful Samoan side.

 

[goodNumber10]

You should actually thank me for being one of the few who hasn't given up on the possibility of one day understanding your presently unfathomable arguments.

"I can see why this is a good idea for hastily cobbled together reasons a - z......*

I might actually conduct a pre-post intervention on you ...measure your opinion at 2 points in time and see how far its changed incrementally...without you ever acknowledging any, even slight realignment of your opinion.


*NB I don't actually think any of this!

yep, i should thank you for constantly haranguing me and deliberately misinterpreting things I've said just to get a rise and generally making the experience of posting here miserable.

Anyway, feel free to check back. My points have been reasonably consistent. I've explained why i think they are making certain choices and throughout that i've continually said i'd pick Ford and Eastmond, even when i was saying Farrell didn't play that badly i continued to say i'd pick Ford and Eastmond.

I said before these internationals started my preference was ford & eastmond. If you can link up where I've said i'd personally pick Farrell, or he was in better form than Ford, or a better center option than Eastmond or any of the the other things you claim i've said i'll be astounded.

The RFU should make us the England selectors.

You'd all be so busy arguing about Farrell with me you'd never get around to picking the team.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Ford to start against Australia, hinting at twelvetrees as well.


Here's the link for Wendigo and co http://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-u...lf-for-england-against-australia-this-weekend

Yep, that's what the Guardian are reporting as well, with Farrell on the bench.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...d-england-billy-twelvetrees-george-ford-rugby

 

[RoosTah]

Without seeing the teams england pack shouldn't have to much trouble handling the Aussies. Hopefully Genia gets a start Phipps is rubbish, if the wallabies pack can match England's than wallabies by 5-10

Genia has been slow all year and has developed the nasty habit of taking two or three steps before passing at a lot of rucks and just isn't taking the line on any more. Phipps meanwhile has quick service and snipes more effectively than anyone else we have right now - something that helped him score those two tries against Ireland.

As for the game in general, I have that feeling we're just going to get monstered up front and just won't get any decent ball. Hope I'm wrong, but I'm not confident about this one.

 

[goodNumber10]

Kuridrani is out for you as well, so i presume Cooper will move back to 13.