[2014 EOYT] England vs South Africa

[j'nuh]

This is the game I gave up hope on the Lancaster reign.

The first year of Lancaster's reign was good. He was exactly what we needed at the time; someone to lay down the culture required when playing for country, after the meltdown that was the WC. We also made some strides forward in ability too.

The ~2 years since has seen vast improvements 1-5, and has seen us go absolutely nowhere, or even backwards, 6-15. What's ultimately galling is that although selections have been bad at times, I think that the problems run much deeper than selection.

 

[Horacito]

Dammit, what a disappointment, the second best teams in every hemisphere playing like crap.

Worst internationals in ages.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

It doesn't happen that way though . There's nothing in it between Ireland, England and Wales imo

Ireland and England are roughly on par in my opinion, Ireland slightly more in form right now. Both ahead of Wales I feel.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Statement: we're ****.
Question: are we as **** as wales though?
Answer: almost certainly worse

 

[Maverick1987]

Ireland and England are roughly on par in my opinion, Ireland slightly more in form right now. Both ahead of Wales I feel.

Yeh probably not far off although wales do tend to up their game against us

 

[Peat]

It doesn't happen that way though . There's nothing in it between Ireland, England and Wales imo

I hope you're right but I'm not sure you are.

Wales were clearly better than us but lost their way a little when they had a few veterans in the front row to replace all at once - looks like they've mostly done that now.

Ireland were clearly worse than us but have a world class coach and are accelerating quickly.

The Six Nations will tell us. Meanwhile, let us pick over the bones of a rather poor performance...

The set piece was good.

Ball protection was bad. Discipline was bad. Handling was bad. We had the initial platform and crapped it from there.

What ball we did get, our half-backs by and large used poorly. Half-break from Eastmond, that try at the end...

Numbers 11-15 might as well have not been on the pitch in an attacking sense.

Our basics are slipping. I cannot wait to see Launchbury back. I will repeat my preference for Hartley not to start. I will repeat my new mantra of pick 2 from 3 - Wood, Robshaw, Success. I apologise to any Northampton fans reading, they're all fine players when not being idiots, but England need to restructure the pack to give the half-backs some sort of platform.

Then we probably need to replace one half-back and possibly both.

Then we might work out what's going on with 11-15.

 

[Jockstap]

Yes, Ireland are now in fourth place. If France beat Australia tonight Ireland will go third.

Sweet, Allez les bleus then.

 

[Big Ewis]

 

[Draggs]

Statement: we're ****.
Question: are we as **** as wales though?
Answer: almost certainly worse

I'll give you a chance to watch Wales v Fiji and then revisit that assessment.

 

[Noodle]

Statement: we're ****.
Question: are we as **** as wales though?
Answer: almost certainly worse

Wales played very badly today against Fiji. I think that England are still better.

 

[Arms In]

Good to see arrogant English get put in their place.

 

[Maverick1987]

Statement: we're ****.
Question: are we as **** as wales though?
Answer: almost certainly worse

Almost certainly worse with a whole front row injured our best breakdown player, 2 centres a 2 locks and our best fly half day somewhere in sale ? If Wales had that many injuries they would lose to Japan again .....

Not be losing to the best 2 teams in the world by 5 points collectively .

Still **** today though . Although I did very much enjoy big bens 2 tries in 5 minutes

 

[Crapspray]

Fair point, Ewis, but ours was chosen specifically to solve them; at least PSA took it upon himself to be pants-on-head insane. That I can respect.

 

[Jockstap]

Schalk burger has a giant head.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

It doesn't happen that way though . There's nothing in it between Ireland, England and Wales imo

Nothing in it in that order though!

Ben Morgan was a huge improvement on Vunipola in my opinion today, he made quite the impact. England are seriously lacking in the backrow and halfbacks at the moment, you could attribute that win to SA's superiority in the backrow and their half backs playing solidly rather than consistently making mistakes.

 

[Big Ewis]

Good to see arrogant English get put in their place.

:lol: whyyy ??...I'm working so diligently on being friendly with the rosbi.. err the English on these boards as an ambassador for my country and you come here and say things like that ?...you...you disgust me..

 

[j'nuh]

So Gatland has a contract until 2019 and Lancaster until 2020.

Who will be the first forced out? Predictions, please.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Almost certainly worse with a whole front row injured our best breakdown player, 2 centres a 2 locks and our best fly half day somewhere in sale ? If Wales had that many injuries they would lose to Japan again .....

Not be losing to the best 2 teams in the world by 5 points collectively .

Still **** today though . Although I did very much enjoy big bens 2 tries in 5 minutes

It was a 50/50 and you picked the wrong answer! The stubborness of our coaches is arguably a bigger problem then the players we have available, though..

 

[Crapspray]

...and their half backs playing solidly rather than consistently making mistakes.

They didn't even do that though. Three charge-downs (I think) and two spoons at goal isn't exactly a master class.

 

[Maverick1987]

Nothing in it in that order though!

Ben Morgan was a huge improvement on Vunipola in my opinion today, he made quite the impact. England are seriously lacking in the backrow and halfbacks at the moment, you could attribute that win to SA's superiority in the backrow and their half backs playing solidly rather than consistently making mistakes.

The worst part about it imo is we have the players . But they get left out for Lancasters favourites is Fraser in the EPS ? I'd love to see him start with Robshaw and Morgan in the back row and I think someone mentioned sending Farrell to Mars ? I've just got off the phone to NASA it's been given the all clear