[2014 Mid-Year Tests] England

[SuperEagle]

I keep forgetting Croft exists!

England and Leicester have badly missed that man...

 

[ratsapprentice]

England haven't.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Nope not one bit. He doesn't fit in our current back row set up. On pure talent i would say he is the best 6 we have but not in the team selection, if we had 6.Croft 7.Kvesic/Robshaw 8.Vunipola now that is a really well balanced back row.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'd say that's really unbalanced - Croft isn't a heavy enough carrier/ruck hitter to allow Kvesic to play his natural game.
You'd want someone like Fearns there for that, though I could see Robshaw and Kvesic working well together.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Croft would work if you had a Faletau/Vermeulen type number 8 who does a **** load of graft - but we don't.

 

[TheSaffycen]

well i had the feeling that Vunipola could do the heavy carrying, I really like Fearns though and he would be a brilliant player for England to play especially against New Zealand; imagine the power if - Kaino/McCaw/Read against Fearns/Haskell/Vunipola

 

[saryboy86]

I think billy does a hell of a lot of graft in the back row obviously his ball carrying is his strongest asset as is makos but his tireless work in defence as well maybe he needs more work on some of the technical things but think people forget how young he is as well with Morgan on the bench were not doing too bad still think armitage needs to be called up if an agreement can be made with Toulon and the rfu he's just too good and think he would slit straight in at 7 then maybe move Robshaws to 6 fight it out with wood/croft when he's for spoilt for choice really!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Croft would work if you had a Faletau/Vermeulen type number 8 who does a **** load of graft - but we don't.

Also depends on the second rows, say a Back 5 in the scrum of.

4) Lawes
5) Attwood
6) Croft
7) Kvesic
8) Billy

could work well, with Croft leading the lineout and provide another option in the wide back line as he does.
Billy running the closer quarters bull dozing runs.
Attwood and Lawes providing huge amounts of hits and grunt work.
Kvesic attacking the breakdown whilst the SR's focus on the players.

Still think Wallace will be pushing Kvesic very close for the 7 spot.

I think billy does a hell of a lot of graft in the back row obviously his ball carrying is his strongest asset as is makos but his tireless work in defence as well maybe he needs more work on some of the technical things but think people forget how young he is as well with Morgan on the bench were not doing too bad still think armitage needs to be called up if an agreement can be made with Toulon and the rfu he's just too good and think he would slit straight in at 7 then maybe move Robshaws to 6 fight it out with wood/croft when he's for spoilt for choice really!

Guess a back row if pushed to it (I wouldn't pick)
4) Launchbury
5) Lawes
6) Croft
7) Robshaw
8) Armitage

Although Billy is certainly our most powerful 8, guess depends on game plan.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I'm not saying Billy doesn't do a lot of work - but Vermeulen, Faletau and Kaino are almost blindside/8 hyrbids.

 

[saryboy86]

Armitage isn't an 8 he's not the strongest ball carrier not that he doesn't carry well but his strength I think is defence and how quick he gets over the ball and for me I don't think Robshaw is an out and out 7 more a 6 and yea granted Toby does work tirelessly but think billy is a more effective ball carrier if only you could merge the two even Reid couldn't better that I don't think but should be an interesting tour we are blessed in certain positions spoilt for choice almost

 

[Maverick1987]

Armitage isn't an 8 he's not the strongest ball carrier not that he doesn't carry well but his strength I think is defence and how quick he gets over the ball and for me I don't think Robshaw is an out and out 7 more a 6 and yea granted Toby does work tirelessly but think billy is a more effective ball carrier if only you could merge the two even Reid couldn't better that I don't think but should be an interesting tour we are blessed in certain positions spoilt for choice almost

Oh **** ! He mention Robbo isn't an out and out 7 !!!! He must have just got a sky sports subscription and is listening to Barnes/Morris

 

[Peat]

Personally I think Croft compliments a 7 like Robshaw or Wood very well. Their strengths as 7s are prodigious work rate and unusual strength for the position, which counter balances the fact that Croft isn't the most powerful blindside and that coaches like to deploy him as a strike runner. In turn, his pace would provide more support to the wide channels, which is a weakness of both Robshaw and Wood an area in which I feel we've been exposed. Kvesic mightn't work quite as well as both he and Croft like to carry ball but I think it could. It would suit a wider game certainly.

I would very much like Croft to get fully fit and return to the England fold. He's a gamebreaker, and England simply don't have enough of those.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

He certaintly has pace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS-kKqvWqiM

As an attacking player in an expansive game, he's good but the England game isn't very expansive (look how rarely our wingers get the ball when it hasn't simply been shovelled across to them).

 

[saryboy86]

Haha no haven't got the sky sports subscription and as for Barnes can't stand him but on that point think he's right sorry would just be curious to see how he would do at 6 just think we've got better 7's than him that's why I would move him to 6 see how he does there! This first test could be worrying or used as a time to give guys a chance as see how they step up don't like cupric I played against him at school but the guy deserves his chance props could be interesting as well! As could hooker

 

[French TommyGun]

**urgent**

Guys I desperately need a site to stream sky sports! My friend I normally watch it with who has sky sports if off holidaying in Canada! ( I know selfies right!? )

If anyone can message me a streaming site I would be be very grateful!

Thank you

 

[Sam Owen]

**urgent**

Guys I desperately need a site to stream sky sports! My friend I normally watch it with who has sky sports if off holidaying in Canada! ( I know selfies right!? )

If anyone can message me a streaming site I would be be very grateful!

Thank you

take ke your time. Lomus doing his boring interviews again

 

[willutalk]

Very pleased to say that I go to the same Secondary School as Freddie Burns did! He did well for the school. I was a little bit concerned when he was announced to be playing BUT in this game he did very little wrong and not only gave New Zealand a run for their money but also has affirmed his position of being a credible starting fly-halve in the England camp! Off the tee he impressed me throughout especially when kicking from 45-odd meters out at an angle. Defensively he committed himself to the tackle very well, I thought he physically looked strong in that area of the match notably when he managed to stop Nonu in his tracks. His out-field-kicking game did have some flaws thought the twenty-two drop-outs could have been placed better and a little desperate at the drop-goal attempt. Thought he was unlucky to overcook the kick which went out on the full as It could have worked very well and had great vision. He seemed very relaxed in the prospect of playing New Zealand and I felt very relaxed about his contributions throughout, no time when my heart leapt into my mouth. Very glad for him, especially after the skepticism received on the social media and forums.

I thought Chris Robshaw played the ultimate captains game. I really am very confident in him because he shows all the other forwards how the nitty-gritty work is done. Bloody marvellous work-rate. Such a solid player and i think he deserves more appreciation from the fans and the pundits!

As a Bath fan I was closely watching the Bath players, and thought they put on great performances (bar Wilson in open play):
-Eastmond really showed flare and, in the tight, paired exceptionally well with Tuilagi. I thought the break late-on showed composure and how top-class he footwork and technical ability is. However that was a little let down by the offload afterwards (he could have done better in order to give England a better chance in scoring a try). Nevertheless he deserves to maintain at least a substitute spot as he has great potential.
-Webber had a very successful match in the set-piece which remained very clinical throughout. Like Eastmond I think he deserves at least subs spot as he'd be a great replacement to a more experienced Hartley however why should Hartley start over Webber as he did well what a hooker should do well anyway. In addition to this I thought his open play was superb and he linked well with robs haw to create some great chances out wide.
-Wilson could have been a hell of a lot less clumsy in open play, But did win us many scrums. Perhaps needs to work on the first. I was in hysterics when he played the acting nine role late-on the second half ( I was thinking he was totally the wrong man for the job!)
-I really hope Atwood doesn't get dropped with Lawes coming in. I personally think Parling should be rested as England should be trying to getting the younger players to their best when given the opportunity. I think any combo of Launchberry Lawes Atwood works really really well as they seems to be the three second rows to take on the role for the foreseeable future IMO.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Right the /10s for the England v NZ test

1-Marler 7/10- played brilliantly in the loose and the scrum
2-Webber 7/10- Hit all his targets and added a nice passing game in the middle
3-Wilson 6/10- scrumming was brilliant but my god he was poor in the loose
4-Parling 8/10- was incredible, i was completely wrong about slating him before the game
5-Launchbury 6/10- did alot of the hard stuff but was not at his outstanding best
6-Haskell 7/10- really should stay and was England's top tackler with 11
7-Robshaw 8.5/10- I thought he was great and was the best player on the pitch
8-Morgan 8/10- Vunipola will do well to get past him, an immense performance from him
9-Youngs 6/10- Wish Care wasn't injured as he would have added the necessary pace into the game
10-Burns 7/10- Again i was wrong to doubt, will be England's starting 10 for the world cup if he continues these performances
11-May 6/10- Had some strange moments but he hasn't played for a while so might have been rusty
12-Eastmond 7/10- His passing and stepping was really good and he should make the 12 shirt his own
13-Tuilagi 6.5/10- I think his impact was good but not as good as some were saying, got bumped by Nonu and didn't pass
14-Yarde 6/10- Got sin binned, which probably cost us the game, some good tackling but didn't see the ball
15-Brown 6/10- Not the same player who ripped up the 6 nations, still made some breaks but will hopefully improve

 

[Peat]

I feel like you give Wilson and Brown too much credit - the handling errors helped kill us and they were major culprits - and are too hard on May and Tuilagi. May did nothing wrong and brought two big moments, while Tuilagi was the best attacking player on the park. When he runs like that, I don't care if he doesn't pass. If you get that far over the advantage line, something should happen. He looked for offloads and no one was there.

I also think Youngs wasn't a 6. Killed so much momentum at the base its not funny.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Wilson got 6 because his scrummaging really gave us a great platform, maybe he should've been 5. Brown had some poor moments but some of them weren't his fault, i think it was his worse performance in 1 1/2 years for England. Youngs again he wasn't given the best ball from England but i think he had an alright game. May and Tuilagi where okay but i don't think May had a poor game but his mistake should have resulted in a try; luckily coles was a ****ing idiot. Tuilagi was good but i thought Eastmond was way better than him.