I was in a quarry in Germany during the game and it taken me this long to find enough highlights reels to get a sense of how we did. Obviously my previously comments about how we were going to get royally done over and, paradoxically, that might have been a good thing in the long term have been proved horrendously wrong. I'm still not convinced about some of the selections that were made but to see a second/third string England side get within a whisker of a win or draw at Eden Park against a full strength All Black is a very positive thing.
I though our back row was the base from which the entire game was built. I think we should start the same three again this coming week and bench Wood. the 100% line out record shows that he isn't vital for us to have a solid set piece and the combination of Haskell, Robshaw and Morgan was immense. I think Hask make something like 13 tackles and four turnovers?
Obviously Burns proved pretty much all of wrong. Excellent kicking, solid defense and good distribution. Whatever Lancaster has done to raise has confidence has been incredible and it was really great to see a player answer his critics is the way me did. I'm not convinced that the game would have been any worse had Cips started, he looked good as well and while Burns was good I don't think there was anything he did that suggests his inclusions was the main factor in our performance.
Kyle Eastmond was also good and should start this weekend ahead of 36. I'm a big fan of Twelvetrees but even I have to admit that Eastmond both deserves some time in an England shirt and that his performance in the first test showed no signs of him being anything but a positive contributor to the team.
Finally I would keen Rob Webber in over Hartley to start. I was gutted not to see Ward involved but Webber was excellent and with Hartley coming back from injury we should reward Webber and let him keen the 2 jersey.
As for negatives. I'm still very disappointed in the selection of forwards on the bench, with the exception of Dave Attwood and maybe Matt Mullan. Gray, Thomas and Johnson are players that shouldn't be involved against the best team in the world unless we have no other choices. Ben Youngs was also a mess, but we really did have no other choice.
For this weekend I'd like to see:
1. Joe Marler, 2. Rob Webber, 3. Dave Wilson, 4. Joe Launchbury, 5.Courtney Lawes, 6. James Haskell, 7. Chris Robshaw, 8. Ben Morgan, 9. Danny Care, 10. Owen Farrell, 11. Jonny May, 12. Kyle Eastmond, 13. Manu Tuilagi, 14. Marland Yarde, 15. Mike Brown. 16. Matt Mullan/Alex Waller, 17. Kyle Sinckler, 18. Dylan Hartley, 19. Dave Attwood, 20. Tom Wood, 21. Lee Dickson, 22. Freddie Burns, 23. Ben Foden / Luther Burrell.
I think we'll actualy see Wood start, maybe with Hartley and Manu moved out onto the wing. But a man can dream eh?
) but I hope Pennell comes on with more than ten minutes. If your starting 15 is having a mare might as well give the new boy a bit more of a shot right.
