[2014 Mid-Year Tests] New Zealand vs England (3rd Test)

[goodNumber10]

Well better second... New Zealand great first half England just not good enough today - for a number of reasons.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Wonder what the total tackles made/missed by both are wingers is.

 

[Bazzy]

Jane was awesome today. Good to know coaches for the ABs keep their head unlike half the NZ fans who never wanted to see Jane again after the last game.

 

[Tony Manx]

ive got a feeling England are going to get spanked, hope im wrong

How very prophetic!!

Well beaten and not even the fight back of the second half can cover that, If anything, the scoreline flattered the English team this time.

There were some horrible performances and not many good ones either from England but the greatest conclusion I have come to is that surely the RWC is a season too far for Richie?.

 

[RoosTah]

Great try to finish off the game. England better in the second half, but ultimately they just never looked in the same league as the ABs, who were brutal from the start. Getting a little worried about the Bledisloe now

 

[Aristodemus]

Tough game today, blown away by NZ to be fair. Maybe a lesson we needed but over the tour we have competed strongly. Good reaction in the second half, I thought Yarde was awesome with ball in hand, but many players had very poor defensive performances which has been what we have been so good at for a long time. Savea is kryptonite to us!

 

[Peat]

Wonder what the total tackles made/missed by both are wingers is.

Early doors stats says that Ashton missed 5, Yarde missed 2. Eastmond missed 3, Tuilagi 2, Burns 2...

At least we have a bit of pride back after the 2nd half.

 

[goodNumber10]

Wonder what the total tackles made/missed by both are wingers is.

It'll be quite low for for both... But it's when they missed them.

I'm going to get flamed here but Ashton was ok in defence for me... I don't think the alignment was working. He was clearly supposed to shoot early and keep NZ narrow, but midfield needs to get off the line if we want to do that.

None of it is the wingers fault though. Collectively we let them at the gain line and played walking backwards.

Early doors stats says that Ashton missed 5, Yarde missed 2. Eastmond missed 3, Tuilagi 2, Burns 2...

At least we have a bit of pride back after the 2nd half.

England defence stats won't count all those as missed tackles... When Ashton made Fekitoa step in will be seen as complete or effective because his role was to make them make a decision to go back to safety.

 

[Darwin]

Better performance by the AB's, but credit to England for fighting back in the 2nd half.

 

[GoTheNaki]

I think you need Cips with that starting centre pair.

NZ only showed up for a small period of time again. Just happened to be a whole half. Still not convincing tbh.

 

[smartcooky]

That was a hiding really. It could have easily been 50 but props to England for stemming the tide in the second half, though they will be concerned that they conceded a try against 14 players and were unable to score themselves.

Could someone remind me about how the All Blacks' aura is fading?

 

[Bazzy]

Great try to finish off the game. England better in the second half, but ultimately they just never looked in the same league as the ABs, who were brutal from the start. Getting a little worried about the Bledisloe now

Why? Australia have looked excellent against the French. Going to be a tough Rugby Championship.

 

[Peat]

Would add that Ashton made 4, Yarde made 5.

England spent one half with awful defensive alignment and tackling optional, and one half proving that we can play to near the All Blacks level, but are a class below when it comes to accuracy. Should a half of committing suicide be counted that heavily in our thoughts? Open question, not rhetorical question.

Oh, and I'm forced to agree, Eastmond will find it difficult to resurrect his England career after that.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

It'll be quite low for for both... But it's when they missed them.

I'm going to get flamed here but Ashton was ok in defence for me... I don't think the alignment was working. He was clearly supposed to shoot early and keep NZ narrow, but midfield needs to get off the line if we want to do that.

None of it is the wingers fault though. Collectively we let them at the gain line and played walking backwards.

It looked like the backline didn't do any defensive training this week, just wasn't clicking at all.

Burrell didn't exactly bring much when he came on.

Cips played well though.

 

[Big Ewis]

well done NZ, only saw the last 15min, will watch it whole later. Score's more like it for the hosts, and they show they can score a try easy with just 14 men at the very end. Hattrick for Savea...

Funny how NZ vs ENG and AUS vs FRA this morning ended up basically with the same score, and also 5 tries to 1, but the performances from the tourists are incomparable. But this is a setback for England surely. A bitter end to a very good series for them.

 

[goodNumber10]

It looked like the backline didn't do any defensive training this week, just wasn't clicking at all.

Burrell didn't exactly bring much when he came on.

Cips played well though.

Disagree with that... I felt our alignment and line speed was better - he did miss a Ben smith tackle but suddenly the NZ had some pressure put on them.

In attack it's hard to tell as the first half pack performance was incomparable.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Would add that Ashton made 4, Yarde made 5.

England spent one half with awful defensive alignment and tackling optional, and one half proving that we can play to near the All Blacks level, but are a class below when it comes to accuracy. Should a half of committing suicide be counted that heavily in our thoughts? Open question, not rhetorical question.

Oh, and I'm forced to agree, Eastmond will find it difficult to resurrect his England career after that.

TBF on eastmond how many minutes has he played @ 12 for bath this season, I feel a move might work for him.

Quins should maybe have a look at him.

 

[goodNumber10]

TBF on eastmond how many minutes has he played @ 12 for bath this season, I feel a move might work for him.

Quins should maybe have a look at him.

I'm worried he won't stay.

 

[austingtir]

I think you need Cips with that starting centre pair.

NZ only showed up for a small period of time again. Just happened to be a whole half. Still not convincing tbh.

It was relative to the forward effort I thought. Good in first half... Average in Second. Its a bit disturbing the amount of seasoned players that are making handfuls of bad mistakes every game. Last week it was Jane this week Mealamu when he came on was terrible. Some of them were real shockers to.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Maybe we will see barritt @ 12 again.