2014 QBE Internationals [EOYT] England

[Ragey Erasmus]

Does Burrell really smash "like a steam train", though?

I think his size/power is really overplayed tbh, he's certainly not small, but in the context of "big centres" he's not that big or powerful.

I think it's more he has a habit of running towards gaps more than at a player like Tuilagi, who tends to run at the player. Unsuprisingly, it is harder to stop someone who is running slightly off to your side and has you off balance than someone who is determined to smash into you.

 

[goodNumber10]

Does Burrell really smash "like a steam train", though?

Yes.

 

[goodNumber10]

Yes they do have a solid kicking game, usually kicking more than the other team, but when they have the ball they have key decision makers in every position. Eastmond is our best decision maker we have in attack, and Barritt our best in defence, could we move Eastmond to 13 and Barritt at 12 ? In attack Eastmond can play the 12 role and in defence we have Barritt. Then the 10 can be anyone, probably Ford, and we have the solidarity that is needed. Would you have Slade at 12 so that we have another kicking option ? I personally think that we need players like Eastmond if we are to have very little ball as we need to score tries with only 2 or 3 chances, can we rely on any of the others to take the right option under pressure ?

I think people really overestimate what it is NZ's midfield actually being to the game.

Nonu really isn't an amazing passer/distributor. Neither is Smith. They just keep it simple and pass at the right time.

Decision making really boils down to two main components. Pass or have a go. That's essentially what you see the pair of them doing each time they get the ball.

 

[TheSaffycen]

I think people really overestimate what it is NZ's midfield actually being to the game.

Nonu really isn't an amazing passer/distributor. Neither is Smith. They just keep it simple and pass at the right time.

Decision making really boils down to two main components. Pass or have a go. That's essentially what you see the pair of them doing each time they get the ball.

Conrad Smith isn't an amazing passer ?

 

[Peat]

Conrad Smith isn't an amazing passer ?

His decision making is definitely his stand out feature though.

 

[welshglory]

To be fair this is something all NZ players in all positions at all levels of rugby have on other nations.

I think many countries, in Europe especially you're specialised in your role a lot more and your drills and focus will be spent on those.

 

[goodNumber10]

Conrad Smith isn't an amazing passer ?

Not really no, he makes very simple one out passes, seldom more than 1-2 metres.

As Peat rightly points out it's his decision making that is key, does he take contact or does he ship it on. You wont' see him running cuts, firing miss passes or anything, he just hits the space and passes before contact.

The point i'm trying to make is attacking is all about decision making, we don't need people who can execute th masked passes, or fire amazing miss passes - it's nice but it's not essential.

what is essential is making a good decision and doing something simple well.

I think Burrell fits that category as well as Eastmond does..

 

[Peat]

In fairness, he can fire some great nice if they're the right option - Nonu's try against us in the second test, for example, created by a best part of 15m fired off the left hand while moving pass from Conrad Smith - Nonu barely had to check to take it.

Not that it's a great example of him taking the right option, he had Jane practically on his other shoulder with only one defender in front of the pair of them - if Nonu hadn't finished that try there would have been words!

But everyone's allowed a few mistakes.

 

[goodNumber10]

In fairness, he can fire some great nice if they're the right option - Nonu's try against us in the second test, for example, created by a best part of 15m fired off the left hand while moving pass from Conrad Smith - Nonu barely had to check to take it.

Oh yeah, he can pass big if he needs to, my point was more it's not his default mode... he's more about the basics done so well it's impossible to defend.

BOD was similar, and so is Darcy, Greenwood was at his best when just deciding when to pass and what line to run. it's actually what makes Eastmonds passing so good, he just waits picks the right option and gives a sympathetic little pass.

The best players tend to be the guys who concentrate on just doing the simple things well.

I think Burrell can be like that, he can throw the big miss pass, but he's actually best when just passing to people round him or taking on the man and i think Alex King is bringing that out in him, and i think Mike Catt will also be looking for that from him.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Croft out for another 6 weeks.

 

[goodNumber10]

that's bad news... i don't think we really need him for england but i have a soft spot for him after the 2009 lions tour.

 

[Peat]

I'm beginning to wonder if Croft's ever going to play again.

I'd like it if he did. I feel his pace could have been a huge weapon in what, has at times, been a hugely pedestrian pack. But I'm increasingly writing it off.

GN10 - I'd agree with all that save maybe a bit less faith in Burrell - but time will tell there

 

[TheSaffycen]

I personally don't see Burrell in the role which you see him GN10. As I said before his passing on the line has looked good but I don't know if he will be anymore diverse than Roberts on the intl stage. If we select him than it's going to be purely on his size and not his passing, to me in the 6 nations he didn't show that was anything more than a effective strike runner, he was good but he won't unlock a defence like Eastmond will. Who knows maybe him and Manu will run New Zealand ragged and I will have to eat my words, happily though.

 

[barkinghooker]

Eastmond and Manu look super on paper going forward but not backwards. If we really need Manu at 13 then I'd pick Barritt or Allen to play inside him. Or give him the 23 shirt and play crash ball with him for the last 20 minutes.

9 Care, 10 Ford, 11 Yarde, 12 Eastmond, 13 Burrell , 14 Roko ,15 Brown

21 Dickson, 22 Cipriani, 23, Tuilagi.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Yarde has broken his elbow.

 

[TheSaffycen]

well atleast we have May, Nowell and May can all play there, maybe Roko at 11.

 

[Tony Manx]

well atleast we have May, Nowell and May can all play there, maybe Roko at 11.

Please not May..........!

 

[ratsapprentice]

Nowell, Roko, May, Watson and Wade for mine.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Please not May..........!

May has been playing very well for Glos this year, and why not let him have another go ? Better than Foden or Ashton.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Better than Yarde, as well.