[2015 RWC] Pool A: England vs. Fiji (18/09/2015)

[luke1994]

I'd start Burgess next game for sure, he had more impact in 20 minutes than Barritt did all game. Back 3 looked good as always and Farrell did as well. Good to get the bonus point as well!

 

[Aristodemus]

I thought Vunipola (Binny) had a very big impact when he came on. Launchbury too had a good spell. Relieved after a pretty poor performance to be honest.

 

[ncurd]

I'd start Burgess next game for sure, he had more impact in 20 minutes than Barritt did all game. Back 3 looked good as always and Farrell did as well. Good to get the bonus point as well!

SLADE! FFS start Slade! Barritt get rid certainly though.

 

[Mcfadden]

If Fiji had kicked all of their penalties and took the right options there's no reason why they couldn't have won this match. But .. you can't live on "if". What if England did a lot of things better? They would have put up 40-50 points. I'm just disappointed really. At the very least, Fiji could have set themselves up a lot better than that. They created the opportunities. At times I thought Volavola kicked too much (and to Mike Brown of all people!). Nadolo was extraordinary with ball in hand. Meh. Great display by England at the end, and you can see what they're capable of. I thought they would have utilized the rolling maul a little more. But they'll need to improve for sure. You're not going to knock off the Wallabies like that.

 

[NickBD]

Last 10 went from an average result to a pretty good one in the end.

Thought Burgess did well in last 20min.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Ford has done nothing to reassure me.
Farrell should be starting, Cipriani should be there as the alternative.

 

[steblin]

I'm not sure about starting Burgess, but he's probably got a nailed on role as an impact sub like SBW

 

[TommiG88]

We got lucky at the end of the day. Thought burgess made that last try with that break and offload.

I would have George starting against wales.

I would also start Farrell and have Care on the bench.

 

[ncurd]

Ford has done nothing to reassure me.
Farrell should be starting, Cipriani should be there as the alternative.

eh still not sure about Farrell starting over Ford but I'm warming to it.

I guess in the end I just see where a ford could be in 4 years and Farrell won't really improve from where he is. I guess overall we don't want Ford to be another Cipriani ironically a hugely great potential player sidelined by not instantly being great every match...

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Yet again we get shown up at the breakdown. Seriously? How many times does Lancaster need to see England failing to secure our own ball before he either selects a breakdown specialist (as EVERY other team has) or get the team properly trained in clearing out and defending our own ball? It is a glaring weakness that has been there for years and to still have it that bad going into the world cup is ****ing unacceptable.

Also are England allergic to the concept of hitting a pass at speed and smashing the gain line? We have players jogging slowly along going through the motions of passing along the line with NOBODY threatening the gain line.

 

[Mcfadden]

Guys, did Lawes play the full 80?

 

[ABs2015]

Embarrassing by Fiji in the end, what a poor, poor finish.

Bit harsh don't you think? Poor finish for sure from them, but a tier 1 nation should always dominate that last 10 when the lesser team tires and the quality of bench vs bench comes to fruition.

Overall I thought:
* England were pretty poor bar the last 10 minutes and seems to me they need someone at 8 and 12 to get better go forward. I would think Billy Vunipola would be a better option to start. No idea what you guys could do to replace Barrett at 12 though - anyone else other than Burgess to take the starting 12 spot?
* Fiji were a little disappointing I feel. Too many basic errors. Showed heart to get within 7 with 15 to go, but to be honest I felt it was England's poor play rather than Fiji playing well that kept them so close.
* Mike Brown looks absolute class - probably the only real standout for the English.
* Nadolo was pretty good too. Probably the only Fijian to really stand out. Hopefully he shut up a few of his critics.
* That was also my first look at Sam Burgess in Union and he really impressed. In general I had heard he was clueless and shouldn't have made the squad but other than a misread on D he was really impressive and if he can keep that up will be a huge asset off the bench for England. Good go forward albeit against a tired D, and some lovely offloads. Perhaps a bit risky to start though? although as I said earlier England could certainly look to find an upgrade over Barritt.
* Oh and interesting to see a very clear statement made in terms of refereeing and penalising foul play - particularly going back and using the TMO. That penalty by one of the English lads cleaning out a player from the maul, going round the neck a bit, would almost always go unpenalised in the past. Looks like players won't get away with much this time round. Could be a good thing, but the stop start nature of the game as a result was a little frustrating.

 

[Mcfadden]

Nadolo has critics? Dunno what there is to critique. Maybe his ability under the high-ball at times (despite the try), but not sure what else.

 

[ncurd]

ABs2015 that was probably Burgess' most accomplished performance at center by a fair whack. Slade is our other option and really worth a crack. However it'll be Barritt for the Wales and Australia match no point in kidding ourselves...

 

[ABs2015]

ABs2015 that was probably Burgess' most accomplished performance at center by a fair whack. Slade is our other option and really worth a crack. However it'll be Barritt for the Wales and Australia match no point in kidding ourselves...

Cheers mate. What kind of a player is Slade? Can he get better go forward? Cause that is what it looked like you were lacking at 12. IMO that is why Nonu is such a good international 12. He can get a backline out of trouble by making the gain line even when he is under pressure. Perhaps it was just a one off poor game from Barritt? He gave away a lot of penalties (4 maybe?) which really didn't help his cause.

So, has Burgess not been that great to date? What have been his main issues?

- - - Updated - - -

Nadolo has critics? Dunno what there is to critique. Maybe his ability under the high-ball at times (despite the try), but not sure what else.

There were a couple comments on this thread pre game which surprised me. Perhaps they hadn't seen how amazing he has played for the Crusaders over a couple years. The guy is absolute class aye!

 

[TobesHodges]

Don't want to underestimate how greasy that ball was..
Wasn't anything amazing but got 5 points and look towards Wales.. Maybe burgess could get a start, George back on the bench, Farrell came on and showed what he can do.. So there were positives, my biggest worry was the scrum, we should have technically torn them apart, but clearly the scrum isn't as solid without the likes of Attwood, Haskell and Wilson, but I guess that the price we'll pay for more mobility..

 

[Blackdevil]

Well Fiji did way better than I thought they would. Such a shame the score line doesn't reflect it

game change with the replacements, i can't understand why mc kee didn"t replace vola vola by matavesi, many missed passes and poor kicks play
good points: the scrum (impressive) and the defense until the english replacements

 

[luke1994]

SLADE! FFS start Slade! Barritt get rid certainly though.

I agree that we should start Slade, only decent ball playing 12 we have. Unfortunately it won't happen, so I'd bring him on as an impact player next game! Barritt shouldn't have a look in.

 

[Tony Manx]

It is so easy to give the subs playing 15/20 minutes credit over those who started! I am hopeful that Lancaster sees the bigger picture.

There are certainly areas to improve like game plan to start with! That aside, Marler and Coles were predictably poor....Coles has not shown, like Corbs, that he has not adapted to the new laws. Lawes has not been the same player and we need an out and out back rower to get the ball.

 

[Sarries918]

Lots of talk about backs. I thought it was similar to the Welsh game a few years ago when England didn't win a lot in the loose. I think in some games Robshaw doesn't get to the breakdown fast enough and tonight Fiji won this area. It was only because we had quick locks that we got away with it. But who else to play 7 ?