[2015 RWC] Pool A: England vs. Wales (26/09/2015)

[Tony Manx]

I'm sorry but it was a terrible call and it showed that England don't back themselves to beat the Aussies. As the group stood they had the extra match point over the Aussies against Fiji so a win vs Australia sends them straight through with the draw now there's a possibility that they can beat Australia and head home.

Getting through the group in any manner is better than going home and because of that poor call I think we'll see an early end to England's world cup.

As for the match, it had to be the match of the tournament thus far in terms of quality, two sides who played to their potential at times for an incredibly tense match up. Well done to Wales who extended their world cup fantastically in one of the most gutsy last 20 minutes of rugby I've ever seen when their backs were truly against the wall. Unfortunately, with injuries, I can't see them making it past the Saffas (who have been blessed with luck) but the quarter finals are a round further than England will be making it this championship which is a success in itself considering this was the most competitive group in RWC history. Dan Biggar is reaching Sexton's heights as an NH 10 and has become one of the top three outside halves in world rugby very quietly, probably due to having been in Halfpenny's shadow!

Bleedin' heck!! You had a good night in the pub and still feeling happy? Truly lyrical ye are!!

 

[Kiwi_]

No, it was the wrong call. History bears that out. Take the kick, take the draw, maximise points in the remaining games and let the chips fall where they lie. You do NOT lose to Wales at home, but that's exactly what they did...unmitigated disaster.

You're talking like he already had kicked it. It was way out on the right and a pressure kick.

 

[ncurd]

You're talking like he already had kicked it. It was way out on the right and a pressure kick.

This is true but if Ford or Farrell felt through kick was too hard wouldn't that be an excuse we'd have heard already.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Sometimes it's had to tell what's really going on when you're in the stadium, but I'm not sure if I can watch that back!! First off the atmosphere was electric and despite what was at stake, the 2 sets of fans behaved exactly as you'd expect from this great game.

From an English perspective:

About 60% of that was actually very good controlled RWC rugby. To me the game changer was Ben Youngs going off; fair enough if he was injured, but insanity if he wasn't.

Both set pieces better, particularly scrum. But Jenkins is past his best and Francis is a rookie so I'm not getting too excited yet.

Farrell and Burgess both did what was expected of them. Burgess has been put in a tough position by Lancaster and the way he's responded is a mark of the man, but he's really a 6 waiting to happen. Barrett at 13 was the complete disaster everyone expected and Lancaster deserves pelters for that one selection.

Despite all the cries for Tipuric, I thought Gatland got it right playing a classically balanced back row. Compare and contrast.

In the context of a one off match, the corner would have been a good call. In the context of this pool with both still to play the Aussies it was moronic, absolute madness. Robshaw has previous for this and all it did was highlight the gulf in leadership between the teams. There's a reason (several actually) CR didn't get a seat on the plane when Warbs captained the Lions while Gatland is so much more street wise than Lancaster, it's just not funny.

But there is still hope. Emotionally that will have taken a lot from Wales and their back line is in disarray. I fancy the Aussies to do a bit of damage there. I'd like to think we'll now be even more up for the fight against the Aussies; Lancaster has to be bold and smart.

In the swirl of people outside the ground we ended up walking past Martin Johnson. Fair to say that he wasn't smiling.

 

[Kiwi_]

This is true but if Ford or Farrell felt through kick was too hard wouldn't that be an excuse we'd have heard already.

Farrell backed the decision, so that is good enough. Robshaw made the right choice, the execution just wasn't there. A draw is such a conservative thing to go for, given the chance of winning through a strength of England, with a injury ravaged Welsh team who England have had the better of the last year or so and with the enormous crowd behind you, it's fine... if you had a push over try then a lot of the fans would all be here calling him a genius and new era of 'brave' English rugby would apparently be coming upon us. I think you guys need to come together as a team and say, "good effort Robbo, good effort Lancaster, a class try and our discipline let us down today, let's move forward and beat the Aussies". Or you can as a Nation flog a dead horse and continue to berate your team and let the media tear them a new one, AGAIN.. up to you.

 

[Mumbles119]

Congratulations Wales on a good win. A gritty and uncompromising performance from the Welsh team even after so many injuries, was inspiring to watch.

 

[ncurd]

Farrell backed the decision, so that is good enough. Robshaw made the right choice, the execution just wasn't there. A draw is such a conservative thing to go for, given the chance of winning through a strength of England, with a injury ravaged Welsh team who England have had the better of the last year or so and with the enormous crowd behind you, it's fine... if you had a push over try then a lot of the fans would all be here calling him a genius and new era of 'brave' English rugby would apparently be coming upon us. I think you guys need to come together as a team and say, "good effort Robbo, good effort Lancaster, a class try and our discipline let us down today, let's move forward and beat the Aussies". Or you can as a Nation flog a dead horse and continue to berate your team and let the media tear them a new one, AGAIN.. up to you.

The problem is as you know we've been moaning about the selection since it began to emerge. It's more than just corner kick for me it's decisions being made about this entire match from game plan to substitutions to that kick.

 

[Tony Manx]

Or you can as a Nation flog a dead horse and continue to berate your team and let the media tear them a new one, AGAIN.. up to you.

Why change a national habit!

 

[Colombia]

You're talking like he already had kicked it. It was way out on the right and a pressure kick.

Farrell was kicking very well, and there was also time on the clock. They were behind with a chance to square it up, it was the wrong decision, point-blank.

England have been humiliated at home, and it may cost them getting out of the group, and the coaches their jobs. It's hugely damaging.

You can argue it was the right decision, but I just can't go along with that. In that situation, you take the points, the stakes are high.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I wish we had other obvious leadership candidates beside Robshaw(who I like as a player). Parling's a questionable selection at lock so not an obvious captain. Hartley set's a terrible example. the Youngs brothers have only 3/4 of a brain between them. Wood doesn't deserve his place particularly..

 

[Tony Manx]

I wish we had other obvious leadership candidates beside Robshaw(who I like as a player). Parling's a questionable selection at lock so not an obvious captain. Hartley set's a terrible example. the Youngs brothers have only 3/4 of a brain between them. Wood doesn't deserve his place particularly..

Excellent point....is Brown too far out of the game as he is the only one who goes straight on the team sheet without question! Gavin Hastings did not do a bad job!

 

[j'nuh]

I wish we had other obvious leadership candidates beside Robshaw(who I like as a player). Parling's a questionable selection at lock so not an obvious captain. Hartley set's a terrible example. the Youngs brothers have only 3/4 of a brain between them. Wood doesn't deserve his place particularly..

Launchers potentially?

Excellent point....is Brown too far out of the game as he is the only one who goes straight on the team sheet without question! Gavin Hastings did not do a bad job!

Did you see Brown absolutely explode in a fit of rage last night? Class player, but a bit too temperamental for captain IMO!

 

[Kiwi_]

Farrell was kicking very well, and there was also time on the clock. They were behind with a chance to square it up, it was the wrong decision, point-blank.

England have been humiliated at home, and it may cost them getting out of the group, and the coaches their jobs. It's hugely damaging.

You can argue it was the right decision, but I just can't go along with that. In that situation, you take the points, the stakes are high.

Again you're talking like he kicked it. Kicking very well doesn't mean he would have kicked it. He could have missed and England lose and it's even worse because they could've gone for the try. It's easy to talk in hindsight.

 

[ncurd]

Excellent point....is Brown too far out of the game as he is the only one who goes straight on the team sheet without question! Gavin Hastings did not do a bad job!

JJ should surely? I mean be selected without question.

Brown's temperament worries me as a leader loads of passion sure but I'm not sure he leads when the chips are down. If he were forward I'd really about discipline from him.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Itoje or Kev.

 

[Colombia]

Again you're talking like he kicked it. Kicking very well doesn't mean he would have kicked it. He could have missed and England lose and it's even worse because they could've gone for the try. It's easy to talk in hindsight.

There was time on the clock to go again.

It wouldn't have been worse because it's an understandable decision, if the kicker misses he misses but to pass up the opportunity of the draw, the opportunity to avoid defeat is criminal, it was the wrong call.

If you kick to the corner a lot of things have to go right for you to score a try, with the kick at goal, it's just one.

 

[Kiwi_]

There was time on the clock to go again.

It wouldn't have been worse because it's an understandable decision, if the kicker misses he misses but to pass up the opportunity of the draw, the opportunity to avoid defeat is criminal, it was the wrong call.

Sorry, wrong mentality. A line out 5 metres from their line. If you don't back yourself to score then, then you'll never back yourself. Englands line out had been good all day, as had their mauling.

 

[Colombia]

Sorry, wrong mentality. A line out 5 metres from their line. If you don't back yourself to score then, then you'll never back yourself. Englands line out had been good all day, as had their mauling.

Nonsense logic my man, you have to make the right calls at the right time. Robshaw didn't, and now everyone pays.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

This article is such a funny read now!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...Cup-similar-to-our-cricketers-against-NZ.html


Esp this bit

“It is up to the coaches to lift the pressure from the players and give them the (positive) mindset,†said Lancaster. “Often as coaches, we can put pressure on players to play. We have to lift them, to liberate them, to give them license to go and do what they need to do.â€

Compared to BBC quote last night.
"On the field it's the players making the decisions and it was a big call to go for the corner," said Lancaster.

Not exactly taking pressure off the players is it

 

[Tony Manx]

JJ should surely? I mean be selected without question.

Brown's temperament worries me as a leader loads of passion sure but I'm not sure he leads when the chips are down. If he were forward I'd really about discipline from him.

Did you see Brown absolutely explode in a fit of rage last night? Class player, but a bit too temperamental for captain IMO!
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Responsibility often will make a player with Brown's temperament into being calmer and think more about his actions! I do not see Josephs as a bolt on player as yet!