[2018 November Tests] England v South Africa (3/10/18)

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Did England have a players only meeting before heading to the shed? Not the best of signs

 

[Aristodemus]

Discipline has been shocking, Daly isn't good enough under the high ball for international rugby. Mediocre performances from virtually everyone in the side, it really is a tough watch for an England fan. SA errors have kept us in the match.

 

[Reiser99]

Very lucky to still be in this.

Think I understand why the ABs didn't cap Shields, but he's another with barely any rugby this season.

He's also tackling far too high, losing the collision so players get over the game line and is also risking a card if he messes up and makes contact with the head. I don't get it...every other country has adjusted their tackling and defensive style for the new rules and we seem to have gone, 'sod the rest of the world, we'll do it our way as we're right and they are wrong.'

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Can we bring on Attwood and Isiekwe?

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Pollard and Marx need to come off but I don't know if Jantjies would be much of a performance.

Nice to see sky bring on the second best wing in SA history for halftime.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Must be pretty tempting to bring on Ashton at FB and move Daly into 13. Gets Slade off the pitch and frankly, Daly at 15 is not working. At least it'll let us find it if Ashton at FB is any better.

 

[ncurd]

Did England have a players only meeting before heading to the shed? Not the best of signs

Eh probably a we are about to get a rollicking meeting. We better have some damn answers.

 

[NDC89]

What is Slade doing!? Take him off!

Really? Sub Farrell off for Ford. Farrell offers zero threat to the line and so the SA defence isn't even watching him, and so able to stifle any opportunities for the backs.

 

[ncurd]

Must be pretty tempting to bring on Ashton at FB and move Daly into 13. Gets Slade off the pitch and frankly, Daly at 15 is not working. At least it'll let us find it if Ashton at FB is any better.

.....Ashton will probably be worse than Daly....

Honestly get Te'o off as well. Ford/Farrell/Daly might manage something if Youngs stops kicking the damn ball away (Clive shut up this was already my post). Might get Care on.....


But as usual forwards the problem and I don't thinker have any answers on the bench.

 

[Reiser99]

Must be pretty tempting to bring on Ashton at FB and move Daly into 13. Gets Slade off the pitch and frankly, Daly at 15 is not working. At least it'll let us find it if Ashton at FB is any better.

But then what about Te'o who's done nothing and looks short of match fitness. Ford on for him? So Ford, Farrell, Daly...that's not going to get over the gainline.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Must be pretty tempting to bring on Ashton at FB and move Daly into 13. Gets Slade off the pitch and frankly, Daly at 15 is not working. At least it'll let us find it if Ashton at FB is any better.

Ford Farrell Daly with splash at 15

Can't do worse than the backline atm

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Tinkering with the back line will sweet FA if the forwards don't get hold of the ball.

 

[Nubiwan]

These fall internationals should have kicking bans imposed on them. The kicking has largely been woeful anyway, and the resultant "spectacle " has been terrible.

The only difference between this and a World Cup match is that the anxiety levels, and pressure, and prize would be that much higher. I fear the level of play would be similarly average.

 

[Rinkadink]

Now I know why I watch little if any British Club rugby. Zero enterprise from England, and its not like they are getting their hands on the ball a lot.

Your loss really, but it is silly to mistake this England side which is less than the sum of its parts as representative of British rugby.

As an example I would wager most full strength Premiership sides would theoretically be in a similar position to SA right now, if not a few more points. England international rugby/RFU is a joke and has been for ages. Taking players and making them worse is a speciality

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

The ABs are going to be thinking 60.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Tinkering with the back line will sweet FA if the forwards don't get hold of the ball.

With the exception of Mercer for Shields i don't see much improvement coming off the bench tbh

Moon isn't international quality,
George could add some good impact, but I'm having flash backs off his mediocre summer
Williams is decent but don't think he's better in the loose than Sinck (and scrum penalties are coming from the loosehead side)
Ewells decent but not a step up from krutoje

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Hepburn hasn't been bad has he? Hasn't done anything special but thought he was solid.

 

[Mr Ruggleby]

That set of England attack says it all - outmatches physically everywhere

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Snyman is f***ing huge

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Aw not Curry. Glad to see Mercer in though