England - Barbarians FC (27/05/2012, 14:30)

[TRF_Olyy]

Because it's BaaBaas

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

So many good runners showing their talent today. Exciting for the future. Defence abit passive at times, though

 

[Wilko's left boot]

I think Farrell overuses that little dink through sometimes.

 

[Wilko's left boot]

Man, how I would love to see both Joseph and Wade make the lineup vs SA.

 

[nickdnz]

So Wade went well?

 

[Wilko's left boot]

He was fairly good. Didn't really have a whole lot of chances, but when he did something in attack, it was usually pretty good.

 

[Peat]

Yeah, Wade was decent enough although he had a fair defensive lapses and should have spent 10 minutes in the bin. Good work for Joseph's final try.

Farrell was crap. Dickson, Ashton, Goode, Joseph, Hartley, Dowson and Johnson the standouts imo.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I don't like it when people say players are too small for international rugby, but I think Wade might be.
Whenever he was involved in a ruck it was like he wasn't there, just getting brushed aside with ease. His tackling, while the technique was there, wasn't bringing anyone down either.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Just watched the highlights from the game, the 2 best moments they showed from a Baabaas perspective was John Smit's great pass and Laulala's tackle on Farrel...

 

[Taylo2]

Not long back from the game....it was bloody hot in HQ!! Shame most people in the ground were more interested in mexican waves than the rugby :/

 

[racingmetrofan]

Farrell was shocking today - guess the only reason he wasn't marched off is that Lancaster doesn't want to knock his confidence too much with Flood looking fragile for SA. Definitely not good enough as a centre though we won't win any games against quality teams with him there. Hartley played out of his skin today as did Ashton. Joseph looked good as well.

Pity that Balshaw was the only England oldie Johnson didn't select, still absolutely class.

 

[gingergenius]

interesting game there - nice in particular to see ashton and hartley back on form, and promising stuff from wade and joseph.

whole midfield was poor today, but then it doesn't work well at saracens and it doesn't work well with england. there's no need for hodgson any more, farrell has shown he's more than capable of playing 10, a fit flood is an even better option... barritt is not a 13. I'd be interested to see a Tuilagi - Joseph or Tuilagi- Lowe combination in one of the warmup matches.

otherwise, botha and johnson looked good, as did dowson. along with ashton and hartley, i reckon they're the only starters who will have enhanced their reputations after today.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I really rate Lancaster, he's done only good things for us: But, I really hope he can see that playing Farrel at 12 and Barritt 13 is absolute madness - particularly when Barritt is standout at 12 and at 13 you have 3 great options - Tuilagi, Lowe, and Joseph - probably in that order of preference. If there's one thing Farrell has shown it's that he does not need to be babysat by an older guy at 10. So as much as I like and admire Hodgson, I really do think he has limited shelf-life. You still see periodic instances of distributive genius from him, but as a rule that midfield hasn't worked, and as the commentators were harping on about yesterday, our set-piece 'strike-moves' have been awful.

The mad and slightly infuriating thing that Baa baa games is that it's never going to be sufficient basis to change a team. So although Wade and Joseph looked strong, the starting side won't change. in Josephs case I have no problem with this whatsoever, as Tuilagi is the deserved owener of the 13 shirt, despite a below-par performance on Saturday. The other discovery has been Johnson who played very well, but again I can see him making the mid-week 15 but not the test side unless we have injuries. More likely to see (all depending on performance in training, especially for Haskell who is away from the other guys) 6: Hask 7: Robshaw, 19: Dowson. Again, Baa baas games are a great opportunity to blood players, but not sufficient basis to make wholesale changes.

What were peoples views on Paul Doran-Jones yesterday? He escaped my attention. Also, shame Fearns did not appear to have much impact at 7...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Fearns is wasted at 7, is the problem - put him and 6 (or 8) and he's far better.
Doran-Jones didn't have a standout game, however he showed more than enough to overtake Stevens for the bench spot. Stevens had a decent enough game, but that doesn't cancel out his many terrible performances of late.

 

[Peat]

Fearns is wasted at 7, is the problem - put him and 6 (or 8) and he's far better.
Doran-Jones didn't have a standout game, however he showed more than enough to overtake Stevens for the bench spot. Stevens had a decent enough game, but that doesn't cancel out his many terrible performances of late.

Don't see Lancaster changing his mind based on that game.

Besides, with Marler's emergence, I think we're likely to see Corbs as the multi-sided prop very soon.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Aye, no doubt in my mind that Stevens is still ahead of PDJ, but God knows why.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

From November, 8-man benches go international, so more props are needed.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

From November, 8-man benches go international, so more props are needed.

That's a very very good point which I wasn't aware of. A match-day prop squad containing Cole, Corbisiero, Mahler and Paul Doran-Jones, would make me very very happy.