England v New Zealand - 2 November 2024

[Reiser99]

KO advantage usually ends the moment you kick it

I thought definitely on a controlled kick, but a hack through is a bit more open.

 

[Saintjay]

Sititi is making Savea look ordinary let alone Earl.
Frightening

He's got to be nicknamed Gromit.

 

[Which Tyler]

I thought definitely on a controlled kick, but a hack through is a bit more open.

I'd agree, but you play the ref, and he did shout "advantage over" loudly enough to be heard over the commentators

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Scrum has gone far better than I expected tbf

 

[Reiser99]

I'd agree, but you play the ref, and he did shout "advantage over" loudly enough to be heard over the commentators

Yep, which is where England messed up hugely, because most players stopped expecting the whistle.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Both these teams lacking a good 10. NZ will be livid that England are in this.

 

[TommiG88]

My days, another terrible drop goal attempt

 

[Which Tyler]

I don't like it, but I get having a pot shot when playing advantage - I don't get the need there though. Especially if you're not St Jonny who can actually nail them.

 

[Saintjay]

My days, another terrible drop goal attempt

Smith getting a drop goal is as likely as me running the London Marathon dressed as a rhino.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Smith and drop goals more than 3m out

 

[TommiG88]

I feel like we are rushing our attack too much, like a bunch of kittens running round a pen

 

[higgik]

My days, another terrible drop goal attempt

Never seen Smith try this before for Quins.
Says he is playing to orders OR he is NOT TRUSTING the players around him.
Either way he is looking poor.
Finn Smith seems to have a far cooler head on him. Annoyed he is not in 23.

 

[Which Tyler]

Both these teams lacking a good 10. NZ will be livid that England are in this.

We've got good 10s.
3 of them.
We're just playing them in reverse order.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Or he's trying to get points every time we're in the 22

I'm not against it - crap execution points is points so worth a go with nothing else on

 

[jordiev]

How we can have a wealth of backrow talent and steve goes with an unbalanced trio where one is half fit and not shown he is back to his best is beyond me.

NZ far better but england far more disciplined to keep it close. Defense looks far worse without Jones, maybe changing the language not a great idea. Attack… well lets not talk about that.

Stuart surprisingly good, being smart and jsing the giant mans height against him with some dark arts.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Or he's trying to get points every time we're in the 22

I'm not against it - crap execution points is points so worth a go with nothing else on

I dunno, if he's going to kick like that I'd rather see Exeter style pick n goes for 18 phases

 

[Which Tyler]

There was plenty on that last time though, and no particular threat.

If the plan is to kick them to death with drop goals and moving the ball forwards off the boot, then play Ford, alongside Spencer.

It's like picking Ford and telling him to play Farrell, we've picked Marcus and told him to play like Ford - difference is, Ford could do a decent impression of Farrell (just with higher skill levels, and less petulance)

 

[Reiser99]

The whole attack just looks disjointed. It's been like this for a while, but England always seem to play like they haven't drilled their moves enough or they are not sure what they other players will do.

For me this is the biggest difference between us and the top 4. They look like when they get the opportunity they will likely finish it off. When England get into the 22 I'm hoping for a penalty advantage because I don't trust them to score.

 

[jordiev]

There was plenty on that last time though, and no particular threat.

If the plan is to kick them to death with drop goals and moving the ball forwards off the boot, then play Ford, alongside Spencer.

It's like picking Ford and telling him to play Farrell, we've picked Marcus and told him to play like Ford - difference is, Ford could do a decent impression of Farrell (just with higher skill levels, and less petulance)

Agree on this, but England have done this with smith his whole career, if you dont want to play to his strengths put him on the bench as your change of pace guy. Not even like spencer cant play outside a more improv guy does it every week at club level.

 

[Reiser99]

I'll add, the only way I think England will score is through a crossfield kick. However, I'm sure NZ are expecting it, but I don't see it happening another way outside of a set piece.