My thoughts in fuller detail, with less hungover/short-sighted vitriol.
Amazing game of rugby, you can't ask for a great deal more. If England had got over the line I would have been drunkenly telling all the Welsh guys on these boards how much I love them and how amazing they are, so it's very likely a good thing we didn't get there. I think Wales will need to step it up to another level to beat a more settled French team with more precision than England. This said, a Grand Slam in decider at the Millennium Stadium would probably see Wales as favourites.
I think the teams were fairly evenly matched on the day, although I do think a more settled backline could have seen England run in one or two tries. I don't think it's fair to say Wales didn't deserve something from the game bearing in mind they played away from home, and it was always going to be tough. A couple o really simple things impressed me in the game. I can't remember at exactly what time, but when England had a lineout near the halfway line, it was given to parling(possibly somebody else) in midfield, he was tackled, and at that point the speed at which Warburton got in there and won a penalty utterly boggled my mind. It was brilliant. Reminded me how little we see of that from England. Another thing was when Davies tackled Strettle( admittedly he knocked it on) chased him, got in position and won the penalty for strettle holding on. He was so composed and precise, I was really impressed.
Stevens, it turns out, doesn't just hemmorrage penalties when playing otu of position in the front row, he also gives away penalties on the floor, and despite the fact that the referee has been shouting at him to get his hands off/out. He must be completely brainless to give away such a penalty when the score, I think, was 12 - 9. I really don't think he has earned his continued presence in the 22. EPS, possibly yes. I'm sure this has been mentioned before but Paul Doran-Jones right now is a better bet. I can't comment on Nick Wood as I haven't seen much of him, but apparently he's playing his socks off. He's not young though, interested to hear what has changed and if nothing why he has never been mentioned as a possible England guy in the past.
I've rarely seen substitutes lose a game as successfully as ours did yesterday. Youngs is horse sh*t at present, and needs to lose a stone and a half. Simpson apparently did well against Sale on Friday but apart from that I can;t say that he's been in great form, with Nic Berry normally starting games with Simpson on the bench. Wishing Lancaster hadn't decided to rule out Care, he's the man for us right now.
I thought Lawes made a positive impact, shame about getting the ball taken from him like candy from a baby. Could have happened to anyone to be fair. Can't really remember anything of Webber, except that we won the lineout from his throw.
At this point I definitely have to admit to Dullonien that I was completely wrong about the front row. I said that Corbs Hartley and Cole were a trio who would never be dominated by any other front row, but I was proven wrong yesterday.
Ashton and Strettle both unconvincing. Strettlre did some good things but made at least one god-awful decision, when he tried to run the ball out of his 22, got tackled and pinged for not releasing. Also I just get this sense thatother wingers may have finished his try better. Not because he did anything specifically wrong, just because he's inherently limited? I don't know. Sharples deserves a start, Ashton needs to work hsi way back. I still don't think Foden is droppable. I eel Brown butchered slightly any space that Strettle had at the end there, although I know it's not fair to judge Brown on that basis alone. Johhny May would be good if he can worm his way up the pecking order. Barritt and Tuilagi were exceptional. Being able to tackle the latter is the exception rather than the rule, and if I knew how do those video avatar thingies I would have one of Tuilagi handing off Priestland as if he was some random child. I would watch that two second clip all day and foam at the mouth (presumably like Cyril does with his lovely avatar)
Farrell looks the business, pleasantly surprised me. I don't think Flood can be judged too much on his brief cameo. It was just that 5% extra precision in attack that could have made the difference, and which with further squad development will see us winning games again. But, it would be wrong to pretend that Wales don't deserve some credit for us not scoring (Warburton clinging on to Tuilagi's ankles springs to mind.
