Wales vs England - 16/03/2013

[dullonien]

On a more interesting note according to the BBC Alex Goode gained the most meters ball in hand of any player in the tournament. He may look like me doesn't know what to do going forwards but clearly he was doing something right.

• Alex Goode (Eng) 387
• Louis Picamoles (Fra) 351
• Mike Brown (Eng) 347
• Stuart Hogg (Sco) 336
• Yoann Huget (Fra) 288

Of course the fact that England have two of the top five runners in terms of meters gained and still scored so few tries might, for some, be proof that we need some better backs.

Metre's gained, or metres run with the ball is one of the most useless statistics imo. Unless we know in what context those metre's were gained, it's impossible to judge what effect they had on a game. As an example (not saying this was genuinely the case) maybe teams were happy to kick long and in-field against England, because they knew there was little threat of a counter attack leading to a try, thus Goode would gain a lot of metres simply running the ball back up to the defensive line and either getting tackled or kicking the ball in the air.

 

[Big Ewis]

Metre's gained, or metres run with the ball is one of the most useless statistics imo. Unless we know in what context those metre's were gained, it's impossible to judge what effect they had on a game. As an example (not saying this was genuinely the case) maybe teams were happy to kick long and in-field against England, because they knew there was little threat of a counter attack leading to a try, thus Goode would gain a lot of metres simply running the ball back up to the defensive line and either getting tackled or kicking the ball in the air.

absolutely. I don't mean to add insult to injury (given the thread I'm on...) but Goode is just ridiculous when he's got the ball in hand and attempts sidesteps and fakes and wtrvr. He just looks like a guy trying to dance but who doesn't understand anything about rhythm. Like a robot. He imitates moves and fakes and stuff, but he's just not doing anything in reality and gets tackled...it's a huuuuuuuuge surprise he's way up there leading the pack, I dunno how in the whole wide world.....anyways....and hence, you're totally right, we've got a GOLDEN example right here that the "metres gained" stat is one with an asterisk and can't be used as an absolute without context.

 

[mstar]

If it isn't obvious to SL, its that you need the ability to score trys to win games.
Relying on penaltys and kicking from Farrell isn't going to work against well disaplined/good defensive teams.


As i posted here many times his philosphy of defence is the foundation of winning a game is correct to some extent but if you have no firepower to score -and we will always struggle. As he stuck with the backline all the games he was (quite rightly) didn't want to bring in new people for such a crucial game.


The backline is the most unthreatening in the 6N. Take a lesson from the best sides -play ppl in their specialist positions. Goode has had his time lets use a proper full back like Foden or Browm there. The only reason he is in there is lack of creativity/footballing skills in the centre and fly-half. Ashton needs to rediscover his form leave him out and bring in 2 natural wingers.


Agree we miss Morgan a lot, and i am not convinced croft is worth playing to push Robshaw or Wood out of the 6 and 7 positions. The locks position is worrying me, they lacked the physical presence in this game. I been talking about this for a while i just think we a little light in the 4 and 5 area. They not big ball carriers but do all other things but hardly enforcer types are they?


I really would like Lawes to be developed into the lock with JL that mobility and physicality of lawes is potent. BUt we need consistency from Lawes as his club form needs to transform into England and i think he can only do that IF SL gives him some starting time in the side.


Manu and Barrit combination need a re-think. That partnership has taken us as far as it can go i think. Its limitations are too deep routed and needs a re-change in its make up. I agree 12T needs a few run of games and this myth he can't defend is laughable at GLouster he is immense defending and tackling and gives us a kicking/creativity/passing option. Play him SL. JJ is another option but he needs to force into the side.


The scrum well corbs i hope comes back to his best we miss him as i don't think there is anyone better for England. Hooker is worrying me as hartley just seems average when he came on for England but Youngs just seems more dynamic.


Either way SL needs to re-think how the attacking game is going to work and it needs to start soon as we will not progress in games with this current side.

 

[bushytop]

If Wales had not reached the level they did then a lot of these English weaknesses would not have been so brutally exposed... so while it may have been painful (we know all about pain after 8 losses on the trot) its probably going to be more important to the development of England that their previous 15 matches.

Will say one thing though... think all of those young English boys will dread returning to the Millennium for the remainder of their careers !

 

[SelimNiai]

<img style="-webkit-user-select: none" src="http://prem0.hiboox.com/images/1113/diapof2b5828c8a6793cf547f693c5b0bcafa.gif">

Watch Tom Croft. Discuss

 

[Rhondda Rudie]

Watch Tom Croft. Discuss

You did well to find footage of Croft doing anything lol.Has he been cited.

 

[Peat]

Well no one will believe it was him as he was clearly first to a ruck

Not very pleasant, but that's a good trait in a 6. Pretty much never going to injure someone. I'm happy for him to do that all day long and would begrudgingly take my medicine if someone did the same to me.

Next.

 

[smb64]

As much as I don't like it - pritty sure that this kind of thing happens all the time in rucks

 

[SelimNiai]

Well no one will believe it was him as he was clearly first to a ruck

Not very pleasant, but that's a good trait in a 6. Pretty much never going to injure someone. I'm happy for him to do that all day long and would begrudgingly take my medicine if someone did the same to me.

Next.

I meant the fairly obvious spit at the very end

 

[Rhondda Rudie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QulMaMFARQ8

Watch Mike Brown.Discuss.

 

[Peat]

I meant the fairly obvious spit at the very end

*looks again* Hmm, could be spitting I guess. Considerably less pleasant if so, but ultimately nothing I'd really give a **** about if it came back the other way.

 

[Joseph14]

If Wales had not reached the level they did then a lot of these English weaknesses would not have been so brutally exposed... so while it may have been painful (we know all about pain after 8 losses on the trot) its probably going to be more important to the development of England that their previous 15 matches.

Will say one thing though... think all of those young English boys will dread returning to the Millennium for the remainder of their careers !

They are the ones that shouldn't make a return though. It's the ones who are itching to get back to that stadium for revenge that will benefit from the beating they took Saturday.

 

[Rhondda Rudie]

Unlike some I was never offended by Ashton's silly dives when crossing the try line.Think he should stop doing it when attempting a tackle though.

 

[TrueSlawter]

EDIT: what I mean by this is that quite a few of those England players had never played in the Millennium before, and it was probably one of the most intimidating atmospheres I have ever seen in a match. It was electric. I just wonder if the players were slightly overwhelmed by it all and that may have contributed to how they played.

I still don't get why that point was brought up every 10 mins by Inverdale.. It is a minor point at best if i it was the reverse would it be such a thing with "x amount of players have never played at Twickenham before"? Just looking last year 10 players (over starting XV and bench) had never played at Twickenham before yet I never remember it being a big talking point before the game just like it shouldn't, at the end of the day they are professionals and playing at a new place shouldn't be a talking point. However the atmosphere was electric and would've been hard to prepare for that is impossible to disagree with.

 

[dullonien]

Watch Tom Croft. Discuss

Unless Biggar comes out and complains about it, I'm not going to go mad. But If Croft really did spit on him (looks pretty damning) then that's just a filthy, filthy lowlife thing to do. I'm certainly going to look at Croft in a different light. I would go apesh*t if someone did that to me, I find it disgusting enough that people spit on the pavement, let alone towards/at me.

 

[admartian]

Watch Tom Croft. Discuss

Biggar is in excellent position to get De La Riva guard there, and sweep. Hip escape, Dan, hip escape!!



The holding down aspect, not such a big deal. Though annoying. The spitting? un-necessary and just retarded.

 

[j'nuh]

I think England died towards the end because they're a conservative team that works by slowing the tempo of the other team, but they couldn't afford to slow the game and had to take risks. Barritt looked ineffective because of the tempo the game was played with, which killed our defense. You want guys like Wade and May to chase a game, not guys like Goode and current Ashton.

 

[TrueSlawter]

Looks like Halfpenny to me, as it looks like a scrum cap is being worn? Regardless if he did do anything as stated then its just dirty and I'd complain if it happened to me..

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Unless Biggar comes out and complains about it, I'm not going to go mad. But If Croft really did spit on him (looks pretty damning) then that's just a filthy, filthy lowlife thing to do. I'm certainly going to look at Croft in a different light. I would go apesh*t if someone did that to me, I find it disgusting enough that people spit on the pavement, let alone towards/at me.

It's Halfpenny.

 

[ratsapprentice]

As much as that does look like he's spitting, I doubt he actually was. What the hell does he gain by spitting on Halfpenny's scrumcap/His own hands?