England Autumn Internationals - MARK II

England squad for autumn Tests:

Forwards: Jamie Blamire (Newcastle), Callum Chick (Newcastle), Jamie George (Saracens), Tom Curry (Sale), Trevor Davison (Newcastle), Nic Dolly (Leicester), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Charlie Ewels (Bath), Ellis Genge (Leicester), Jonny Hill (Exeter), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton), Joe Marler (Harlequins), George Martin (Leicester), Sam Simmonds (Exeter), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol), Will Stuart (Bath), Sam Underhill (Bath)

Backs: Mark Atkinson (Gloucester), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Tommy Freeman (Northampton), George Furbank (Northampton), Max Malins (Saracens), Jonny May (Gloucester), Raffi Quirke (Sale), Adam Radwan (Newcastle), Harry Randall (Bristol), Henry Slade (Exeter), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Freddie Steward (Leicester), Manu Tuilagi (Sale), Joe Marchant (Quins), Ben Youngs (Leicester)

In Positions:
1.Marler, Genge
2.George, Blamire, Dolly
3.Sinckler, Stuart, Davison
4.Itoje, Hill
5.Lawes, Ewels
6.Curry, Martin
7.Underhill, Ludlam
8.Dombrandt, Simmonds, Chick

9.Youngs, Randall, Quirke
10.Smith

11.May, Radwan
12.Farrell, Atkinson
13.Tuilagi, Slade
14.Freeman, Marchant
15.Steward, Malins, Furbank
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England v Tonga - 6th November
England v Australia - 13th November
England v South Africa - 20th November

Mid match Pooly! Ta.

Old Man won't like that pen. Not really affecting play.

And the follow up pen from Lawes.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Old Man won't like that pen. Not really affecting play.

You beat me to it.

Lots of silly pens from both sides. Whichever team can sort their discipline out sooner should take control of this.

England playing really well.

Nice variation so far in attack.

England are certainly trying to move the ball in attack. I like that they are sticking with a more aggressive game plan despite losing their main carrier.

Steward is some player....England have their fb finally

Well lucky there  hands on the floor.


Nah actually Slade off his feet.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Steward is some player....England have their fb finally

Should have been nominated as breakthrough player of the year

No 7&1/2 wrote:Well lucky there  hands on the floor.

I thought that initially but the ref pointed to Slade who did go off his feet trying to make up for the lack of support. Maybe a case of the ref adjudging that the jackal would have got hands on ball had it not been for the illegal work from the support player.

king_carlos wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Well lucky there  hands on the floor.

I thought that initially but the ref pointed to Slade who did go off his feet trying to make up for the lack of support. Maybe a case of the ref adjudging that the jackal would have got hands on ball had it not been for the illegal work from the support player.

Agree on the second look. Good reffing.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Steward is some player....England have their fb finally

He does seem to be growing into the games the bigger they are. England seem to be using him quite a bit as the link man out the back which is giving Smith a good get out option as Steward is big and strong enough to crash it up and skillful enough to move it to the winger.

Took his try very nicely and it's noticeable that the Boks are not targeting him with the kicks the are trying to work May.

What’s with rugby players just shaving the sides of their head?! Some terrible haircuts this autumn series. Or am I just out of touch?!

England's fat forwards slowing this down for a breather... 

SA forwards really getting on top....needs addressing.

That would have been a spectacular 50-22 with a metres more bounce!

king_carlos wrote:England's fat forwards slowing this down for a breather... 

They're just waiting for Youngs to get there.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Steward is some player....England have their fb finally

He does seem to be growing into the games the bigger they are. England seem to be using him quite a bit as the link man out the back which is giving Smith a good get out option as Steward is big and strong enough to crash it up and skillful enough to move it to the winger.

Took his try very nicely and it's noticeable that the Boks are not targeting him with the kicks the are trying to work May.

He just does everything well. Not flashy just efficient and effective. Perfect

king_carlos wrote:England's fat forwards slowing this down for a breather... 

Just giving the SA forwards the rest they need...

Really should have been more points up really. Missed opp? But as above need to clean up discipline. Alot of them aren't forced pens from SA.

Very good half for England. SA not at the races. They are keeing themselves out kf the contest with poor decisions and stupid penalties. Mbonambi has been poor at his line out throws and Nyakane conceding two penalties and a free kick at the scrum.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:SA forwards really getting on top....needs addressing.

They're definitely winning the collisions around the fringes. Especially defensively. England are really struggling to get metres to manufacture quick ball.

Feel we should be better off on the scoreboard. On the plus, we look like we could score at any point, Smith has really brought a snappiness to the attack.

Old Man wrote:Very good half for England. SA not at the races. They are keeing themselves out kf the contest with poor decisions and stupid penalties. Mbonambi has been poor at his line out throws and Nyakane conceding two penalties and a free kick at the scrum.

Bar a couple of brain farts England have dealt with SA kicks.

Yeha but Engkand is finding oodles of space out wide and behind

Old Man wrote:Very good half for England. SA not at the races. They are keeing themselves out kf the contest with poor decisions and stupid penalties. Mbonambi has been poor at his line out throws and Nyakane conceding two penalties and a free kick at the scrum.

Or maybe England are actually playing well?

GeordieFalcon wrote:

Old Man wrote:Very good half for England. SA not at the races. They are keeing themselves out kf the contest with poor decisions and stupid penalties. Mbonambi has been poor at his line out throws and Nyakane conceding two penalties and a free kick at the scrum.

Or maybe England are actually playing well?

I have said that twice already

Good half for England, but only five points up is a concern, not sure it'll be enough for them to hold on to. South Africa need to improve their restarts, and I'm surprised they've been so reticent in kicking for the corner and giving their maul the chance to dominate and really put continual pressure on the England defence.

That Steward try was silly. I know he got a great line but he had about 4 boks on him including Kolisi

Duty281 wrote:Good half for England, but only five points up is a concern, not sure it'll be enough for them to hold on to. South Africa need to improve their restarts, and I'm surprised they've been so reticent in kicking for the corner and giving their maul the chance to dominate and really put continual pressure on the England defence.

Yes having been the better side...to only be 5 points up is not good.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Good half for England, but only five points up is a concern, not sure it'll be enough for them to hold on to. South Africa need to improve their restarts, and I'm surprised they've been so reticent in kicking for the corner and giving their maul the chance to dominate and really put continual pressure on the England defence.

Yes having been the better side...to only be 5 points up is not good.

While we've been better with the ball we've made poor choices in clean outs in the sa half. From pressure to easy release.

Steward and Malins look a useful combo....

Old Man wrote:Very good half for England. SA not at the races. They are keeing themselves out kf the contest with poor decisions and stupid penalties. Mbonambi has been poor at his line out throws and Nyakane conceding two penalties and a free kick at the scrum.

The Boks depth can solve both those very easily though. Kitshoff, Marx and Koch will presumably come on around 45 minutes. Their impact will be interesting to see. England usually try to make their subs a lot later. Especially Sinckler with him being so much better than Stuart.

I am very surprised England going 2 try's to nil in the first half.

Some very good play and the variation of play from England is keeping SA guessing what Englanf are trying to do.
Lets the second half is as good as the first.

Is it time to call it a day on Manu?

GeordieFalcon wrote:Is it time to call it a day on Manu?

How can you though. When he's fit play him. Said early though so heavily strapped and you either don't need to take the risk of starting him or at least change your bench.

The Oracle wrote:What’s with rugby players just shaving the sides of their head?! Some terrible haircuts this autumn series. Or am I just out of touch?!

Red card them all. Mullets too.

majesticimperialman wrote:I am very surprised England going 2 try's to nil in the first half.

Some very good play and the variation of play from England is keeping SA guessing what Englanf are trying to do.
Lets the second half is as good as the first.

Boks only had two opportunities to get into England 22, Pollard took a wrong option to kick cross field grubber and on the attacking ruck when Reinach took a run we had no halfback, nobody stepped up. We haven't had much possession either.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Is it time to call it a day on Manu?

How can you though. When he's fit play him. Said early though so heavily strapped and you either don't need to take the risk of starting him or at least change your bench.

Can never have a 6:2 spilt on the bench if we play Tuilagi. Needs a season off or should retire.

Big half needed from Smith I feel.

Stupid penalties. Discipline from both sides has been poor.

Mbonambi is wasting our line out, he must be replaced

Nche putting seriou pressure on Sinckler there. Worrying with Kitshoff to come.

That's a concerning scrum for England to start the half.

But Pollard finally misses.

Looked like Nche going round the outside to me.

king_carlos wrote:Nche putting seriou pressure on Sinckler there. Worrying with Kitshoff to come.

We have our knight in shing armour to come though.


Can't wait to see Dolly.

Sinkler looks tiny compared to niche