England still winning the RWC at a canter - The RWC phase

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Assuming and currently it is quite a big assumption England get through group I can't see them winning QF against whoever they face. Bloody hopeless

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Heaf wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Heaf wrote:But you're assuming by default the officials must have made errors in both teams favours equally?

Nope. Merely that players will always make more.

But the players mistakes are irrelevant to the performance of the officials ... you can't say because the players make mistakes then officiating errors make no difference ...

I said that officials do not decide matches.

OK, well I believe sometimes they do, so we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one

Radwan scored another cracker last night..

Why am I feeling totally underwhelmed seeing Farrell back in the side?

One reason which is clear is that to me he represents the gradual erosion in England's play. When he was younger he was part of growth. improvement, and success for England. But for the last 3+ years he was front and centre of England's worsening play. He clearly is not physically the same player he was almost four years ago. So what he accomplished and what he was able to do back then, he cannot do now, or not as well. I want a clean break.

doctor_grey wrote:Why am I feeling totally underwhelmed seeing Farrell back in the side?  

One reason which is clear is that to me he represents the gradual erosion in England's play.  When he was younger he was part of growth. improvement, and success for England.  But for the last 3+ years he was front and centre of England's worsening play.  He clearly is not physically the same player he was almost four years ago.  So what he accomplished and what he was able to do back then, he cannot do now, or not as well.  I want a clean break.  

Feels like the game has moved on and the likes of Farrell (and Billy) just seem outdated

lostinwales wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:Why am I feeling totally underwhelmed seeing Farrell back in the side?  

One reason which is clear is that to me he represents the gradual erosion in England's play.  When he was younger he was part of growth. improvement, and success for England.  But for the last 3+ years he was front and centre of England's worsening play.  He clearly is not physically the same player he was almost four years ago.  So what he accomplished and what he was able to do back then, he cannot do now, or not as well.  I want a clean break.  

Feels like the game has moved on and the likes of Farrell (and Billy) just seem outdated

Maybe that's a better way of putting it!
And they are not the same players regardless.

Given what I've seen of rugby's extra curricular activities the phrase, "he likes running lines", made me chuckle for the wrong reasons.

We're not playing the England way then. Nice to see.

Arghh. Did all the difficult stuff and fluffed the pass.

Really easy to pick England apart with offloads.

Malins having a torrid time so far.

On the upside, Arundell is very quick. On the downside. Why the f*** did England have zero players in their backfield with Chile very obviously in possession and setting to box kick...?

Ludlam has been really good this year. He's a vastly improved player. Love watching him play these days.

Chile's attack looking better than England's.

Honestly felt they were lucky not to lose that a couple of breakdowns earlier when Bohme got over the top of Sinckler whilst isolated from the pick and go.

Where is the accuracy?

Any hope England might finish one of these chances at some point?

king_carlos wrote:Honestly felt they were lucky not to lose that a couple of breakdowns earlier when Bohme got over the top of Sinckler whilst isolated from the pick and go.

Bit lucky that Dan wasn't pinged for going off his feet as well tho.

Lucky their line-out isn't working

Heaf wrote:Any hope England might finish one of these chances at some point?

Oh you sweet summer child.

Lovely pass from Farrell and kick from Daly. I was just think Daly had looked composed at 13 compared to some errors from other backs. Then he threw a dismal pass in front of Sinckler. It's been error strewn with the ball again.

About time.

That's just naive to drive that over when it looked clear it would be held up. Yes, there's a pen advantage, but go to ground and recycle. Silly.

Precise from Farrell. Finally.

A walk in but is so nice to see Arundell playing and scoring. Such an exciting talent.

king_carlos wrote:That's just naive to drive that over when it looked clear it would be held up. Yes, there's a pen advantage, but go to ground and recycle. Silly.

You behind. Or am I.

king_carlos wrote:That's just naive to drive that over when it looked clear it would be held up. Yes, there's a pen advantage, but go to ground and recycle. Silly.

Started when Danny Care killed the momentum by picking and going, two phases later and he hadn't got back in to position and organised the forwards and we are held up.

Finally a chance we've not ruined. Arundell gets an easy try.

I'm watching STV on the laptop rather than TV so probably me. That was in ref to Willis (on ball), Sinckler and Ribbans (both as latches) driving over when Chile were clearly trying to drag them over to easily hold it up.

Finally a good driving maul.

Lawrence has been improved in defence over the Six Nations and since. To be fair to Malins, he contested that well too.

Theo Dan. Should do his confidence some good having had limited exposure from the bench.

Farrell looking good so far. England maybe trying too hard almost so some unforced errors. Smith comfortable at 15.

Theo Dan throwing a better final pass than several of our backs have...

Chile look ragged already. This could get ugly.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Chile look ragged already. This could get ugly.

Decent bench for England too.

Nice finish from Rodd that.

Farrells kicking, even from the ones he's scored, looks a bit iffy.

Dan is having a cracking game.

I really don't see the point in Malins.

Nice turnover try. The exit was a bit meh from a seemingly worked play.

Lovely stuff. That's Smith's pace showing there. He might not be winger quick or on the pace of Beauden Barrett but he's very quick for 10. That's what creates that try.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Nice turnover try. The exit was a bit meh from a seemingly worked play.

I think they were planning to run it looking at the setup with Daly in 'the boot' as a receiver behind the runners. Then the service was rubbish so he dropped back as a relief option. It's a poor kick though.

king_carlos wrote:Lovely stuff. That's Smith's pace showing there. He might not be winger quick or on the pace of Beauden Barrett but he's very quick for 10. That's what creates that try.

He outpaced a lot of players to get to his won kick. Including Marlins, who is apparently a winger.

Anyway, it's limited opposition but England are starting to click. Hope they can hold it together after half time

Poorfour wrote:

king_carlos wrote:Lovely stuff. That's Smith's pace showing there. He might not be winger quick or on the pace of Beauden Barrett but he's very quick for 10. That's what creates that try.

He outpaced a lot of players to get to his won kick. Including Marlins, who is apparently a winger.

Anyway, it's limited opposition but England are starting to click. Hope they can hold it together after half time

Yep, he's rapid for a 10. I think my feelings on Malins as a winger are well known. I think he could be a really decent reserve fullback but just lacks the pace or instincts to play wing. Hopefully Malins will play fullback pretty much exclusively at Bristol and we can see him develop. He's predominantly been a winger at Sarries.

Smith playing really well. Ideal game for him.

Caveat is opposition but can only play team in front of you

king_carlos wrote:

Poorfour wrote:

king_carlos wrote:Lovely stuff. That's Smith's pace showing there. He might not be winger quick or on the pace of Beauden Barrett but he's very quick for 10. That's what creates that try.

He outpaced a lot of players to get to his won kick. Including Marlins, who is apparently a winger.

Anyway, it's limited opposition but England are starting to click. Hope they can hold it together after half time

Yep, he's rapid for a 10. I think my feelings on Malins as a winger are well known. I think he could be a really decent reserve fullback but just lacks the pace or instincts to play wing. Hopefully Malins will play fullback pretty much exclusively at Bristol and we can see him develop. He's predominantly been a winger at Sarries.

He looks lost today, some poor handling from him so far. Doing nothing to help his cause. To be honest I'd rather see Freeman return to the squad as a back up fullback as he's also decent on the wing.

mountain man wrote:Smith playing really well. Ideal game for him.

Caveat is opposition but can only play team in front of you

I am worried about the number of rucks he is hitting. He really needs better support than that.

mountain man wrote:Smith playing really well. Ideal game for him.

Caveat is opposition but can only play team in front of you

I mean he's blown a couple of chances, that pass to Malins was an absolute shocker. He really should have scored it himself but having decided to pass he has to do better. Even if it was a good pass Malins would have probably dropped it based on his form today mind.

Smith in space at fullback should suit him a great deal, particularly against this level of defence.

Pretty decent half of rugby, it was a slow start, but once they clicked they looked dangerous.

So you think Smith is having a good or bad game? Hard to tell there from your reply. He should have gone for line himself but opted to pass. Badly.

mountain man wrote:So you think Smith is having a good or bad game? Hard to tell there from your reply. He should have gone for line himself but opted to pass. Badly.

Not sure why Malins was quite as narrow. Smith is great, a shining light. But he's a fly half. Not sure why we're suddenly wanting him to play full back when younhave Arundell in the squad.

Straight pen for pushing early - has he warned them previously?

Ah he corrected himself