England

TVaddict says...

Very happy about the team. I feel the scrum will go a lot better this week. In fact I feel we'll edge that this week. Hopefully the line out will be as good as last week. So with that ball these backs definitely have the potential to score tries. My head says boks by 8, but my hearts saying England by 4. I think it'll all be down to whether we can score the first proper try (i.e. through our own merit, not an interception). If we can do that then that'll keep our heads up, and our backs full of confidence. With so many young players, I don't feel very secure in their ability to mentally pick themselves up and go up a gear half way through a game when there's 120kg flankers running at them constantly.

Though, win or lose, it's great to see some many young players getting their chance in this tour. I mean, lets face it, on paper the boks should be running rampant on us. The experience in the two teams isn't comparable. People talk about the Springboks rebuilding because they have three new players, but when you actually think about it, the majority of the England players must have under 10 caps. So this is a great experience for them, and in three years we should have one hell of a team!

Posted 21:16 14th June 2012

Zambokke says...

The last time at Twickenham Flood managed half a game as he was targeted off the park. England look better, but I think that the English defence may be interesting especially with our 2 poaching/intercept kings in habana and JDV. Should be good.

Posted 20:56 14th June 2012

NHsaints says...

Dickson and Care set the tempo so much better than youngs and Care has a better kicking game so I'd be more inclined to have played Care than Youngs. I do however think SL is a top bloke and seems to be listening to my comments on here (except about wade) and this midfield should function pretty well...I do think that people have been unfair on Flood...he's consistently the best English Premiership flyhalf and he looked really dangerous in the World Cup quarter final when he came on against france where he made 3 half breaks in 20 minutes. I think his experience will be useful, he's a fairly strong tackler and his kicking game from hand is better than Farrel's. Tuilagi will be about evenly matched with Steyn as both are absolute beasts, if he runs for the gap between 12 and 13 though it'll free Joseph up some space and boy is he dangerous in space...not to mention the return of strettle will add even more pace to the back 3 and Foden back at fullback will more than allow for our counter attacks to function.

Posted 18:08 14th June 2012

APV1 says...

Just so you don't think it's just me, I've lifted these exerpts from the PR Ratings:

3 Dan Cole - The Leicester Tiger was excellent and kept Tendai Mtawarira relatively quiet throughout. He is growing into a top international tighthead prop and still has plenty of years left in the tank. Cole will be looking forward to Round Two in Jo'burg next week. 8/10.

1 Joe Marler - Solid enough on debut and made a good steal close to his own line. Much to take from his first appearance in the England jersey and he will be much better for it. 6/10.

Posted 16:45 14th June 2012

meneer says...

@APV1 - The English front row gave away a load of free kicks trying to engage early, then when they had no option by scrum Dan Cole was out of his depth and at the end he couldn't handle Coenie.

My opinion, having watched England since 2003 willing Wilkinson to lead the glory days again & he never did get back to his best. Flood should have been first choice for the the last 2/3 seasons perhaps & your young flyers like Foden/Ashton would get the space they need today for this series.

In the long run a settled number 10 is far more valuable than a test series, looking forward to the next world cup and Farrell 23years with all the experience in the world or will you still be looking for that player?

Posted 15:47 14th June 2012

chesh10 says...

iI you have a centre who's distribution skills are in doubt, your probably best off playing them at 12 not 13, its far easier to use 12 as a decoy as if a 13 doesn't have the hands then the back 3 are never getting in the game. If you have got a ball player who can play 12, then you shift them to 13 and use them as the carrier from there. Joseph is a fine player without a player you could generally compare him to, possibly Guscott? Although Joseph is far more powerful than graceful imo.

Remember how long it took Nonu to become truly world class? Maybe 3 or 4 international seasons to become anything other than a battering ram and add some subtlety...Tuilagi's on a similar learning curve really.

Posted 15:33 14th June 2012

jestnation says...

Good points from @APV1 and @ArmchairGeneral

The set piece was reasonably even until it was time for the subs to come on and unfortunately we lost that battle.

Mears has the heart of a lion but not the physicality to go with it and whilst PDJ has decent technique and is a good premiership prop, at international level the Front Row battle is one by beasts that can dominate and destroy.

It'd also be really nice to have watched an international where it felt like a contest between two sets of players rather than a battle to get the refereeing decisions go your way.

Posted 15:24 14th June 2012

ArmchairGeneral says...

Boks love charging up the 10/12 channel. With BradB out Manu is a good disruptive tackle option. I agree he's been a poor distributor but at 12 to cover the loss of two good tacklers and where flood can chose to miss him out or use him in attack is a nice variation on last week. But the third change, a third attacking choice is one too far re Strettle. Boks can bash 10, 13 and Strettle. Wish Miles Benjamin was in the squad instead of Wade but I would chose Wade ahead of Strettle. Who ever said drop Marler; and someone else said Cole was smashed... Totally dissagree with both. They were up against a front 3 who play together and are probably the best international front 3 and they did ok. They got pinged for a bunch of things but did not get a beating: both front rows know they have not yet been to war in terms of contested set piece scrums. Let's hope the ref enables that to happen. Care... That's the toughest call. England do best with a quick passer and you need it with in your face game where Flood stands flat. I hope this game Flood and Youngs will click and all backs get the full 80 despite. Farrell fresh on to close the game out if there is an 8 point lead with 10 mins to go.

Posted 14:40 14th June 2012

makemehappy says...

Very surprised that Corbisero doesn't return - Marler didn't perform, and I'm not sure what Corbisero did to be dropped! Better balance in the centres (actually England have two attacking centres - has that ever happened before?). Amazed that Care isn't playing - the other scrum halves are not making a positive impact on the field at all!

Posted 13:25 14th June 2012

FISH says...

this suits the boks quite well jean devilliers was having a bit of a hard time with tuilagi.....he wont have any problems with joseph....and frans steyn....well we all know he can handle tuilagi ....

Posted 12:19 14th June 2012