APV1 says...

Isn't it delightful how pikes has managed to split the game in two with two daft comments?

"SH rugby is far more superior then NH rugby"

and

"...so plz dont even compare your rugby with ours !"

What a prat. It's not "us and them", just us. We're all fans of the game and the sooner the "claimed" SH and NH divisions stop and the trolls stop dividing the two, the better.

Last week England, Ireland and Wales were beaten by SA, NZ and Aus. That's where we are right now. Historically we've all beaten each other (well, most of us have!) and we will do so again. Statistically there are some obvious historical dominances, but so what?! I still remember fondly England's success in 2003. In the SH, if you remember..!

I'm also a little confused as to his point too, at 10:44 hrs. His spelling and grammar are so poor that he doesn't actually make sense. I don't usually like to point out spelling and grammatical errors, as my posts are strewn with them. But I like to think they make some sense, despite this.

@ pikes - are you now backing away from your argument that SH is so much better than NH and trying to get back to the rugby? Yet it was a topic you brought up, albeity in a daft manner. If so, you're just demonstrating what a complete troll you are. Chuck in an immature, ill-educated and daft comment and back away as soon as you're contradicted. The important part of the word contradicted for you, lies between the "contra" and the "ted".

Posted 13:01 12th June 2012

ArmchairGeneral says...

Correction: as Fozza has understood.

Posted 09:08 12th June 2012

theGadflY says...

@pikes, NH sides bring their best game when it matters most,during RWC, bt unfortunately they get robbed,SA should thank the refrees and Mandela for their RWC glory as well as NZ last year. NH sides are unlucky.

Posted 15:48 11th June 2012

pikes says...

ArmchairGeneral, SH rugby is far more superior then NH rugby .. you've beaten us by that margin one's you've been wipped way more many times ...so plz dont even compare your rugby with ours ! We beat you down here and we whip you up there!!

Posted 08:19 11th June 2012

ArmchairGeneral says...

Shame Easter is not on the tour. These games are they style that he excels at and he's playing his best rugby. Lancaster should not discard all players now who aren't in his 2015 squad. Easter could teach Morgan a trick or two... Eg how to go forward and then stand to set up the pack for more go forward momentum and to off load and pass better.

Posted 12:47 10th June 2012

jestnation says...

Hartley was bloody lucky to get 5 in my opinion. He's got decent ability but mentally he's an utter liability. I hope he gets cited and banned for that stupid swinging arm in the tackle.

I know it wasn't that serious but the guy is a serial offender. You can actually in his face that he's constantly thinking "don't do something stupid and violent Dylan, don't do something stupid and violent Dylan" but when the opportunity arises for a cheap shot of any variety he just cannot resist.

We've seen England players told to go back to their clubs and sort out their OFF THE PITCH behaviour before they're ready to represent their country before and it's about time Hartley was held accountable. He needs a whole season at Northampton proving he is actually capable of learning the difference between aggression/competitiveness and foul play/violence/stupidity.

Time to let Youngs, Gray, Brooker, George and maybe Paice stake their claim. If in addition to demonstrating a modicum of self control one of them actually turns out to be able to regularly hit his line out jumpers then all the better.

Posted 12:33 10th June 2012

meneer says...

Great questions KiwiLad - there can be only one explanation. An English side playing at just about their best is not good enough to compete with the top teams. Looking at what Australia did to Wales (in my opinion a better team than England) and the best display of the day by the best team in the world New Zealand - I can't see that gap closing. If the Boks had allowed New Zealand the turnover ball England enjoyed yesterday we would have lost by 30 points, so really England expect us to tidy that up and forget about seeing ball ever again.

Posted 10:40 10th June 2012

lacroix says...

not sure what the point of these scores is . only four players in the starting 15 escape the 6/7 medicority. what do we lear from this?

hartley was poor so give him 3. botha and marler not much better, so 4.

farrell was a 5 at best.

were cole and robshaw really stand out players?

Posted 01:16 10th June 2012

Tesh says...

Thought Marler held up well actually, needs to exert his play in the loose that earnt him his place in the first place, but that'll come with more game time. Given that there wasn't much attacking intent across the England team I wouldn't single out a prop for that. Once the England scrum sorted out their timing, (pushing too early too many times at the start) thought they had the grunt over the Boks. Excited for next week

Posted 00:25 10th June 2012

melkdave says...

I have to agree with the majority of ratings from PR,but i do feel that Dickson will replace Youngs and Flood will replace Farral.With Tulagi moving to 12 to accommadate Joseph.I also feel that Morgon really has to step up next week he was very poor in the 2nd half considering his ability,as an 8 he has to stop any runners dead ,and he failed to do that imo.All in all not a bad performance really from England ,and they should have learnt alot about test rugby ,from that match.Lets hope they continue to improve ,and nick a win in the highveld

Posted 19:56 09th June 2012