Lucky the Boks don't have a functioning backline. Could have been a slaughter. Last week's effort against the Haggis Munchers was just lazy. The awful conditions demanded more commitment than they gave.
England's Wallaby win proved to be a day out as I suspected, aided and abetted by the Wallabies. Croft's injury was a loss. He's a vastly better - albeit different - player to Fourie and looked one of the few threats to the Boks. Flood wasn't much missed. He was only kicking the pill to the Boks. Hodgson looked more effective. Foden's defensive frailties were scary - apart from the panicked pass into touch, he rarely seemed to be where he should have been, with others saving his bacon. And hopefully that's the last we see of Tindall. But it won't be. And Hape isn't the answer. England's steps forward have been predictable - the younger players, selected probably a season too late anyway, but offering energy and initiative. It was always going to happen. Now the management has to establish a framework that will exploit those talents. I wouldn't hold my breath under this management. Lewis Moody, post-match, blamed discipline (true) and errors (also true). But there was more to the loss than that.
Italy beat Fiji. Deserved win. The Fiji scrum was destroyed, their lineout nonexistent, and discipline appalling.
And now for the massacre in Cardiff....!
Followed by the one in France ...
England's Wallaby win proved to be a day out as I suspected, aided and abetted by the Wallabies. Croft's injury was a loss. He's a vastly better - albeit different - player to Fourie and looked one of the few threats to the Boks. Flood wasn't much missed. He was only kicking the pill to the Boks. Hodgson looked more effective. Foden's defensive frailties were scary - apart from the panicked pass into touch, he rarely seemed to be where he should have been, with others saving his bacon. And hopefully that's the last we see of Tindall. But it won't be. And Hape isn't the answer. England's steps forward have been predictable - the younger players, selected probably a season too late anyway, but offering energy and initiative. It was always going to happen. Now the management has to establish a framework that will exploit those talents. I wouldn't hold my breath under this management. Lewis Moody, post-match, blamed discipline (true) and errors (also true). But there was more to the loss than that.
Italy beat Fiji. Deserved win. The Fiji scrum was destroyed, their lineout nonexistent, and discipline appalling.
And now for the massacre in Cardiff....!
Followed by the one in France ...
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