Rugby - The Game They Play In Heaven II

[kittenOFchaos]

Back on the 30th of November 'The Daily Telegraph' did an piece where they interviewed a number of prominent figures in rugby about the upcoming Autumn QBE Internationals: Sir Ian McGeechan, Brian Moore, Will Greenwood, Austin Healey, Mick Cleary and Gavin Mairs

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/10416087/QBE-Internationals-England-wing-Marland-Yarde-is-the-star-but-New-Zealand-are-too-strong.html

Sir Ian McGeechan had it pretty much spot on. I have put in bold a key point.

SIR IAN McGEECHAN
England player to watch Courtney Lawes. He has a physicality and dynamism in attack and defence, and has good skills under pressure. He is one man who could give England a real edge to their play this autumn.

England player with a point to prove Chris Ashton. The wing looks to have a real appetite for work and involvement once again. England will have to make sure he is consistently involved.

Visiting player to watch Kieran Reid. The New Zealand No8 is one of the cleverest forwards in world rugby and sets the standard in game awareness.
Breakthrough star Mike Brown. He might be new to the No15 position in international rugby, but he has the ability to spark attacks from the back and punish poor kicking by opponents.

Lancaster’s biggest headache Tactical fluency through the midfield.

What’s more important, results or performance – and why? Winning is the objective in international rugby. All coaches and players have a vision for style of play, but the key is marrying this with the attitude to win all the key contests. Winning means you can be more critical of the performance: it allows everyone to keep challenging.

Predictions for the three matches Wins against Australia and Argentina, but defeat to New Zealand.

I personally thought Lawes was terrific and whilst Dylan Hartley was doing the throwing he was providing excellent lineout ball at the back. Add to that he almost nicked the ball from the NZ lineout on the English 5 meter line. His tackling and work at the breakdown was very muscular and he didn't do anything stupid...best English player in my opinion even with Billy Vunipola being a human wrecking ball.

[finbar]

Seems to me both England's midfield and their whole tactical approach with ball in hand is Sarries-oriented. Farrell Snr's doing.

Cripes, Ireland were poor. Second time out for the season, I suppose, rusty, etc, but they just didn't turn up. Not even the feted backrow. And Mike Ross succeeded in making James Slipper look good. Still, the Wallaby forwards turned up, thankfully, and Quade and Toomua had a platform to work from. Quade has really turned his life and game around. Toomua is developing into a very nice foil. Best Wallaby effort for a couple of years.

[kittenOFchaos]

Hmm - am I brave enough to take Scotland +10? Will have a good think on it.

Think long, think wrong I've always said

South Africa hammered Scotland resulting in a 28 point to 0 victory. Scotland could have and should have taken the points on offer from the boot and made it look less of a thrashing. They put everything into getting a try and came close, but no cigar.

It really went to show that since Scotland's Summer Tour to South Africa that the South Africans have made significant progress. But it also reflected a poor defensive approach from Scotland. It shouldn't have been such a thrashing with the players we had playing for us. Three of the South African tries were pretty 'soft' and two were a direct result of ineptitude when facing off against the driving maul. The interception try was again pretty soft and perhaps a result of trying to chase the game.

South Africa probably could have run up more points but decided to practice their defense instead.

[finbar]

The Boks have improved enormously. Thought they did the business in the first half, coasted in the second half, happy to defend against Scotland's 70% possession. They never really looked like breaking through, and the error count was appalling. Exit Ross Ford and Jackson for starters.

[Havak]

Ashton is probably no longer and England player kOc. Lancaster made no secret that Wade and Yarde and now above him in the pecking order. What bother me is both are lightweight in defence – though probably better than Splash. I still like Strettle – he has a smarter rugby brain than Chris but has fallen well down the hierarchy.

You are both right about the midfield. It’s limitations and the way Manu is used. He is a game breaker but there is nothing strategic to it – it is all throw and hope stuff.

There was plenty of effort but yes a real gulf in class. I have to be pleased that England gave it a go though.

Thank goodness I avoided betting on Scotland.

The Wallabies outdid Ireland in every phase and the new coach has much to think about.

And it seems the Wallabies still have a systemic problem with their relationship with alcohol Finbar?

[finbar]

I don't think it's ever been systemic. KB has been a major problem, O'Beiber to a lesser extent. First offence for the majority of them. In this case, monumental stupidity. And Link has dealt with it. Interesting that Quade features nowhere in the list.

I don't know much about Yarde, but that wee Wade fella would be a huge defensive worry. Not that Ashton is all that flash either.

[Havak]

I do apologise - I was thinking endemic when I somehow wrote systemic. And was possibly being unkind there anyway.

What England need are a few more huge fast Islanders or Kiwis who choose to be English. Well actually they need different backs from 10-14.

Brown is in fine form and Foden is good cover there (though no wing). England have an excellent set of forwards and decent scrummies.

Then they have Farrell who likes to sit a mile back from the gainline, 33 who is a tryer and Tomkins who seems to be out of his depth. Ashton has had his time for now.

Manu will bolster the backs attacking threat when he returned but more quality is needed around him. Yarde is a fine prospect but not much bigger than Wade. As always no easy answers for England.

It was nice to see my old friend Plank in the studio for Ireland v Oz last weekend. Slowly being rehabilitated in the UK media after that white powder business.

I would like to know what handicap kOc would give both Ireland and Scotland this coming weekend?

[finbar]

England have decent 9s? Barely. Youngs is the closest thing, but injuries, poor management of same by various managements, loss of confidence, plus an IQ lower than the current temperature outside here, haven't helped. Care is rubbish at Test level, Dickson better but not the answer.

To add to the disciplinary problems, Matt Toomua is now out of the tour with a small tear in his hammy. Scotland will face a very patched-together backline with probably two run-on debutants - Chris Feauai-Sautia at either wing or 13, Bernard Foley possibly at FB. Lealiifano will come off the bench to 12 which will at least boost the goal kicking.

[Havak]

Oh I threw in the scrummy one so that you could concentrate on that and I could claim therefore that by omission of criticism you must accept my other assessments. Maybe.

It may be a scratch backline but with all due respect to kOc it is Scotland. Scotland run around looking pretty behind the gainline but can they find a way to actually break it? And they remain very vulnerable to being turned in defence. Most sides are - but Scotland exceptionally so.

[finbar]

You were spot on elsewhere. Particularly this:

Well actually they need different backs from 10-14.

If the Wallaby forwards turn up, I'm quietly confident.

[kittenOFchaos]

Oh I threw in the scrummy one so that you could concentrate on that and I could claim therefore that by omission of criticism you must accept my other assessments. Maybe.

It may be a scratch backline but with all due respect to kOc it is Scotland. Scotland run around looking pretty behind the gainline but can they find a way to actually break it? And they remain very vulnerable to being turned in defence. Most sides are - but Scotland exceptionally so.

My heart would say a narrow Scottish victory, but my head recognises that the Aussies can simply wander through our midfield anytime they really want to. Australia potentially by 18 points. Scotland need to cut out the vast number of handling errors and try to avoid giving Australia any possession. Take it up through the forwards, take the points on offer from the boot and who knows. Last week Scotland turned down many kickable points in order to get a try and it was a pointless endeavour (literally!). It should also be noted that both previous victories against Australia didn't involve us doing anything as vulgar as scoring a try

As for Ireland...it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect New Zealand to win by at least 20 points, but potentially much, much more if the Irish forwards don't show up. England showed last week that toughing it out in the forwards can prevent a thrashing even if you have an absolutely worthless centre combination...and whilst elderly, Ireland have a much better backline than England.

[finbar]

Haven't seen Lealiifano kick as badly as that before. Ever. Looked to lack confidence in his footing on that dreadful surface. His run up looked very tentative. Good strong effort by the patched-up Wallabies. Forwards turned up, Quade gets more confident by the match, the tries were created and finished nicely. Same old, same old for the Scots, unfortunately. They get enough ball but can't do anything with it.

Boks were spookily powerful yet again. Thought the French had the best chance of anyone to match them physically. The difference was that the Boks ran straight and very hard, the French faffed around, neither quick nor strong nor organised enough. They really need a decent 10.

[kittenOFchaos]

As for Ireland...it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect New Zealand to win by at least 20 points, but potentially much, much more if the Irish forwards don't show up. England showed last week that toughing it out in the forwards can prevent a thrashing even if you have an absolutely worthless centre combination...and whilst elderly, Ireland have a much better backline than England.

Made £118 profit this weekend so I'm pretty pleased even though I watched Scotland Vs Australia.

Just turned on Ireland Vs New Zealand 48 minutes into the game. Ireland are winning 22 - 7. This will be interesting!

[kittenOFchaos]

Made £118 profit this weekend so I'm pretty pleased even though I watched Scotland Vs Australia.

Just turned on Ireland Vs New Zealand 48 minutes into the game. Ireland are winning 22 - 7. This will be interesting!

I played an in-play bet for New Zealand to win when it went Ireland 22, New Zealand 10 which made for an even more exciting finale. Will have to watch the rest of the game later. Got to feel for the Irish boys, had O'Gara been around I'm sure they'd have shaped up for a drop goal at some point.

[finbar]

Crucial tactical errors towards the end didn't help them. They had to hang onto possession and kicked it away. Still, outstanding Irish effort. They ran out of puff but fought on hard. And the ABs showed why they're the best in the business. Outplayed for most of the day but still won. The Irish mystery remains - how can they be so rubbish one week and outstanding the next?