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Rugby World Cup

1 lurker | 64 watchers

Dave A Sep 2015 12:29pm, 27 Sep 2015 21,150 posts	0 Dave A Luckily he wasn't attached to a mic!
Dave A Sep 2015 12:30pm, 27 Sep 2015 21,151 posts	0 Dave A I actually thought they might set up for a drop goal from in front of the posts, to try to eliminate the angle.
SPR Sep 2015 12:34pm, 27 Sep 2015 20,953 posts	0 SPR Maybe they would have later in the play if they kept the ball in. I'm happy with the call, just not with the execution. With 4 mins left, they should have been good enough to run their phases and get one of a try, easier penalty or drop goal.
Triplet Dad Sep 2015 1:03pm, 27 Sep 2015 2,573 posts	0 Triplet Dad I think the problem for England is that despite having a strong team, they don't seem to be able to adapt to situational changes within games. It was clear from the outset that the referee was penalising the not releasing rule very harshly and allowing little or no time to roll away so regardless of whether you think he's wrong or right, you adapt to it and get yourself out of those situations and stop giving away the penalties that kept Wales in touch during the spells where England were dominant. Also, clock management was lacking. it's all very well have a strong belief in your own ability but they were still right up on the offside line last might when defending a lead instead of easing off a bit and creating a stronger wall nearer the end zone. There's nothing worse for a team trying to play catch up than watching the clock tick on to 80 minutes. Other teams defending that lead would have varied things and started putting kicks in behind the Welsh and forcing lines outs and scrums to keep the clock moving. And, Chris Robshaw is not Martin Johnson, he needs support from the management. The decision to go for the draw or the win should have come from Lancaster even if he had to get a trainer onto the pitch to tell Robshaw what to do. Coming out afterwards and saying "the players made the decision" is plain wrong in my view, it was his decision to make. I still think England can get out of this group, and in fact for the sake of tournament I hope they do. I've been enjoying the extended news coverage it's been getting and that may all go if England go out early.
TRO Saracen Sep 2015 3:02pm, 27 Sep 2015 11,437 posts	0 TRO Saracen England will not beat Australia. No Andy Sheridan to push a powder puff front row about now. They have eliminated that weakness. Scrums, lineouts, mauls have some importance, but the breakdown is the most important part of the game these days. We gave away an incessant stream of penalties because Wales were better, and we were stupid in managing the ref. Next week: Pocock and Hooper. Checkmate.
Badger Sep 2015 4:29pm, 27 Sep 2015 5,613 posts	0 Badger Scotland were awful in the first half there (and this is a dyed-in-the-woad Scotland fan talking). So many messed up passes; threw away an easy try with two attackers against only one defender, missed a load of kicks. Scrum nothing to write home about either. Just a little bit different in the second half. At half-time I was saying that the USA deserved the game. Changed my mind after the tries started coming. Subs made a lot of difference; think we might be lacking in bench depth.
Ted Sep 2015 4:48pm, 27 Sep 2015 14,031 posts	0 Ted It certainly was a game of 2 half's. USA were good for their money in the first half even without us chucking passes at knees.
Badger Sep 2015 5:36pm, 27 Sep 2015 5,614 posts	0 Badger Yup. Line outs and scrums could have been better, very solid at breakdowns, though, kept recycling and getting penalties for it.
AngusClydesdale Sep 2015 8:12pm, 27 Sep 2015 10,008 posts	0 AngusClydesdale Hogg was rubbish, no reason for throwing the ball at the floor at this level. Pyrgos was too involved and too inclined to get sucked in, completely lacked direction. Laidlaw coming on made all the difference. As has been said, 1st half was dire. Need to think hard about RSA next weekend.
Too Much Water Sep 2015 9:39pm, 27 Sep 2015 5,144 posts	0 Too Much Water Watched a bit of Ireland v Romania as my company for the afternoon had a vested interest. Romania had the balls to throw to the back when they got a line out near the end!