Rugby Union 2012/13

[paul_e]

went off the boil a little in the last 5 but it looks very warm.  Wade, Burns and 12trees have been excellent, Wade in particular has been easily the best player on the pitch.

[peter w]

This could be a very big score. I reckon we'll  get close to60.

[spangley1812]

Do you think that if as expected Bowe is ruled out of the rest of the Lions tour that Wade may be called up

[peter w]

sluggish stuff second half.Silly penalties.

[paul_e]

Do you think that if as expected Bowe is ruled out of the rest of the Lions tour that Wade may be called up

I'm amazed he wasn't there in the first place, he should be top of the list, will be a shame though as I'd like him to stay with England for the next game now.  Man of the match for me, was key to everything we did well in the first half, 2nd half we didn't get the ball to him anything like enough.

Very disappointed with Strettle the other side his concentration just isn't good enough for this level.

Foden is a step up in class from Brown, he looked much more positive andd just runs better lines.

In general we need to break the habit of kicking the ball away so often, there were 5-6 kicks today which were the wrong option, Burns a few times and Brown a few times and they do nothing positive for the team.

[tomd2103]

Do you think that if as expected Bowe is ruled out of the rest of the Lions tour that Wade may be called up

I'm amazed he wasn't there in the first place, he should be top of the list, will be a shame though as I'd like him to stay with England for the next game now.  Man of the match for me, was key to everything we did well in the first half, 2nd half we didn't get the ball to him anything like enough.

Very disappointed with Strettle the other side his concentration just isn't good enough for this level.

Foden is a step up in class from Brown, he looked much more positive andd just runs better lines.

In general we need to break the habit of kicking the ball away so often, there were 5-6 kicks today which were the wrong option, Burns a few times and Brown a few times and they do nothing positive for the team.

Visser probably next cab off the rank when it comes to wingers I would have thought.  The fact that he is 6'6" will suit Gatland's gameplan.

[paul_e]

Do you think that if as expected Bowe is ruled out of the rest of the Lions tour that Wade may be called up

I'm amazed he wasn't there in the first place, he should be top of the list, will be a shame though as I'd like him to stay with England for the next game now.  Man of the match for me, was key to everything we did well in the first half, 2nd half we didn't get the ball to him anything like enough.

Very disappointed with Strettle the other side his concentration just isn't good enough for this level.

Foden is a step up in class from Brown, he looked much more positive andd just runs better lines.

In general we need to break the habit of kicking the ball away so often, there were 5-6 kicks today which were the wrong option, Burns a few times and Brown a few times and they do nothing positive for the team.

Visser probably next cab off the rank when it comes to wingers I would have thought.  The fact that he is 6'6" will suit Gatland's gameplan.

Hence I said should be, I'm sure he won't be, I actually think Gatland would be more likely to call for Strettle of the wingers who played today as he is probably more suited to the game wales/the lions seem to play (lots of kicks onto the wings for them to power on to).

[lovejoy]

He's called up Zebo. A definite weakening of the squad.

[Dave Summers]

Just outstanding first half and playing the Rugby that I have wanted and know we are capable of, for a long time.  Our 10/12 was a massive step up from the Farrell/Barritt combo of the Autumn and 6 Nations, yes I know that it was only Argentina but he mustn't go back to them again.  Thought JJ did very well at outside centre, his feet and offloading for Strettle's try was superb and not really talked about by the experts.

Although he scored one try, Strettle should have had a hat-trick and it was pure laziness and lack of concentration that stopped him.  He really isn't good enough for this level and I want to see either May or Yarde starting next Saturday.

Thought our forwards were excellent and very very impressed with Attwood in the 2nd row.  Launchbury again proved why he should not only be on the Lions tour, he should be starting in the test match 15.  There isn't a better all round lock in our islands !!!.

Back row balance was excellent and that was Morgan's best game at number 8 for us.  As I said earlier this week we massively missed him in the 6 Nations and his running, strength and offloading were of a different quality last night.  Another one who should be in Australia.  Billy V was great when he came off the bench and he will be a terrific impact player for us going forward.

Yes it wasn't Argentina's top team but the intent to play was there and that is a start.  Referee pinged us unbelievably second half which meant we couldn't get any flow to our game and as Paul said, kicked it away too much.  If we remember not to do that next week and keep ball in hand for full 80 mins, we will go well again I am sure.

All in all shows our strength in depth and leaves Lancaster with some headaches for his EPS selection whenever that is.

[paul_e]

Watched it back this morning, there's a break from Burns on about 25minutes that Farrell couldn't even dream of.

The important thing, for all that extra sparkle with the ball in hand we looked rock solid in defence, so it's not like 12trees for Barritt weakened that side of the game.

One more, Kvesic played extremely well, did all the dirty work you want from a 7 and was heavily involved in generating quick ball that led to a few of our chances.  Also has that willingness to push the rules a bit as shown by the last try.  As I've said all along Robsaw is a very good layer but we can't use him in every game, sometimes you need a 7 who is there to get the ball to the guys outside.  The wales game we really suffered by not generating quick ball ourselves and allowing Wales to do it too readily.  Kvesic for Robshaw in that match would've made a huge difference.

[PaulWinch again]

Sounds like we were great, particularly in the first. Good to see us playing with flair and bodes well for the future. Wade has to play for us moving forward.

[paul_e]

Another performance in the same class and I'd be fairly sure Wade, Foden and 12trees had cemented there places in the team, all 3 showed they're a step up on anyone else who's played in those positions.

I think Burns is very close as well, and I'm fairly confident that Wood will be first choice at 6 going forward.

[peter w]

I can't remember the last time i looked forward to seeing a player as much as Wade.

[lovejoy]

Twelvetrees is now a Lion!

[paul_e]

Twelvetrees is now a Lion!

Rightly so, if lancaster hadn't lost his nerve and brought Barritt back in 12trees would've been one in the first place, Wade should be there as well, but again we have been very conservative in giving him a chance.

The news is that 12trees is being replaced by Eastmond at 12 and Yarde will be in for Strettle.  I'm happy with the first as I want to see what he can do and the 2nd is righting a very serious wrong from the first test, Strettle shouldn't be anywhere near the squad let alone the team, he's fine at club level but has been found out repeatedly at international level.  Saracens have easily the most boring backline in the premiership and yet most of them are regulars in the england squad, whilst the players at Wasps and Glaws have been stuck on the sidelines.

If England call a replacement for 12trees (I dount it) I hope it's Elliott Daly, he's another one of the round of young kids who has the potential to be anything he wants, we need to get this kids around the squad as much as possible.