Second Test Ratings

[padprop]

Mako 4
George 5
Sinckler 5 - Probably not in our top 3 scrummaging tightheads
Itoje 7
Launch 6
Shields 5
Curry 6
Vunipola 5

Youngs 3 - Back to his worst
Ford 5 - The final run from our own 22 with no support said it all
Brown 7 - 2 drop balls aside, saved at a try or two with some last ditched tackles
Farrell 4 (Don't usually lump captaincy decisions in but turned down at least 6 kickable points)
Slade 4 - very underpowered, I dont know if he is calling these crash balls or if it is tactics but its ridiculous
May 7 - he made some mistakes, but we wouldn't have scored any points without him
Daly 7 - Looked far better, probably because he was playing wing for most of the game

[Mellsblue]

George, Curry, Daly & May - 5
4 for everyone else

[Galfon]

George, Launch, Shields, Curry, May & Cips late show 5
rest 4.

[fivepointer]

Front row - 5 Set piece went reasonably well. Mako is clearly off the boil, Sink struggling to make a mark in the loose.
2nd row - 6 Thought Itoje went well, bar a couple of errors.
Back row - 5 Good shift from Curry. The others were underwhelming.
Half back - 3 How did Youngs survive into the 72 minute?
Centres - 4.5 Captaincy is plainly bringing out the worst in Farrell.
back 3 - 6.5 Our best unit. All 3 did reasonably well with May probably our best player.

Bench - 6 Cips put in a couple of delightful touches. Spencer again under used. Williams and LCD went OK.

[Oakboy]

Jones down from 3 to 2!

[Oakboy]

Front row - 5 Set piece went reasonably well. Mako is clearly off the boil, Sink struggling to make a mark in the loose.
2nd row - 6 Thought Itoje went well, bar a couple of errors.
Back row - 5 Good shift from Curry. The others were underwhelming.
Half back - 3 How did Youngs survive into the 72 minute?
Centres - 4.5 Captaincy is plainly bringing out the worst in Farrell.
back 3 - 6.5 Our best unit. All 3 did reasonably well with May probably our best player.

Bench - 6 Cips put in a couple of delightful touches. Spencer again under used. Williams and LCD went OK.

How did Curry avoid the HIA?

[Mellsblue]

Dear Mr S Jones,

All is forgiven.

I have, unfortunately, had to replace you as Chief Rugby Jester to Team Dors. This is not a comment on your pithy and subtle witticisms, cruelly exposing how journalists will now dismiss fact in order to revert to their own preconceived ideas, or fake news as the snowflakes would term it. But, rather, the excellence of your successor, Richard Bath of the Telegraph.

Kind Regards,
Mellsblue
Founder, Chairman, Treasurer, Fashion Coordinator and slightly pissed Head Bartender of Team Dors

Appendix 1
England
15. Elliot Daly
The fullback had his moments and was good under the high ball but struggled to really break into the game. Generally defensively solid except for giving away a five-metre scrum. 6/10

14. Jonny May
Took the first two tries superbly and was a constant threat as he came off his wing looking for work. One of England’s most polished performers. 8/10

13. Henry Slade
He looked good on the few occasions he got the ball in attack but tackled outstandingly to cancel out De Allende and Am. 7/10

12. Owen Farrell (captain)
Great tap tackle on De Allende. Arguably kicked too often and but should definitely have gone for three points rather than a try just before half-time. 7/10

11. Mike Brown
Great hands for both the first two tries. Positionally and defensively excellent, he impressed in all phases, consistently made ground and even won a turnover. 8/10

10. George Ford
Was targeted defensively by the Boks but stood up well enough. Struggled to impose himself, left most decision-making to Farrell and will surely be replaced by Cipriani. 5/10

9. Ben Youngs
Kept England moving at tempo but was prone to poor decisions, such as throwing a speculative pass after his break soon after the break. 6/10

1. Mako Vunipola
Performed well at scrum time but gave away stupid penalty on Du Toit and was lucky not to get a yellow card. A significantly under-par performance. 5/10

2. Jamie George
With an overthrow, knock-on, loose pass and missed tackle, this wasn’t one of the usually consistent Saracens hookers finest games. 6/10

3. Kyle Sinckler
The British Lions was far too anonymous. Carried well when asked and scrummaged decently, but never managed to really work his way into the game. 6/10


4. Joe Launchbury
Looked rusty after missing last week’s game. Tackled his heart out but the lack of front-foot ball meant that his trademark carries were few and far between. 7/10

5. Maro Itoje
Missed tackle on Vermeulen for a try, and although he tackled well he struggled against the physicality of the South African forwards. 6/10

6. Brad Shields
Fluffed his big moment when he should have scored a debut try. Tackled manfully around the fringes but failed to impose himself upon the game. 6/10

7. Tom Curry
Played with an intelligence beyond his years. Was a real nuisance around the fringes as South Africa’s forwards got their drive going. 7/10

8. Billy Vunipola
Look pumped up. His footwork set up the first try and he made ground every time he got the ball before injury forced him to be taken off. 8/10

Replacements: 20. Nathan Hughes (on for Billy Vuniplo, 40mins, 5); 18. Harry Williams (on for Sinckler 51, 5); 17. Joe Marler (on for Mako Vunipola 57, 6); 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (on for George 61, 7); 22. Danny Cipriani (for Ford 66, 8); 19. Mark Wilson (on for Shields 66, 6); 23. Denny Solomona (on for Brown 66, 6).

[Oakboy]

I accept that Hughes is prize tosser for the penalty that led to the yellow card, but his hands are really good. Billy's are inferior, unfortunately. He dropped an easy one and buggered up an off-load. Why oh why was he even on the plane in the first place? I don't like repeat fractures. Properly healed, fractures should never recur as I understand it.


Now, I can't pick both of them in the back row to start.

[jngf]

Despite the try fumble, I saw glances now and then about what Shields might bring to the party - he’s more the carrying and lineout jumping type 6 - in contrast to the workrate dynamo of Robshaw (when on form and properly rested).
I suspect Robshaw will get the shirt back before too long but Shields does provide a stark alternative style of 6 play. Wilson may be a half way house between these two styles?