England vs Wales match thread - RWC warmup, Raeburn Shield challenge, and chance to take down the #1 ranked team

[Raggs]

It's from the rugbypass stream, so stuttering at first.


Kicks to the backfield I could see/count, that weren't just clearing touch finders from inside the 22.

7.29 First kick replay has shown. Coka takes on the wing, Ford is up in support, but Coka charges it up (Ford doesn't appear to call for it).
24.14 box kick to Daly on the wing, Daly takes it up, but Ford is just inside of him (was in the backfield for the kcik).
31.34 Just Daly to receive, no Ford in the backfield, uncompetitive, Daly passes to Watson, not sure if there was much point though.
46.53 Kicked long to Daly, passes to Ford.
51.44 Box kick to Daly on the wing, he just takes it up, Ford is in the backfield and inside of him.
57.15 OK Daly was in touch when he took it (Biggar clearance after restart), but he thinks he's good, and he passes back inside to Ford.
58.24 Daly takes it on the wing, passes back inside to Ford, who sends it to Joe C
64.40 Weighted up and under, Watson with a great take. Most the backline are in line with the kick by the time Watson takes it. Not counting in final count.

6 out of 7 times, Ford is back there, 3 times it's passed to him by Daly. Daly takes 5 of them, only passes one other time, and to me, it doesn't seem that smart a choice as opposed to just taking it in himself.

Suggests to me that Daly's positioning is pretty good (though they may be easy to predict kicks considering field position), and Ford tends to fall back to centre field, with Daly taking the side that the kick will most likely be sent to. None of the kicks Daly took were competitive.

Still very concerned with Daly's high ball work and defence at 15.

Incidentally, Francis seemed to have a fair few nice touches. Some good solid lines run, some good hits in defence, some nice passes to keep a move flowing (take, run a few steps, pass on etc), no eye catching busts like Manu of course, but a solid 12 performance I reckon. I often think 12s are like 6s, it's very easy to miss their contribution.

[Banquo]

It's from the rugbypass stream, so stuttering at first.


Kicks to the backfield I could see/count, that weren't just clearing touch finders from inside the 22.

7.29 First kick replay has shown. Coka takes on the wing, Ford is up in support, but Coka charges it up (Ford doesn't appear to call for it).
24.14 box kick to Daly on the wing, Daly takes it up, but Ford is just inside of him (was in the backfield for the kcik).
31.34 Just Daly to receive, no Ford in the backfield, uncompetitive, Daly passes to Watson, not sure if there was much point though.
46.53 Kicked long to Daly, passes to Ford.
51.44 Box kick to Daly on the wing, he just takes it up, Ford is in the backfield and inside of him.
57.15 OK Daly was in touch when he took it (Biggar clearance after restart), but he thinks he's good, and he passes back inside to Ford.
58.24 Daly takes it on the wing, passes back inside to Ford, who sends it to Joe C
64.40 Weighted up and under, Watson with a great take. Most the backline are in line with the kick by the time Watson takes it. Not counting in final count.

6 out of 7 times, Ford is back there, 3 times it's passed to him by Daly. Daly takes 5 of them, only passes one other time, and to me, it doesn't seem that smart a choice as opposed to just taking it in himself.

Suggests to me that Daly's positioning is pretty good (though they may be easy to predict kicks considering field position), and Ford tends to fall back to centre field, with Daly taking the side that the kick will most likely be sent to. None of the kicks Daly took were competitive.

Still very concerned with Daly's high ball work and defence at 15.

Incidentally, Francis seemed to have a fair few nice touches. Some good solid lines run, some good hits in defence, some nice passes to keep a move flowing (take, run a few steps, pass on etc), no eye catching busts like Manu of course, but a solid 12 performance I reckon. I often think 12s are like 6s, it's very easy to miss their contribution.

I stand corrected, apologies. Mind I was close when I said he got 2 passes . To be clear, as I can't get the link to work, was this Ford absenteeing from the defensive line pre-kick, or chasing back to get in position, like all good midfielders should do?
I still maintain the need for an all round 'footballer' in the back three though. For those missed clearances from the 22 and to be calling the shots and making the kicks if the 10 in this case can't get there.
Agreed on Francis, he was ok.

[Raggs]

It seemed to depend on what was going on in the game as to whether or not Ford was in the line. When it was apparent Wales would kick (within their own 10m line), Ford was often already dropped back from what I could tell. In our half he was in the line. I trust Ford to read the game well enough to be where he needs to be often enough.

[Banquo]

It seemed to depend on what was going on in the game as to whether or not Ford was in the line. When it was apparent Wales would kick (within their own 10m line), Ford was often already dropped back from what I could tell. In our half he was in the line. I trust Ford to read the game well enough to be where he needs to be often enough.

yes, I only asked because I was wondering whether it was a tactic to try and 'hide' him in the backfield, and whether that was knocking onto us being short in the front defensive line; we do get quite badly exposed when sides stretch us and create a decent sized short side. I don't think it is, by dint of his high tackle count- and I should re-watch games to find out rather than get others to do the leg work

[loudnconfident]

It's from the rugbypass stream, so stuttering at first.

Thx for the stream!

51.44 Box kick to Daly on the wing, he just takes it up, Ford is in the backfield and inside of him.
57.15 OK Daly was in touch when he took it (Biggar clearance after restart), but he thinks he's good, and he passes back inside to Ford

>> Do you mean @ 55? Daly was'nt in touch, he took it into touch after the catch and gave away the throw-in.... That was just after Wales' try, too.., They could have had another attack. Lucky that Wales screwed up the LO...

Still very concerned with Daly's high ball work and defence at 15.

indeed!