Wales vs England - RWC warmup, Raeburn Shield challenge, and chance to *become* the #1 ranked team

[Which Tyler]

Well we managed to score a try in the first half, the second was a dirge. Feel free if you have problems sleeping, but the attacking ineptitude of both sides is a bit concerning.

Whatever happened to scrum halves who can actually pass?

Passing is yesterday. Box-kicking is the default. Before you splutter into your gin and tonic, remember it started with Robert Jones.

If it was left to me, I'd fine the SH £500 for every kick.

That all? I'd fine them however much it costs to get their front row to say they've had enough to drink and need to call it a night. Well, their own front row + Jason Leonard

[Digby]

Aaron Smith makes plenty of box kicks, it's possible to make box kicks and in the same game move the ball with purpose and accuracy

[Digby]

Minute 41

England immediately fails to copy Wales and are woefully onside at the kickoff. Not a great kick off really, Wales take it into contact, then run another phase for no particular reason, Red 9 holds the ball at the back of the ruck for the better part of 10 seconds with the occasional twitch trying to entice a defender offside. No idea what the intent with the kick from Red 9 is, okay Wales like to keep the ball on the park but it's almost down the middle, why you'd volunteer to split your defence in such fashion I don't know. England aren't really opening any channels to run the ball back however, Billy is very slow getting back onside, and Lawes who went for a chargedown is even further back than Billy.

Daly oddly runs back at Navidi, which is arguably the worst pick going, and England are then playing from a 4 second ruck whilst in theory on attack. If Daly wants to run at an agile fast backrow player who's very strong for his side he needs to do more to get that player on the floor and out of the game, okay England are two back rows down supporting him as they return onside but it's a chance to set up a positive centrefield attack we don't remotely exploit.

Next up Cole carries for no gain, and Heinz back on looks right but then comes left, which is us slowing our slow ball down. Daly at first receiver on the large blindside sends a grubber down into touch just inside the Wales 22.

Minute 42

Wales win their line out with a ball to the front of a shortened lineout. Lawes is up challenging, and possibly could have challenged by Cole simply gives up being one of his lifters and leaves Launch as the sole lifter to a tumbling Lawes. Not obvious what Cole was up to there, but it amused me if possibly not Lawes. Wales kick clear, Billy having watched Daly run into Navidi deliver slow ball wonders what'd happen if he ran into Navidi and AWJ, the answer is a scrum turnover for Wales. Again beyond Billy accepting the worst challenge presented to him we just don't find England opening channels for him to run into, LCD might as well flap his arms and pretend he's a bird, but I suppose at least he an Ludlam are back, but a good number just aren't working as hard as the Welsh forwards off the ball, Lawes might claim he was again going for a chargedown but frankly it's just when he lands coming down from the lineout and that seems him raising an arms toward the box kicking 9 rather than working back to get in support. Cole, Launch and Genge are strolling back too, and it's possible the lack of forwards running back is what's not helping us open channels for Billy to run into which we'd then have more numbers to support.

[Digby]

Minute 43

The scrum goes down but Wales get it out and send North up into Ford, Ford makes the tackle and Ludlam gets in quickly to turnover the ball and gets the ball nicely away to Itoje. Itoje looks outside where he has LCD and Genge, perhaps a pass to LCD is the right decision but Itoje carries into AWJ, we get the ball down for a ruck but having just turned Wales over and in theory being on the attack we have nearly a 5 second ruck and Wales are reset in defence. Minute ends with Ludlam who's having to run back to be in a position to give an option and he's then tackled by AWJ and gets to run back in contact this time as we lose metres of ground.

[Sandydragon]

Aaron Smith makes plenty of box kicks, it's possible to make box kicks and in the same game move the ball with purpose and accuracy

Nothing wrong with box kicking, if it’s done with purpose and accuracy.

[Sandydragon]

Minute 41

England immediately fails to copy Wales and are woefully onside at the kickoff. Not a great kick off really, Wales take it into contact, then run another phase for no particular reason, Red 9 holds the ball at the back of the ruck for the better part of 10 seconds with the occasional twitch trying to entice a defender offside. No idea what the intent with the kick from Red 9 is, okay Wales like to keep the ball on the park but it's almost down the middle, why you'd volunteer to split your defence in such fashion I don't know. England aren't really opening any channels to run the ball back however, Billy is very slow getting back onside, and Lawes who went for a chargedown is even further back than Billy.

Daly oddly runs back at Navidi, which is arguably the worst pick going, and England are then playing from a 4 second ruck whilst in theory on attack. If Daly wants to run at an agile fast backrow player who's very strong for his side he needs to do more to get that player on the floor and out of the game, okay England are two back rows down supporting him as they return onside but it's a chance to set up a positive centrefield attack we don't remotely exploit.

Next up Cole carries for no gain, and Heinz back on looks right but then comes left, which is us slowing our slow ball down. Daly at first receiver on the large blindside sends a grubber down into touch just inside the Wales 22.

Minute 42

Wales win their line out with a ball to the front of a shortened lineout. Lawes is up challenging, and possibly could have challenged by Cole simply gives up being one of his lifters and leaves Launch as the sole lifter to a tumbling Lawes. Not obvious what Cole was up to there, but it amused me if possibly not Lawes. Wales kick clear, Billy having watched Daly run into Navidi deliver slow ball wonders what'd happen if he ran into Navidi and AWJ, the answer is a scrum turnover for Wales. Again beyond Billy accepting the worst challenge presented to him we just don't find England opening channels for him to run into, LCD might as well flap his arms and pretend he's a bird, but I suppose at least he an Ludlam are back, but a good number just aren't working as hard as the Welsh forwards off the ball, Lawes might claim he was again going for a chargedown but frankly it's just when he lands coming down from the lineout and that seems him raising an arms toward the box kicking 9 rather than working back to get in support. Cole, Launch and Genge are strolling back too, and it's possible the lack of forwards running back is what's not helping us open channels for Billy to run into which we'd then have more numbers to support.

There’s a good case for Navidi starting as our open side with Tipuric on the bench.

[Digby]

Minute 44

England kick ahead, and the ball goes loose but Wales manage to claim the ball. They do little before kicking to Daly who tries to run back but isn't going anywhere, and if England aren't happy that Wales are rather sealing off their rucks then they return the compliment here to prevent a contest for the ball. Launch offers for the carry and even with the pass from Heinz not helping him he makes a little ground going into contact with Navidi.

Minute 45

Heinz makes a box kick downfield, it's too far for the chasers, and Francis is chasing hard enough that Halfpenny can easily step him. Halfpenny half beats Cole too, and then drops the ball, literally to borrow a word from elsewhere.

The physios have been on plenty this half already and they're on again as England also bring on Marler and George in the front row.

England win the scrum, and the penalty, but the ball is actually played.

[Digby]

Aaron Smith makes plenty of box kicks, it's possible to make box kicks and in the same game move the ball with purpose and accuracy

Nothing wrong with box kicking, if it’s done with purpose and accuracy.

There is a problem that attack was granted so many concessions on defenders not being allowed to contest the ball that most defences now don't contest the ball, and attack simply has a different problem with so many in the line, and that different problem enormously encourages them to kick. And too even well executed and well chased box kicks do become tedious to watch.

[Digby]

Minute 46

England make some vague attempt to play before Heinz makes a comedy pass, not quite Bergamascoesque, but not far off. So it's back for the pen which is probably kickable, but England stick a pen into touch too.

Minute 47

England throw to the front, again. I wonder who's calling the line outs, Lawes from 6?

England win the lineout and maul a little, Wales are if not knifing in under the maul just happening to fall over in unfortunate places. England make a coupe of positive carries and Youngs back on keeps the ball moving. Minute ends with Ford making a kick through the line for someone to chase, but there's precious little space and the ball goes out, that kick was a very hard option to take on and be able to execute, rather rushed tbh.

[Digby]

Minute 48

It might be Itoje calling the lineout, the pack do seem to gather about him. England with the pen for Wales accidentally falling over in the maul put the kick out for another attacking lineout, well, lineout in a supposedly attacking area. England don't throw in as Itoje with Wales closing the space simply calls the lineout off.


Minute 49

England win the lineout, at the front, set to maul, almost get going but then get a big shove back from Wales and it's another scrum turnover.

[Digby]

Minute 50

After some more time on the pitch from physios and waterboys we're ready to go.

England get a right shove on in the scrum, Moriarty does well to pick up at the base and carry up, but he's tackled low and Billy is in over the ball. Parkes could have gotten over the ball before Billy but chose not to, for whatever reason. Penalty turnover for England in front of the posts.

Minute 51

Ford kicks an easy 3

[Digby]

Minute 52

Wales kick off to JJ, he runs back to the edge of the 22 nicely enough, Youngs finds Billy who runs for a few metres gain outside the 22. Youngs isn't even looking to box kick clear and it's Ford who makes a really weird clearance across the field giving North a chance to run the ball back. That can't have been what England were trying to make happen, but it's not easy to see what they were hoping for. Sadly for Wales it doesn't come to much as North runs into Farrell and then Billy is quickly there to hold him up and force and scrum turnover.

[Digby]

Minute 53

England win a scrum penalty. yet another failed restart

Minute 54

England kick to touch, other than that despite 4 physio breaks or so already in the half the forwards take a rest, have a cuddle and refuse to get on with the game

[Digby]

Minute 55

England throw to the back of the lineout, arguably the most exciting thing they've done in the game so far. Lawes pats it back to Youngs, to Ford, and then to JJ coming short who just about makes it over the gainline. Next phase it's Farrell running a hard line, why our best use of JJ and Farrell is to crash it up isn't yet established, no doubt the plan will become clear.

The ball rather spits out of the back of what passes for a ruck, not sure what happened there, Youngs slaps it back to Kruis and he's caught well behind the gainline but makes some ground in contact. Youngs runs away from the ruck and rather than hit Itoje as first man out sends it one wider to Lawes and we're going forwards, that play from Youngs is now maybe the most exciting thing we've done in the game.

Youngs then runs a wrap with Billy before feeding Farrell. JD tries to ape Watson and slap down Farrell's pass, but the England line is very deep and the ball is pulled back to Marler. Marler isn't sure what to do and is taking space going sideways, he doesn't drop the ball off to Daly but takes more space sending it wide to Cokanasiga who's left with the option to cut inside and set up a new ruck. After Marler's pass (which was at best straight) he's clattered by AWJ, I think Lawes would be happy with the timing, though I can't see if there's any use of the arm, Marler holds down AWJ to praise him no doubt on his timing and technique.

England are getting a little pace on the game, but as they come right they end up with 6 players (including the 9) at a ruck and only 3 of them are really doing anything. So the next phase sees Ford without many options, but in a fit of stupidity Ball gives away a penalty when surely it would have been slow ball. England sort of try to play the advantage but it's a poor kick through the line from Farrell easily attended to by Halfpenny.

Minute 56

Nothing happens

[Digby]

Minute 57

Another very easy 3 points for Ford

Wales kick off to JJ again, it's well chased by Red 9 and badly blockd by England, JJ gets scragged and he offloads untidily to Ford who under pressure passes across our posts to Daly, the ball ball going left to right and Daly being of course left footed. A very poorly thought out and executed piece of play from England inviting pressure, especially once Daly's kick isn't to touch.

Wales don't initially take much advantage as Biggar uses his nimble feet and gets tackled first up by Itoje.

[Digby]

Minute 58

Wales go backwards until Biggar puts in an up and under, which this time Watson manages to claim.

[Digby]

Minute 59

England can't make anything of possession, partly on them, partly Wales pile in some numbers, eventually Youngs tries a dink in behind the line, bad decision and badly executed, Halfpenny easily claims the ball. Wales work to the left and almost get to the outside a little cheaply, but the ball back inside to AWJ sees the big man tackled into touch.

It's not an England lineout however as Ludlam is pinged on review for merely attempting to garrotte his teammate Biggar, perhaps he's annoyed at losing to the old man in the bleep test.

[Digby]

Minute 60

Nothing happens, though part of that was the review which led to Wales getting the penalty

[Digby]

Right, 20 minutes to go, there seems little value now the IRB have confirmed the Wales try was a brazen act of cheating and the result should be struck off, which is in their response if you read between the lines, but for the sake of completeness, or perhaps for the sake of getting to 78 minutes and then giving up off we go again.

[Digby]

Minute 61

A decent strike from Halfpenny on a long range effort, albeit fairly straight, but no cigar as it goes the wrong side of the left upright. Farrell has taken over kicking from hand duties and punts a huge effort downfield with perhaps the idea Wales might just kick back. I don't see how Marler isn't offside, but I guess he's also not exactly material to the chase.

Wales do kick back and the ball bounces either forward off an England player or backwards of a Welsh player and is claimed by Tuilagi, on quick viewing England get away with one here, Farrell gets the ball and punts down into the Wales 22 where Biggar goes back and clears up around halfway between the 22 and the 10m line. Lots of gesticulation from Wales sadly all too familiar from football (and Farrell and Itoje) suggesting the ref has indeed made a mistake

[Digby]

Minute 62

England win line out ball in the middle with Lawes who pats down to Youngs. Lawes has again opted for one handed throw down to his 9 rather than using two hands, I suppose he doesn't have to twist in the torso as much, but it doesn't look the best idea I've seen.

Youngs sends the ball out to Billy who has Manu on his shoulder, sadly Billy has to jump and reach up to take the fling from Youngs, there's no point calling this one a pass, and can't get control of the ball before he takes contact, though at least it spills out backwards. Itoje has the ball and carries strongly into Navidi, Wales rather go off their feet to contest the ball but England manage to retain, that's actually effective ruck work from England given the height Wales are playing at, but we're slowed to one out ball, and one out ball running into an offside defence, which slows already slow play. We do get a little momentum back heading left where George cuts back inside, but that almost acts against us when we come back to the right, Sinckler gives a tip on pass to Marler who goes well into contact but is then isolated and AWJ and a front row replacement get down faster and lower than Kruis. Sinckler would have been able to assist but got bumped backwards after tipping the pass onto Marler, and that left us short numbers. Penalty to Wales, though all this started with the rank bad fling away from the lineout from Youngs when we should have been generating fast ball and instead were running slow recovery plays.

[Digby]

Minute 63

A terrific line kick with the penalty from Biggar, though as is the norm in the game he's not taking it from where Marler got pinged holding on.

Why the game hasn't brought in those cans they used in the football World Cup to mark where a free kick was given I don't know, maybe it's just me vexed by the incessant cheating (by everybody)

Wales win a good lineout, from a good throw down the middle, and having gone to the middle not the front they've fooled England. Navidi takes the ball from the replacement lock who won it and feeds Owens who's running the arc across the lineout.

[Danno]

Right, 20 minutes to go, there seems little value now the IRB have confirmed the Wales try was a brazen act of cheating and the result should be struck off, which is in their response if you read between the lines, but for the sake of completeness, or perhaps for the sake of getting to 78 minutes and then giving up off we go again.

You're a total masochist but I appreciate it

[Digby]

Minute 64

Owens really gets going and carries positively into Billy and Sinckler. But a couple of phases later and the ball is so untidy the other, other, other Davies coming on as a replacement 9 is scragged, and Farrell is once again giving it the full footballer advising the ref it's a penalty for holding on I presume.

Navidi however gets the ball back and carries, he's put down by Itoje and Ball seals off. Ball might think he's about to take a counter ruck which would help hold him up but Sinckler doesn't go in, and really there's nothing to be done about contesting that ball, which in a game that's about a contest for the ball does render it somewhat pointless.

At the next carry Lawes is needing to be told to stop contesting the ball, Lawes isn't much more of his feet than passes as a norm in this match but the ref is very patient with him, and we've slowed their ball whilst being right in front of our posts. That could easily have been a pen.

At the next carry again Wales, for a reason I can't see, lose the ball forward and England have it ready to clear.

[Digby]

Right, 20 minutes to go, there seems little value now the IRB have confirmed the Wales try was a brazen act of cheating and the result should be struck off, which is in their response if you read between the lines, but for the sake of completeness, or perhaps for the sake of getting to 78 minutes and then giving up off we go again.

You're a total masochist but I appreciate it

It's the near total lack of ambition which makes them so hard to watch