Re: NZ v England round 1
Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2024 9:11 pm
I didn’t say he was poor, more that he normally influences things a bit more.
Seems a bit pointless ever mentioning his performance then. Apols.
Hartley was a very good hooker, his only issue was his discipline. He wasn't the brightest spark.Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 8:54 pmThat's what Hartley used to do game-after-game, together with first-up tackling!
Yes. I watched the game with my father in law and we both thought that was missed.Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 1:50 pm Meaningless now but did anybody catch JB’s clearout on Smith immediately after the Perenara neck roll? Looked very suspicious and they managed to not show it while replaying TJP’s clearout.
Which scrum did Baxter get obliterated at? 3 scrums in the 2nd half. First one De Groot stood up yet again but got pinged. 2nd one Cole went backwards at a rate of knots, Baxter merely stood still while everyone else moved to the side and forwards. 3rd one NZ ran round the corner. He was to blame for none of those.FKAS wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 8:11 pmBaxter was obliterated for one of those scrums. Young lad on debut suddenly had to play a lot of the game including against a fresh and more experienced (and bigger) tighthead. Not a massive surprise he got caught out a couple of times. Generally we did quite well, the ABs weren't big on supporting their weight and were no doubt delighted when sir insisted we raise the height of the scrum to find more stability as scrummaging low is Baxter's advantage over those AB monsters.Beasties wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 7:46 pmYou don’t expect Cole to weaken the scrum, it’s usually Stuart who isn’t quite solid. Defo the other way round today though. Scrum battle evens in the first half once you take into account that DeGroot should’ve been pinged at least twice before he eventually was for standing up. Baxter was present in the first half. Two prop changes for NZ and Cole on and our scrum got mullered twice and under pressure otherwise. Hadn’t noted Newell and Tu’ungafasi as being awesome scrummagers before. Hmmm.fivepointer wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 11:35 am On the subs. I thought they were made too early.
CCS seemed to be going well and the front rowers hardly looked spent. Mitchell was going well and could have stayed on a bit longer. I would have kept M Smith on and the late inclusion of Sleightholme did nothing but give him a cap.
Cole made the scrum worse. Dan buzzed around to little effect. Spencer just gummed up our attack. F Smith was OK and Curry didnt look at all sharp, which was to be expected.
I dont think we'll see many changes next week. In the main we put in a very commendable effort but in games like these small margins make a difference and we largely lost the key moments in the last 30 minutes.
Cole isn't the monster at scrum time he used to be either. Generally keeps things solid, England do need to replace him probably by the 6N.
The one you're blaming Cole for. The AB tighthead goes straight through the gap between Baxter and George. Baxter is then a complete passenger as Cole and George get left to face the AB scrum with an expected result. I doubt the AB tighthead's angle was particularly good but he kept it straight enough to avoid sanction.Beasties wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 10:39 pmWhich scrum did Baxter get obliterated at? 3 scrums in the 2nd half. First one De Groot stood up yet again but got pinged. 2nd one Cole went backwards at a rate of knots, Baxter merely stood still while everyone else moved to the side and forwards. 3rd one NZ ran round the corner. He was to blame for none of those.FKAS wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 8:11 pmBaxter was obliterated for one of those scrums. Young lad on debut suddenly had to play a lot of the game including against a fresh and more experienced (and bigger) tighthead. Not a massive surprise he got caught out a couple of times. Generally we did quite well, the ABs weren't big on supporting their weight and were no doubt delighted when sir insisted we raise the height of the scrum to find more stability as scrummaging low is Baxter's advantage over those AB monsters.Beasties wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 7:46 pm
You don’t expect Cole to weaken the scrum, it’s usually Stuart who isn’t quite solid. Defo the other way round today though. Scrum battle evens in the first half once you take into account that DeGroot should’ve been pinged at least twice before he eventually was for standing up. Baxter was present in the first half. Two prop changes for NZ and Cole on and our scrum got mullered twice and under pressure otherwise. Hadn’t noted Newell and Tu’ungafasi as being awesome scrummagers before. Hmmm.
Cole isn't the monster at scrum time he used to be either. Generally keeps things solid, England do need to replace him probably by the 6N.
Mentioned earlier on here. Rugby Stream.meDanno wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 12:40 amStream deets for next week please
Hopefully but doesn't benefit England really. He might be back for the next world cup but not much before. We'll need tighthead options before then. Fingers crossed that Harper and Heyes kick on and get more starts.SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 10:41 pm One THP option is the man in the studio- Sinckler. I hope France is the (re)making of him.
I was just making the point that he nearly always puts in an excellent shift, 80 mins week in week out. Not having a pop- it was your more of that please I was responding to- as said, he does what is required/tasked.
I guess if hitting rucks is not being effectiveFKAS wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 9:46 pmHartley was a very good hooker, his only issue was his discipline. He wasn't the brightest spark.
You need someone in the pack that's big, physical and nasty that will just do the unglamorous stuff. Martin offers that and quite a bit of mobility. Itoje's form was largely maligned as not being quite as effective a year ago with him hitting lots of rucks. Now he's having tremendous games with stand out moments. The combination at lock is probably helping that.
Why M Smith outside a conservative 9 ( not that JVP is naturally conservative imo). Quick ball is what he thrives on, also play broken with a threat inside.SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 10:40 pm Encouraging performance however also a great opportunity missed. Feel like NZ will get stronger when adding Roigard, Mo’unga and Jordan to their line up.
The jury is still out on MSmith for me (not solelt kicking related). I think Id like to see FSmith start on the weekend and definitely see Ford as our 10 to the world cup. I also think MSmith would work better coming on alongside a more conservative 9 like Spencer / JvP.
Props are a huge area of concern for me. Baxter I thought did well considering he played 60 odd mins on debut so LHP may be ok but Cole / Stuart are not top international standard (but are the best we have). I can’t see any THP coming through in the next few years (the current u20 are too young) which is a worry.
Also to add - don't use Firefox for this.
I have read reports mentioning NZ hurting teams because they can play so quickly. Hoping to slow them down or kicking more (especially late in the game) seems the wrong response if we are to beat them. We need to match them for speed of thought and action. Marcus is essential in that aim and the quicker he gets the ball the better. I'm not a Randall fan but he is a better bench option than Spencer with speed of delivery in mind. Marcus is far and away our best carrying FH. His eye for a break keeps the opposition defence tight and creates space outside. It is time to back him not doubt him.Banquo wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 8:16 amWhy M Smith outside a conservative 9 ( not that JVP is naturally conservative imo). Quick ball is what he thrives on, also play broken with a threat inside.SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 10:40 pm Encouraging performance however also a great opportunity missed. Feel like NZ will get stronger when adding Roigard, Mo’unga and Jordan to their line up.
The jury is still out on MSmith for me (not solelt kicking related). I think Id like to see FSmith start on the weekend and definitely see Ford as our 10 to the world cup. I also think MSmith would work better coming on alongside a more conservative 9 like Spencer / JvP.
Props are a huge area of concern for me. Baxter I thought did well considering he played 60 odd mins on debut so LHP may be ok but Cole / Stuart are not top international standard (but are the best we have). I can’t see any THP coming through in the next few years (the current u20 are too young) which is a worry.
.....not many, if any sides, match NZ in speed and action (our rugby pyramid isn't yet good enough for that; skills levels under pressure still lacking, decision making more so), but you have to have the ability to shift gears and plans, and as Timbo pointed out out, we (nearly) have the mobility to play with more pace and width (though again exposed at breakdowns wider from the initial play). Marcus cost us the game imo with his misses, but sh*t happens. I'm more worried about his ability to run a cohesive backline tbh- he's a nightmare to play outside unless you are really used to reading his body language I'd think. Very talented, and his defensive shift and backfield play was very solid. I would give him another go.Oakboy wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 9:07 amI have read reports mentioning NZ hurting teams because they can play so quickly. Hoping to slow them down or kicking more (especially late in the game) seems the wrong response if we are to beat them. We need to match them for speed of thought and action. Marcus is essential in that aim and the quicker he gets the ball the better. I'm not a Randall fan but he is a better bench option than Spencer with speed of delivery in mind. Marcus is far and away our best carrying FH. His eye for a break keeps the opposition defence tight and creates space outside. It is time to back him not doubt him.Banquo wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 8:16 amWhy M Smith outside a conservative 9 ( not that JVP is naturally conservative imo). Quick ball is what he thrives on, also play broken with a threat inside.SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 10:40 pm Encouraging performance however also a great opportunity missed. Feel like NZ will get stronger when adding Roigard, Mo’unga and Jordan to their line up.
The jury is still out on MSmith for me (not solelt kicking related). I think Id like to see FSmith start on the weekend and definitely see Ford as our 10 to the world cup. I also think MSmith would work better coming on alongside a more conservative 9 like Spencer / JvP.
Props are a huge area of concern for me. Baxter I thought did well considering he played 60 odd mins on debut so LHP may be ok but Cole / Stuart are not top international standard (but are the best we have). I can’t see any THP coming through in the next few years (the current u20 are too young) which is a worry.
Breakdown is much more than the backrow though. Its whoever is nearest making the right decisions, plus runners not getting isolated, staying on their feet long enough..etc.Oakboy wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 10:10 am With NZ getting the upper hand at the breakdown yesterday and allowing for them probably getting better there next week, how can we improve? I thought CCS was our best back rower but he was taken off early. I'm more concerned about the competitive edge of the other two - not that they are bad players but that they came second to their opposite numbers. Was it Earl's first bad game in the 8 shirt?