1st Test - an incremental approach

[Digby]

Aware as I am through some hurtful commentary that not everyone loves the minute by minute review I'll post details up here on a separate thread, if those who don't like the review still expose themselves to the ramblings contained herein then at some point there's just no helping people. That said if any mod doesn't like this is separate and wants to merge with a 1st test review or player ratings thread then personally I don't care about others feelings so that'd be fine with me.

[Digby]

Minute 1

SA kick off deep, Billy gathers and runs ahead taking contact inside the 22 and around 15m infield. Youngs moves the ball to Brown down the shortside, I assume Brown has called for the ball to go wide as there was some space there and we see Faf rushing up to add a body outside Green 14. Brown takes contact around 5m infield and nearly gets shunted into touch but he with some help from Curry gets to ground to avoid a big early momentum gain for SA. Brown might have done a little better but the pass from Youngs wasn't one he could run onto.

Youngs passes out to Billy for his 2nd carry inside 20 seconds, again the pass isn't one the player can run onto. Billy takes the ball toward the edge of the 22 around 10m infield, and England set blockers to allow for a clearing box kick. The kick comes down on England's 10m line, and the chase is led by Sinckler, easily led by Sinckler actually, then again who doesn't ensure a prop leads their kick chase?

Sinckler and George put the catcher to ground and set recycle and move the ball out to the openside. Isiekwe is the man to tackle green 4, Isiekwe was easily first man off the line, and okay he got his man but he didn't win contact as green 4 used a little footwork to avoid a big front on collision.

SA go open again and are able to go over the gain line by finding Ford, Curry might well have made the tackle but Green 7 accidentally got enough of a block on Curry to allow the ball carrier to be tackled by Ford instead. It matters not as at the next breakdown with Robshaw having gotten into a position to try and challenge at the breakdown (his 2nd such attempt so far, I will lose track but I can count to 2, Green 7 flies in off his feet, penalty to White

[Digby]

Minute 2

England elect to go for 3 from well inside their own half, and with 2-3 seconds to spare on the minute Daly knocks the pig skin over

[Digby]

Minute 3

SA restart a little shorter this time, Itoje's pod claims the ball 5m or so outside our 22. Youngs passes to Ford, who passes to Farrell, who passes to Slade, and it's Slade who then passes out in front of Daly for him to run onto who allows for/creates the linebreak for Daly on the outside of Green 11 (well that and it's truly inept defending from SA) . Green 15 (I assume) doesn't allow ground to be given up as Green 11 tracks Daly and comes in to make the tackle allowing Daly to move the ball on again to May and we're now from the kick off deep into the SA half, this is frankly weird, it shouldn't be this easy.

May moves the ball back inside to Youngs who is looking for support but takes the tackle well inside of the SA 22. Robshaw and May both go to act as an auxiliary 9 and frankly get in each other's way. May it is who takes the ball on the shortside but is driven back on the phase but still goes to ground inside the 22. Farrell this time acts as 9 and as any good 9 takes some steps before passing. Ford receives the pass outside the 22 and carries back up into the SA 22

[Mellsblue]

What a way to start the working week......on a soaring analytical high.

[Digby]

Minute 4

Ford tackled inside the 22, Youngs back in position and passes one out to Sinckler. I'm not altogether sure either what Sinckler did do or was trying to do. I think initially he just tries to use some footwork, but he uses his footwork about as well as I imagine he uses the force and trips over himself, as he's going to ground (without being tackled) he pops the ball inside to Robshaw. Robshaw under no illusions he can use the force simply takes contact. Ball sent back and now it's Isiekwe carrying well, but we're not getting any further into the 22 and we're not able to present quick ball. Ford to Farrell, Farrell to Brown, and Brown has a little space in the 5m corridor but he's got the 10 acting as fullback ahead and 2 defenders covering across and he's only just into the 22.

Brown scores. It was a nice use of Billy by Ford and Farrell to release Brown into some space as Billy easily held defenders interest, and it was a nice step from Brown and then good leg strength to dive over, but this will not make pleasant viewing in the SA review of the game

[Digby]

What a way to start the working week......on a soaring analytical high.

Good news, I'll shortly have to stop as I'm going to be expected to do some work instead, but I will return

[Digby]

Minute 5

Faz kicks the extras

[Digby]

Minute 6

And Billy screws up the restart kicked straight to him for an SA scrum deep in England's 22. It's maybe not quite as generous as Daly not dotting down for a drop out that we'll encounter lately, but we've had a lot of comment on discipline, the ref and contact/breakdown work the last couple of days, but we've glossed over some of the handling errors which screwed our possession and territorial control. This was the first of some needless errors.

We get lucky and SA are penalised at the scrum, who knows, but England get to clear for free.

Not a great minute for the paying public this one, a dropped ball and a scrum penalty. You'd get more action at lawn bowls.

[Digby]

Minute 7

England take no advantage of the penalty advantage. I thought this was weird watching the game the other day and it's not great watching on 0.75x on youtube.

Initially it goes well as Farrell clears nearly up to halfway, Farrell utterly ignored the mark to get us that far but what kicker doesn't, and it proceeds well as Isiekwe wins the lineout and passes down to Youngs. I've no idea what move was called but as the lineout finishes Youngs spots a gap between the lifting pods and sets off into the gap. The gap closes, Youngs just about gets a (bad) offload away to Sinckler who takes contact, Itoje manages to clearout the first Saffer at the breakdown (even having to step over Green 4 who has unluckily landed right in his way) but Green 4 in then standing up unluckily just gives enough of a block to Isiekwe and Youngs such we can't get the ball away and instead Green 6 forces a pen for holding on.

I don't know what move was called, but we never had much control over that lineout and yet most forwards have already buggered off to stand wide, so we had phase 1 and lost it messily after phase 2. Perhaps this is what's being cited as a lack of halfback control

[Digby]

That's it for a good few hours now folks, sorry or congrats based on your enjoyment of this

[Mellsblue]

Minute 7

England take no advantage of the penalty advantage. I thought this was weird watching the game the other day and it's not great watching on 0.75x on youtube.

Initially it goes well as Farrell clears nearly up to halfway, Farrell utterly ignored the mark to get us that far but what kicker doesn't, and it proceeds well as Isiekwe wins the lineout and passes down to Youngs. I've no idea what move was called but as the lineout finishes Youngs spots a gap between the lifting pods and sets off into the gap. The gap closes, Youngs just about gets a (bad) offload away to Sinckler who takes contact, Itoje manages to clearout the first Saffer at the breakdown (even having to step over Green 4 who has unluckily landed right in his way) but Green 4 in then standing up unluckily just gives enough of a block to Isiekwe and Youngs such we can't get the ball away and instead Green 6 forces a pen for holding on.

I don't know what move was called, but we never had much control over that lineout and yet most forwards have already buggered off to stand wide, so we had phase 1 and lost it messily after phase 2. Perhaps this is what's being cited as a lack of halfback control

Didn’t look pre-planned to me. More ‘ooh there’s a gap. Oops, no there isn’t’. And yeah, bad decision/game management but I like that he’s looking for such opportunities.

[Mikey Brown]

For what it's worth I really appreciate these. I think when you're trying to keep up with a different conversation they become a nuisance when they're merged in with another thread, but seem like a good idea in their own space.

For instance I missed the first couple of minutes and hadn't seen May's initial run out of the 22. Just gone back to look at it now as I'm bored at work. The way Slade takes Farrell's dull, dull pass and manages to make that space for Daly is the sort of simple thing that's had me banging on about him for so long.

[Mellsblue]

The way Slade takes Farrell's dull, dull pass

Carefully. I was told off for picking on Farrell for pointing this out. It was such a simple but effective move, and shows the importance of have good ball players/passers.

[Greebo]

For what it's worth I really appreciate these. I think when you're trying to keep up with a different conversation they become a nuisance when they're merged in with another thread, but seem like a good idea in their own space.

Same here. I actually enjoy reading them and pick up on things I missed watching the game. Thanks Digby.

[Digby]

Minute 7

England take no advantage of the penalty advantage. I thought this was weird watching the game the other day and it's not great watching on 0.75x on youtube.

Initially it goes well as Farrell clears nearly up to halfway, Farrell utterly ignored the mark to get us that far but what kicker doesn't, and it proceeds well as Isiekwe wins the lineout and passes down to Youngs. I've no idea what move was called but as the lineout finishes Youngs spots a gap between the lifting pods and sets off into the gap. The gap closes, Youngs just about gets a (bad) offload away to Sinckler who takes contact, Itoje manages to clearout the first Saffer at the breakdown (even having to step over Green 4 who has unluckily landed right in his way) but Green 4 in then standing up unluckily just gives enough of a block to Isiekwe and Youngs such we can't get the ball away and instead Green 6 forces a pen for holding on.

I don't know what move was called, but we never had much control over that lineout and yet most forwards have already buggered off to stand wide, so we had phase 1 and lost it messily after phase 2. Perhaps this is what's being cited as a lack of halfback control

Didn’t look pre-planned to me. More ‘ooh there’s a gap. Oops, no there isn’t’. And yeah, bad decision/game management but I like that he’s looking for such opportunities.

I agree, which is why I'm wondering when it's such a mess why are so many forwards moving away from the ball ready to go wide when we still need to secure the ball, though I don't want them to never take risk

[Digby]

Minute 8

SA kick to touch on the England 22 and win front lineout ball, England give away a free kick for closing the gap.

[Digby]

Minute 9

SA elect to scrum, win the ball and bring Green 14 off his win to run at Ford. Ford loses ground in contact but SA have 4 men in the ruck from Ford's tackle to us just losing Ford out of the line so it's not all bad. SA work a couple of further phases going left and then head back to the right. I'd suggest there's a block from Green 4 who offers as a carrier but the ball goes behind him, I don't mind it's not given, it's close, and given how much Farrell is seagulling we should be denied on principle

[Digby]

Minute 10

George gets pinged for not rolling away, or rolling into the 9 trying to play the ball, take your pick.

Faf does rather approach from the side to make sure George is in his way, but George does move again and moves into Faf, it's maybe a touch soft but it's hardly a shocker as pens go. SA play on with advantage, Green 4 is right up into our line ahead of the ball again, I'm sure it's not intentional though. Ball goes right and there's space outside Brown but he gets his man down, Faf and WLR get in each others way and it's back for the pen we go

[Digby]

Minute 11

Pollard kicks the 3

Ford restarts out to the right, May takes down the catcher on the 22

[Digby]

Minute 12

Faf makes a clearing box kick, Isiekwe put pressure on the ball, Robshaw ran the other way around the ruck to Isiekwe just to push Faf. Either Robshaw overlooked Faf is left footed or the pack were told to get stuck into Faf, whichever Robshaw has put himself well ahead of the ball for little obvious gain

The ball is allowed to bounce, luckily it goes to Sinkler who lobs it back toward Itoje, Maro tests how slowly a ball can be passed 3-4m back to Ford.

Ford looks to pass but Green 14 has come up to put pressure on the pass, Ford instead draws a man and puts Brown into a gap. Brown probably doesn't have a chance to pass, but he's adopted his usual style of sticking the ball under one arm to preclude the option even should it present itself, sodding stupid given where he is on the field. Curry tries a pick play and goes nowhere. Mako gets a one out pass from Youngs but is driven back by Green 5 and 6, Billy follows up with a run and moves the ball to Slade but at best we're going sideways. The minute ends with Robshaw now tacking the ball into contact and we're still going sideways

[Digby]

Minute 13

Youngs, to Ford to Slade, and Slade gets a lovely offload out of the tackle to Brown who drives into the England 22. After 3-4 phases of going sideways or even backwards we're on the front foot, but we've also got 4 backs inside the 5m channel over toward the left touchline

We come back right first through Maro who reasonably takes contact, then right again to Farrell who has the chance to run on the outside shoulder of Green 1, perhaps fearing he doesn't have the pace to trouble a prop on the outside Farrell steps into contact.

Now we're starting to slow down even on attack in their 22 as we just don't have enough carrying options for a team that doesn't move the ball well. And a couple of phases later Green 8 gets over the ball and nearly forces a pen for not releasing.

Just to summarise the current situation England have 4 players in the last ruck which was slow ball, Isiekwe is stood to the side and Youngs is there to pass. So we're attacking a line that should be set with 9 attackers, this is not a promising moment.

Luckily for us Green 13 is clearly a lunatic and runs way out of the line creating a hole that Ford can put May into with May having worked off his wing. May to Daly and it's an easy try with nobody remotely able to put a hand on Daly, not even when SA should have had 2-3 more defenders in the line than we had attackers, this isn't even shoddy defending.

[Digby]

Minute 14

Nowt happens

[Digby]

Minute 15

Faz kicks a testing conversion

SA restart long and right again finding Billy V who carries just out of the 22 (I still don't get why you want to remove the option of putting the ball into touch) . Youngs send a long box kick up to halfway, and this time we have the brains not to have a prop leading the chase, this time it's Isiekwe. Why Brown is so far behind I don't know, he gets a little interference, but it does show a lack of pace outwide

Isiekwe grabs around the shoulders which gives him less chance of driving his legs in the tackle, but gets the catcher down, I assume it was Green 8

[Digby]

Minute 16

SA are moving about but going nowhere until Sinckler wins contact with a big hit on Green 5, I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't much arm in the tackle from Sinckler so perhaps we dodged a pen there

SA kick long, Brown passes inside to Daly from outside the 22, Daly sends a long kick down into the Saffa 22. Pollard passes inside to WLR who clears up to the Saffa 10m line