Wales tortured at Twickers
4 Aug 2007
England gave their World Cup hopes a boost when they destroyed Wales 62-5 at Twickenham.
This “friendly” (sold to the public as a Test) told us nothing we didn’t know already. England’s pack can match any in the world, but their backs are pretty ordinary. Wales were awful in the Six Nations and judging by today’s effort they’ve spent the off-season improving their tans.
Wales’s pack was understrength, but they will still be embarrassed at how they were pummelled by the Poms. Six of England’s nine tries came from the forwards, who mauled like they were up against local club players called in to help at training.
The tone was set when England scored twice in the opening quarter through No 8 Nick Easter. The first came after a break by scrumhalf Shaun Perry down the blindside and the second from a 5m line-out and subsequent driving maul.
Wilkinson uncharacteristically missed two of his first three shots at goal, including an early penalty, but helped set up England’s third try when he broke two tackles inside Wales’ 22. The forwards cleaned up quickly and second-rower Steve Borthwick barged over. Wilkinson added the conversion and slotted a penalty soon after to make it 22-0.
England’s dominance continued after half-time when Easter was driven over for his hat-trick. Perry then finally claimed one for the backs, although it was the forwards who helped him across.
At this point England were leading 36-0, but Wales hit back when winger Daffyd James found himself on the end of a rare overlap and scored in the corner.
The biggest cheer of the day came when Lawrence Dallaglio replaced Easter midway through the second half, and the World Cup winner repaid the fans support with England’s sixth try.
Perry then scored his second to bring up 50 points, before Jason Robinson and Mathew Tait completed the rout with another two touchdowns.
England –Tries: Nick Easter (3), Steve Borthwick, Shaun Perry (2), Lawrence Dallaglio, Jason Robinson, Mathew Tait. Conversions: Jonny Wilkinson (7). Penalty: Wilkinson.
Wales – Try: Dafydd James.
By Simon Borchardt
600 Comments
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4 Aug 2007, 20:29 pm
200 187 = 189
4 Aug 2007, 20:30 pm
BH
That’s possibly because they play it the best.
4 Aug 2007, 20:31 pm
196 We just get to celebrate more
4 Aug 2007, 20:31 pm
Wales was exceedingly poor today. Expect Wales to have a sub standard RWC.
England’s pack were very good today. We will see a very different team for France. England need to drop Farrel and Corry asap.
Since Eddie Jones is “coaching” the Springboks; that quarterfinal vs the Wallabies will be very interesting indeed
4 Aug 2007, 20:31 pm
196 I didnt mention them, mainly because they deserve to be arrogant. No other team in the world has been more consistantly placed at the top of world rugby than them. Apart from World Cup claims. But rugby history is much bigger than that cup. Personally think we can do away with it. And yes I’ve met some SERIOUSLY arrogant Kiwi supporters. It may even get worse if they win this WC as I cant see anyone taking it away from them in their home WC in 2011. Then they will be going on about back to back WC champs.
4 Aug 2007, 20:31 pm
Boks vs England
is gonna be a helleva a match
4 Aug 2007, 20:33 pm
204 john_doe,
Yes, Eddie coaching the Boks will give Australia the upper hand
4 Aug 2007, 20:34 pm
202
4 chokes in World Cups tells a different story. Its all very well playing well when other sides are in development.
Once again we’re seeing a NZ side stuttering in a World Cup year.
203
Nah, I have watched many games with New Zealanders (including the Lions series in ’05). A more arrogant bunch when it comes to rugby you could not meet.
205
NZ struggle against big packs.
4 Aug 2007, 20:34 pm
204 who’s quarter final vs Wallabies, SA or England?
4 Aug 2007, 20:35 pm
205 hmmmm back to back … I hadn’t considered that yet …. perhaps not so arrogant
4 Aug 2007, 20:36 pm
205
You’re another one carried away with the illusion of the mighty Kiwis.
These guys consistently struggle under pressure and thats the truth.
4 Aug 2007, 20:37 pm
210
Course you did.
Win one first, then think about back to back.
4 Aug 2007, 20:37 pm
#208 Didn’t the All Blacks play with 13 men on the field at Twicks…and still win???
4 Aug 2007, 20:38 pm
204
How about Corry at 2nd row where he played in the win v France?
He’s a big unit and has got a great workrate.
4 Aug 2007, 20:38 pm
206 Joeboy,
It is just huge. Bigger than the France vs Ireland and that one mostly decides who plays NZ
The England game surely doesn’t suit the Boks … England will play for the penalties in the forwards
4 Aug 2007, 20:39 pm
Howzit all? Eish that score is unbelievable! But we are more than capable of defeating the English, after all we are the mighty Springboks!!!
4 Aug 2007, 20:41 pm
BH #199
That’s what he meant. Buying a SAFFA at centre.
4 Aug 2007, 20:41 pm
#209 Wallabies vs Springboks.
Withdrawing the Boks from the 3N was a monumental mistake. We will be underdone going into that test vs England.
4 Aug 2007, 20:41 pm
208 Big Hit,
You are so arrogant about New Zealand that you consider us chokers if we do not win a World Cup. You are far more arrogant about New Zealand than New Zealanders!!!!
Read Keo’s thread on the ABs a few below this one
4 Aug 2007, 20:41 pm
Cory aint a 7 and not much of an 8 Easterby much better so next step 4 or 5 at the expense of who?
4 Aug 2007, 20:42 pm
Ja Catt is a Saffa, he didn’t have the skills or ability to make it as a Bok, so he decided to play for the English…
4 Aug 2007, 20:42 pm
Big hit…
Lets see how many of the mighty Wales Slayers walk away… England seem to be doing well in the Porcelain stakes..
Let Ashton take stock of what he still has available on Monday, before we start writing the Boks off…
4 Aug 2007, 20:43 pm
211 Big Hit,
You are now contradicting yourself in 208
4 Aug 2007, 20:43 pm
219
I consider you chokers when you fail to win 4 World Cups despite possessing the players to do so.
220
At the expense of no one. Unless you include the sub-standard Borthwick. Its a no-brainer imo.
4 Aug 2007, 20:44 pm
213 john_doe,
England prefer the 16 a side game
4 Aug 2007, 20:45 pm
#214 All you can expect from Corry is grinding “slow” forward play. Trust me England can do better…
4 Aug 2007, 20:45 pm
211
His mother is English.
4 Aug 2007, 20:46 pm
226
Thats why I’d put him in the 2nd row. They’re supposed to be slow and grinding.
4 Aug 2007, 20:46 pm
So he was born in South Africa, therefore he is South African.
4 Aug 2007, 20:46 pm
218 john_doe,
I still have that one as Boks vs Aus
4 Aug 2007, 20:47 pm
So according your assessment j_d we going into quarters vs Aus, you might very well be right, but its not a foregone conclusion, I think saffa mentality still has to learn to raise the bar in the psychological arena, and on today’s performance the English pack can match and maybe even dominate ours up front. Looks like Jake will now undoubtedly go with Roussouw at 8 he needs the bulk against these guys and he better have Bismarck on the bench and not Gary Botha otherwise he’ll be sunk.
4 Aug 2007, 20:49 pm
224 Big Hit,
You have lost 22 games out of 29 against New Zealnd with five times the number of players …. choker
4 Aug 2007, 20:50 pm
Howzit Skopskiet?
4 Aug 2007, 20:50 pm
231
I don’t think the England will ‘dominate’ the Saffa pack but I feel we can negate them or maybe edge them forcing them into a non-existent plan B.
Roussouw didn’t go far against England on tour. Wasn’t he criticised?
4 Aug 2007, 20:51 pm
232…
Need we say more!!! BMT!!
4 Aug 2007, 20:51 pm
232
World Champions.
How long since you could say that? choker.
4 Aug 2007, 20:51 pm
Big Hit buddy…
Congratulations on the win. I saw the game, it was impressive.
However, I will tell you this.
I know EXACTLY how to beat England…I will watch the game again just to make sure, but I saw some interesting points out there….
Wait and see.
4 Aug 2007, 20:51 pm
215# yea chch the Boks have to beat them up
and i reckon we will.. its gonna be nasty
4 Aug 2007, 20:54 pm
238
It is gonna be nasty. It will be an all out war imo.
4 Aug 2007, 20:54 pm
236…
How long until you can say it again.. At the rate you are contracting southern hemisphere players. CHOP!!!
4 Aug 2007, 20:55 pm
Anon 240
I would not worry…England have problems, SERIOUS problems I am telling you….
4 Aug 2007, 20:56 pm
237
Do share your theories…
240
Perhaps 2 months. There’s no clear contender for the WC this year imo.
4 Aug 2007, 20:57 pm
237 willievz,
How the Boks can easily beat England … make sure that the Germans don’t get to the deck chairs first then the English wont have to lie all over the ball
4 Aug 2007, 20:58 pm
I get the impression that the England pack is a gang rather than a unit. That’s the weakness.
4 Aug 2007, 20:58 pm
#237
I don’t think I am going to share it here, but rather somewhere else where it matters…
4 Aug 2007, 20:59 pm
I’m not a Roussouw fan, but I know Jakes thinking regarding brawn over brains or mobility, as long as he has Smit on he won’t be needing Skinstad on the field so he’ll likely start with Roussouw now that Spies is gone. Then he’ll have Burger, Smith and Roussow to counter Worsley, Easter and either Dallaglio or your other flanker if you have Corry in at lock. The real issue though is up font because I can’t see Os Durant going further than 50 mins against your front row. Bismarck on the bench is a must in that game otherwise we will be playing Australia in the quarters.
4 Aug 2007, 21:00 pm
England do not have history on their side but they do have Mike Cat which is kind of the same thing
4 Aug 2007, 21:02 pm
245 williez,
I gave away my secret theory in 243 so you have to now… please
4 Aug 2007, 21:02 pm
Howzit saffa dude, how goes it?
Willie howdy, glad you can see the weakness only thing is pity you are not SA coach, I hope you have the inside track on slipping your info to E.Jones seeing as JW has effectively become media manager while EJ takes over the strategy and coaching duties.
4 Aug 2007, 21:03 pm
#58 – Jacaranda
Lets see:
Average IQ of England = 102
Average IQ of the Netherlands = 109
What is the heritage of the “average SA forward”?
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