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, 21:05 pm
249 skopskiet,
The idea of gaving any master plan to Eddie Jones just has me in stitches
4 Aug 2007, 21:08 pm
245
I don’t think Jake White will listen. He only listens to Clive Woodward and Eddie Jones.
244
Its not the finalised England pack. But I see your point, they haven’t gelled.
But what a gang. This pack is a beef machine:
1. Andrew Sheridan – 6 ft 4, 19st 7lbs
3. Phil Vickery – 6 ft 3, 17st
4. Simon Shaw – 6 ft 9, 18st 7lbs
5. Martin Corry – 6ft 5, 17st 7lbs
6. Nick Easter – 6ft 4, 18 st 2lbs
7. Joe Worsley – 6ft 5, 18st
8. Lawrence Dallaglio – 6ft 4, 17st 7lbs
4 Aug 2007, 21:08 pm
#248
I will tell you this though.
They do engage in some shannanegans off the ball and what you stress is a valid point, but their angles of running from the forwards are very predictable. Their mauling is also predictable, the key men involved there should just be curtailed. Doing this is troublesome if you don’t you who are the silent enforcers, but I know now…
England will get beaten up front. Scrums are a different kettle of fish though. I am talking about the tight loose.
I am not going to say a word further…
4 Aug 2007, 21:08 pm
Howzit skopskiet, doing well there?
4 Aug 2007, 21:10 pm
247
Mike Catt > Mauger and Iceman Toe
4 Aug 2007, 21:10 pm
Skopskiet 246
I agree that Bismarck should be on the bench for the England clash.
And for that fixture, Albert vdB should be benched as well, I have a specific role for him…one role…
4 Aug 2007, 21:10 pm
Look on oddschecker.com
Average odds on Boks to win the World Cup is 5:1
Average odds on England are 25:1
Looks like the Poms are not putting their money where their mouths are……..
Or maybe everyone just thinks they are cr@p.
4 Aug 2007, 21:11 pm
Big Hit
I still see value in Mike Catt, he is a must play for you.
4 Aug 2007, 21:12 pm
Keep it under your hat Willie boy and slip it to EJ, better still get employed as tactician in chief for the boks and plan the English downfall yourself.
4 Aug 2007, 21:14 pm
#230 #231
No I have to disagree. With the exception of Wales
and the Springboks, all the top teams have had a good buildup to the RWC.
Matches vs Namibia and Connaught cannot compare to
tests vs the All Blacks and Wallabies.
The top Boks, in my humble opinion, will arrive at the RWC way short of match practice and will sadly be underdone.
Just being realistic thats all.
4 Aug 2007, 21:14 pm
Good on you Willie I trust your instincts only problem is will Jake listen to your wisdom, sadly I doubt it.
4 Aug 2007, 21:14 pm
258
I’m glad someone sees the value in Catt. He’s one of the most intelligent players in the game today.
4 Aug 2007, 21:15 pm
You wanna play Albert at 8 huh Willie ala Mark Andrews?
4 Aug 2007, 21:16 pm
253
Bear in mind Tom Rees is first choice openside and great on the floor.
Keep that on tha downlow tho
4 Aug 2007, 21:17 pm
258 willievz,
Commedy value ?
4 Aug 2007, 21:17 pm
The boy is a genius, born in PE, so going forward he might have immense value, but when the big boys come thundering through will he hold the line or fold? MC that is.
4 Aug 2007, 21:18 pm
John Doe 260
Of course, that is one side of the coin. I share your concerns, but I will tell you this – the Boks will mentally be the most prepared team at the RWC.
This year’s 3N was overshadowed in the minds by the RWC later in the year, hence our first team would have travelled 24h on a plane with their thoughts not on the big event later in the year. It was a mission that they had to refrain from IMO.
4 Aug 2007, 21:18 pm
265
Just keep bigging up the ‘Toe’
4 Aug 2007, 21:19 pm
183. Hold on to your knickers Pietman, as far as I am aware, no protocol exits on this site where one has to refer to a bloggers handle and that failure to do so will be disrespectful.
Forget the previous post, not really worth explaining.
4 Aug 2007, 21:19 pm
#265
Let’s hope
4 Aug 2007, 21:20 pm
260 john_doe,
That means (being realistic) that New Zealand and South Africa will meet in a semi (and being even more realistic) deciding the WC winner
4 Aug 2007, 21:20 pm
Jet 269
You are right, no protocol exists, but good manners are rewarded everywhere. Even on the internet.
4 Aug 2007, 21:22 pm
266
He won’t fold. Its only Jean opposite him don’t forget, not Jonah.
The SA centres aren’t going to steamroll anyone. Centres rarely do these days.
4 Aug 2007, 21:23 pm
#246 Good assessment. Bismark though was chosen on his abilities in the CC. So we will have to hope and pray that he has what it takes as a test hooker.
Big Hit isn’t Dayglo 35 yrs old?
4 Aug 2007, 21:24 pm
268 Big Hit,
I am not a Toeava fan …. I am trusting that GH told him to play **** in All Black games so that they could use him as a world cup secret weapon … either that or Toeava has naked photoes of GH
4 Aug 2007, 21:26 pm
Jean and even Jaque are reasonable size boys that come at one at speed, maybe your Farrel boy is a better option to hold the line there, and could be that Ashton sees it the same.
4 Aug 2007, 21:26 pm
Catt will be there to cover for Wilko, as he was in 2003.
England need to be respected, certainly not feared.
4 Aug 2007, 21:26 pm
Big Hit
All I am saying is that it depends on the attacking team where the point of breakdown will take place, and also the speed with which it goes to ground.
If our players refrain from going to ground in the tackle for a split second longer, we are going to see the true English colours…then the fetcher is not the primary concern, but the ripper in the maul…
Your very strength is also your achilles’ heel…
4 Aug 2007, 21:26 pm
274
Would you like to play against him? He’s a powerful player
275
Mauger isn’t much better. Solid at best.
4 Aug 2007, 21:28 pm
Chch
Who would be your AB centre pairing in the RWC?
4 Aug 2007, 21:28 pm
2 many OLD men in the England team
Boks gonna beat them
roll on world cup
4 Aug 2007, 21:30 pm
#278
In addition to my previous post….
If the running lines of our backline will improve, ie running straighter, the point of breakdown will automatically be closer to the loose trio, doing away with many of the problems SA have encountered in this department.
Now imagine if they can manage to keep the ball in the air while in contact a little longer…
I can’t wait…
4 Aug 2007, 21:30 pm
274# Bismarck is the best hooker in SA.
Now if we can only ger rid of Smit and Gary
4 Aug 2007, 21:31 pm
#271 the Wallabies more than stood up to the Boks in SA. I’m keeping my fingers crossed but the Wallabies do have BMT…
I also expect Los Pumas, my second favorite
team, to sneak past the French.
4 Aug 2007, 21:31 pm
278 williwvz,
I think you need to be prepared to cycle the ball before the lie on it and try to avoid the slow players walking back on side.
What would happen if England tried to mall anyway? They seam to be good at the rolling ruck!
4 Aug 2007, 21:31 pm
277
I agree. Catt and Wilkinson together are a great team and Jonny benefits hugely. More so than he would with Farrell. Jonny is the best player in the world when playing alongside Catt imo.
276
Centres that break the line these days hit space, they don’t steam roll the man any more like Scott Gibbs used to. I would imagine a good defensive 13 will be played outside Catt if he plays and with Wilko inside it should be fine.
278
Saturday will provide a true indication of England’s strengths.
4 Aug 2007, 21:32 pm
66,000 watchd that game today btw. compared with 45,000 for the Tri Nations finale.
Shocking.
4 Aug 2007, 21:34 pm
279 Big Hit,
Mauger is good … (he is a specialist 12 by the way where as Toeava is a pretend center)
4 Aug 2007, 21:35 pm
288
Why doesn’t he ever do anything special then?
4 Aug 2007, 21:35 pm
#285
Depending on field position, of course that is a very effective strategy too
4 Aug 2007, 21:37 pm
280 willievz,
Mauger and Smith as first choice
McAlister and Mils as backup (MacDonald is first choice full back for me anyway)
…but as GH says … there is a plan for each opposition team
4 Aug 2007, 21:37 pm
#283 Smit is a tried and tested test hooker, whereas Bismark was chosen solely on his form in the CC.
Very dangerous to do that in my opinion.
I agree with you on G Botha, he weakens the pack.
4 Aug 2007, 21:37 pm
Ashton has told Farrel that he’s fighting for his place in todays game.
4 Aug 2007, 21:38 pm
293
The game is over.
291
lol. Don’t listen to Graham Henry. He’s a losing Lions coach and a failed Wales coach. He’s won nothing of repute.
4 Aug 2007, 21:39 pm
182 willievz,
We should not forget the good old Southern Hemishere tactic of putting forwards out wide to create optional safe breakdown points … I am not sure the Northern Hemishere so this
4 Aug 2007, 21:40 pm
Big Hit
What about (Sir) Clive Woodward as Lions coach?
4 Aug 2007, 21:40 pm
#295
4 Aug 2007, 21:42 pm
271 john_doe,
I have an option on a ticket for the 1/4 final and I would prefer France or Ireland to qualify 2nd to make it a bigger game.
4 Aug 2007, 21:45 pm
chch 295
Chris Jacks speciality. The Boks still haven’t worked it out!
4 Aug 2007, 21:47 pm
289 Big Hit,
You missed the tri-nations then … please refer to 137
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