erm one out of three ain't bad

anyway better performance from England, even if the match itself wasn't much cop. Glad to see the player make it harder for South Africa to play, shame we could get the win at the end

One out of three for me in the predictions as well

But holy s**t, New Zealand were awesome this morning

It's a shame the North could only get one draw out of the so called big 3, but at least England and Wales put up some sort of fight in the 2nd and 3rd tests

Less said about Ireland in that 3rd test the better, but they pushed New Zealand in the 2nd test

Not the best of summer tours but there is some hope for the autumn when the big 3 come over to these shores

Don't forget Scotland beat Australia Richie

congratulations to Scotland for making it 3 wins out of 3

Really pleased with Englands performance in the last test. Good scrummage, good physicality at the breakdown. tested the boks a little bit. Its the basics again that let us down. the abillity to pass and catch when under pressure. I cant understand how an international rugby player can be so inept with a rugby ball.

That has been the whole difference between the North and South. The exicution of the basic skills and the first phase strike moves are clinical. When they get in the opposition 22 they are far more likely to score.

I think Wales really dropped a clanger on this tour, they should have won this series and they should have one it clearly. Yet the Welsh fans keep going on about how great it is they are now above England in the rankings. If losing 3 games moves you up in the rankings then it kind of proves how ridiculous those rankings are. They never turned the screw on the Austrailian tight 5. That is how you squeeze the life out of the Aussies and build a platform. Wals seem to only have one gameplan and it doesnt work for all oppositions.

As for Scotland I have to say they were pretty heroic, the beat the Aussies, then went on a tour that no other big team has in decades simply as there is no money in it. They did a really good thing and I think should be congratulated for it. Would be nice to see a Kiwi or Aussie team go and do that tour as well.........but it won't happen.

[quote=MeicY;59015056]Almost : Incidentally, congrats to the Wales U20s who today beat Argentina 25-17 to win 3rd place at the JWC. Future's looking good.[/QUOTE


Apart from this year, when they lost to the eventual winners and narrowly failed to qualify, England have, I believe, at least reached the semi final of this event every year - and dominted the last 6 nations (if it was 6) tournament at the age group.

So their future looks brighter.

Re Saturday:

I've felt for a while that Goode would be an excellent international player and certainly a better choice than Brown as back up for Foden. He made a fine start. As he can also play 10 (his original position) and 12 (where I think he could be very useful) he should at least be on the bench come autumn.

Considering the lack of international experience of the squad and the players missing entirelyor being injured it certainly shows a good pool for Lancaster to pick from. It's a matter of sifting now.

For a day........now back in 6th. With France in 5th and mighty England in 4th.........

Bum...

To lose three matches by a total of 11 points is tough especially when we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the last two.

We're still mainly a young team with more talent coming through. So hopefully in the Autumn we'll learn from how indiscipline let us down and start winning against the big teams by the odd point or two

Although I didn't realise it at the time of my original post there's still time to snatch 4th, or even 3rd by the end of the year

Compared to England we lost against a stronger side and hence the points exchanged were less than that for England. Not proud of moving up the rankings that way however it's how the system works.

England are a young team with plenty of talent coming through


[quote=Zaphodski;59082156]Compared to England we lost against a stronger side and hence the points exchanged were less than that for England. Not proud of moving up the rankings that way however it's how the system works.[/QUOTE

I would say that the SA team is stronger than the Australian team in the last few weeks

[quote=Frood;59090522]England are a young team with plenty of talent coming through



I strongly disagree with your last statement. S.A. had a brand new coach and were at the start of their international season. Australia are the tri nations champions with a settled coach and probably the best captain and no7 in the world at present in Pocock. I don't say that lightly but on the current tour matches , I think the Aussie has overtaken Mcaw as the worlds best 7. Hope Gatland and the other Lions coaches can come up with a plan to negate him next summer.

I am really worried Gatland and co are going to try and play austrailia in exactly the same way as the Welsh tried to play them and we will lose as a result.

I have said it repeatedly to beat Australia you have to do it with a tight game based around your forwards and control the ball. If you try and play a wide game they will win. Austrailia were there for the taking up front and Wales never changeed there game plan.

Pocock is a great 7 and made wharburton look very ordinary. Simple way to negate him would be to have a lot of number 8 pick ups tight to the scrum going open. tie him up at the first phase and then its a bit easier. If you have isolate runners going into or near him in open play then he will turn you over.

I have heard this tri-nations argument a lot from welsh fans but lets not forget, it was just before the world cup and South Africa and New Zealand were not at the level they are now. South Africa were persisiting with Smit when du Plessis was by a mile better than him and they were an older team. New Zealand to were struggling all through that tournement and managing injuries to McCaw and Reid. I would bet Austrailia dont win this fourthcoming championship.

Gatland wasn't really in charge for any of this tour. He attended the last two tests after his accident but wasn't hands on as he didn't want to overshadow Howley. Who will be taking charge of us for the 6nations in 2013 whilst Gats gets the time off for the Lions after the Autumn series this year. He'll probably have learnt more from the narrow defeats in the second and third tests , than if we'd scraped a win.

I think you do Australia a great dis-service and are , predictably trying to make more of Englands draw in SA than it really is. The tri nations went down to the final game last season and you can't tell me NZ want to lose at any time to their neighbours across the Tasman. I've spent time living in both countries and believe me they don't.

Wales and England are in a similar situation at present. Much has been made of Lancasters' young side but Wales had a younger average age when we won at Twickenham. We really need to push on and at the very least beat the Aussies this Autumn and put up a decent display against New Zealand. England still have to close out a key game either in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere under their new coach. The French managed their regular implosion during Le Crunch last season and Ireland have looked a busted flush for a while.

One of the great Welsh and British centre partnerships are now plying their trade in Gods xv.

R.I.P. Dr Jack Matthews

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18896672

Interview with Jack and Bleddyn Williams from 2008

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/col...re-heroes.html

time to bump up the thread methinks

Premiership and Pro 12 start back up this weekend

also missed comment of the first two week of The Rugby Championship, Argentina very close to beating South Africa last week

Unbelievable - 27 points up and we still lost the game. Quins weren't even that good. The charge down totally changed the momentum of the match, Wasps through that one away.

The second match looked very dull at half time, so hordes of us left Twickers. Imagine my disappointment to see the final score of 40-3 to Sarries

What a crap day for me

BBC: Wasps were complacent - Varndell

I agree

BBC:Harlequins were dire - Mike Brown

I agree

*bump*

topics for discussion

British Lion coaching team announcement
the performances of English and French teams in Heineken Cup
the continued exodus from Welsh rugby
and anything else that takes your fancy

Mike Blair ends Scotland career - link.

Fourie retires, faces deportation

to quote Katie Armitage (wife of Steffon)

Morgan Stoddart forced to retire http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20935237

Consistency in disciplining foul play is again questioned with Toby Flood's acquittal.

Over-zealous citing officers or an over lenient RFU disciplinary hearing? Whatever the case the lack of consistency comes into the fore and players punished for similar tackles (thinking Tipuric against Munster at Thomond Park....out for three weeks) will feel aggrieved.

I've not seen Tuperic's so I can't comment...

I think there is an element of both and agree with your frustrations...

I don't think Flood's had any intent... started off as a good tackle and got carried into it... no where near as bad as the Lions v NZ one that saw BOD get injured.

Totally agree & it couldn't have happened to a dirtier player than Andy Goode. He effectively cost his team Worcester the game by kneeing Leicester's try scorer earlier & being sin-binned.

I agree. Although technically speaking, the tackle did fall foul law 10.4 (j) it was certainly not malicious like, you say, the one on BOD which many observers think was revenge for what was deemed as disrespectful response to the haka.

Tipuric was very unfortunate in that he made a tackle on Ian Keatley with Ian Gough, and Gough suddenly left him to it mid tackle thus Tipuric was left carrying the full weight of the player. The result was technically a tip tackle, although like Flood's not intended as such.

ETA Thanks to Snedds on the Gwlad Rugby forum:-

Animated gif of the tip tackle on Keatley.
http://prem1.hiboox.com/images/1512/...8602bb4b45.gif