Originally Posted by The Net:
“A result which shocked many not least the Kiwis who were savaged by illness at the time.
There is no doubt England have young talent but the lack of tries In this Championship is a worry. The match against Italy showed for me they are not potential world beaters as suggested by that remarkable result against the All Blacks.”
The win against the All Black's was against a squad ravaged by illness playing the final match of a very long year who just wanted to go home.
The problem is that the England management have consistently used that win to justify their team selection.
Barratt and Tuilagi in the centres simply does not work, they are too similar and offer nothing in attack, they both go looking for contact rather than put those outside of them in to space. It is no coincidence that after the Italy game SCW suggested Twelvetrees should start as he is a "passing centre" to quote his words.
Marler cannot scrummaging at International level and was always going to be ripped apart by Jones, why didn't Vunipola start? He offered far more in the first minute of coming on than Marler did in 45.
What does Ashton have to do to get dropped? He has a very nice swallow dive but contributes little else, although he did enough with his boots yesterday to probably get a citing.
Mike Brown should play in his club position of full back, Goode, who is a 10 isn't good enough at 15. The likes of May and Sharples at Gloucester, Biggs at Bath and Varndell and Wade at Wasps must be wondering what they have to do to get a cap!!
England also desperately need an out-and-out Openside! For too long they have been playing a Blindside out of position, nothing new there as it has been England policy for years, but the two positions are totally different and it just doesn't work, that is why they concede so many turnovers.
This isn't sour grapes because England lost, I would have said the same if they had won, although I never thought they would win.