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The Rugby Thread

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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Quite a high penalty count for England that half. That said they’re doing what needs to be done without playing very well.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
Slow start to our campaign. Understandable there might be a few nerves and feeling our way into it a bit, but first 15-20 mins were showing far too much respect to Tonga. We've tried to play a lot more since then and got a couple of tries, but silly errors (particularly in the forwards and at the breakdown) have killed momentum on most occasions we've got up a head of steam.

I think there is a lot of holding back though and assuming some of their big rigs will tire and we will pull away in the second half. We shall see.......

Ref/officials have been very sensible in the key moments, but also let Tonga get away with quite a lot I thought which aids the contest - I've seen numerous neck rolls and tackles, lost count of the number of blockers standing in our defensive line and interfering with would be tacklers, and that hit on Vunipola, whilst being pretty awesome, looked a blatant shoulder charge completely ignored.
 

talkshowhost86

Mod-Moose
Staff
Oct 2, 2004
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Already quite bored with the amount of ref chat in this World Cup.

It's a tricky sport to ref. But so far the standard has been pretty good IMO. At least generally consistent in each game, if not from game to game.
 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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30,495
Slow start to our campaign. Understandable there might be a few nerves and feeling our way into it a bit, but first 15-20 mins were showing far too much respect to Tonga. We've tried to play a lot more since then and got a couple of tries, but silly errors (particularly in the forwards and at the breakdown) have killed momentum on most occasions we've got up a head of steam.

I think there is a lot of holding back though and assuming some of their big rigs will tire and we will pull away in the second half. We shall see.......

Ref/officials have been very sensible in the key moments, but also let Tonga get away with quite a lot I thought which aids the contest - I've seen numerous neck rolls and tackles, lost count of the number of blockers standing in our defensive line and interfering with would be tacklers, and that hit on Vunipola, whilst being pretty awesome, looked a blatant shoulder charge completely ignored.

His arms were outstretched looking to wrap. Certainly not a blatant shoulder charge as his arms wouldn’t have been out at all and would’ve just dipped the shoulder. Fair tackle for me.
 

talkshowhost86

Mod-Moose
Staff
Oct 2, 2004
48,105
47,061
Fairly typical opening match performance so far. Tonga have shown a lot more backbone than Scotland did earlier and I think England are 'managing' the game at this stage.

Two more tries and its job done really.
 

SugarRay

Well-Known Member
Jul 6, 2011
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11,110
England just making poor decisions and giving away few silly penalties. The kicking game seemed obvious until Tonga filled their backline with aerial specialists!

Still, bonus point win is the only requirement.
 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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Big hit but I’m a little confused as to why people are celebrating it so much when they all threw their toys out the prom at Hodge’s tackle against Fiji. The hit on Billy was illegal in the current game

That Hodge one was different. No attempt made to wrap his arms. His arms weren’t even outstretched. The one on billy used the shoulder but his arms were outstretched.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,338
54,974
Too many handling errors and too many penalties. 16 minutes to get the bonus point try, which they would have secured already if not for the errors. Whatever happens they need to improve considerably.
 

'O Zio

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2014
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13,785
Big hit but I’m a little confused as to why people are celebrating it so much when they all threw their toys out the prom at Hodge’s tackle against Fiji. The hit on Billy was illegal in the current game

The Hodge one was completely different. Was much higher than the hit on Billy and absolutely no attempt was made to wrap the arms.
 

'O Zio

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2014
7,405
13,785
Too many handling errors and too many penalties. 16 minutes to get the bonus point try, which they would have secured already if not for the errors. Whatever happens they need to improve considerably.

Yep. Been far too sloppy today. Jones won't be happy with the performance in particular individual unforced errors. Were lucky to have one of the easier games first to hopefully get it out of our system now. We'll need to be much more clinical against the better teams.
 

talkshowhost86

Mod-Moose
Staff
Oct 2, 2004
48,105
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Too many handling errors and too many penalties. 16 minutes to get the bonus point try, which they would have secured already if not for the errors. Whatever happens they need to improve considerably.

Yep have to hope this is just them 'getting going' but based on today's games you'd be looking at Ireland rather than England.
 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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I think this is perfect for England. Have been poor but bonus point achieved and shit loads to work on. Eddie will be getting into them after this.
 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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30,495
Let’s face it, France are hardly the most consistent team in the world and you always beat Argentina so.....
 
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