A Black view!

Let me begin by saying that Jamie Noon did score, & I haven’t heard one Kiwi friend or work colleague try to suggest otherwise. Phew got that one out of the way. 

In writing this piece for Kath’s English Rugby web site I have one qualifying remark. I haven’t seen a replay, which is when I would see how the other side really played.

However, the performance of Charlie Hodgson must be of concern to English supporters. When you behind in a test match you need someone to kick points, & to do something to turn the tide. We went down this path with Carlos Spencer & it doesn’t work.

Overall the AB’s had that man Carter to thanks for a big 40 points win at Twickenham. Who else can kick a 50m plus penalty, then have the pace and strength to run to score a classic try. Whatever way you spin the 41-20 result, history has recorded that the English got done on their local park. If you are looking for positives, there were some, but don’t go into denial with the Noon try, 3tries etc. Like the Spencer thing we have been down the track with all those wonderful wins over France, Aussie, before the 99 & 03 RWC.

There were some big positives for the team in Black:

·         Keith Robinson is back. What a remarkable comeback, & with his ‘Johnson’ attitude we only lost 2 line-outs.

·         The AB’s forwards turning a couple of English lineout mauls near our line into non-events.

·         Complete control of that first 20-25 minutes where the test was won. The result was never going to go down to the wire.

·         Richie McCaw first test at Twickenham.

·         The AB scrum. What a wonderful thing to see in test rugby.

The big concern with the AB performance was the number of big holes in the defensive line, & players’ falling off tackles. If that had been France or OZ we would have been dog tucker for their backline.  

Some of the AB’s players got away with a lack of recent game time fitness because England was not able to run them off the park. Considering that the loose forward combination had about 80 minutes of rugby between them since the last tri nation game I was surprised that England didn’t lift the tempo.

This was a lost opportunity for England. I cannot see how you defend a Twickenham performance like that. On one of the threads Kath said “is that all the AB’s have got”. Funny, I was thinking the same if that all England can do on their home park. All the team are now preparing for the final 12 months RWC countdown, so expect significant improvements across the board. The problem for England is that they need to do more than just get better – because we will.

There was a ray of light in England performance. How many other Shaun Perry’s (like Jason Eaton from NZ) are out there. Maybe there is an over emphasis in following the football or golf academy system, and for rugby more can be achieved by sending guys to the freezing works or back to the farm.

Good luck against the AB’s arch rivals the Boks. We will be watching J.

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