England 9 v Australia 18

The Cook Cup 2009

Match Review & Thoughts

First of all we must congratulate Australia on defending and winning the Cook Cup again, they were the better side, scored tries and played really well.  They have some very talented players and I will be looking forward to see them play against Ireland next weekend.

As for England well if we believe all the press footage 'God' is back!  Seriously though it was great to see Jonny Wilkinson fit, well and playing again, the same goes for Superman Lewis Moody he must have a bionic body by now and both of these players in my humble opinion played their hearts out and were all over the field at Twickenham.   However, two men do not make a team and whilst there were some brave efforts overall it is definitely a job of work in progress.   I reckon the management need to get their hard hats on as the fall out might be a bit dangerous.

The first half I quite enjoyed and felt England were picking off the Australian line out really well, there were some excellent ball handling skills and passing.  Plus we had that man racking up the points again with penalty kicks to goal but tut, tut he missed one, I was not happy with that miss and he needs to practice a bit more.  

 However, I was much more unhappy that there was nobody from England aware that he might miss the kick, why was there no player around to catch that ball with a hope of a rebound try?  Trouble is players expect Wilkinson to make it each time, come on England wake up and smell the coffee for goodness sake  school boy errors, they might as well have been standing looking at their new strips for crying out loud.

Still the first half I was heartened but really on reflection the Australians were absorbing the pressure in that first half to see what England had.  Australia came out in the second half and it was a case of Wham, Bam Thank you Maam ........ England were on the ropes from the start.  They never looked like scoring any tries and some players (as Anne Robinson might say) looked like they needed to collect their bus pass and go home.

I would like to look forward and be positive but it is very hard at times.  I thought David Wilson was a great find tackling really well and winning the ball, it was just a pity in the second half that he had to come off with an injury.  It was at that point the game really turned.  Australia got away with not binding and a penalty awarded to them and it was basically downhill for England after that.  England looked winded and not able to penetrate Australia's defence in any way

 England's Lewis Moody challenges Australia's Drew Mitchell for a high ball

Lewis Moody was really my man of the match he kept the Australians under particular pressure at the breakdown and spoiled many of their moves.   

 England's James Haskell  runs past a tackle by Australia's Will Genia

England need much quicker ball for next week and I was not that impressed with Banahan thought he looked knackered by the end of the match. Hartley made a great impact when he came off the bench, Crane to my mind was hopeless and just as well he ran after that ball he so flippantly kicked away - please someone tell him you can't do that at this level.  Haskell showed what he can do and I would like to see him on next week along with Hodgson for Care.  I actually thought Thompson did ok in the first half but fell away as the match went on, Hartley coming on a doing a good job.

 England's Dylan Hartley is tackled by Australia's Benn Robinson as Australia's Drew Mitchell looks on

England's discipline this year compared to last was 100% better but overall we need to break the defensive line and score tries!

Anyone know 'God's direct number or mobile number? (and no I am not talking about Jonny)  I mean the real God!

England: Monye, Cueto, Hipkiss (Erinle 67), Geraghty, Banahan, Wilkinson, Care (Hodgson 63); Payne, Thompson (Hartley 56), Wilson (Bell 58), Deacon (Lawes 69), Borthwick, Croft, Moody, Crane (Haskell 53). Unused replacements: Goode.

Australia: Ashley-Cooper, Hynes, Ioane (Cross 67), Cooper, Mitchell, Giteau, Genia; Robinson, Moore (Polota-Nau 60), Alexander (Dunning 77), Horwill, Chisholm (Mumm 73), Elsom, Smith, Palu (Pocock 69). Unused replacements: Burgess, O'Connor.

Referee: B Lawrence (New Zealand).

Scorers

England: Penalties Wilkinson 2; drop goal Wilkinson. Australia: Tries Genia, Ashley-Cooper; conversions Giteau; penalties Giteau 2

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