England-South Africa

[CanadianSteve]

What did you think of the match. England was under pressure, but they still played good defense and kept the Boks from scoring tries. Maybe it's a sign of a class team, that they can have a bad game and still win comfortably. But there were times in the match when I thought, boy, the AB's would be running a few tries in here, if it was them instead of SA.

 

[Rustay]

Against a side with more skillful backs and a little more confidence in throwing the ball around, like the All Blacks, England would have lost. South Africa bombed one try and had other times they were building up well, just to commit a stupid error. England's defence was good, but South Africa's attacking wasnt great.

It was a great close tussel (sp?) and you can only think wat mite have been if Koen could have had a better nite with the boot.

Englands attack looked pretty ordinary, due to some good Springbok defence in part, but one try from a charge down isnt great. Then again, WC finals are usually won with the boot more than scoring three or four tries.

Either way South Africa was opened up a few questions about England, we will just have to see if NZ, Aus, France can capitalize.

 

[CanadianSteve]

Against a side with more skillful backs and a little more confidence in throwing the ball around, like the All Blacks, England would have lost.

But I think the AB's are the only such side. Australia have the backs, but not the forwards to do what SA did. SA had the forwards but not the backs. But I now think NZ has the combination to beat England, even though I want England to win.

 

[zulu]

Just couldn't get into the game. 25-6 and only one try. It was a little boring, hopefully things will improve in the next few weeks.

 

[Auckland4ever]

Just couldn't get into the game. 25-6 and only one try. It was a little boring, hopefully things will improve in the next few weeks.

If its tries you want to see, I doubt it, but I could be wrong. Closely contested test matches are just as much about gaining field position, retaining possesion, pressure in ruck & maul play and forcing errors. There'll be a fair amount of running, but also plenty of penalties. The AB's may be the only team to go all out on attack, but even they'll go for the 3 points more often than not.

 

[bayrep]

Just couldn't get into the game. 25-6 and only one try. It was a little boring, hopefully things will improve in the next few weeks.

If its tries you want to see, I doubt it, but I could be wrong. Closely contested test matches are just as much about gaining field position, retaining possesion, pressure in ruck & maul play and forcing errors. There'll be a fair amount of running, but also plenty of penalties. The AB's may be the only team to go all out on attack, but even they'll go for the 3 points more often than not.

Except when Aus and NZ play their always seems to be an amount of tries to both sides. I like what Woddward stated in the press conference "THe english team averages 4 tries per game". How come when ever we watch them then I never see 4 tries ? you might see 1 which always seems like a soft try but you never see any more unless they are playing a minow.

 

[Bengal]

I though it was a good hard fought match, I was impressed.

The Springboks certainly have the forward pack to match the Poms, but boy, they've got nothing in the backs (although I did like the use of their loosies out wide).

The All Blacks certainly have the team to beat England, but whether they have the team to beat Australia is another story.

Tana is a humungus loss to the AB's. I can't see the All Blacks scoring the same soft tries against the Wallabies this time around. There is no longer a turn-style in the centres (Rogers), Sailor is a little bit more wiser and Lote I don't think will be on the other wing.

So while the Aussie defence has stiffened up the AB defence has weakened. Tana snuffed out a lot of the Wallaby attack last time around, he didn't give it a chance to get going. Unless whoever replaces him has the same intuition, the same effectiveness, the Wallabies are in with a big show!

Ps: Go big bad Brad Thorn 8)

 

[Marcus]

I really enjoyed the game, and thought it was a very good contest.

South Africa played really well and they took it to England. England played okay, they can play better but I think it was a bit of nerves. Wilkinson wasn't at his best, but I think he will get better when the finals hit.

Both sides looked pretty even, and the scoreline didn't reflect the true tightness of the game. Both England and South Africa can take a lot from that game. The Poms didn't play the best, but they won. The Boks played their best rugby all year, and their forwards are very dominate and will test NZ to the fullest in the quarters.

 

[ForestDragon]

The game was closer than the scoreline suggests and SA put in a good workman like performance.England can play better than they did and it is now up to them to show it.Will get interesting when the big guns start meeting each other.
P.S. watch out for France!