Eng-BaaBaa's Live Match Thread

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First topic message reminder :

Slightly late to watching but at 17:00 mins it's Eng 10-0 Barbarians.

Lovely line straight under the posts from Ashton from a little inside ball curtersy of Lee Dickson. England are looking threatening and scarily Stevens is having an impressive match in the loose, scrum looks a mess for both teams.

[thomh]

Another dodgy pass from Farrell

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Farrel needs to come off soon so we can get the JJ/Barritt machine rolling

[Geordie]

Fearns looking good though ..

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Mils gets his second after a nice bit of passing through the backs, showing Eng how to move the ball from the set peice through the backs

[Cumbrian]

Fearns looking good though ..

Yeah, he's looked decent enough.

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Donald kicks poorly so it's 29-12


49 mins gone

[Cumbrian]

Tom Palmer ffs, all he had to do was extend his hands a bit.

[wales606]

Laulaula is having a fantastic game, im always surprised he wasn't more involved with the All Blacks.

His defence has been superb, and his offloading and runs are all top draw.

Blues are really going to miss him next season.

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Foden and Wade offload well to set up a barreling run from Botha but Palmer knocks on with the line at his mercy.

JJ and Goode on.

Hodgson off so everyone moves left one.

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JJ looking lively in little space

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Joseph does very well to make 10 metres from a Poopie pass from Barritt but gives away the penalty for holding on.

Do we still practice passing at clubs in England?

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Christion Wade scores a nice try as England spread the ball wide quickly and offloads put him away.

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36-12

[Cumbrian]

Jon Joseph is taking to this like a duck to water. If Farrell and co wouldn't keep aiming passes at his boot laces he might be able to show more.

[niwatts]

Forwards have been going quite well. All three of the starting backrow have been doing good stuff, Botha put in a good stint and Hartley has been effective doing more round the park work as well as the gritty stuff that they seemed to have him concentrating more on in recent England outings.

[Cumbrian]

Shocking defence from England there, had enough defenders to prevent it.

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Tindal bows out on a high as he scores after a good build up from the Baabaas

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JJ has really had some shockers thrown to him so far, can't remember him getting a single quality pass to use.

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Score update

36-19

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15 mins to go

[Cumbrian]

Great bit of support play there for England.

[thomh]

Brilliant try. Dowson didn't look well there though

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Cracking bit of passing on the counter see's England run the length of the pitch and score through Wigglesworth.

Ashton, Wiggs, Johnston and JJ all envolved

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43-19

13 mins to go

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Phil Dowson looks concussed after a big hit, medics are with him and he may be off now.

[Cumbrian]

Not looking great for Dowson.

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Dowson is stretchered off on the buggy after a lengthy break, gets a good round of applause too

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Balshaw and Alfoa cut up England before the big prop knocks on.

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Englands scrum is really struggling, not sure if it's all the changes or something else

[niwatts]

Mears hooks at blindside after coming on for Dowson

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JJ scores after collecting a lovely kick over the top from Farrel.

Also nice to see it's taken 70 mins but we've had our first catterpillar at a ruck, what a blight on the game.

[Cumbrian]

What the mother loving crap was that from Ashton?

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Barbaa's score straight away as England confuse themselves in defence

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What the mother loving crap was that from Ashton?

My favourite quote all game.

In Ashtons defence you can see the support shouting for it

[Cumbrian]

Have England only got 14? I thought they'd emptied the bench before Dowson got injured.

[Cumbrian]

Goode has got better feet than Foden to my mind, he looks like he could become a real challenger.

[niwatts]

Have England only got 14? I thought they'd emptied the bench before Dowson got injured.

No, Mears came on for him, he was only on as a blood replacement earlier.

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Christian Wade and JJ combine

England set a record score

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Not sure what's happened with Foden but Goode is looking a million times better here then at Saracens, definitely starting in the mid weekers.

Full time England 57-26 Barbarians

[niwatts]

Wade did pretty well overall for a first cap (a few things that need ironing out) and Joseph definitely looked sharp, particularly with what he was given.

[Barney McGrew did it]

Entertaining game, good to see England joining in the Baabaas spirit. Some refreshingly decent performances from Botha, Dowson, Goode & Hartley. And good to see Ashton’s found his mojo again – but where has he put his signature dive, very disappointing part of his game.

The Mexican wave, although not world class, was pretty decent. But I’d only give the “Swing Low” 6/10.

However…

Is Farrel actually test quality? At any position?

As for Wade – I’ve heard good things about the boy. Shame none of them were true. Still, a few years in mini-rugby should help.

Bit worrying when the pack can pass the ball better than our midfield.

And Fearns needs to lose a couple of stone from around his gut.

So English MOM? – I thought Tindall and Balshaw were serious contenders.

[Geordie]

Im not convinced on Farrel at all. We will have to wait and see...but on todays performance alone he is miles behind Flood...Barritt is a better 12 and JJ a better 13...

Fearns has bulk but he was quite good today...as was Johnson on the other flank...and Botha put in a good performance.

Hartley was very prominent all over...

Wade was a little too keen at times for the interceptions...but his first taste of this level so he'll learn.

JJ looked totally at ease at this level...he must get some gametime in the tests....him and Barritt would be a nice combo.

Ashton back scoring...hunting for the ball...

[Cumbrian]

It looks to me like 13 is going to be a very competitive position in the coming years. Lots of new faces in the frame to challenge Tuilagi like Joseph, Trinder, Lowe and Daly.

[Geordie]

I was happy to see the England team really putting in some great rolling mauls also....

[majesticimperialman]

Not sure what's happened with Foden but Goode is looking a million times better here then at Saracens, definitely starting in the mid weekers.

Full time England 57-26 Barbarians

Han't Foden just become a father? maybe he is having a few sleepless nights?

Brown looked great yesterday maybe Brown will start with foden on the bench. Goode also looked very good today. nice to see England having alot of talent at full back.

My concern though if Flood is not fit, who will be the next fly half? Owen Farrell had a shocker today, some of his passes was pathetic.

Nice to see Christian Wade and John Joseph coming on and scoring trys like they did.

The summer tour could well be better for England than many first thought. But lets not get ahead of our selves shall we?

[Looseheaded]

Don't know what to make of the game, England showed some nice touches but also a fair few mistakes and flaws. JJ was great, Goode had nice touches and Botha was top drawer. Ashton good work rate, though I doubt any of his tries would have been scored against a team like SA, the commentator was one of the most ignorant and irritating brown nosers ever. Stupid man "I said after the Australia game Ashton is the best winger in the world... Looks like he's back to that again" WHAT!? What kind of moronic fool would think that at any point in Ashton's career. I cannot stand the Sky commentary team.

[The Great Aukster]

Is there any future for the Barbarians? A scratch side like that has simply no chance against professional sides. Crowds aren't going to keep pitching up to watch that sort of thumping are they?

[Geordie]

And yet we all were happy to watch a good game of rugby and we're talking about it now...

Yes lets keep it....lets not be so quick to get rid of every thing

[doctor_grey]

Is there any future for the Barbarians? A scratch side like that has simply no chance against professional sides. Crowds aren't going to keep pitching up to watch that sort of thumping are they?

Didn't the Barbarians just nick Wales last year? And I don't recall who won v. England, but that was a close one too, right?

[sugarNspikes]

Not a bad game.

Particularly impressed with Hartley, Johnson and Botha. Obviously great to see Ashton back among the tries. Wade had some excellent moments (he's also very difficult to take down) with a couple of slips in defence, though the bounce of ball was a bit unfortunate a few times.

Goode and JJ looked promising from the bench. JJ especially looks like he's ready to step up.

It's always a tricky game to take positives and negatives out of. Let's face it, going from the Baa Baa's to playing SA will be a big game shift both in terms of quality and gameplan!

All in all, a bit scrappy at times (Farrell and Dickson especially had poor moments) but pretty, pretty good (as Larry David might say).

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