England v SA - KO 14:30 Sat 24th NOV at HQ - Match Thread/Build Up etc....

[HERSH]

First topic message reminder :

Feel free to discuss this game and any other aspect involving the England Rugby team good or bad as your opinions count and you won't be judged (by me) if you go against England, but do try to give a reason!

Please respect other posters opinions

Game 1: Eng v Fiji 54-12 World class performance.
Game 2: Eng v Aus 14-20 We was robbed, by ourselves.
Game 3: Eng v SA ??-??
Game 4: Eng v NZ ??-??

England team to face South Africa:

Alex Goode (Saracens, 4 caps);
Chris Ashton (Saracens, 27 caps),
Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 15 caps),
Brad Barritt (Saracens, 9 caps),
Mike Brown (Harlequins, 9 caps);
Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps),
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 26 caps);
Alex Corbisiero (London Irish, 16 caps),
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps),
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 33 caps),
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps, 2 caps),
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps),
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 11 caps),
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt, 10 caps),
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby, 7 caps).

Replacements: David Paice (London Irish, 4 caps), David Wilson (Bath Rugby, 21 caps), Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 2 caps), Mouritz Botha (Saracens, 9 caps), James Haskell (London Wasps, 43 caps), Danny Care (Harlequins, 35 caps), Owen Farrell (Saracens, 10 caps), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish, 3 caps).


South Africa team:
Z Kirchner (Blue Bulls);
JP Pietersen (Sharks),
J de Jongh (Western Province),
J de Villiers (Western Province, captain),
F Hougaard (Blue Bulls);
P Lambie (Sharks),
R Pienaar (Ulster);
G Steenkamp (Toulouse),
A Strauss (Cheetahs),
J du Plessis (Sharks),
E Etzebeth (Western Province),
J Kruger (Blue Bulls),
F Louw (Bath),
W Alberts (Sharks),
D Vermeulen (Western Province).

Replacements: S Brits (Saracens), H van der Merwe (Leinster), P Cilliers (Western Province), F van der Merwe (Blue Bulls), M Coetzee (Sharks), E Jantjies (Golden Lions), J Taute (Golden Lions), L Mvovo (Sharks).

[anotherworldofpain]

NIce to see ENG pinged for exiting the scrum too early finally...it drove me nuts last week.

[mystiroakey]

come on england- we need a good scrum now!

gotta hurt HOO HAAA

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

This is more like the Chuckle Brothers christmas party than a rugby match.

[anotherworldofpain]

Owens doesn't have a clue what's going on in the scrum really does he?

[LondonTiger]

NIce to see ENG pinged for exiting the scrum too early finally...it drove me nuts last week.

But you were ok with hooper slipping his binding and rebinding on our second row?

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

I think he has more intimate knowledge of props than you or I AWOP

[tatterd]

well done barnes - completely cursed flood there!

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

So hang on wasnt he going to yellow them if they infringed at the scrum again?

[BamBam]

Come on lads put some pace on the ball!

[tatterd]

Jeez England are taking a leaf out of Wales' attacking book - don't do it lads!

[mystiroakey]

awop do you have a clue pal?

cat believe flood missed that- england need to push this possesion/territory home and get a comfortable lead!

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Sorry but this is an absolute farce from both sides and the ref

What the hell was Flood thinking with that pass?

[anotherworldofpain]

Typical that the English 22 defense is about defending 4 phases and then blatant professional foul. Should be issueing yellows straight away for that.

[mystiroakey]

th9is game is driving me mad

[Barney McGrew did it]

what time's kick-off?

[tatterd]

JP on Barritt - OUCH!!

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

what time's kick-off?

Not sure but Flood will probably miss it

[tatterd]

B Morgan been reading the Faletau Butterfingers book........

[mystiroakey]

jeasus- wtf is going on! should have been

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Oh god even going forward at pace england look incompetant

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

This is like watching Scotland playing themselves with Nick de Luca in posession

[tatterd]

good to see england kick away turnover ball too - it's not just us!

[BristolDave]

Feel we are beginning to get out muscled a bit here

[Barney McGrew did it]

I'm all for these curtain-raisers for the crowd, but just when are the 2 test sides coming on?

[mystiroakey]

I am not sure whats worse- my wisdom tooth being pulled out yesterday this game..

[LondonTiger]

I am not sure whats worse- my wisdom tooth being pulled out yesterday this game..

i was in hospital for two weeks after they sorted my wisdom teeth. that 40 minutes was worse. Both teams really poor - and letting the conditions dominate their ambition.

[whocares]

good to see england kick away turnover ball too - it's not just us!

that was just so wrong - plenty of space and options to go forward but, no, they chose to kick to the fullback.

[mystiroakey]

ouch!!

but yeah i agree this game is horrid!!

[Hood83]

Missed the first half. SO, how bad have we (England) been?

Let me guess, we're being bullied...again

[mystiroakey]

hood no I wouldnt say that - both teams have played almost exactly the same-- to much kicking- no real continuity- england have missed plenty of chances and were probally slightly better overall

[LondonTiger]

Missed the first half. SO, how bad have we (England) been?

Let me guess, we're being bullied...again

no, not really. Physical side has been fairly equal - though Barritt and flood both been a bit battered in tackles.

TBH if anything we have had more ambition and come closer to scoring tries - though in a way that that is like saying that Graham Rowntree is better looking than Fran Cotton.

[belovedfrosties]

Pretty even up front Hood, but its a dire game. England winning the scrum, Boks winning the lineout, rucks about equal but we look appalling going forward. Everyone static and don't appear to have a clue, moments of inspiration have come from Goode and Brown making nice breaks.

[tatterd]

England been fairly ok for me - going to be a really tight game - max 6 points in it

[Geordie]

Morgan has been pretty good...and Parling is starting to actually show.me he can play at.this level.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

A lot of sloppy penalties and a lot of poor mistakes on things like lineouts and restarts by both sides. Very reminiscent of games where England play up in Murrayfield.

SA look the better side but England a littler more willing to take risks

[Hood83]

Thanks for the update all. How has Launchbury done?

[AlastairW]

We're looking better than last week for sure. A little shaky in the line out, but much happier with the break down and on field management.

Looking so much better than 10 months ago, but now we need to keep our heads, grit it out and make those break happen!

Mike brown on wing making it work - whodda thunk it!?

[LondonTiger]

Thanks for the update all. How has Launchbury done?

Launchbury has been ok - though not being used as a lineout option.

[AlastairW]

Thanks for the update all. How has Launchbury done?

He's been good, as has Parling for the criticsm thrown his way.

[LondonTiger]

Oh and Italy are currently dominating the Aussie pack to show us up a little more.

[mystiroakey]

try for saffas!

[mystiroakey]

out of order that

[wales606]

One of the weirdest tries I have seen

[tatterd]

oooh lucky bok buggers!

[mystiroakey]

pinball wizard and our players look blind

[Barney McGrew did it]

Jeebus even the Gods are against us. As John L said 'All you need is luck"

[Hood83]

Oh God, Owen Farrell coming on. NOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[BristolDave]

Did flood have an injury? Now with Farrell on we're doomed Mr mainwaring

[tatterd]

poor maul from the saffas - oops it kicking off!

[mystiroakey]

FIGHT!!!

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