Saxons Vs US

A fun, free flowing game with a record breaking score line: I missed the first ten minutes, but here are a couple of thoughts on who shone and who didn't.

Matt Mullan: Nothing flashy, but part of a VERY dominant scrum.
Joe Grey: Same here. Threw well, scrummaged well. Hopefully his injury isn't too serious.
Matt Stevens: Looked good. I can see him getting into the WC squad.
Mouritz Botha: Solid if unspectacular.
Dave Attwood: Took contact well and did his job, but didn't really have much of a chance to stand out in a game in which the backs demanded the spotlight.
James Gaskell: Took a knock very early and didn't have time to show what he can do.
Tom Johnson: Pick of the pack; tackled well, tons of energy, and showed great pace for his try.
Jordan Crane: Not a great game. Nothing terrible but wasn't at his best.
Micky Young: Dangerous with ball in hand, but a couple of poor handling errors. His decision making was questionable at times.
Rory Clegg: A number of very poor passes. Kicked well, but sloppy handling and looked far too casual at times.
Miles Benjamin: Devestating with ball in hand. A nightmare for the US defenders, but it's hard to say how good he is based on the opposition.
Billy Twelvetrees: Very impressive. Deft handling and solid in all areas.
Henry Trinder: Great hands, great pace, my man of the match.
Topsy Ojo: Needed more ball. Looked very dangerous whenever he got the ball.
Mike Brown: Two tries, lovely grubber to set up a try, possibly did enough for WC squad.

Substitutes worth mentioning:
Graham Kitchener: Looked really good. Very fast for a big man and deserved his try.
Paul Hodgeson: Safer than Young. Reassuring presence on the field. Score could have been even greater if he'd come on sooner.
Charlie Sharples: Looked pacey and scored a nice try.
Alex Goode: Confident and took contact extremely well. Needs to get more game time.

USA 8 - 87 England Saxons
(3 - 33)

USA
Tries:
Lavalla

Penalties:
Enosa

England
Tries:
Benjamin 3, Brown 2, Young, Johnson, Twelvetrees, Trinder, Sharples, Kitchener, Hodgson

Conversions:
Clegg 11

At least put the score in so we know what happened

Poor USA that must of been a shocking performance

Yeah, they were terrible.

But, they were missing a number of their star players, and the gulf in class between their best and next bests is enormous. It was pros against amateurs, and the scoreline reflected this.

As you say, it is difficult to know what to take away from a game like this. I always enjoy an English victory, but I never like to see a team humiliated. The Americans were game, but they do seem to be going backwards, which is a great sham. I really want as many people around the world to enjoy the game I love.

So, the positives:

I was impressed with the back three, Benjamin looks like a star in the making to me. I'm not just quoting this match as evidence. He has had a very good year in the Championship and was impressive the year before in the Premiership. Sharples was at his predatory best, with a good chase for his try. Ojo seemed a bit absent, but he didn't get much ball... Perhaps he should have made more of an effort to go looking for it? Goode looked very good when he came on as did Brown, who was also at times a little lax at times.

Centres were decent. Trinder showed good pace, hands and physicality, but he will have tougher challenges than today. Twelvetrees showed some impressive touches. He is a really good distributor and can really fizz passes off both hands. I really hope he gets more game time for Leicester because this kid really has something.

The half backs were okay. Young got the ball away failry well and could prove to be a very good acquisition for Leicester. Clegg was a bit languid, and occassionaly careless, but he looks like he has time on the ball. You forget just how young he is.

I though Gibson made a very good showing when he came on, he seems to have a good head on him. It is perhaps telling that London Irish are willing to let Steffon Armitage and George Stowers go this season as he comes of age.

The starting second row were okay, seemed to do the hard yards. Kitchener came on and was impressive in the open spaces, but did he do enough in the tight? It's hard to believe that he is still only 20. He's still got some filling out to do. The description of him as a 'young Simon Shaw' seem apt, his handling and passing were good. Crane was anonymous.

The front row were dominant, in the tight and active in the loose. So much so that it was almost physically dangerous. I hope Gray is okay. Really pleased to see Brookes capped, he was fairly innocuous today, but WILL be a star of the future. ( As a Falcons fan I was gutted when it looked like Ireland had poached him).

Training session

This was the biggest score any England side as put on the usa, Saxsons or Senior team.

I just hope that all the England Saxosn players keep their feet firmly on the ground and dont think that the rest of the games will be as easy as this.