England V Australia Saturday 9th November

First topic message reminder :

After the disappointment of the NZ defeat what team should we play against the Wallabies? A defeat in this match would be an undoubted disaster and of course the boys need some confidence before taking on the mighty SA so a decent performance and a victory are the must have requirements.

We cannot afford another scrummaging disaster so surely Marler has to return at the expense of Baxter? He needs a hit out to get ready for the bomb squad. I would also love to replace Dombrandt with Willis. Anything else?

England team to face Australia: G Furbank; I Feyi-Waboso, O Lawrence, H Slade, T Freeman; M Smith, B Spencer; E Genge, J George, W Stuart, M Itoje, G Martin, C Cunningham-South, T Curry, B Earl.

Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie, F Baxter, D Cole, N Isiekwe, A Dombrandt, H Randall, G Ford, O Sleightholme.

Australia: Wright; Kellaway, Suaalii, Ikitau, Pietsch; Lolesio, Gordon; Bell, Faessler, Tupou, Frost, Williams, Valetini, McReight, Wilson (capt).

Replacements: Paenga-Amosa, Slipper, Alaalatoa, Salakaia-Loto, Gleeson, McDermott, Donaldson, Jorgensen.

Furbank looks like the one that first came in under Eddie...lost

Spencer chasing McDermotts shadows

And why is Dombrandt in the flippin squad

How are Australia leading at half time?

Australia deserve lead. England too loose, too many poor decisions and missed tackles.

So England showed down and let the Wallabies back into the game. ...

Good first half. Australia great fight back to take the lead at the break.
McDermott’s made an impact since coming on.

Geordie wrote:And why is Dombrandt in the flippin squad

And Slade.

carpet baboon wrote:How are Australia leading at half time?

Because England look like they are still on the bus, and haven't trained together

Geordie wrote:And why is Dombrandt in the flippin squad

Getting done on the outside by Angus Bell is a new low. Shame because he'd done well to hold up the attacker in an earlier phase, legally slowing the Aussie attack.

First 20 was okay from England, but this second 20 has been appalling!

No accuracy, no communication and no control. Defence has been absolutely rubbish.

Why do we always do this? Play really well in noble losses to teams better than us, but make an absolute dogs dinner of teams we should beat?

mountain man wrote:

Geordie wrote:And why is Dombrandt in the flippin squad

And Slade.

Yes

Back to the old England - good first 10 minutes then lose the plot.

Still can't work out why Oz got a free-kick when the scrum went up on both sides on the England put-in before their 2nd try? Thought I heard ref say ball popped out so why the free-kick and not a reset?

mountain man wrote:

Geordie wrote:And why is Dombrandt in the flippin squad

And Slade.

Is Slade actually on the pitch?

Scruffy and messy from England.

First 15 or so minutes was electric, with Smith particularly brilliant in attack. Since then, England have gone defensive, happy to kick three points rather than go for the jugular.

England's defence has been one dimensional. Australia have adapted, England haven't. Australia have profited from attacking around the ruck, while England still don't resource it.

Discipline poor as well.

It's following a theme where Borthwick sets his sides up well against the world's best, but outside of those games there's a lot to be desired.

Cumbrian wrote:First 20 was okay from England, but this second 20 has been appalling!

No accuracy, no communication and no control.  Defence has been absolutely rubbish.

Why do we always do this?  Play really well in noble losses to teams better than us, but make an absolute dogs dinner of teams we should beat?

They need a rocket that's for sure but that's the borthwick way unfortunately. I bet he's on his laptop now writing out his excuses, 'still in transition blah blah blah'

Problem is the bench hardly inspires confidence it will improve things. Possibly though a game for pace of Randall.
Valentini been superb for Australia. As has wonder boy.

Borthwick needs a big second half here because we're probably going to lose to the Springboks, and at this point the last win for England is a distant memory.

How much has the disruption of the HIAs affected them? Seems England dipped after Curry went off and haven't picked up.

They are standing far too deep!, by the offload comes in they are miles behind the gainline.

Diving on the player on the ground?

Borthwicks reign is in dodgy territory...

Furbank ambling back then to collect Aus kick. Bet result is rush kick to touch with little metres made. Poor

Win or lose this game borthwick is safe. There is no way the RFU can afford to get rid of him

Who is England's defence coach? As the tackling is woeful

Geordie wrote:Borthwicks reign is in dodgy territory...

They won't sack him unfortunately. Australia are playing well but we are insipid and unfit.

Pathetic

FFS. England all at sea. Lackadaisical, slow to react. Really really poor.

carpet baboon wrote:Who is England's defence coach? As the tackling is woeful

Joe el ab but he's not really started yet as still coaching pau. Players need to take responsibility though as they are not playing well.

That's a horrendous decision. Foot clearly in touch before the grounding.

Tight one but if the timecodes are the same that's in touch

Suaalii looks incredible. What an athlete

Duty281 wrote:That's a horrendous decision. Foot clearly in touch before the grounding.

Wouldn’t say it was clearly in touch.
As they said, probably correct decision.

This is just awful, the defence is absolutely pathetic. We've hardly had the ball in the best part of 30 minutes.

Australia playing really well so credit then but England diabolical

I know ccs has scored twice but defensively he is having a shocker.

England fortunate not to get carded there.

Big response needed in this last 25. The first 15 minutes of this half has been terrible.

Got to go for the corner.

Defence is all over the place. Absolutely clueless stuff. There's just no cohesion whatsoever.

Time to mix things up, Ford for Furbank and Smith to 15.

This is as bad as when SB first took over....

If England pull this out of the bag it will be a miracle now Oz have their tails up

Really, really needed that!

Even then though, the call was rubbish to go down the blindside, lucky that Smith could come up with something.

Smith has played a key part in all three tries, but his goalkicking is still not good enough.

When are they going learn to stop going loose against them? Australia are just feeding off it!

Heaf wrote:If England pull this out of the bag it will be a miracle now Oz have their tails up

We have been chasing shadows. Everytime they get the ball their carriers are stepping at pace and causing carnage.

Australia are on their way back to the top table under Schmid

Why is Genge passing that?! Just keep hold of it!

Didn't Oz knock it on just before being given that pen?

That has to be a yellow

Surely that has to be a card? It is reckless head contact!