Young Guns
What can you say?? Apart from what a surprise!! And a great surprise at that!!
England played. They played with pace, with direction, with conviction and with courage, which was just brilliant to see.
Flood had so much pressure on him, he had to control and run the game, kick the goals and all the while he had the ghost of Jonny hanging over him (something that Charlie Hodgson has never been able to shake off). Well I have to say, the ghost was told to **** off in no uncertain terms. And if that was not enough when Geraghty came on he literally walked all over the ashes!!
Flood was very impressive, in his invention, his reading of the game and his execution. He is a natural player, he plays against what he sees in front of him, not what he has rehearsed in his head for the days building up to a game.
I would hazard a guess that he is great to play outside, and Geraghty was in the same mould. Fearless, skillful, pace and flair and a revelation to a fat old bastard like myself!!
I know Jonny has been important to England, his recall seemed to be the only option, but after yesterday, and I know it was only one game, but the young talent I witnessed out there, and the composure those two had should give Ashton quite a lot to think about!!
And then Rees added a new dimension to England's ability to play at pace, Corry had the best game I can remember and Streetle makes me laugh whenever he gets near the ball. He has such a **** off attitude about everything he does, from the way he looks, the way he stands, the way he runs and attacks people, and I love it!!!
So a great day for English rugby fans, and players and I hope they all drank heavily.
The challenge for the young guns is to realise that it will all count for nothing if it is not backed up with a win this weekend.
So let's hope they clean out their barrels and are ready to fire again!!!
13 comments:
Will, You said earlier...
"As an eight we need to challenge every breakdown, physically, mentally, hit every player hard, hit any player we can late, and stamp on any available limbs without being seen, and whilst being subtle!! We need to create an edge to every second of the game, and remain in control at the same time.
We need to make every second uncomfortable for the French, we need to hurt them as often as possible, and we need to keep them under intense pressure for thewhole game, not 79 minutes, not 75 minutes, it has to be for the whole game."
Mssr Skrela may well be giving you call later!
I hope so, then I can tell him to **** off personally!!!
Will
want tp guess at a team for Saturday?
Will TIndall survive?
I will promise you that Tindall will not play!! I bet you £1,000!...............................................................................................................I am supremely confident, only because I spoke to him this morning and he is lying in a hospital having had an operation on his knee! Apparently iy locked up after the game, and they think it might be an infection.
Give me a day to reflect and I will give you my team this evening!!
Didn’t know you could go to hospital and get the playing like shit cut out.
That has really now forced Ashton's hand now.
Tait or maybe even Geraghty to start at no.13?
The result was really quite superb! I was very chuffed with England and I was happy to be frustrated knowing that they really, REALLY were trying. It was nice to know that mistakes were being made at the last pass or phase before a score instead of at the first pass or phase as was before.
Could we be seeing the makings of a core England squad for the next few years? I could!
Shame for Mike Tindal but didn't think he was completely on the button yesterday. I would like to see BA start with Tait at 13 and Geraghty at 10 (Flood was fine ... but Geraghty brought something else to that spot).
Would do nought to the pack, they were superb to a man, even if that mean Raging Bull doesn't get a start).
Thoughts anyone ?
Rob,
tait I would agree with, but I would give Flood another go. Primarily for the sake of the players faith in BA's selection. He chose him over Geraghty for this game, so he needs to give him a good run, otherwise if he just keeps chopping and changing, the players will lose faith in him, his selections and their trust in him will start to erode.
Players need to believe the top man, they need to believe that he has the strength of his convictions, and so I believe that BA must show that to them on the No 10 issue.
I agree the pack was superb, and i think with a mandatory 3 week break for concussion, even for a prop!!, Vickery will not be in the mix anyway.
Anyone who has cared to read my previous posts will have seen that I think Tindall has not been producing the goods for england for some time now, and almost single handedly lost england the match. I really think ashton should go all out now, and throw tait into the mix. Thought Flood played excellently under pressure, but it was the forwards who showed their steel to give him the opportunity. Geraghty came on and made a massive impact, but does anyone else feel like he would be better suited to a position other than ten? He looked the kind of carlos spencer kind of ten who's willing to give it a go from anywhere which can go both for or against you. Strettle (or worsel gummage as he is being fondly called over here) was just fantastic and has really come good on what I said about him earlier. The find of the six nations. Ever tenacious, ever ellusive, ever brave, ever estute. He made the other veteran back threes on both sides look ordinary.
Now, can they only do it when they are pissed off!!!! :P
Great Podcast on Telegraph Will, best on the web and funniest too.
It's the future. Looking forward to the world cup.
What are you views on the Eddie O'Sullivan "attempted murder" accusation. I've looked at the BBC video I can't see a Scottish player close enough to do anything. Apparently the Irish players saw someone trying to strangle O'Gara but did nothing at the time.
So should EOS apologise to the Scotish players, or if they really think the incident happened then surely they have to go to the police, they can't have an attempted murderer running around?
The "South Stand Song" shortly after half time at Twickenham last Sunday was "I've Got Bigger Froggies In My Pond, I've Got Bigger Froggies In My Pond " to the theme of "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" Laugh ! I though my trousers would never dry out.
Chris,
I take it you will have seen my views on the O'Gara saga!!!
Anonymous,
I love the South Stand song, please send in any more good chants, I love them!!!
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