Autumn Internationals
Twickenham 06/11/10
England 16, New Zealand 26
BRUISED and battered by the bulldozing All Blacks, England’s rugby men won't reflect too long on yesterday's Test loss.
On face value, England were well beaten against New Zealand - bludgeoned on their own turf as the scorecard reads.
But yesterday’s clash with the world’s number one team doesn’t tell us much more than we already know about the All Blacks.
As always, they look like world beaters, but not as profoundly as we have come to expect.
As for England, never has an English team in recent years looked to run the ball from deep as many times as it did yesterday.
England are looking far more potent with the ball in hand, and New Zealand definitely knew about it.
Again, the Annual Autumn Assessment shows Twickenham is always a difficult venue on New Zealand’s tour calendar.
But it has been merely a blip on their radar in recent years that has never taken much undoing.
New Zealand haven’t lost at the home of English rugby since 2002, but they have never really had their work cut out to grind out a win.
This time round, things felt different.
The scoreboard looked similar at half time as New Zealand boasted a 17-3 lead.
But, if England had the patience and respect for the try line as their opponents did, they could have been going in at the break with their heads held high and not facing a two try deficit.
Hosea Gear and Kieran Read had put New Zealand in front early on, but a Dylan Hartley charge in the second half gave England the sniff of a comeback.
England had chances, but they again failed to capitalise on them.
As teams looking to compete for World Cup credentials next year, New Zealand look ready in all departments while England are still nurturing their starting 15.
That isn’t inspiring considering what’s to come in 12 months time in New Zealand, but looking back over the year just gone, England are maturing rapidly.
The All Blacks, on the other hand, aren't striving to stay in touch with the world's best. They want to show the world that nobody can touch them, and they want to shout it from the mountain tops.
But following New Zealand’s disappointment against Australia a week ago, England again exposed holes in the All Blacks guard.
A 26-16 victory over England at Twickenham is no easy feat, an All Black would say. But deep down they know they have left a lot to be desired.
And despite what the critics say, Martin Johnson’s campaign has turned a corner after yesterday's downfall.
For the first time in hours of international rugby at Twickenham, we saw some fire in the English belly; some appetite for the ball and a faster, more passionate England.
For years we’ve seen England stumble over the same pit falls.
Last year, England were self saboteurs against their Southern superiors, hiding behind false game plans and taking no strides, no risks, to outdo their opponents.
Yesterday, England ran the ball. Toby Flood played flat and to the point at fly-half.
Ben Youngs delivered the pill with accuracy and pace. And England’s scrum was out of this world.
There were no boos as England left the field after their beating.
No time to dwell. Only time to pick up the pieces, dust ourselves off, and get on with the wider plan starting next Saturday as the Wallabies rock up at Twickenham with confidence to burn.
They beat Wales 25-16 in Cardiff yesterday, a satifying victory after ending a 10-game losing streak against the All Blacks 26-24 in Hong Kong last week.
However, England are a different beast compared to years past.
Bring on the Green and Gold – we’ve beaten them before, and we will beat them again.
Sunday 7 November 2010
Sunday 30 May 2010
Perfect send off for Moody
Guinness Premiership Final
Twickenham 29/05/10
Leicester Tigers 33, Saracens 27
THE life of a loose forward might not get any sweeter than the one led by Lewis Moody.
His last outing as a Leicester Tiger came and went in this year’s Guinness Premiership final, and he leaves behind the only side he has ever known with a seventh championship medal hung proudly around his neck.
And although England’s tour captain did not see out the full eighty at Twickenham on Saturday, he surrendered to the sidelines after 68 minutes with his fingers crossed that his teammates could hold on to their five point cushion over Saracens.
Craig Newby was unleashed in his place with the scores at 26 – 21 in Leicester's favour, as was Dan Hipkiss who was on for opening try-scorer Matt Smith.
For both club and country, Moody knows too well that nothing is for granted.
Saracens had not been in a final at Twickenham since Moody was still establishing himself as a young Tiger 12-years-ago.
But, while Moody, now 31, packs up for a move to Bath next season with another honour to his collection, the man whose boot he’d chased down in the final at Twickenham has now left the game for good.
Glen Jackson, also looking to go out with a bang, stepped up to slot home a gifted penalty moments after Moody took his seat, and rest assure another to put Saracens ahead by a point with only four minutes to go.
To say destiny would decide this final would have been stating the obvious.
Saracens took the lead twice early on through two Jackson penalties and then again with a try from captain Ernst Joubert – never one to amble over the try line like most eights, only to hit it hard and fast like a winger.
His try on 18 minutes countered Leicester’s opener moments earlier which was executed beautifully through the hands of Scott Hamilton and Anthony Allen to set up Smith.
And, while Jackson continued to exchange penalty kicks with Toby Flood, the Saracens lead was short lived when they allowed Leicester’s Ben Youngs to saunter in under the posts on 28 minutes.
Returning Steve Borthwick retired not long after the break.
But, when Toby Flood stroked another penalty through the uprights to make matters worse, Super Bok Joubert ran in over the whitewash once again on 49 minutes to put his side back in contention.
Jackson completed the comeback with time on Saracens’ side and a first championship in 12 years well and truely in their sights.
Flood kicked high from the restart while Moody, unable to do anything but watch, probably couldn’t bring himself to do even that.
His trademark chase from the kickoff was on ice at the time that it was so badly needed.
Only to visualise him plucking the ball from the air to set up Leicester’s final attack for a game saving try.
Moody or no Moody however, that’s exactly what happened.
Hamilton gathered as the ball was grounded, and without presence or mind, frantically switched it inside to substitute Dan Hipkiss who could only crash into a mêlée of bodies.
Whether it was poor tackling or pure determination, Hipkiss came out the other side unscathed and the 2010 Guinness Premiership title resting on his terms.
Saracens responded quickly. Mere seconds after Flood converted to give Leicester the lead, a penalty fell to Jackson in the Leicester half with 20 seconds still on the clock.
Leicester’s lineout bossed throughout, but the only chance left was to push for the corner with six points the deficit.
But in the same length of time it took for Leicester to bounce back from Jackson’s earlier effort, the game was over.
Geoff Parling leapt to steal the Saracens lineout one last time this season, and with it any hope for a final twist.
Parling padded down to Youngs - Youngs, a meter from touch, drove the ball back eighty seats into the stand.
Leicester retain their trophy. Mad dog Moody leaves Welford Road with the job complete.
Twickenham 29/05/10
Leicester Tigers 33, Saracens 27
THE life of a loose forward might not get any sweeter than the one led by Lewis Moody.
His last outing as a Leicester Tiger came and went in this year’s Guinness Premiership final, and he leaves behind the only side he has ever known with a seventh championship medal hung proudly around his neck.
And although England’s tour captain did not see out the full eighty at Twickenham on Saturday, he surrendered to the sidelines after 68 minutes with his fingers crossed that his teammates could hold on to their five point cushion over Saracens.
Craig Newby was unleashed in his place with the scores at 26 – 21 in Leicester's favour, as was Dan Hipkiss who was on for opening try-scorer Matt Smith.
For both club and country, Moody knows too well that nothing is for granted.
Saracens had not been in a final at Twickenham since Moody was still establishing himself as a young Tiger 12-years-ago.
But, while Moody, now 31, packs up for a move to Bath next season with another honour to his collection, the man whose boot he’d chased down in the final at Twickenham has now left the game for good.
Glen Jackson, also looking to go out with a bang, stepped up to slot home a gifted penalty moments after Moody took his seat, and rest assure another to put Saracens ahead by a point with only four minutes to go.
To say destiny would decide this final would have been stating the obvious.
Saracens took the lead twice early on through two Jackson penalties and then again with a try from captain Ernst Joubert – never one to amble over the try line like most eights, only to hit it hard and fast like a winger.
His try on 18 minutes countered Leicester’s opener moments earlier which was executed beautifully through the hands of Scott Hamilton and Anthony Allen to set up Smith.
And, while Jackson continued to exchange penalty kicks with Toby Flood, the Saracens lead was short lived when they allowed Leicester’s Ben Youngs to saunter in under the posts on 28 minutes.
Returning Steve Borthwick retired not long after the break.
But, when Toby Flood stroked another penalty through the uprights to make matters worse, Super Bok Joubert ran in over the whitewash once again on 49 minutes to put his side back in contention.
Jackson completed the comeback with time on Saracens’ side and a first championship in 12 years well and truely in their sights.
Flood kicked high from the restart while Moody, unable to do anything but watch, probably couldn’t bring himself to do even that.
His trademark chase from the kickoff was on ice at the time that it was so badly needed.
Only to visualise him plucking the ball from the air to set up Leicester’s final attack for a game saving try.
Moody or no Moody however, that’s exactly what happened.
Hamilton gathered as the ball was grounded, and without presence or mind, frantically switched it inside to substitute Dan Hipkiss who could only crash into a mêlée of bodies.
Whether it was poor tackling or pure determination, Hipkiss came out the other side unscathed and the 2010 Guinness Premiership title resting on his terms.
Saracens responded quickly. Mere seconds after Flood converted to give Leicester the lead, a penalty fell to Jackson in the Leicester half with 20 seconds still on the clock.
Leicester’s lineout bossed throughout, but the only chance left was to push for the corner with six points the deficit.
But in the same length of time it took for Leicester to bounce back from Jackson’s earlier effort, the game was over.
Geoff Parling leapt to steal the Saracens lineout one last time this season, and with it any hope for a final twist.
Parling padded down to Youngs - Youngs, a meter from touch, drove the ball back eighty seats into the stand.
Leicester retain their trophy. Mad dog Moody leaves Welford Road with the job complete.
Sunday 14 March 2010
Foden's chance to overturn France
HE could just be the je ne sais quoi of English rugby.
If Ben Foden does step out under the lights of the Stade de France on Saturday, it will come with a huge sigh of relief from many of his devoted fans.
His presence won’t save England’s Six Nations campaign by any stretch of the imagination, but if light is to emerge at the end of the World Cup tunnel, there might be hope still if Foden is to finally make his first public appearance as England's full time full back.
Mathew Tait was tipped to fill the position after his World Cup final display in Paris two-and-a-half-years ago, but like Foden, he has had to endure the cold shoulder before he could once again prove his metal.
Tait’s ambitions to make the full back vacancy his own fell short after his move to Sale, and since moving back to his favoured outside centre position, it seems he has finally hurdled a barrage of ill confidence from the England selection team.
Foden experienced the same self examination a year ago, going through a stint at scrum half for his club side Northampton.
That position ended up in the hands of Harlequin’s Danny Care, a decision which is also up for debate.
From experience, England players in alien positions have all come to dead ends. Ugo Monye’s tenure at full back wasn’t welcomed by all and nor did he welcome the chance he was given to run the ball from deep.
Jonny Wilkinson’s show at inside centre was also a onetime fad, and even Joe Worsley's spell at open-side 12-months ago was more tactical than revelatory.
Foden expressed a desire to shake up England’s back division after his teammates stumbled to a win in Italy four weeks ago.
Half-an-hour from the man at Murrayfield on Saturday more than made up for a tournament overrun by mediocre kicking displays.
Scotland held for a draw against their Calcutta rivals, but if Foden was to gain his first start from full back for England next week, he could bring a fresh dimension to their so far fruitless display.
France have since run riot against the Italians in a 46-20 trouncing over their neighbours at the Stade.
And a look at French ethics on Saturday, one thing is certain – England will have to be more creative if they are to overcome Paris.
They will be up against a backline insatiable when it comes to the try line.
Clement Poitrenaud – outright contender for the full back of the tournament – will need a harder, meatier opposition to contain his quick reaction running style.
Up the jumper tactics will not be enough against a French pack enriched with muscle and experience, while England require a man willing to remove their rigid game plan and play with the guts and desire to run the ball.
A player to throw out the rule book in the England training camp, and prepared to break the mould.
England have failed to nurture such a man in recent years. Ben Foden, however, has been knocking at the door for a long, long time.
If Ben Foden does step out under the lights of the Stade de France on Saturday, it will come with a huge sigh of relief from many of his devoted fans.
His presence won’t save England’s Six Nations campaign by any stretch of the imagination, but if light is to emerge at the end of the World Cup tunnel, there might be hope still if Foden is to finally make his first public appearance as England's full time full back.
Mathew Tait was tipped to fill the position after his World Cup final display in Paris two-and-a-half-years ago, but like Foden, he has had to endure the cold shoulder before he could once again prove his metal.
Tait’s ambitions to make the full back vacancy his own fell short after his move to Sale, and since moving back to his favoured outside centre position, it seems he has finally hurdled a barrage of ill confidence from the England selection team.
Foden experienced the same self examination a year ago, going through a stint at scrum half for his club side Northampton.
That position ended up in the hands of Harlequin’s Danny Care, a decision which is also up for debate.
From experience, England players in alien positions have all come to dead ends. Ugo Monye’s tenure at full back wasn’t welcomed by all and nor did he welcome the chance he was given to run the ball from deep.
Jonny Wilkinson’s show at inside centre was also a onetime fad, and even Joe Worsley's spell at open-side 12-months ago was more tactical than revelatory.
Foden expressed a desire to shake up England’s back division after his teammates stumbled to a win in Italy four weeks ago.
Half-an-hour from the man at Murrayfield on Saturday more than made up for a tournament overrun by mediocre kicking displays.
Scotland held for a draw against their Calcutta rivals, but if Foden was to gain his first start from full back for England next week, he could bring a fresh dimension to their so far fruitless display.
France have since run riot against the Italians in a 46-20 trouncing over their neighbours at the Stade.
And a look at French ethics on Saturday, one thing is certain – England will have to be more creative if they are to overcome Paris.
They will be up against a backline insatiable when it comes to the try line.
Clement Poitrenaud – outright contender for the full back of the tournament – will need a harder, meatier opposition to contain his quick reaction running style.
Up the jumper tactics will not be enough against a French pack enriched with muscle and experience, while England require a man willing to remove their rigid game plan and play with the guts and desire to run the ball.
A player to throw out the rule book in the England training camp, and prepared to break the mould.
England have failed to nurture such a man in recent years. Ben Foden, however, has been knocking at the door for a long, long time.
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