England v Georgia RWC 2011(Pool Stages)Post Match Thoughts
Ashton scoring the 5thTry
By Tired Person
September 18 2011
England win against Georgia in their second Pool Match of this year's Rugby World Cup.
IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 - Pool Stages
England 41 v 10 Georgia
Something for the fans to celebrate at last!
England at last put on a performance worth going to watch and scored six tries into the bargain. Have to admit I enjoyed this match, not just because England won but it was a pleasure to see the Georgians play so well and never give up. After every England try they did not allow their heads to drop and they came right back at them. At one point, if their kicker Kvirikashvili had been on target with his kicks it would have been 22-22.
And that brings me on nicely to what I did not enjoy to see, the indiscipline of England as a whole. England conceded 11 penalties to Georgia's three in the first half alone. We will not, repeat not win any Rugby World Cup with the amount of penalty counts that England are racking up. Unless this is sorted we might as well just enjoy the spectacle that is the Rugby World Cup.
All Pictures by Empics - Shontayne Hape scores their first try of the game
Having said that, I did think the England players finally seemed to come out and play with some fire and urgency. They looked all around a much better outfit than last week's tribe.
I thought Flood did what was asked of him and opened up the attack really well, I did think he looked tired by the end of the match though. He did take a bump to the head let's hope that has not effected him. I would dearly like him to start next time.
England's Manu Tuilagi (left) beats Georgias David Khinchagashvili
I also thought the backs looked hungry for tries at last and the pack looked dominant. I thought James Haskell looked good today, he replaced Nick Easter who picked up a back injury.
England's James Haskell breaks through the Georgia tackles
I really felt Lewis Moody had an impact on the team but he is well aware of the penalty situation as he had this to say after the match:-
We made it hard for ourselves. We gave away a lot of penalties and made mistakes at the breakdown.
But we came away with six tries. We wanted to play some rugby and play with tempo. Fair play to Georgia they've come a long way since we played them in 2003. We've got things to work on but six tries today is fair enough."
England's Lewis Moody (centre) runs at Georgias Tedo Zibzibadze (left) and Merab Kvirikashvili
So onwards and upwards as they say and a great deal of work to be done. I really can't see us winning the Rugby World Cup, we may get to the Semis or even the Final but I don't think we have what it takes. I do hope I am wrong. I did say last week that luck plays a great part in sport and I am just hoping Lady Luck will shine on England throughout the remainder of this competition.
England 36 Tries: Hape 2, Armitage, Tuilagi, Ashton 2, Cons: Flood 4, Pens: Flood
Georgia 10 Tries: Basilaia, Cons: Kvirikashvili, Pens: Kvirikashvili
Half-time: 17-10
An England fan shows his support in the stands
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Thank goodness they didn't have a decent kicker. Thank goodness they haven't yet developed a backline that can exploit all that possession they managed to win. Thank goodness they only had a 4-day turn around and tired badly at the end.
Hape may have secured the 12 spot as he looks more inventive than Tindall and not as slow and, he’s better able to do stuff, Hartley in for some severe soul searching and hairdryer treatment and joined by Stevens in the latter.
I cant see much at 6, 7 and 8 that is any better than ordinary, 10 is a quandary and 12 ................. I think Hape is the best we have, perhaps there are better 12's 12000 miles further north than him but hey!
One question i would like answered is regarding what rucking coaching is given in England right now. Having played yesterday at grass roots and watched the game today it seems there is a similar problem from top to bottom. Players entering the ruck do not drive past the ball, un obstructing it and allowing quick ball.
[news.bbc.co.uk]
Haskell, who i admit is usually part of the problem, makes a very good point. They cant be soft about this, they are all grown men and professionals. Surely they can handle the finger being pointed at them as individuals for their errors in the game.