England v South Africa 15/11/14 - Match Thoughts & Teams

England Rugby - Observations and thoughts for the next match up in the QBE International Series.  Plus a reflection on last week!

Having travelled 600 odd miles in a day last weekend (sharing the driving), I will be honest and say although we did not win I enjoyed the match.   

However, at this level England need to play the full 80 minutes, need to convert their kicks and also take the opportunities given to them.

In the first half we were on the 'All Blacks' line for a good 10 mins, we had more than four good opportunities to score and then the ball out to Mike Brown (sorry but in my opinion he should have nailed a TRY), knocked on. The guy sitting next to me said "they were unlucky", and to this I replied sorry but no 'this is just not acceptable at this level of the game'. And within seconds of that knock on, the ' All Blacks were tearing down towards the England half, had one opportunity and scored a TRY - that is the difference between a 'class team' and the deliberations of the England team.

England left too many points on the park and to be fair to the 'All Blacks' after the shock of the first half they raised their game. Well done to them. England will not win this weekend unless they play the full 80 minutes and take their opportunities when given ........... it is as simple at that!

England v South Africa

15th November 2014 - Twickenham 2.30 pm KO

Well now Ireland did a great job last weekend on the 'Boks', not doing us any favours like, because as they say beware a wounded team and if that team is the Springboks ..............well all I can say is look out England.

England must play and focus for 80mins this weekend, otherwise they will be crushed.  I am sure England will have looked at last week's game and be smarting at the errors in the second half, hopefully this will have given them some anger to work on.   However, to my mind the South Africans are really the inform team at the moment.  Having said that, any team can be beaten but England are going to have to work really hard.  I don't fancy our chances I think this will be another loss but I do hope I am wrong - we shall see.

Englands Anthony Watson during the QBE International at Twickenham, London.

Anthony Watson will make his debut, Watson replaces Bath Rugby teammate Semesa Rokoduguni on the right wing.  This is the only change to the starting line-up from the match against New Zealand.

England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “Anthony has been pushing hard for a while and has been in impressive form for Bath and in training with us. "It was great that he got on against New Zealand and we feel he is ready to start. Equally, it’s good to have Marland back in the match-day 23.

England's Danny Care- Pictures PAimages

"Congratulations to Danny Care who will be winning his 50th cap. It’ll be a special moment for him and I am sure he will rise to the occasion."

England are on a run of four consecutive defeats and have not overturned the Springboks in 11 matches stretching back to 2006. Still, Lancaster highlighted the determination and diligence that has characterised this week's preparation.

"I know the players are looking forward to the challenge," he added.

"South Africa have quality and experience across the park and it will be a big test for us." 

South Africa have named World Cup winners JP Pietersen and Schalk Burger in the starting line up five changes have been made to the team that started against Ireland last week. Along with Pietersen and Burger, hooker Adriaan Strauss and the half-back pair of Cobus Reinach and Pat Lambie, move from the bench.

England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Brad Barritt, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jonny May, 10 Owen Farrell , 9 Danny Care, 1 Joe Marler, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 David Wilson, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 6 Tom Wood, 7 Chris Robshaw (capt), 8 Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 George Kruis, 20 Ben Morgan, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 George Ford, 23 Marland Yarde

South Africa:  Willie Le Roux, JP Pietersen, Jan Serfontein, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Pat Lambie, Cobus Reinach, Tendai Mtawarira, Adriaan Strauss, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Victor Matfield, Marcell Coetzee, Schalk Burger, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Bakkies Botha, Teboho "Oupa" Mohoje, Francois Hougaard, Handre Pollard, Cornal Hendricks.