OP
OP
AndyRM
XOXO
- Location
- North Shields
Also England got seriously lucky yesterday. Japan have come a long way and England seriously underestimated them.
Rugby World Cup 2023
- Thread starter AndyRM
- Start date
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Beebo
Firm and Fruity
- Location
- Hexleybeef
Marler is a wind up merchant. He knows it was a fluke.
i can imagine teams may have a stupid jokey call to head the ball, so Woodward may have occasionally practiced it in training.
Poacher
Gravitationally challenged member
- Location
- Nottingham
matticus
Guru
How do you know that?
matticus
Guru
Are any of these pitches artificial?
(Hadn't even considered it before that scrum incident early in the Eng game!)
(Hadn't even considered it before that scrum incident early in the Eng game!)
BrumJim
Forum Stalwart (won't take the hint and leave...)
- Location
- Selly Oak, Birmingham
I used to be an avid Tigers fan (still a fan, but less avid) when Woodward was playing at centre, but never saw that play. I'm sure it would have been commented on continuously by the Leicester Mercury in their match reports (which I read every word, every week) had it actually happened in a competitive match.
However given that he was playing alongside Les Cusworth, with Chalkie White as the coach, and considering the way that they played at the time, it wouldn't surprise me at all.
OP
OP
AndyRM
XOXO
- Location
- North Shields
Because I watched the game. England were poor. Kicked way too much.
The Daily Express can do one.
Grant Fondo
Guru
- Location
- Cheshire
I quite like the idea of that, this is the first RWC finals the USA haven't taken part in thanks to Portugal.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
I don't think that the case.
Japan were awful. Both in absolute terms and relative to previous Japan teams. But I don't think England underestimated them. England are poor and made a bit of a meal of putting away a poorer side. But really, I don't think there was much luck involved.
OP
OP
AndyRM
XOXO
- Location
- North Shields
I don't think Japan were awful. However I agree that England are poor. They should annihilate everyone really, but they can't.
Chromatic
Legendary Member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
I suppose another way of looking at it is that it has been two games now where the opposition has been unexpectedly very poor, especially Argentina, maybe England should be given a little credit for doing something during the games to make that happen.
matticus
Guru
Sure. But that doesn't show they underestimated JPN.
Typical england-bashing; they won, they didnt play well, so some people have to invent some angle to criticise them for
OP
OP
AndyRM
XOXO
- Location
- North Shields
Sure. But that doesn't show they underestimated JPN.
Typical england-bashing; they won, they didnt play well, so some people have to invent some angle to criticise them for
It's not an invention though is it. England are a very poor side. Borthwick can't even get the forwards playing properly.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
Have you noticed how in the last 20 or so England tend to start to loosen up a bit and stop kicking the leather off everything. I think it may be the plan to build pressure/ territory and the - ta daaa - release the flowing rugby. 
It's just the changing gear that they've not quite mastered. Fear not, Borthwick has a master plan.
It's just the changing gear that they've not quite mastered. Fear not, Borthwick has a master plan.
OP
OP
AndyRM
XOXO
- Location
- North Shields
Have you noticed how in the last 20 or so England tend to start to loosen up a bit and stop kicking the leather off everything. I think it may be the plan to build pressure/ territory and the - ta daaa - release the flowing rugby.
It's just the changing gear that they've not quite mastered. Fear not, Borthwick has a master plan.
Yeah, I think that's fair. The last quarter against Japan was the best I've seen England for a while. Not sure that Borthwick has a master plan, but at least he's not as clueless as Eddie Jones.
