Weekend games 3 (the deciders) - Spoilers!

[Shugs]

Reality is that this is two poor teams slugging it out. Entertainment wise it’s dire. Englands kicking game is so one dimensional that everyone is caught out if anything different is done.

[JonnyD]

Definitely time for Jack to come on, Ludlum is tiring

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Better 2nd half. England lucky not to get a yellow after all the pens conceded before Aus got the try.

[westwaleswasp]

As I have just posted on dw, I will take it. There are positives.
9 10,12 still looks creaky, 13 is just a mess. We can be hugely happy with the youngsters.
Impressive up front performance from Lawes and Genge, immense in open play.
Come 6n I expect us to be turned over as usual by the best NH teams, Ireland and France are miles ahead, and SA and NZ would fancy us right now.

[JonnyD]

As much as the majority (including me) still want Lawes in the second row and moan that he’s not a 6 he was absolute class.

Genge was very good and Stuart went under the radar and much improved.

It’s now up to JvP to battle it out at Leicester to get more starts and push on.

Steward and Freeman were class and are pretty interchangeable for the next few years.
No idea what Marchant did to piss Jones off but he was solid in the first test and had a great season. Porter isn’t up to scratch in my opinion and sure Leicester fans would agree.

[westwaleswasp]

Notably Eddie still spouting on about being at our best at the WC. V worrying, don't want to hear this bullshit in November.
Just play and win, Eddie.

[wycombewasp]

watching that game rather puts to bed Backdocs earlier thread (why England will win the world cup), Imo. of course.

[mike909]

Notably Eddie still spouting on about being at our best at the WC. V worrying, don't want to hear this bullshit in November.
Just play and win, Eddie.

If I was being glass half empty - which is all too easy with Jones - my concern with that sort of stuff is that he recognises that a scrappy win over a depleted and quite middling at best Aussie team, isn't the trigger to being world beaters. We won a couple of games by playing the "ugly pack" and kick routine and one that either of the teams on first thing today would have dealt with and provided us with some realism. That realism being that at present we are a middling team uncertain of tactics that have reverted to basics. But a team that are lacking many backline players that ought to improve what is still a team lacking cutting edge.

[backdoc]

watching that game rather puts to bed Backdocs earlier thread (why England will win the world cup), Imo. of course.

My money is on S Africa at 11/2

[Shugs]

Credit where it’s due, it’s a series win away. Aus are a fairly poor side who showed flashes of quality. We are a slightly better side but don’t really show much quality other than bossing it up front. I think we’ll struggle against better teams but you can only beat who you are playing.

[MarleyWasp]

Reality is that this is two poor teams slugging it out. Entertainment wise it’s dire. Englands kicking game is so one dimensional that everyone is caught out if anything different is done.

This match and jetlag has robbed me of 4 hours of my weekend...

[wasps]

Credit where it’s due, it’s a series win away. Aus are a fairly poor side who showed flashes of quality. We are a slightly better side but don’t really show much quality other than bossing it up front. I think we’ll struggle against better teams but you can only beat who you are playing.

Exactly.
When someone loses a series they're often referred to as a poor team.


New Zealand are being referred to as a shadow of their former selves, but that shouldn't take away from Ireland.


It's surely quite a good thing If you can make the opposition look poor even when you're not great yourself

[Chunky24]

No series win for Wales but a very positive tour for them.

[Rossm]

No series win for Wales but a very positive tour for them.

Had late injury withdrawals of Anscombe and Faletau. Won't have helped.

[westwaleswasp]

They will have taken it at the start but should have won match 1.
Wales and England a class below Ire and Fra,but I am not sure  NZ are far behind. The Boks are very beatable, they always are. It's just that they win a lot in matches where they look vulnerable, a good trait to have but sooner or later they will get their just deserts.

 Shame the next WC is seeded the way it is.