Post Match Reaction: South Africa 36 England 27
England’s 2nd half comeback was not enough against a brutal Springbok side, who raced away into a 25-10 half time lead through a controversial try from Willem Alberts and another from Bismarck du Plessis. But England fought back thanks to a brace from Ben Youngs, before JP Pietersen’s score won the game.
What did you make of the game at Ellis Park?
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Barring his nice try-scoring support line I though Flood was abysmal, created nothing and sapped the momentum out of every backs ball by jogging away from the gain line before making his passes. For me Youngs was also not as good as everyone else seems to think; a few poor decisions and not as snappy as he is at his best – or as Care has been lately.
Goode to start at Fullback, Foden on the wing in place of Strettle. Care starting at 9 with Dixon on the bench. Anyone but Flood at flyhalf! Corbs starting at loosehead with Marler on the bench. And if the lineout can function without Parling, he should make way for Palmer. Sorted.
Nice suggestion on your replacement fly half!
Do you think he played worse than Owen did in the first test?
I honestly do! Backs moves are created by feeding the line with quick ball going forwards; what Flood served up was the opposite, there was never any space or momentum in the middle. This can’t all be blamed on good breakdown pressure and rush defence from the boks. Farrell may be a bit predictable, but at least he can ship the ball promptly. We have a potent new centre pairing and a very decent back three, they need to be unleashed. And in defence there’s barely any comparison.
It can’t have been easy when every backs substitute meant a positional shift for another player. Maybe I’m wrong and it’s all Catt’s fault?
Also, can anyone explain why Youngs has been box kicking off the back of rucks to clear the line, sometimes for touch, instead of the traditional to fullback in space for a long-distance hoof? Although he executed better this week it still doesn’t make sense to me.
Flood’s ability to release the midfield is far superior to Farrell’s. In my opinion.
Robshaw out of 3rd test, Hartley to captain.
On a good day you’re probably right, but do you think he showed it in the last test? If it was there I didn’t see it. Maybe I’m letting my fanatical anti-Floodism get the better of me.
Hardly needs saying that losing Robshaw is a blow… who will step into his shoes?
I think Flood helped the running game of England, but all the blame should not be directed to him. I am a Springbok supporter, and to be honest England have not created any try through well worked centre or back play. The first test South Africa had basically stopped playing and competing when Foden scored. The second test we handed you 14 points on a plate again through our own errors. We switched off for the quick tap, and the line out over throw will probably never happen again with this current Springbok side. Granted the maul was good but arguably play should have been stopped after the penalty was awarded as our number 5 and defensive Lock was on the ground unable to move and receiving treatment. England have relied on their big Samoan centre to smash through defences against less physical teams but he has been totally taken out in both test matches. At the end of the day England’s problem lie in your forwards. You do not have the athletic and speed that our forwards produce to get us over the gain line and our backs running onto good clean quick ball…The fact Flood has time to jog back into position and then run onto the ball says it all from the one gentleman’s statement. England have only ever done well against southern teams when winning the break down and never on elegant quick back play as you do not posses the players our nations have. Adopt a better kicking game, make us play in our half and get your forwards smashing it up at pace phase after phase and you will have a chance, I did think we deserved a penalty try though as England committed professional fouls all the time in the second half to stop us from scoring a try on a few occasions and also brake up our flow. Maybe also adopt these tactics in the last test as our 10 has forgotten how to kick and you may just sneak a win against a much weakened Springbok team
Brian, some of those comments are fair enough. The SA forwards were better in the loose and we did lack penetration in the back line but lets not forget one thing. The officials gifted SA 12 points. Alain ‘anyone but England’ Rolland and Steve ‘couldn’t agree more’ Walsh conspired their way to ignore what should have been a re-set scrum for the first try and the TMO should be shot for allowing the second try. No way was he in control of that ball. So a 9 point win with 12 points given to you suddenly doesn’t sound so hot. All that said SA were the better side and probably deserved the win anyway. To be honest though any sensible England fan will acknowledge that it doesn’t matter. Given where we were at the end of the World Cup this performance was something to be proud of and to build on. Put your money on England for a home World Cup win in 2015.