RWC 2015: Match 1 - England vs Fiji

Discussion in 'Rugby Union Discussion' started by Fiery, Sep 8, 2015.

  1. Squeaks ZW Poole

    Yeah just a few key moments that Fiji couldn't quite nail down. Missing those kickable penalties is bad and unlucky the first penalty of the match hit the post.
     
  2. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    England got a quick start to the game didn't they, 15-0 or something. They just started like a house of Fire before Fiji had a chance to feel their way into the game. When Fiji started to play the deficit was too big. Attrocious goal kicking at times by Fiji. Each kick narrowly missed but collectively it was a poor effort.
    [MENTION=168]Fiery[/MENTION] - the opponents may have been Fiji but Mike Brown = the new Gavin Hastings not looking like a terrible call now.
     
  3. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    The Vunipolas - responsible for the strong English finish rather than Fiji running out of gas.

    I thought Ford played fine - possibly might have gotten a bit gun shy of taking it to the line in the 2nd half based on those bruising tackles. But overall ok. Farrell did look good off the bench and England are fortunate to have both of them.

    My personal favourite is still Farrell though.
     
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2015
  4. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    Fiji number 9 had a howler - his near try notwithstanding.
     
  5. Magrat Garlick M Garlick

    Imagine having Fiji +20 tonight
     
  6. Squeaks ZW Poole

    Mike Brown impressed me, I remember when England came to NZ and everyone was saying he was the best in the world and he just did nothing. But he proved me wrong today, got involved a lot.

    On the English first five I think they both stand waaaaay too deep and never take the line on. I thought Ford was an attacking flyhalf but he didn't look like one today.
     
  7. cloughie09 TJ Clough

    We got well out of jail tonight, thought our centres were crap, the pack lost too many rucks and scrums and gave away far too many penalties. Saying that the Vunipolos and Burgess came on and changed the game, running hard and really good lines, shame the first thing Burgess did was a miss tackle but can't blame him with that beast running at him.
     
  8. Fiery GR Smith

    Mike Brown is still nowhere near Gavin Hastings' status as an international fullback mate. They're not even similar players either. It's like comparing apples and oranges.

    Ben Smith is a lot better.

    He did have a good game though.
     
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2015
  9. Rego RS Hutchinson

    England were pretty crappy tbh. Well done to Fijj, another day and things could have been different. What was going on with England's scrum.....

    Billy and Mako in those last 20 mins were immense, the catalyst for that blow out in the end tbh.
     
  10. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    All of that is true. But you are still missing my point that if he keeps up this level of play for his whole career he will be remembered on the same par as Hastings. Yes Hastings was a very different player. More of a power player.

    Mike Brown and Smith are very close in abilities. Brown shades it in my opinion.

    Even though Smith has more attacking prowess.
     
  11. Squeaks ZW Poole

    Wow wow wow. Brown had a good game, Smith is absolute class!
     
  12. Hunter AD Hunt

    Good to see Peni Ravai get a game. Bloke can certainly drink.
     
  13. Fiery GR Smith

    Really?

    I haven't seen what all the fuss is about with Brown yet. He had a poor tour to NZ. There were glimpses of attacking flair in this game but Ben Smith looks a far more polished all round player to me.
     
  14. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    [MENTION=168]Fiery[/MENTION]

    I posted my Brown is the new Gavin Hastings comments on the silver fern rugby discussion forum and got a few nods of approval including this random comment that I thought summed things up nicely:



    <cite class="ipb" style="padding: 0px 10px 8px; border-width: 0px 2px 2px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(152, 152, 152); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 229, 229); border-right-style: solid; border-right-color: rgb(229, 229, 229); font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; overflow-x: auto; margin: -1px -12px 8px; width: 1174px; display: block; -webkit-user-select: none; background: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0% 0%, 0% 100%, from(rgb(246, 246, 246)), to(rgb(229, 229, 229)));">random person, on 19 Sept 2015 - 7:23 PM, said:</cite>Yeah Brown is class. Does everything you want from a FB, minus the amazing attacking of a Cullen, but a Cullen-type FB is a rare thing. Hogg from Scotland has some very good attacking skills, Kearney from Ireland is good in the air, and Halfpenny was also pretty decent, not so much to offer on attack though.


    I thought the rest of the English backs were pretty disaapointing last night, in particular their 10/12/13 axis didn't work well at all.



     
  15. Mike ML Martyn

    I rate Brown but saying he has more ability than Ben Smith is a bit of a stretch.
     
  16. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    True comment. It is a stretch and I respect anyone who rates any of
    a) Brown
    b) Smith
    c) Folau

    As the best in the world.

    They all have different skills.

    Brown is the worst offensively out of the three. I just adore his defence. He is always in the right place.

    Folau is probably the worst defensively but the best at defusing high bombs.

    All three are class.
     
  17. Riddy JH Ridd

    i dont really know a lot about rugby, but jeez England seemed to turn the ball over really easily. Reckon it will get punished against the better teams
     
  18. Fiery GR Smith

    I rate Willy le Roux ahead of Brown tbh

    My top 4 fullbacks:

    1. Folau (best player in the world)
    2. Smith
    3. le Roux
    4. Brown

    Remember le Roux was one of the 5 nominees for IRB World Player of the Year last year, Hurricane.
     
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2015
  19. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    le Roux couldn't full back his way out of a wet brown paper bag.

    Reasonable wing, one of the worst full backs I have seen play in the four nations in the last 8 years.

    We must part ways at this point.
     
  20. Fiery GR Smith

    :laugh: OK mate
     

Share This Page