Re: Autumn Internationals 2009

[Shoeshine]

Got a feeling the ever improving Argies will beat England this weekend...

They're missing their two star backs (Hernandez and Contepomi), and I think they've lost a fair few others from the side that reached the World Cup semis - England should have enough. Having said that, Argentina tend to be strong in the scrum and we're down to about our 15th choice front row... I think it will depend on whether Argentina have a reliable goal-kicker, I don't expect many tries.

The weather is going to be dire as well - so it'll be a forward battle.

[taipan]

Got a feeling the ever improving Argies will beat England this weekend...

They're missing their two star backs (Hernandez and Contepomi), and I think they've lost a fair few others from the side that reached the World Cup semis - England should have enough. Having said that, Argentina tend to be strong in the scrum and we're down to about our 15th choice front row... I think it will depend on whether Argentina have a reliable goal-kicker, I don't expect many tries.

The weather is going to be dire as well - so it'll be a forward battle.

And that is different to normal English rugby, how?

[JGK]

The Frogs beat the Boks. Nice.

[tac]

Boks blame the french singer for their defeat . . . even nicer . . .

[Mick Sawyer]

Aus over Ireland by 11; fingers crossed.

[Bradman]

You are so farked Mick. They are gonna cruel us.

[Shoeshine]

Got a feeling the ever improving Argies will beat England this weekend...

They're missing their two star backs (Hernandez and Contepomi), and I think they've lost a fair few others from the side that reached the World Cup semis - England should have enough. Having said that, Argentina tend to be strong in the scrum and we're down to about our 15th choice front row... I think it will depend on whether Argentina have a reliable goal-kicker, I don't expect many tries.

The weather is going to be dire as well - so it'll be a forward battle.

And that is different to normal English rugby, how?

We might not win, that's how. Though it's noticeable that the utterly craven stupidity that caused the South Africans to accept the idiotic ELVs against their better instincts and give them enough momentum that we're still left with a fair few of them has had the impact of reducing the amount of running rugby and increasing the amount of kicking. Well done. What on earth possessed you to listen to the Australians?

[Shoeshine]

England look diabolical again.

[beamer]

England only level thanks to having a better goal-kicker... no attempt at all to run the ball. OK, the weather and injuries aren't helping but they have to realise this isn't working?

[DJ_Smerk]

Oh so this is England's running game eh?

[Shoeshine]

Well, there's some excuse for the conditions, but not to the degree they're playing at.

It's the utter absence of ambition which infuriates me. If they're just poor, well, that's one thing. But poor and cowardly is unacceptable.

They haven't created a chance in 120 minutes this autumn.

[JKLever]

Poor stuff, lucky to win... not that the Argie Bargies were any better.

[Shoeshine]

Poor stuff, lucky to win... not that the Argie Bargies were any better.

Argentina were playing a bunch of novices, as part of their building up to 2011, and had left their best players at home. They hadn't played for five months, and had just one week together before the match. Given all of that, and notwithstanding England's injury crisis, the fact they looked the better team is just shocking.

[beamer]

One decent move in the entire match basically won it for us. We could have been well behind by then if the Argie goalkicker had taken his chances in the first half.

[DJ_Smerk]

Joe Worsley is by far England's best player. You'll need him around until atleast 2011.