England vs Italy - minute-by-minute

[Puja]

Another game, another 4-5 hours of my life overanalysing it!

I have come to the conclusion that I am going to keep up the tally of Kicking Away Decent Attacking Ball, but I'm going to define exactly what I mean by it, so it's a lot less subjective than last week's effort. I would say KADAB requires four things: a) Our possession is either within 40m of the opposition line or within 60m where it's fast-paced and we're moving forwards against a disrupted defence, b) The player has another option - doesn't have to be prime try-scoring ball, but has to be secure enough that we could restart an attack if we chose not to kick, c) the kick must result in the opposition having safe possession where they've got the ability to clear in relative comfort, d) there was not a good chance (ie without a freak bounce of an opposition mistake) of a try being scored from the kick (higher than 50:50).

Right, let's do this.

Minute 1: Italy kick off and Chessum claims well. Reset with a good carry from Itoje and JVP box-kicks. It's a smidge too long to compete, but still pretty good. Capuozzo beats two, but Willis thumps him down with a tackle that is... just on the right side of legal. Good thing he didn't duck or that would've been a very short comeback for JWillis. Italy recycle and Varney buys the cheapest penalty by running into Chessum rolling away and throwing himself over like a footballer. Poor scenes. Italy kick away their advantage and Steward covers well. Back for the pen.

Minute 2: Italy kick into the 22. We once again decide not to compete at the lineout, despite it being a fairly straightforward middle ball. Weird tactic when we've got good jumpers like Itoje and Chessum. Italy run a fun front peel move, but we're not asleep and have it covered. George comes very close to driving back over for a turnover, but Italy get it back and run a carry into Ludlam.

Minute 3: Itoje spots the ruck's underresourced and drives Italy back over the ball - he's unlucky not to earn a turnover there, as Varney just gets the ball out in time. Italy are going backwards and, while Negri bounces Dombrandt (not great, tbh), Willis tackles low and Ludlam's over the ball to jackal and get the pen.

We kick up to past the 10m line and it's Itoje off the top - JVP to Farrell and Farrell to Lawrence on the hard line. It's effective go-forward ball, although hardly subtle or disguised - a stronger tackler than Tommy Allan might've made that a very different result. JVP manages to show Varney how you can pass the ball away from a ruck even if the tackler hasn't evaporated (I'm still annoyed about it) and picks the right option to pass across Genge to find Slade. Genge has attracted a lot of defence, Steward's running a hard line off Slade to draw in more, and the pull-back to Farrell leaves a 3-on-2. It's a little harsh, but I'm going to be - if Farrell passes wide to Malins, he's gone for a score. Instead he plays short to OHC, who has a 2-on-1 and decides to carry it up instead.

It's quick ball again though, but ruined when Slade gets the ball in midfield and fires the ball at Chessum's shoulder. Pass should've been better, but Chessum could've been a little deeper as well.

Minute 4: I get the feeling that I'll be saying this a bit this game - Nothing happens as both sides fail to scrum.

Actually, I am going to say that I do sort of endorse what the ref's doing here. The brake foot sounds boring, but it's an important thing for player safety and, if refs 'let it slide', then there will be no changes in behaviour and there will be more long-term neck injuries. He could be doing it in a less infuriating manner, but he is doing something right here.

Minute 5: Genge folds Riccioni for an England pen. Good work.

[Puja]

Minute 6: We're doing very quick lineout work again this week - 14 seconds from Farrell kicking the ball to George throwing it in. Clearly it's a tactic. Ludlam takes the ball well and we dummy a drive before Willis plays the BCurry role of feeding out the back. Slade runs hard at the line before feeding Lawrence on the crash - good positive quick ball again. JVP is off and sniping, Genge goes to the line before pulling back to Farrell and we've got the same 3-on-2 as before - Farrell, OHC, and Malins facing two very tight Italian defenders in loads of space. Once again, the answer is the same - wide pass to Malins and, while he's probably getting scragged by the cover, it's a guaranteed line-break. A pop to OHC wouldn't be terrible either - he's travelling at speed and it's probably a good positive bosh to get us deep into the 22.

Instead, Farrell becomes the first player to meet our four tests today - he grubbers through and, while Malins makes him work for it and gets close enough to slap it out of his hands, Padovani is always the favourite to secure the ball. Kicking Away Decent Attacking Ball: Farrell x1.

Minute 7: It's an Italian put in at the scrum, but once again, we don't get it done in the minute.

Minute 8: The ball is put in this time. Varney isn't even pretending that he's putting the ball in straight - he's standing at a 60 degree angle from straight and aiming the ball directly at his second rows. If the hooker manages to get a touch on that on the way through, it's sheer fortune.

The Italian 8 break and goes, and Willis shows the value of a specialist openside by being quick up and putting in a textbook low tackle before he can bosh into the backs. Italy pass back to kick, but only JVP is chasing, so Allan dodges and makes a few metres further up. This time, Varney box-kicks to touch.

We're again quick to do the lineout and run the dummy-drive and feed move, but this time either Willis is slow or Dombrandt is too fast - either way Dombrandt has gone past and Willis makes the mistake to trying to make the pass anyway. It's forward and dropped, but apart from that, great training ground move there guys!

Minute 9: Italy run two phases and kick off steady, comfortable ball, but Allan screws up the kick and the ref somehow decides that that's not advantage over for the knock on. Cause what this spectacle needed, was another scrum.

In a shocking turn of events, we do not get the scrum done in the 45s remaining of the minute - free-kick to England for brake foot failure.

Minute 10: England decide for another scrum. We do not accomplish it this minute.

[Puja]

Minute 11: Italy get a good shove on this scrum and Dombrandt does well to rescue the ball. The wheel gives JVP room down the blind and it looks like that was the planned move as Slade and Malins are already going with him. It's technically an overlap, but in such tight space that it's not really, but it's still good, quick attacking ball, so it makes sense that we kick it away. Kicking Away Decent Attacking Ball: JVP x1, Farrell x1

The ball decides against rolling into touch and instead goes in goal where Italy touch it down. Again, Malins puts them under pressure, but Italy always have it covered. Both kicks so far have ostensibly been attacking options, but neither one has been anything more than hopeful that an England player would get there first.

Minute 12: Italy drop out to Dombrandt, who carries well, but then does a terrible job of laying the ball back for JVP and we're lucky to get away without the 9 fumbling. The ball is slower, Itoje doesn't do a great job on the clearout, and we're lucky that Italy put hands on the floor before the jackal/the ref spotted that. Our penalty and we kick to the corner.

Minute 13: Good lineout, half-decent maul setup, we roll once and suddenly Italy have disappeared and Willis gets to fall over the line. Italy will be disappointed with their defence there - we didn't have to do much to score that one.

Minute 14: Farrell slots the conversion.

Minute 15: Long kick-off to Dombrandt who gets a run-up but is tackled solidly by Brex. I'd expect him to be busting through a 12's tackle with that kind of a run-up. We don't box, for some reason, instead passing back to Slade. Weird decision, as it's not a great kick - Italian lineout 35m out. They take it uncontested again and crash up into Willis who again tackles well. Dombrandt slows the ball just a little and it give Itoje time to charge up out of the line and level Lamaro as he gets the ball. Great tackle.

[Danno]

Really appreciate these Puja.

Also the KADAB parameters so that degenerates like Banquo and Which can't cause it to mutate any further

[FKAS]

We kick up to past the 10m line and it's Itoje off the top - JVP to Farrell and Farrell to Lawrence on the hard line. It's effective go-forward ball, although hardly subtle or disguised - a stronger tackler than Tommy Allan might've made that a very different result.

If the opposition 10 stands in the line it's only polite to try and run him over with your big centre.

I really like that tactic early in a game because it means every time Lawrence runs that angle after that the opposition 12 will step in closer to his 10 thinking he might need to assist. Should create space further out if Lawrence is then the dummy.

[Puja]

Also the KADAB parameters so that degenerates like Banquo and Which can't cause it to mutate any further

Oh yes, absolutely!

TBH , it's mostly about trying to stop my brain from having to make judgement calls about what is and isn't a good kick. I was too harsh in the last one in places and probably not harsh enough in others, depending on my mood at the time.

We kick up to past the 10m line and it's Itoje off the top - JVP to Farrell and Farrell to Lawrence on the hard line. It's effective go-forward ball, although hardly subtle or disguised - a stronger tackler than Tommy Allan might've made that a very different result.

If the opposition 10 stands in the line it's only polite to try and run him over with your big centre.

I really like that tactic early in a game because it means every time Lawrence runs that angle after that the opposition 12 will step in closer to his 10 thinking he might need to assist. Should create space further out if Lawrence is then the dummy.

Agreed - England used to do it to really good effect with Manu and I remember thinking that we were building up to it here. Strangely I don't seem to remember us using Lawrence as a dummy runner later in the game. Will be interesting to see if my memory is right.

Puja

[Banquo]

Fck me.....after 21 years of posting we finally have agreement that a 12 who threatens the tackle line is quite useful. You don't need subtlety or disguise tbh, that's the benefit

[Banquo]

Also the KADAB parameters so that degenerates like Banquo and Which can't cause it to mutate any further

Oh yes, absolutely!

TBH , it's mostly about trying to stop my brain from having to make judgement calls about what is and isn't a good kick. I was too harsh in the last one in places and probably not harsh enough in others, depending on my mood at the time.

We kick up to past the 10m line and it's Itoje off the top - JVP to Farrell and Farrell to Lawrence on the hard line. It's effective go-forward ball, although hardly subtle or disguised - a stronger tackler than Tommy Allan might've made that a very different result.

If the opposition 10 stands in the line it's only polite to try and run him over with your big centre.

I really like that tactic early in a game because it means every time Lawrence runs that angle after that the opposition 12 will step in closer to his 10 thinking he might need to assist. Should create space further out if Lawrence is then the dummy.

Agreed - England used to do it to really good effect with Manu and I remember thinking that we were building up to it here. Strangely I don't seem to remember us using Lawrence as a dummy runner later in the game. Will be interesting to see if my memory is right.

Puja

Yeah but no, I don't agree with your criteria. KADAB is bad inside 30m unless we score withing 10 seconds

[Oakboy]

Fck me.....after 21 years of posting we finally have agreement that a 12 who threatens the tackle line is quite useful. You don't need subtlety or disguise tbh, that's the benefit

Hearing violins . . . .

[Banquo]

Fck me.....after 21 years of posting we finally have agreement that a 12 who threatens the tackle line is quite useful. You don't need subtlety or disguise tbh, that's the benefit

Hearing violins . . . .

at least you recognise I was addressing mainly your good self

[Puja]

Minute 16: Our defence is up and pressing - big tackle by Farrell, then another one by Itoje, and Italy are going backwards. They try going again, but first Dombrandt and then Itoje are unlucky not to receive reward for good jackals. Negri gets some joy running at Slade, but the next few phases are Italy going backwards again, culminating in Ludlam absolutely not buying the disguise on a pass and walloping someone man-and-ball, about 10m behind the gainline. A follow-up charge by Genge and Sinckler on the next phase knocks them back again and Italy have gone from front foot ball 35m out from England's line on 14:46 to passing back for Allan to kick long, 30m from Italy's line, on 15:55. We haven't defended like that in a long while.

Minute 17: Steward takes comfortably, carries up and launches a high bomb of his own. It's a smidge too long to compete, but Steward has time to line up Capuozzo, put in a really good shoulder just as he catches the ball... and slide off. Huh. I love Steward as a player, but that is another one to add to the worrying list of one-on-one tackles where he should do better.

Thankfully Willis is there on the inside and perfectly encapsulates the old coaches' rallying cry of, "Doesn't matter how fast his feet are if you take his knees away," with an absolute textbook tackle. Could've been dangerous if old Angie-C had got a chance to build up speed from there. Slade thinks he might be on for a jackal, decides against it when he sees a nasty Italian forward, but his honeypotting has left England short-manned down the blind side and Steward earns his defensive gold star back by spotting that and abandoning his retreat back to 15 to rejoin the defensive line. Italy then jink back inside, where they are met by Willis's tackle, again. Sod the Currys being identical twins - has anyone checked how many Jack Willises are on the pitch at any given time? Cause I'm pretty sure it's more than we're allowed.

Italy take it back inside, then come out wide - we're numbered up, but it's Malins vs Negri and, as the expression goes, a good big'un will always beat a good little'un if the little'un attempts crap tackle technique and goes for an upright hug. Malins gets dismissed and Negri carries a good 15m before JVP does excellently to chase back and hit him with a lovely low tackle. He then ruins it by making absolutely no effort to roll away whatsoever - I actually checked the footage to see if he'd got a boot in the nuts or to the face, as that's the only thing that would explain him just lying there like a 3rd XV frontrow dreading another down-and-up drill. The ref gives the obvious penalty and Italy muff up the advantage while trying to go wide.

Minute 18: Long break for Lamaro to get strapped up and Italy eventually kick the pen to touch just inside the 22. The lineout is a good one to the back and I have to give the referee props for spotting some Itoje cheating as the player comes down. It was subtle and would've been very easy to miss, but he catches it and gives the advantage. Italy have a free attack and take a couple of phases to go to the centre of the pitch.

Minute 19: Italy come back to the left with a very overelaborate move that's lots of loops behind the gainline. It looks like the kind of nonsense that someone dreams up in training and looks lovely until it reaches a live defence, but it's clearly hypnotic as Ludlam gets caught ballwatching and is too late to realise that he's not drifted enough and Capuozzo is heading for the gap outside him. In his mild defence, Malins probably shouldn't've drifted off as far as he should either, but we're still left with the Angemeister running through a hole.

Ludlam does just enough to get a tap tackle in, but Italy have quick good ball in the 22, which they promptly lose as Sinckler puts in another big tackle to knock the ball free. Back for the penalty and Italy kick for the corner, which does feel very ambitious, possibly overly so. Surely better to take the points here?

Minute 20: Italy try the quick throw to the man standing on the ground, so they can form a maul, but Itoje puts in another huge intervention by picking what's going on and lunging at the catcher. He can't get the ball, but he has made himself a nuisance in the middle of the maul and pinned the ball in with him, reacting well to the Italian lock's furious wriggling to prevent the transfer. Italy bring it to ground to take the ruck and we've got our defence set against slow ball. Willis is again notable for some really good aggressive, low tackling - in fact the whole team are showing some good technique (the occasional Malins lapse aside) and there's not been a hint of a high shot. Looks like Sinfield's been working on standards. Italy go futilely across the pitch across about 5 phases without ever going forwards.

[Puja]

Minute 21: Italy are put out of their misery, as Willis and Dombrandt combine to wrap up Fischetti and create a pseudo-maul that the ref rewards with a turnover. He could've been a lot more communicative there - by the end, Dombrandt was lying on top of the ball, desperately craning his neck to look at the ref and try to work out if he was about to earn a scrum or give away a penalty.

Minute 22: At least this scrum only has one set-up - the ref gives a very generous penalty to England, saying that Italy weren't taking the hit, when it looked for all money like that was England driving early and losing their balance. I'd be fuming if I were Italian.

England kick up to halfway and get another fleet lineout in - front ball to Chessum, off the top. JVP either doesn't put in a great pass or Farrell has mistimed his run, cause he has to stop to catch that one. Not sure whose fault that one was.

Minute 23: Whoever's fault it was, it means Farrell's pass to Lawrence is further away from the gainline than we'd like, and almost certainly forwards. We get away with another one and Lawrence smashes into the Italian defence, who are one unlucky movement away from a red card with that upright technique. More lack of synchronisation follows as Slade fails to spot Steward's short line that would've put him clean through - still more time on the training pitch needed. Slade is dragged down and it's very slow ball instead, so we set up for a box-kick. It's an excellent kick, but the Italian 13 weaves in front of Malins and then is shot by a sniper when Malins gently rests a hand on his shoulder, both fouling Malins's jump and eliciting a penalty from the referee for a "shove" that was realistically more an attempt to steady himself and not fall over after being cut up.

Minute 24: Italy have kicked down just into the England half, but the ref is being very precise about positioning/England are fucking about, and so not a lot gets done for a bit. When they throw in, it's uncontested middle ball and Italy dummy drive and play away with a nice little back peel move that gains ground. However, that ground is then lost as Willis spots the pull-back ball and charges up for a Hit On Russell That Isn't Technic... wait, wrong game. He absolutely levels Allan, who panics on seeing him coming and throws a rubbish pass that dribbles along the floor. Italy recover, reset and carry up into Jack Fucking Willis again, who not only makes the tackle but is straight back in with a jackal to win the penalty. The man is a machine.

Minute 25: We kick down to just outside the 22 and Ludlam takes another ball as a middle jumper. We set up probably our technically best maul of the tournament so far, although I think we could still get a bit lower. It rolls and Italy give away a penalty, so we play away with the advantage.

Now, I have no memory of this move whatsoever, but it's clean first-phase attacking ball on the opposition 22, with penalty advantage to play with. I'm willing to bet we kick it away within 3 phases. Let's see.

I was wrong, but in my defence we don't even make it through three passes. JVP to Slade, Slade to OHC, who fumbles a very simple pass. Watching live, I thought OHC barely got used and felt sorry for him getting the Spanish archer, but he's had two passes so far and screwed up a 2-on-1 in the first and dropped the second. I'd be happier if we'd got him the ball more often than two times in 25 minutes, but right now I'm not feeling quite so sad about his inevitable dropping for Arundell against Wales. TBH, the way we're using him so far, we may as well have just stuck with Cokanasiga.

[Oakboy]

I'm waiting to see how many times (if any) Farrell passed to Slade. Lawrence got several pop passes from memory but was there any use of him as a decoy? Slade's lack of service might account for OHC's minimal involvement. Maybe, SB should stick with the backs selection for a second game before getting too condemnatory is what I'm wondering. It would be interesting to hear conversations between Evans and the others on that subject.

[Danno]

You get the sense that oppo coaches are going to be saying "Jack Fucking Willis again" a lot

[Banquo]

I'm waiting to see how many times (if any) Farrell passed to Slade. Lawrence got several pop passes from memory but was there any use of him as a decoy? Slade's lack of service might account for OHC's minimal involvement. Maybe, SB should stick with the backs selection for a second game before getting too condemnatory is what I'm wondering. It would be interesting to hear conversations between Evans and the others on that subject.

Slade touched the ball 12 times- passed 10, ran 2 for no yards. One less touch than Lawrence. The minute by minute should show that he did have a fair bit of ball, but that as a second distributor he was often under a lot of pressure and his handling was sub par for him from what I remember.

[Puja]

I'm waiting to see how many times (if any) Farrell passed to Slade. Lawrence got several pop passes from memory but was there any use of him as a decoy? Slade's lack of service might account for OHC's minimal involvement. Maybe, SB should stick with the backs selection for a second game before getting too condemnatory is what I'm wondering. It would be interesting to hear conversations between Evans and the others on that subject.

Slade touched the ball 12 times- passed 10, ran 2 for no yards. One less touch than Lawrence. The minute by minute should show that he did have a fair bit of ball, but that as a second distributor he was often under a lot of pressure and his handling was sub par for him from what I remember.

I've only done the first 28 mins, but Slade's getting a fair chunk of ball as first receiver (probably about the same amount that Smith did, tbh!). Don't recall too many times of him playing as a traditional second receiver.

Puja

[Banquo]

I'm waiting to see how many times (if any) Farrell passed to Slade. Lawrence got several pop passes from memory but was there any use of him as a decoy? Slade's lack of service might account for OHC's minimal involvement. Maybe, SB should stick with the backs selection for a second game before getting too condemnatory is what I'm wondering. It would be interesting to hear conversations between Evans and the others on that subject.

Slade touched the ball 12 times- passed 10, ran 2 for no yards. One less touch than Lawrence. The minute by minute should show that he did have a fair bit of ball, but that as a second distributor he was often under a lot of pressure and his handling was sub par for him from what I remember.

I've only done the first 28 mins, but Slade's getting a fair chunk of ball as first receiver (probably about the same amount that Smith did, tbh!). Don't recall too many times of him playing as a traditional second receiver.

Puja

I think you misunderstood- I was saying he got the ball a lot, and when he did get the ball out wider he was often under pressure- it may have only been a couple of times tho.(not that he got the ball a lot of times as second distributor). The disallowed try might be an example- he threw a bad pass that Malins 'defused' brilliantly iirc (might have been someone else tho)

[Puja]

Minute 26: Another solid lineout drill to Ludlam and we launch a decent maul, but somehow leave George exposed out the side. Thankfully Italy come around the side and we get to reset and try again.

Minute 27: A long lineout this time to... is that Dombrandt going up? Huh - didn't realise he was an option. Looks solid anyway, but Italy drive underneath him and we get another penalty advantage. We play it back to Farrell who... HAH! Kicks it away! That totally counts for the bet as there hasn't been three rucks since I made it.

This is not KADAB though, as it's a beautiful cross-field kick that is perfectly weighted and placed to give the advancing 6ft15 Steward an aerial one-on-one against the backpedalling 2ft1 Capuozzo. All Steward needs to do is catch the ball and fall over the line, but he manages to miss the first step. It goes straight through his hands and thumps Capuozzo on the head, literally just as the commentator says the phrase, "Steward's brilliant in the air!" Should've been a try.

Minute 28: We go for a tap penalty this time and once again Ellis Genge does the tap and runs diagonally, like he did against Scotland. It doesn't really work and I'm at a loss to work out what's meant to be happening. Just means that he gets hit from the side and bashed backwards, rather than charging forwards and trying to bounce the defence. Doesn't seem more optimal than the lineout, tbh, as we end up with slow ball 5m out with all the Italian defenders on their feet/interfering with JVP.

Still, we reset with Dombrandt taking bad ball up unselfishly and the cleaner possession means we can send JWillis on the charge - he targets a gap between defenders and goes up to 3m out, then Sinckler takes another good run and we're almost to the line. The ball is slow coming back though and Genge sets up, ready to pick and drive, with George at hand to latch on. It's so obvious what we're going to do next that Italy are completely bamboozled when Genge picks, goes, and slips the ball out of the back door as he makes contact, leaving Chessum with an easy job to power through unprepared defenders and over the line.

People think of training ground moves as big flowing things with lots of moving parts, but that's something that's simple, perfect, honed on the training pitch and carried out to perfection. It's not off-the-cuff - far too high a risk of George getting in the way of the pass or Chessum buying the disguise and being taken aback by the pass if it was ad-hoc - and in rewatching, Genge gives Chessum a little look as he goes to address the ball and Chessum moves into the right position. It's a play that's been run on the training park dozens of times and it's just beautiful thinking around a defence instead of trying to muscle through them. Bravo England - I hope you've got a few more bits of innovation like that tucked away for future games.

Minute 29: Farrell kicks a simple conversion and it's 14-0.

Minute 30: Italy kick off deep and Dombrandt does a much better job of returning this one, stepping the Italian chaser and building up steam before crashing through a tackle and getting us a good base just outside the 22. JVP box-kicks and this one is absolutely perfectly weighted, only for OHC to not put in a particularly good leap. He does suffer from Italy building a better wall than their football team facing a free kick, but I feel like May would be getting up for that one. Capuozzo spills under pressure anyway and we attempt to play with advantage only for Genge to absolutely flub a wide pass that goes nowhere near any other England player, so we come back for the scrum.

[Puja]

Minute 31: There is no scrum in Ba Sing Se.

Minute 32: The ref is taking the piss with his calls - there is a full 5 seconds between Crouch and Bind, and another 4 before Set. It's a miracle the two front rows haven't overbalanced while he's working on his dramatic pauses, but we get enough of a scrum that the ball goes to the back before it all falls over and the ref instructs JVP to play away to the relief of everyone in the ground.

Farrell puts up a big garryowen, targetting Capuozzo and we send Steward up to try and torment the little guy again. He gets two hands to slap it back, the ball bobbles to Lawrence who makes a half-break down the blind side before Kicking Away Decent Attacking Ball: Lawrence x1, JVP x1, Farrell x1. This is a particularly egregious example of the breed - he miskicks it anyway, which doesn't help, but if he'd made excellent connection, it would've been a footrace of Malins versus 3-4 Italian backs. Whereas, if he'd kept the ball in hand, he was going to make metres against an already disarranged defence and the likely quick ruck ball (JWillis is in support!) would've been an incredible attacking opportunity.

As it is, Italy get the ball back and look for a counter with Capuozzo, but it's never on and his stepping of Slade takes him right back into a great low tackle by Ludlam, opening the door for Jack Willis to get in and win a stonewall penalty for holding on... nope, the ref's shouted "Never on the ball, on the body only," for some reason, despite watching the ball pop loose and bobble away as Willis is belatedly levered away from it by the Italian ruckers. Wild.

Varney has to play the loose ball away, passes it back to Fischetti, probably expecting him to carry and reset, only for the loosehead to pull out a pretty serviceable kick for touch, landing it a good 35m out. Not sure whether that was a talent he knew he had in his locker, or more luck than judgement, but it's probably going to cost him a drinking fine after the match, regardless of the good result.

Minute 33: Itoje takes the lineout in the middle and we do the dummy drive and pass away thing again. It feels weird criticising Willis, but he's not as good at getting the pass right as BCurry was last week, so Dombrandt has to slow and reach behind him to take the pass, meaning he's off balance and slowing down when he gets monsteered by the Italian defence. We get the ball back and Genge puts us back on the front foot by taking it to the line and dropping it off late to Ludlam on his shoulder. JVP has a choice between Lawrence on the crash ball right and Farrell left and starts going right initially, but changes his mind to go left. Whether it's a call or a spotting the opportunity, he's absolutely right - England have an overlap with the Italian defence all over the shop. The ball goes to Farrell, OHC has loads of space if the pass goes, but instead, he opts for Kicking Away Decent Attacking Ball: Lawrence x1, JVP x1, Farrell x2.

This isn't even a good kick. It bounces a good 10 metres away from any England chaser - George is closest, because he was on the wing and was apparently prepared for the kick and ready to chase. OHC was hoping for a pass and so was behind Farrell - he'll learn. We'll beat the hope out of him soon. Italy regather comfortably and, while OHC puts in a good tackle and Italy are on their 5m line, they've also got the ball and we don't.

Italy reset and box-kick away, and we end up with a lineout about 1m further forward than our last one. The entire minute was a waste of everyone's time and effort.

Minute 34: This time we actually drive - it's secure, but it could be a lot lower and gets very little change out of the Italian defence. George breaks away and charges like a bull, actually dipping his head into the Italian tackler's head, in a very clear demonstration of what they're looking to outlaw in the community game laws for next season. The Italian 21 should 100% be going for an HIA, as he's very slow to get up from that headbutt, but I don't believe he does. The game has problems and the failure to apply the HIA process is one of them.

JVP picks and goes enough to interest a defender before laying it off to Lawrence who has seen another opportunity to brutalise Allan again. It's quick ball and Sinckler takes the ball at pace to make good ground again - this is the best I've seen Sinckler carry in a long while. Van Poortvliet picks and the defender is a little too interested in Genge, so he goes through the gap himself to have a 2-on-1. Varney does an absolutely incredible job in looking like he's going for JVP and then not only switching targets to Genge, but actually managing to bring him down when he's on the charge. Someone very severe would say that JVP should've shown and gone to score himself, but I'm going to chalk that up to excellent defence by Varney.

Minute 35: We get the ball back despite some attempts at cheating on the ground, and JVP passes right to Sinckler, but Farrell has swept left and is absolutely screaming for it, so Sinckler passes back across. Farrell's absolutely right - Italy's defence is at sixes and sevens after that JVP break and there's a 3-on-2 with masses of space. More pertinently, Steward is racing up on a hard line and any pass that reaches him is going to be a try - even if Italy somehow recover to close the massive gap he's running through, he's 7m out, running at pace, and he's 7ft2inches tall, so he's making the line. Farrell's spotted the opportunity, now all he has to do is make a simple pass and it's the try that Farrell made.

Kicking Away Decent Attacking Ball: Lawrence x1, JVP x1, Farrell x3

This is the worst. The **WORST**. Literally any other option is better. Pass to Steward for the guaranteed try. Run at the gap yourself and offload for a near guaranteed try. Run at the gap yourself and get tackled so that we can reset and allow a more natural first receiver to play with the quick ball, like Genge.

Instead, Farrell puts through a grubber for Jamie George to try and outpace the Italian winger. Shockingly enough, our portly hooker does not make it to the ball first and Italy gratefully accept the goalline dropout.

The ball is kicked up to the 10m line and Dombrandt receives and carries back without really making a huge dent in the defence. Still, we get a penalty for Italy not rolling away and Ludlam takes the ball at first receiver before pulling it back to Farrell in his natural position of 12. He doesn't kick it for some unknown reason. Instead, he... {checks notes} passes it to Slade?

...is that allowed? Isn't that a penalty offence?

Slade doesn't enourage it to happen again in the future by rushing his pass in the face of a blitz defence and throwing it wild. Malins picks it up however and shapes to kick, which is genius because every single Italian player thinks, "Yeah, that tracks" and starts heading back to pick up the inevitable grubber, leaving them baffled when Malins steps inside and runs with the ball in his hands, which I'm also not sure is allowed within the laws of the game. He's clean through, draws Capuozzo and has a choice between an easy pass to Steward out wide or a harder pass to JVP inside. He goes ambitious, nails the pass and JVP is under the posts.

I'm sure this try'll stand, no issues whatsoever.

[Puja]

Minute 36: This disallowed try is a 50:50 call to me. Lawrence and Zuliani are both meandering across the pitch and Zuliani's back leg catches Lawrence's front one, resulting in him falling over. It's not intentional, it's not a shove or a block, it's a coming together that is arguably caused by Zuliani thinking Malins is going to kick and changing direction to prepare for a chase back. It's entirely probable that Zuliani was never going to make it to Malins, no matter what - the gap is pretty big and he has bought the kick dummy. However, it is undeniable that Malins's path was made easier by Zuliani not being there to narrow that gap and that Lawrence was ahead of the play when contact was made.

I think overall, it's probably a fair call. I'd be screaming blue murder if that try was scored against us, as Lawrence being there has taken a man out of the defensive line and, while it wasn't an active block, he was moving and taking space ahead of the play and is at least partially responsible for any contact. It's infuriating from an England perspective, but I think it's probably the right call.

The game goes back for the pen and we kick to the corner. Ludlam takes, we set up a maul, and I have to criticise George here, because I don't think he does a very good job of staying at the back. The maul swings round and George swings with it rather than sliding back to the back, meaning he ends up with the ball exposed at the side and creeping around to the front. The Italian lock gets a bit overexcited at seeing it, but also realises he might get yellowed if he goes for it, and ends up doing neither nothing nor something, leaving the maul defence underresourced. Our backs pile in, Slade does a good job of covering the exposed ball, aaaaaand...

Minute 37: ...England rumble over for a third try. Makes up for the 2/3 opps that we failed to score across the last two minutes, although I doubt Ireland or France will be so kind as to give us four chances to score a try.

Minute 38: Farrell misses a pretty regulation conversion from 15m in. Italy kick off long and Dombrandt collects in our 22 once more.

Minute 39: Dombrandt's getting the hang of these kick-offs - this time it's a swerve around the onrushing defender and another big carry between defenders. It must be pretty easy when it's the same thing every time though - like memorising the timings on a computer game boss.

JVP puts up another absolutely belting box kick that OHC doesn't even get off the floor to compete for. Italy regather and attempt an attack, but our defence is pressing hard again and they're pushed back to the halfway line. They go even further back as ball is slowed and our defence swarms - there's a brief spark of light as Capuozzo steps inside and beats Willis, but Chessum is there backing him up and, while Italy do work a modicum of space out wide, Malins has it covered and the pass goes loose and into touch anyway. Another good period of defence for England.

Minute 40: Lineout to Ludlam and off the top again - nice variety this week. JVP to Farrell to Lawrence to Tommy Allan's bruises collection. He does bring him down (with the help of his friends), but the ball is slow and it's not a great pass from JVP in the next phase, however the ball has got to OHC in a little bit of space. He doesn't get very far, but it's a positive run into contact and quick ball and the next phase is another good bit of Sinckler work, running hard and then working on the floor to ensure good ball presentation.

Farrell passes to Slade again and this time it's better - wide pass to Dombrandt who makes good ground down the right wing. England sweep back right and...

Minute 41: ...a pull-back from Itoje sees Farrell decide to step inside rather than pass it on. He finds Italian tight forwards and does well/gets lucky to get the ball back (depending on your biases). We go wide and make a bit more ground with quick ball and keeping it alive. Chessum drives up hard and JVP goes for a little dink box-kick.

I'm going to let him away without a KADAB here, as I think this is a good call that should've resulted in a try. Steward, OHC, and Farrell are up and chasing and, while the bounce of the ball makes it a difficult catch for Farrell, he'll probably be disappointed he didn't finish it. The ref is the most happy person on the pitch to see the ball spilled forwards, as there was a coming together between Steward and Capuozzo and it's another hard one to call. I think, had it been scored and gone to TMO, I'd've been cross about it being chalked off - it looks like Capuozzo is deliberately blocking Steward and gets knocked over as a result of the laws of physics relating to a 1ft tall person trying to block an 8ft behemoth. However, it's a moot point, as the ball is spilled and that's half-time, as well as being way past my bedtime. Good night all.

[Scrumhead]

Thanks for pulling his together Puja. Much appreciated as always.

I think this thread is doing what I hoped it would in exonerating Dombrandt a little.

While I totally recognise that I’m favourably biased towards him, OTOH I have high expectations for him that he hasn’t been hitting. However, I also didn’t agree with the amount of criticism he was getting in the match thread on Sunday. Sure, he didn’t have an amazing game, but I thought he did some good stuff and was nowhere near as bad as several posters made out. So far, this thread is backing up my impressions.

[Mikey Brown]

Thanks for pulling his together Puja. Much appreciated as always.

I think this thread is doing what I hoped it would in exonerating Dombrandt a little.

While I totally recognise that I’m favourably biased towards him, OTOH I have high expectations for him that he hasn’t been hitting. However, I also didn’t agree with the amount of criticism he was getting in the match thread on Sunday. Sure, he didn’t have an amazing game, but I thought he did some good stuff and was nowhere near as bad as several posters made out. So far, this thread is backing up my impressions.

You’re really setting him up for a rough last 15 minutes here.

[fivepointer]

Cue Dombrandt being subbed.

Actually thought he was largely OK. His work rate was good and he didnt make the glaring errors of the previous week. I think his problem is that his reputation has been earned on producing great moments, not on 80 minutes of unseen graft. Would be nice to see him do something a bit more in character next time out.

[Banquo]

Thanks for pulling his together Puja. Much appreciated as always.

I think this thread is doing what I hoped it would in exonerating Dombrandt a little.

While I totally recognise that I’m favourably biased towards him, OTOH I have high expectations for him that he hasn’t been hitting. However, I also didn’t agree with the amount of criticism he was getting in the match thread on Sunday. Sure, he didn’t have an amazing game, but I thought he did some good stuff and was nowhere near as bad as several posters made out. So far, this thread is backing up my impressions.

He's just so inconsistent as noted and shouted at before

[Banquo]

Minute 36: This disallowed try is a 50:50 call to me. Lawrence and Zuliani are both meandering across the pitch and Zuliani's back leg catches Lawrence's front one, resulting in him falling over. It's not intentional, it's not a shove or a block, it's a coming together that is arguably caused by Zuliani thinking Malins is going to kick and changing direction to prepare for a chase back. It's entirely probable that Zuliani was never going to make it to Malins, no matter what - the gap is pretty big and he has bought the kick dummy. However, it is undeniable that Malins's path was made easier by Zuliani not being there to narrow that gap and that Lawrence was ahead of the play when contact was made.

I think overall, it's probably a fair call. I'd be screaming blue murder if that try was scored against us, as Lawrence being there has taken a man out of the defensive line and, while it wasn't an active block, he was moving and taking space ahead of the play and is at least partially responsible for any contact. It's infuriating from an England perspective, but I think it's probably the right call.

The game goes back for the pen and we kick to the corner. Ludlam takes, we set up a maul, and I have to criticise George here, because I don't think he does a very good job of staying at the back. The maul swings round and George swings with it rather than sliding back to the back, meaning he ends up with the ball exposed at the side and creeping around to the front. The Italian lock gets a bit overexcited at seeing it, but also realises he might get yellowed if he goes for it, and ends up doing neither nothing nor something, leaving the maul defence underresourced. Our backs pile in, Slade does a good job of covering the exposed ball, aaaaaand...

Minute 37: ...England rumble over for a third try. Makes up for the 2/3 opps that we failed to score across the last two minutes, although I doubt Ireland or France will be so kind as to give us four chances to score a try.

Minute 38: Farrell misses a pretty regulation conversion from 15m in. Italy kick off long and Dombrandt collects in our 22 once more.

Minute 39: Dombrandt's getting the hang of these kick-offs - this time it's a swerve around the onrushing defender and another big carry between defenders. It must be pretty easy when it's the same thing every time though - like memorising the timings on a computer game boss.

JVP puts up another absolutely belting box kick that OHC doesn't even get off the floor to compete for. Italy regather and attempt an attack, but our defence is pressing hard again and they're pushed back to the halfway line. They go even further back as ball is slowed and our defence swarms - there's a brief spark of light as Capuozzo steps inside and beats Willis, but Chessum is there backing him up and, while Italy do work a modicum of space out wide, Malins has it covered and the pass goes loose and into touch anyway. Another good period of defence for England.

Minute 40: Lineout to Ludlam and off the top again - nice variety this week. JVP to Farrell to Lawrence to Tommy Allan's bruises collection. He does bring him down (with the help of his friends), but the ball is slow and it's not a great pass from JVP in the next phase, however the ball has got to OHC in a little bit of space. He doesn't get very far, but it's a positive run into contact and quick ball and the next phase is another good bit of Sinckler work, running hard and then working on the floor to ensure good ball presentation.

Farrell passes to Slade again and this time it's better - wide pass to Dombrandt who makes good ground down the right wing. England sweep back right and...

Minute 41: ...a pull-back from Itoje sees Farrell decide to step inside rather than pass it on. He finds Italian tight forwards and does well/gets lucky to get the ball back (depending on your biases). We go wide and make a bit more ground with quick ball and keeping it alive. Chessum drives up hard and JVP goes for a little dink box-kick.

I'm going to let him away without a KADAB here, as I think this is a good call that should've resulted in a try. Steward, OHC, and Farrell are up and chasing and, while the bounce of the ball makes it a difficult catch for Farrell, he'll probably be disappointed he didn't finish it. The ref is the most happy person on the pitch to see the ball spilled forwards, as there was a coming together between Steward and Capuozzo and it's another hard one to call. I think, had it been scored and gone to TMO, I'd've been cross about it being chalked off - it looks like Capuozzo is deliberately blocking Steward and gets knocked over as a result of the laws of physics relating to a 1ft tall person trying to block an 8ft behemoth. However, it's a moot point, as the ball is spilled and that's half-time, as well as being way past my bedtime. Good night all.

That dink still wasn't the right option

Thanks for all this- confirms stupid amount of ball kicked away (perhaps even worse in terms of options than v Scotland), Slade did actually get the ball as second receiver a couple of times and made a mess of one. Also confirms how good our forwards defence was.....resulting in a change in Italian tactics at h/t.