JWC

[Lizard]

You could be right. But it was 36-0 at some point.

[Which Tyler]

Just watched the match, and co plaints about Zach's work-rate seem a little odd, though I can see where they might be coming from.
He seems to consider rucks to be done a little earlier than those around him, so he's often right on top of a ruck and setting himself for the next play, rather than piling in for no purpose.
On attacking rucks, his job is to run a line at first receiver; on defence he's assessing the ruck and picking his involvement. To be honest, to my eyes, he's looks like he's learning from Louw.

He also looked knackered in the last 20 minutes or so, which is fair enough given the amount of rugby he's played in the last 2 weeks - he's also far from alone in that.


TBC looked like a rotary twist with side impact, suspect an "unhappy triad" injury - not good news

[twitchy]

The whole team looked knackered, they have over played because of injury. Also I think us brits don't handle the heat very well. It was late 20's apparently.

[Which Tyler]

Oh, our front row aren't good enough to challenge the kiwis, even if we had our absentees back.
If you're playing without a set piece, you need to be significantly better everywhere else; we're good, but not that good.

[twitchy]

Oh, our front row aren't good enough to challenge the kiwis, even if we had our absentees back.
If you're playing without a set piece, you need to be significantly better everywhere else; we're good, but not that good.

Yeah we are going to get munched.

[Puja]

Just watched the match, and co plaints about Zach's work-rate seem a little odd, though I can see where they might be coming from.
He seems to consider rucks to be done a little earlier than those around him, so he's often right on top of a ruck and setting himself for the next play, rather than piling in for no purpose.
On attacking rucks, his job is to run a line at first receiver; on defence he's assessing the ruck and picking his involvement. To be honest, to my eyes, he's looks like he's learning from Louw.

He also looked knackered in the last 20 minutes or so, which is fair enough given the amount of rugby he's played in the last 2 weeks - he's also far from alone in that.


TBC looked like a rotary twist with side impact, suspect an "unhappy triad" injury - not good news

Yeah, he's played every game if memory serves. Don't blame his work rate for flagging in the heat.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Yeah, he's played every game if memory serves. Don't blame his work rate for flagging in the heat.

He's played about 280 minutes in 14 days. That's quite a lot by anyone's standards, let alone a #8

[Tigersman]

What annoys me most about complaints Re Mercer is that it isn't really the 8's job to be attacking every ruck really.

The fact is that the other 7 players IMO are not good enough the tight 5 in particular seem to lack the fitness and aggression that lasts years group had Earl at 7 whilst good isn't at level of competing at the breakdown that Curry, Curry and Evans brought.

[Digby]

They weren't down on Mercer I thought, just commented he brings different strengths/weaknesses to some others.

And it mayn't be the job of the 8 to attack every ruck, but it's not unreasonable to expect 8s to work continually. Back when Hughes was impressing a good number domestically I know even then a few where commenting he really needed to be working harder, and Flats and Monye noted both Mercer could work harder, and that Eddie in particular will not be desperate to bring in a player who isn't working, and working, and working...

[kk67]

Don't really see where Flatman is coming from with that assessment tbh. Mercer has a huge skill set and seems to work plenty hard to me. Sometimes it feels like he's doing too much and trying too hard if anything.

But that aside, the two Sarries boys Mallins and Earle need to be playing proper senior rugby next season. Both hugely impressive.

Faux jealousy ?.

That Mallins lad can really play rugby.

[Digby]

Player of the tournament list opened, players nominated are:

Juarno Augustus
Zach Mercer
Tiaan Falcon
Gabriel Ibitoye
&
Will Jordan

'tis a decent list in fairness.

[fivepointer]

team for the final. TB-C and Street unavailable.

England U20: 15. Tom Parton (London Irish), 14. Darren Atkins (Bath Rugby), 13. Will Butler (Worcester Warriors), 12. Jacob Umaga (Wasps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins), 10. Max Malins (Saracens), 9. Harry Randall (Gloucester Rugby), 1. Ralph Adams-Hale (Saracens), 2. Joe Mullis (Gloucester Rugby), 3. Ciaran Knight (Gloucester Rugby), 4. Josh Caulfield (Exeter Chiefs), 5. Jack Nay (Saracens), 6. Dino Lamb (Harlequins), 7. Ben Earl (Saracens), 8. Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby) captain.

Replacements: 16. Henry Walker (Gloucester Rugby), 17. Ollie Dawe (Bristol Rugby), 18. Alex Seville (Gloucester Rugby), 19. Justin Clegg (Worcester Warriors), 20. Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby), 21. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), 22. James Grayson (Northampton Saints), 23. Paolo Odogwu (Sale Sharks).

[Lizard]

Tiaan Falcon is concussed, so Stephen "Lion-Killer" Perofeta has been choppered into the NZ line up.

1. Ezekiel Lindenmuth - Auckland
2. Asafo Aumua - Wellington
3. Pouri Rakete-Stones - Hawke’s Bay
4. Isaia Walker-Leawere - Wellington
5. Samuel Slade - Auckland
6. Luke Jacobson (C) - Waikato
7. Dalton Papali'i - Auckland
8. Marino Mikaele-Tuu - Hawke’s Bay
9. Ereatara Enari (VC)- -Canterbury
10. Stephen Perofeta - Auckland
11. Caleb Clarke - Auckland
12. Orbyn Leger - Counties Manuka
13. Braydon Ennor - Canterbury
14. Tima Faingaanuku - Tasman
15. Will Jordan - Tasman
16. JP Sauni - Auckland
17. Harrison Allan - Canterbury
18. Alex Fidow - Wellington
19. Sam Caird - Waikato
20. Tom Christie - Canterbury
21. Kemara Hauiti-Parapara - Wellington
22. Tamati Tua - Northland
23. Josh McKay - Canterbury

[Puja]

Tiaan Falcon is concussed, so Stephen "Lion-Killer" Perofeta has been choppered into the NZ line up.

1. Ezekiel Lindenmuth - Auckland
2. Asafo Aumua - Wellington
3. Pouri Rakete-Stones - Hawke’s Bay
4. Isaia Walker-Leawere - Wellington
5. Samuel Slade - Auckland
6. Luke Jacobson (C) - Waikato
7. Dalton Papali'i - Auckland
8. Marino Mikaele-Tuu - Hawke’s Bay
9. Ereatara Enari (VC)- -Canterbury
10. Stephen Perofeta - Auckland
11. Caleb Clarke - Auckland
12. Orbyn Leger - Counties Manuka
13. Braydon Ennor - Canterbury
14. Tima Faingaanuku - Tasman
15. Will Jordan - Tasman
16. JP Sauni - Auckland
17. Harrison Allan - Canterbury
18. Alex Fidow - Wellington
19. Sam Caird - Waikato
20. Tom Christie - Canterbury
21. Kemara Hauiti-Parapara - Wellington
22. Tamati Tua - Northland
23. Josh McKay - Canterbury

We've all got great sympathy for your one absentee.

Puja

[Banquo]

looks like being a long afternoon. Atkins having a tough time already and as expected, scrum getting mashed

[jared_7]

That's a knock on, surely. Weird decision.

[16th man]

What's the TMO looking at? Obvious knock on.

[Banquo]

That's a knock on, surely. Weird decision.

aye, you do wonder why TMO's exist sometimes.

[jared_7]

Greedy.

[Banquo]

red sea then butchery. We aren't at the races, and unless we wake up, will be absolutely hammered

[WaspInWales]

They're getting mullered. Is tackling just an option today?

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[16th man]

We look like a very tired side.

[Banquo]

I'm hiding behind the settee. Embarrassing (lack of) tackling.

[jared_7]

England have had the ball twice in NZs half and both time they've kicked it into touch - the NZ lineout is functioning perfectly and they just run it out and make yards.

[16th man]

Oh dear. Complete break down of all the basics.