From Your Tasmanian Correspondent and Resident Cleaning soap Dodger
Good morrow fellow GAGRians. Sadly, RAWF is tied up on pressing issues for the following couple of Tuesdays so it has been left to others to fill his new boots and I drew the one and solely straw for todays piece.
The weekend has come and gone and now we have seen Auckland Blues topped as worthy Tremendous Rugby champions. Nationwide groups are flying south for the winter and the Cleaning soap Dodgers kicked off their southern marketing campaign with a heat up towards Eddie Jones Courageous Blossoms in a sizzling and humid Tokyo over the weekend.
The group has definitely moved on from the darkish days of EJ. After some sturdy preliminary criticism of Steve Borthwicks plans from the English media and followers, I’d hasten to recommend that the group is transferring ahead with sluggish however constructive steps. There have been some important modifications in private. Farrell, the Vunipola’s, Care, Youngs, Tuilagi, Might have both retired or moved on and with plenty of accidents, the squad that headed south is a combination of expertise and youthful potential.
Forwards – Fin Baxter (Harlequins, uncapped) Dan Cole, Alex Coles, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Curry, Tom Curry, Theo Dan, Alex Dombrandt Ben Earl, Charlie Ewels, Jamie George – captain, Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje, Joe Marler, George Martin, Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears, uncapped), Bevan Rodd, Ethan Roots, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill
Backs – Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks, uncapped) Fraser Dingwall, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Ollie Lawrence, Alex Mitchell, Luke Northmore Harlequins, uncapped) Harry Randall, Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, uncapped) Henry Slade, Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints, uncapped) Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer, Freddie Steward.
With George Ford dominated out by means of harm Borthwick had a transparent option to make on his beginning 10, was it to be the mercurial Marcus Smith of the Quins or the up and coming Fin Smith of the championship profitable Northampton Saints. As a substitute of ready till the tip of final week to call his group, Borthers stole a march on Eddie and named the group final Tuesday and the Quins 10 acquired the nod and the chance to stake his declare declare earlier than the two-Take a look at sequence in New Zealand subsequent month. Thoughts you till harm struck in January, MS had been been poised to be England’s first-choice fly‑half within the Six Nations nevertheless it was Ford who ultimately took the reins. After a few bizarre video games in that competitors the SDs began to indicate a dedication to the faster, extra attacking model of rugby that’s quick turning into their most well-liked modus operandi. A bit of labor continues to be wanted on their new defensive system and a seamless emphasis is required on getting the fundamentals proper on the breakdown and on the set-pieces. Indicators are constructive although.
The Smiths -great band
Which brings us to the principle occasion.
The beginning XV exhibits a complete of 4 modifications from the group’s final sport towards France in Lyon that resulted in a 32-31 loss. Cunningham‑South, an influenceful ball-carrier with a giant future, replaces the injured Ollie Chessum at blindside flanker whereas Sale’s Bevan Rodd fills the front-row gap left by one other pre-tour casualty Ellis Genge. Along with Smith’s return at fly‑half, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is again on the wing having missed the France sport. There was some concern that Itoje was near breaching the sport time protocols however he’s within the beginning XV.
Manny can be a handful.
England XV v Japan on Saturday: 15 G Furbank; 14 I Feyi-Waboso, 13 H Slade, 12 O Lawrence, 11 T Freeman; 10 M Smith, 9;A Mitchell; 1 B Rodd, 2 J George (capt), 3 D Cole, 4 M Itoje, 5 G Martin, 6 C Cunningham-South, 7 S Underhill, 8 B Earl.
Replacements: 16 T Dan, 17 J Marler, 18 W Stuart, 19 C Ewels, 20 T Curry, 21 H Randall, 22 F Smith, 23 T Roebuck
A pleasant steadiness between expertise and youth
Grasp and Apprentice
Jones has determined to go along with youth with eight uncapped gamers within the squad . 4 within the beginning line up and 4 on the bench. The entrance 5 have amassed an enormous 16 caps between them. Nevertheless, Eddie has saved on the vastly skilled Michael Leitch, who’s captain. The backs have just a few extra caps underneath their collective belts however Yazaki is essentially the most attention-grabbing choice. Plucked from the relative obscurity of college rugby he has no skilled enjoying expertise.
Japan XV : 15 Yoshitaka Yazaki, 14 Jone Naikabula, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Tomoki Osada, 11 Koga Nezuka, 10 Seungsin Lee, 9 Naoto Saito, 8 Faulua Makisi, 7 Tiennan Costley, 6 Michael Leitch, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Sanaila Waqa, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 2 Mamoru Harada, 1 Takayoshi Mohara
Replacements :16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Shogo Miura, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Amanaki Saumaki, 20 Kai Yamamoto, 21 Shinobu Fujiwara, 22 Rikiya Matsuda, 23 Samisoni Tua
Anticipate a quick and livid working sport which is able to take a look at the SDs new defensive system
Match Report
Japan (3) 17
Pen: Lee Attempt: Nezuka, Tua Con: Matsuda 2
England (26) 52
Tries: Cunningham-South, M Smith, Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Mitchell, Earl, Randall, Underhill Cons: M Smith 4, Slade 2
An excellent efficiency by England towards an inexperienced Japan aspect who appeared harmful within the first quarter-hour enjoying with velocity, offloads and some trick performs. Nevertheless, they SDs rode it out and put some factors on the board going into the half time break with a 26-3 lead courtesy of tries by Cunningham-Smith and a properly taken attempt by Marcus Smith after a slick again transfer that open up the Japanese defence. His cross kick that arrange Slade’s attempt’s was first-class. The Japanese made a little bit of a comeback within the second half with Dearns ball abilities in organising Nezuka’s attempt properly price a watch. Not surprisingly play went off the boil at across the 60 min mark with the raft of substitutes / sport changers or no matter they’re referred to as these days however ultimately the Japanese have been outplayed by a greater group . Loads for Eddie to work on.
So what do the SDs take out of the sport. The Mitchell/Smith partnership is beginning to blossom . Mitchell’s velocity on the breakdown is excellent however his field kicking is a bit lengthy imo. Smith appears to be shaking off the present pony tag enjoying a extra balanced sport, not taking an excessive amount of on himself however bringing his exterior backs into the sport. The Lawrence/Slade partnership is creating properly though Ollie was a bit subdued and Feyi-Waboso continues to indicate promise. Upfront, Underhill and Cunningham- Smith have been the standouts. Martin is offering the grunt that has been lacking at lock and Itoje is beginning to present th type of the participant he was again in 2019. I do, nevertheless, have considerations concerning the entrance row. Bevan Rodd appeared underneath strain however the scrum was a bit steadier when Marler got here on. Nothing like expertise. The ABs can have taken be aware and can search to take advantage of this obvious weak point.. Self-discipline was additionally a problem. We can not afford to offer penalties away to the ABs. There have been 17 on this sport plus a crimson card for Charlie Ewels, his second in an England sport that he’ll wish to neglect. The 🍷 was a little bit of a no brainer. A harmful filter out and it was fortunate that Leitch was not severely injured. He obtained a two match ban and can be changed by Nick Isiekwe. Unsure I agree with that. Total, I’m not dissatisfied with the groups efficiency however they should step up a few gears to even run the ABs shut.
So, the SDs head off to the Land of the Lengthy White Cloud feeling very happy with themselves. Razor has named his first squad and I’ll go away KARL to choose the nits out of it. Just about as anticipated with BB parachuted in. Plummer can think about himself unfortunate imo. Put in a faultless show towards the Chiefs. Nevertheless, one factor is for certain. After watching the Blues demolish the Chiefs with an superior show of ahead energy, the SDs are about to expertise a world of ache.
Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi (uncapped), Tamaiti Williams, Asafo Aumua, George Bell (uncapped), Codie Taylor, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa’i, Ethan Blackadder, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi (uncapped) Finlay Christie, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima (uncapped), Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor (uncapped), Caleb Clarke, Emoni Narawa, Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele’a.
OK I’ll be the primary to confess that the article is a bit SD centric, being principally concerning the group everybody likes to hate however wants should when the satan and Hoss drives. Anyway it’s there so I’ll go away you to speak amongst yourselves😉.
