Matty smith??????????????????????????

I thought Scott Moore was awful and cannot believe he's an international but I suppose that can be said about a fair few of the squad.

I agree with you on Eastmond though, I really like him.

I fear the worst against Australia. I was in Melbourne last year when they kicked our backsides and I think were in for another hammering.

I would bring leon pryce in on the wing and put Briscoe in the centre ahead of shenton.

Briscoe ws quiet but did what he had to and took his try well and looked fairly solid. England were shocking in the first half but were much better in the second, some encouraging signs and Eastmond at fullback is a potential winning move by TS.

Tom Did not get a lot of ball at all and was shooed away from acting half a lot of times when he tried to get involved down the middle, ran the ball out three times hard in the first half, spilled one really difficult skier under pressure and took his try well. Did what was called on to do well, which if everyone else had done in a shocking performance we would have won by 50. There were some poor pack performances and I think Carvell will be back!

For me though it will be harsh if Tom loses his place! Just my opinion though!

I thought he did exactly what he was asked to do TBH.

He got little to no service, came inside a few times to take the ball up, defended well, and took his try well. Not sure what else some folk were expecting.



One of the better performers in an overall poor England performance I thought.

I thought he did his job, had very little service, I fully expect him to be included in the next match..

Well done lad

Are people forgetting that brilliant one on one steal he pulled off as France looked certain to score. I was sat about 10 metres away and for m that was the best part of the game. Good to see a Fev lad doing well.
Personally i'd drop Shenton (he looked knackerred) ut im not sure who id put in his place, wilkin maybe?

That ball steal was world class, shame Stevo seemed to think the ball just popped out on it's own. Though having said that I don't think Stevo was actually watching the same game that Sky were broadcasting.

I noticed that a lot as well. Just as the French were on the back foot you've got a speed merchant rushing in to get a quick PTB and a scoot and what happens? He gets shooed away for a pass and a drive back up the middle. Was Agar there giving advice?

I thought he was awful whistle happy, too slow in making decisions etc etc

Would be a worse ref than what we have over here already.

It didn't even get mentioned in commentary, was a brilliant bit of play by Tom.
Well done lad.

Do you think thats Tony Smiths deliberate plan to make him feel comfortable on the international stage, make him feel like he is playing for his club side?

Is that sarcasm Dave T? it's hard to tell when it's in writing, because I genuinely thought the ref was excellent. Every incident was allowed to run to see what advantage, if any, was made. He took a grip of the forward passes and tidied up the ruck. And those two guys who normally just run up and down the touchline were actually used as touch judges and assisted in decision making. I know it's based on only seeing one match but I'd be very happy if that guy replaced some of our usual ref's.

Nope was been serious, thought he was garbage.

Indeed. The incompetent sky crew just seemed intent on blaming the guy for losing it, they're pi*s poor. Ive said it for a while but i think its time for a change of commentators.

Where has that been said before?

I'm unsure of whether Stevo's sight has gone or he is that stubborn that once he has said something then he will stick by it regardless of what replays show. The most obvious example of this is when he claimed Myler's try was because it's the first time he'd taken the ball at speed. Yet the replay clearly showed Myler had mis-timed his run and was stationary on receiving the ball, not sure what happened to the French defenders for that try but made Myler look better than he was. Just hope Tomkins gets the nod for next week, though I can't see Smith dropping Myler.

His decision-making was excellent, particularly not going to the video ref. Technically he was very good, but agree with Dave T that there were too many penalties.

probably, told the centre "Just break him in gradually lads, he is only used to seeing the ball twice"

Killed the game for me .

Dont know if it has been mentioned but he saved a french try when he reefed the ball... stevo and eddie said that he "tried to offload"

Did you watch a different game?
Moore was very poor.Hence him been taken off after 20+ minutes and not getting back on the field.

Shenton for me had a good game and caused them a few problems.

Matty Smith?????????