Pool D - England, Argentina, Japan, Samoa, Chile

[Molehill]

2 game ban for Curry. Still have no idea how Kriel avoided any sanctions, can they not even cite after the match now? Hopefully Curry can play all of the Samoa game and then be in a good place for the knockouts.

 

[ripper868]

2 game ban for Curry. Still have no idea how Kriel avoided any sanctions, can they not even cite after the match now? Hopefully Curry can play all of the Samoa game and then be in a good place for the knockouts.

That'd result in further bans tbh

 

[ripper868]

Carn Chile. Great start.

 

[Ali TT]

Bit of a procession now. Some slick tries by the Samoan.

 

[Ali TT]

Yellow cards for the Chile player due to a shoulder to head in the collision. An instantaneous decision by the TMO. So if that's so clear cut how have others been missed in earlier matches?

 

[Ali TT]

Back to rubbish England so far in this match

 

[Ali TT]

Try of the tournament that one

 

[BoyBrumby]

Jesus Jonny. Both cynical and pointless.

Likely cost us 3 points too. Yup. 10-9. Fair reflection.

 

[Ali TT]

Jesus Jonny. Both cynical and pointless.

Likely cost us 3 points too. Yup. 10-9. Fair reflection.

Summed up the half, poor from both sides generally. Poor ball management by England, daft game management by the Blossoms (like that last premature clearance that gave England another lineout before the half that then led to 3).

 

[Ali TT]

Neither side can keep hold of the ball. Not sure if it's the humidity making it slippy or just that they're both a bit ****.

 

[Ali TT]

Try of the tournament that one

Try 2 of the tournament.
Smart lad Marler, using his head there

 

[GIMH]

Try 2 of the tournament.
Smart lad Marler, using his head there

Something else that haha.

 

[BoyBrumby]

First try we don't have to be slightly embarrassed about.

The lines we've run tonight have been awful; falling into the old NH habit of running at the man rather than the gap.

 

[wpdavid]

England's hooker to the referee - 'Can I just say something?'
Referee to England's hooker - 'No'

One day all elite sport will be officiated as well as that.

 

[Ali TT]

Be interesting to see how Samoa get on, they could be the strongest side in this group.

 

[Ali TT]

A strong last 20 as Japan faded, the backs finally getting a bit of joy. I'd have taken 34-12 at the start but the how was less impressive than the what.

 

[wpdavid]

So a win against Samoa or Chile definitely sees England in the quarter finals? I'm not sure that was widely predicted after we lost at home to Fiji.

 

[weeman27bob]

Comfortable victory there, I don't know what anyone is worried about.

 

[MW1304]

Reading the comments is weird as I caught the game from about the 50th on and we played pretty well in what were obviously tough conditions. Smith surprisingly adept in his brief role as a 15.

Can't speak to the first 50 of course, but been a better start to the tournament than expected.

 

[Ali TT]

Reading the comments is weird as I caught the game from about the 50th on and we played pretty well in what were obviously tough conditions. Smith surprisingly adept in his brief role as a 15.

Can't speak to the first 50 of course, but been a better start to the tournament than expected.

Lots of silly mistakes, far too much kicking and no real threat with ball in hand (barely any breaks through the gain line). It did improve after 50, helped by Japan beginning to tire.