Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sat Nov 14, 2015 5:06 pm  

St Maca Cometh wrote:

Aye I was way off the mark I admit. Watkins was absolutely diabolical today world class my backside! Percival will be first choice England centre for many years to come three years younger than Watkins as well!

It shouldn't turn in to a club slanging match but I suggested Percival should be playing and rate the lad massively. As a Wigan fan it takes a classy player to impress me if they're in a Saints shirt and he does.

He's a future international without question.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sat Nov 14, 2015 5:06 pm  

St Maca Cometh wrote:

Aye I was way off the mark I admit. Watkins was absolutely diabolical today world class my backside! Percival will be first choice England centre for many years to come three years younger than Watkins as well!

Watkins had a shocker today no doubt but he's obviously miles better than that. He just had one of those days when nothing went well for him, it happens.

Thought another player with a big rep in RTS for the kiwis was poor today (and hasn't really had good games in the first two tests either) he made heavy weather of several kicks he collected today.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sat Nov 14, 2015 5:33 pm  

England have done a good job on RTS. My hearts in my mouth when he gets the ball but we generally kept him in check.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sat Nov 14, 2015 5:47 pm  

ThePrinter wrote:

Watkins had a shocker today no doubt but he's obviously miles better than that. He just had one of those days when nothing went well for him, it happens.

Watkins couldn't keep hold of the ball today, it was a shame because he got some decent ball to work with at times. He's been excellent in defense for the most part, though, and he's still the best centre we have.
As for Percival, he's not had an injury free season at Saints yet, and he's not shown to be consistent over a full season. The WCC showed he's still got a lot to do to prove he's an international player. I hope he does though. He's a great prospect.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sat Nov 14, 2015 6:06 pm  

I thought Tuivasa-Sheck made some great metres on us today.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sat Nov 14, 2015 6:18 pm  

I cannot believe one two people suggesting Tomkins over Hardaker at full back! Hardaker is a different class and you feel secure with him there.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sat Nov 14, 2015 6:46 pm  

Nice to see a win again, eight years is quite a while, but both were against weakened Kiwi sides and we all know what happened a year later last time. We won the game because we played better, the game was a little more expansive, but more needs to come on both counts. It's easy to suggest the backs this week were better than the previous tests but that was alway going to be the case as the gameplan meant they actually received the ball and had chance to use it. Overall though the kicking game was well behind the Kiwis and all the tries from the forwards shows an ongoing problem, man of the match and series choices baffled me.

A new coach is required both to improve tactics and pick the right players. But the key thing is, our players don't have either the ability or the confidence to show the skill that the Kiwis (and the Australian side) do naturally. Look at the way they draw the man and pass the ball, offload in the tackle or just move it out wide, the play is so effortless. The way we play the game in this country has to change, just big lads barging it up the middle doesn't win big games or fans.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sat Nov 14, 2015 7:05 pm  

I'm sick of hearing this weakened NZ team rubbish. England were also missing key players, and it's par for the course at this time of year. England deserved to win, it wasn't pretty, but they were the better team over the 3 games. We'll need to improve hugely if we're to win the 4Ns, but we've set a solid platform to build on.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sat Nov 14, 2015 7:10 pm  

Dally wrote:

I cannot believe one two people suggesting Tomkins over Hardaker at full back! Hardaker is a different class and you feel secure with him there.

Defensively Hardaker has been great but he's not even on the same planet in attack as Sam Tomkins.

I see a place for both though. Our halves need work, I've been dissapointed with Widdop and Williams has a long way to go. I don't think Matty Smith is the long term answer either even though he was ideal for today. With all that in mind I see a place there for Sam Tomkins.

Hardaker will need to offer more going forward then he has in this series though. He's not got any good ball out to the centres/wingers whatsoever.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sat Nov 14, 2015 7:21 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Defensively Hardaker has been great but he's not even on the same planet in attack as Sam Tomkins.
I see a place for both though
Hardaker will need to offer more going forward then he has in this series though. He's not got any good ball out to the centres/wingers whatsoever.

I also see a place for both players in the England side next year but it will be Tomkins that will need to move into the halves I'm afraid as IMO you need a rock at the back and we have now found one in Zak