Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:26 pm  

Hardaker has done something throughout this test series which I think hardly ever gets mentioned and is a mainstay of a modern Fullback's role.

He's called the defensive plays incredibly well.

As a Fullback, you have to martial your team, read the plays and tell players where to go to nullify the oppositions advantage.

When there has been an overlap, he's been there.

Nightingale learned that for his try, after being magnifecently banged previously, but he should never have been allowed to get there if Watkins had held his ground.

Watkins just had a bad day today.

We're a decent team, I like the camaraderie between the players, I'm not a fan of Steve Mac, but who else has instilled that?

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:35 pm  

Durham Giant wrote:

If he spends all season at Full back for Wigan he should not be anywhere near the halves for the internationals unless it is the old he plays for a top team we have to put him in somewhere ala Bateman at centre

You realise Bateman spent most of last season playing centre don't you?

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sat Nov 14, 2015 11:32 pm  

If McGillvary is going to make it to the team full time he needs to work on his defensive positioning, he got badly sucked in on the first try and there were a few other occasions in the first half where he was following the ball, not the man he should be covering. Going forward he looks great, I hope the England coaching team can help him improve down the path. I'd hope they give all the England squad and those on the fringes the same kind of advice.

[Durham Giant]

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sun Nov 15, 2015 1:08 am  

Wigg'n wrote:

You realise Bateman spent most of last season playing centre don't you?

Big difference between that and stepping up to being an international..

He offers very little offensively IMHO

[Durham Giant]

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sun Nov 15, 2015 1:10 am  

Hopie wrote:

If McGillvary is going to make it to the team full time he needs to work on his defensive positioning, he got badly sucked in on the first try and there were a few other occasions in the first half where he was following the ball, not the man he should be covering. Going forward he looks great, I hope the England coaching team can help him improve down the path. I'd hope they give all the England squad and those on the fringes the same kind of advice.

If you look at it he was covering inside because the inside players were all sucked in.

I agree it needs to be worked on but he probably needs better defenders inside him as well.

With their last try he was the only player left covering his side of the pitch e everyone else got sucked towards the posts.

I do agree with the gist of your post though.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sun Nov 15, 2015 1:34 am  

Hopie wrote:

If McGillvary is going to make it to the team full time he needs to work on his defensive positioning, he got badly sucked in on the first try and there were a few other occasions in the first half where he was following the ball, not the man he should be covering. Going forward he looks great, I hope the England coaching team can help him improve down the path. I'd hope they give all the England squad and those on the fringes the same kind of advice.

McGillvery was playing swing defence which requires him to move infield and adopt a position which is almost that of a second full back.

The positional stuff you mention comes from St McNm

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sun Nov 15, 2015 6:09 am  

Hopie wrote:

If McGillvary is going to make it to the team full time he needs to work on his defensive positioning, he got badly sucked in on the first try and there were a few other occasions in the first half where he was following the ball, not the man he should be covering. Going forward he looks great, I hope the England coaching team can help him improve down the path. I'd hope they give all the England squad and those on the fringes the same kind of advice.

Hall went walkabout for the Kiwis try last wk, he also got caught out of position twice on kicks through behind him and jogged back for the one he got pushed out the back.
Whilst Jerry committed similar position wise he offers more than Hall going forward, personally I'd rather have jerry & Tom Briscoe

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sun Nov 15, 2015 7:58 am  

McGillvary and Smith both had great games, excellent decision to bring them into the team.

I think George Burgess, Sam Burgess, Jack Reed and Sam Tomkins can all come into the squad and add something next year to give us the best chance of winning the four nations in a long time.

I think McNamarra should get a contract to the end of the next World Cup.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sun Nov 15, 2015 10:19 am  

Great we won the series, albeit against a toothless Kiwi side it has to be said, but surely off the back of that people can't seriously believe Mcnamara is the man to take us forward against full strength Kiwi and Aussie sides? For me he has done a decent job overall, and if his reign ends now as it should imo at least it ends on a decent note.Of course he will now sign a new deal to the end of 2017, we will fall just short in the 4 nations and WC and all be on here harking back to 2015 when we should have changed the coaching team and moved on.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Sun Nov 15, 2015 10:38 am  

Never been a big fan of McNamara but, he got this one spot on.
You could argue that Smith should have played the full series but his kicking game alone made a huge difference yesterday and McGilvary was excellent.
The guy is just a powerhouse and certainly offered more than Burgess coming away from our line.
The Kiwis had to work very hard to contain him.

Having been to the first 2 tests, it seems that I chose badly both in terms of the game and the atmosphere.
Much better all round yesterday. Decent game and a great result.