Back from my corporate jolly to game...some thoughts having not seen any replays or TV. Long-ish post. (Skip to he last 2 paras for the incisive bit)

Twickenham a pain to get to...and into. Ticket entry barriers weren't working, RFU needs to get its act together - pretty crap really. The crowd was far more respectful to the opposition and the kickers. First time I'd been to Twickenham for a test in about 10 years, so credit to the RFU. Atmosphere was great.

Pom tactics and decision making were excellent in the first 30 minutes - crap after that. Thought Farrell had a poor game - zero variation in his game. Underhill was astonishingly good for England and was my MoM.

AB backline was poor until Crotty came on and he seemed to give a lot of solidity. Thought SBW was poor and you wonder how long he'll be in the team. England targeted DMac with the high ball but he did OK and as well as anyone else - he certainly doesn't lack guts, thats for sure. On attack he was probably the most dangerous AB back. Thought our kicking game (inc. DMac) was shite. We looked way more dangerous when keeping the ball in hand.

Retallick & Savea were immense. BBBR utterly owned the Pom lineout, ruck, maul and, well, the whole pitch. Ardie seemed to be everywhere.

Ben Kay and Ugo Monye hosted a post match analysis for the corporate clients which was excellent. No argument that Lawes was offside from them. We then had a Q&A with Itoje and Danny Care.

Itoje & Care seemed good blokes but I was surprised by the complacency in their attitude. They thought that as they had only lost by 1 point they had scored a famous victory. Astonishing attitude in many ways. Hope I never hear an AB talk like that.

All in all, a mistake-strewn game. But we dogged a win - which I sense Hansen will be happy with

It's a childish, unfair thing to say but it's a pity Sexton wasn't playing.

Would have loved to seen his face at the final whistle

Been trying to sum up the utterly crass and inane questions that get asked at the daily press conferences until this popped into my FB feed...

Fitzy's reaction is impressive...

Good to see Krusty keepin his powder dry...

@kiwimurph said in England vs All Blacks:

This will be a proper test of how DMac handles 15.

Yes, Ironically. All those games at 15 he played against Sth Africa, Wales, the Wobbles, Argentina. France and Scotland were a walk in the park....

@Crucial said in Bledisoe #1:

Mate, here at the fern we have memories like elephants and not much imagination.

I blame Deans.

@canefan said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@Victor-Meldrew it worked for Kahui

Don't disagree, just think he needs handling carefully.

Kahui - what a loss he was.

@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Reiko needs to be left at centre now. He has made the move a bit earlier than most wingers but now he has, he needs to develop the experience there. Moving him around again will be a backward step.

Kinda agree. His confidence seemed to go in 2019 and he's too good a player to ignore and needs handling carefully.

Can't see him being the starting 13 over Goodhue at the moment though. I think his best position in any new AB squad is as a 13 who can also play 11 & 14.

@Bovidae said in Re: Movie review thread...:

Such a transformation in her appearance too.

One of those few actors who can physically disappear into a role as to be unrecognisable.

Monster - biopic of serial killer Aileen Wournos. One of those films I'd never quite managed to see

Astonishing performance from Charlize Theron - Christine Ricci was pretty good too. Pretty dark tale and absolutely riveting.

4.5 Ted Bundys out of 5 Hannibal Lectors

@Bones

Awesome stuff you see on the balcony...

@Bones We get Kestrels but not many, think they eat mice & such more than small birds. Plenty of Buzzards soaring on the thermals though - fun to watch the Crows and even Swallows chasing them away

@Catogrande said in Awesome stuff you see on the internet:

Mrs Cato insists on feeding the birds out in our back yard so we get a few sparrows and the like spilling seed all over the place

Yeah, but it's a really cool watch when one of these blokes (Sparrow Hawk) decides on a Sparrow sandwich.

@Bones said in Black Lives Matter:

12? Jebus.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53381586

Actually don't have a problem with this - as long as the age of the boy is put into context.

It's when the police visit people at work and warn them to "check their thinking" for expressing a legitimate opinion on Twitter that it get's worrying.

@Bones said in Crusaders v Blues:

@Victor-Meldrew said in Crusaders v Blues:

@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:

@Victor-Meldrew helps not to be bothered by long term nasty injuries.

Yeah. And his decision-making has gone up another notch as well.

That plus his attacking kicks for territory are setting him apart at the moment.

He looks a far more confident and settled player than in the past. Pretty much like the Blues overall I suppose.

@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:

@Victor-Meldrew helps not to be bothered by long term nasty injuries.

Yeah. And his decision-making has gone up another notch as well.