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.

@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.

@Chris-B said in Crusaders v Blues:

@Stargazer said in Crusaders v Blues:

@Crucial Basically, the contenders for the wing spots are Bridge, Telea, Clarke, and Reece. Then there are wing/midfielders in R Ioane and Ennor, and a wing/fullback in Jordan

It will depend on the number of players they want to select from this group, but I think Bridge, Rieko and Reece are near certainties to be picked. I don't think they'll drop Bridge for either Telea or Clarke.

I think you're right.

Depending on numbers, I'm doubtful that they will replace anyone in the backs from last year's RWC squad - apart from those no longer available. If the same squad size (31) I would pick:

Laumape to replace SBW.
Rieko as a midfielder (though he'd probably still be played on the wing) to replace Crotty.
That opens up a wing/utility spot for Will Jordan.
DMac or Havili to replace Ben Smith, but Fozzie will pick DMac.

Beauden will probably still be the starting fullback.

From what I've seen these last few weeks, Otere Black is doing his cause no harm at all. Really matured as a player.

@Bones said in Coronavirus - UK:

@Victor-Meldrew ima be in Devon soon. Sorry.

@MiketheSnow said in Coronavirus - UK:

@sparky said in Coronavirus - UK:

There's only a handful of COVID-19 cases now in Scotland and Wales. I think the ABs games scheduled there for later in the year will go ahead.

Fingers crossed, but a long way to go yet.

Things seem to be pointing towards getting back to normal here in Cornwall too. Restaurants are taking bookings again, loads of visitors and the Holiday village down the road fully-booked until Jan 2021.

People seem to observing the spirit of distancing etc and being cautious and sensible. No great rise in infection rates so far according to local reports.

This much talent shouldn't be allowed together for more than a few minutes in case it disturbs the Earth's equIlibrium...