[Pemps]

: Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:29 am  

Cruncher wrote:

It may be my fevered imagination, but I got the impression that McGuire and Sinfield seemed determined to keep Tomkins out of the action in the first half of yesterday's game. He barely got a pass, and whenever he was waiting as first receiver, he was either used as a dummy or was simply ignored as the ball was turned the other way. Only in the latter stages, as it became painfully obvious that McGuire was out of his depth, was Sam brought to the fore.

Normally I wouldn't believe such a thing, but given the persistant rumours about how the Leeds and St Helens players childishly blanked each other during last year's tournament, I'm beginning to wonder. Could it be they were peeved that their mate Rob hadn't got the nod?

similarly in the france game. Myler was starved of the ball. When he finally did get it, he scored twice.

: Sun Nov 01, 2009 6:30 pm  

Far too often in both the France and Australia games, England are trying to be the Kevin + Danny show and they seem to forget that some others in the team actually exist.

Is it any surprise that when Kevin switched to distributing from dummy half, that suddenly Sam could be a lot more involved in the game?

: Mon Nov 02, 2009 3:20 pm  

Steve Ella's Beard wrote:

Far too often in both the France and Australia games, England are trying to be the Kevin + Danny show and they seem to forget that some others in the team actually exist.

Is it any surprise that when Kevin switched to distributing from dummy half, that suddenly Sam could be a lot more involved in the game?

I'm not sure if I fully agree with this. To me, Sam looked to be avoiding the ball at times in the first half, standing far too deep to get involved. Once he overcame his nerves and realised that he is good enough to mix it at this level he got himself more involved.

I now await my ritual slaughter.

: Mon Nov 02, 2009 3:23 pm  

jinkin jimmy wrote:

I'm not sure if I fully agree with this. To me, Sam looked to be avoiding the ball at times in the first half, standing far too deep to get involved. Once he overcame his nerves and realised that he is good enough to mix it at this level he got himself more involved.

I now await my ritual slaughter.

I agree.

As for Mcguire, I felt sorry for him - its awful to see a player so bereft of confidence. Anyone who's played sport at a decent level will tell you how horrible that feels.

: Mon Nov 02, 2009 3:28 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

I agree.

As for Mcguire, I felt sorry for him - its awful to see a player so bereft of confidence. Anyone who's played sport at a decent level will tell you how horrible that feels.

I'll feel sorrier for us if he plays next weekend and is as inept in defence as he was last weekend.

: Mon Nov 02, 2009 3:29 pm  

jinkin jimmy wrote:

I'm not sure if I fully agree with this. To me, Sam looked to be avoiding the ball at times in the first half, standing far too deep to get involved. Once he overcame his nerves and realised that he is good enough to mix it at this level he got himself more involved.

I now await my ritual slaughter.

I agree that Sam did stand a bit wide in the first half, but it was the Kev and Danny show, he didn't even get looked at in the first half.

: Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:03 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

It may be my fevered imagination, but I got the impression that McGuire and Sinfield seemed determined to keep Tomkins out of the action in the first half of yesterday's game. He barely got a pass, and whenever he was waiting as first receiver, he was either used as a dummy or was simply ignored as the ball was turned the other way. Only in the latter stages, as it became painfully obvious that McGuire was out of his depth, was Sam brought to the fore.

Normally I wouldn't believe such a thing, but given the persistant rumours about how the Leeds and St Helens players childishly blanked each other during last year's tournament, I'm beginning to wonder. Could it be they were peeved that their mate Rob hadn't got the nod?

I agree that Sam did stand a bit wide in the first half, but it was the Kev and Danny show, he didn't even get looked at in the first half.

I agree with both these comments and pretty much said the same thing to my mate who I took along for his first taste of live Rugby League for over twenty years. I thought the withdrawal of Maguire and the introduction of Eastmond allowed Tomkins and England some real freedom of expression.

On a slightly different note I thought Eorl Crabtree was excellent when he came on and deserves another run out next week.

: Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:32 pm  

RobotMonster wrote: I agree that Sam did stand a bit wide in the first half, but it was the Kev and Danny show, he didn't even get looked at in the first half. He was a bit hesitant, but he was also staying on the left because clearly that's where TS had told him to stay, and the few times the ball was passed left from dummy half it was to Graham or Ellis (and you could count on one hand the number of times it went left in the first 25 minutes). One particularly baffling time the play did 'decide' to go left, Danny McGuire went with it missing out Sam completely (almost like he was ignoring him) and yet again leaving a big big ass hole on the right hand side. The play shape was supposed to be Code: Select all                        <ROBY> <SAM>                                      <MCGUIRE>               <SMITH>             <BRISCOE>                      <SINFIELD> And for most of the first half the play either went right straight away and the play shape turned into                        <ROBY> <SAM>                    <MCGUIRE>                 <SMITH>                           <BRISCOE>                      <SINFIELD>

RobotMonster wrote: I agree that Sam did stand a bit wide in the first half, but it was the Kev and Danny show, he didn't even get looked at in the first half. He was a bit hesitant, but he was also staying on the left because clearly that's where TS had told him to stay, and the few times the ball was passed left from dummy half it was to Graham or Ellis (and you could count on one hand the number of times it went left in the first 25 minutes). One particularly baffling time the play did 'decide' to go left, Danny McGuire went with it missing out Sam completely (almost like he was ignoring him) and yet again leaving a big big ass hole on the right hand side. The play shape was supposed to be Code: Select all                        <ROBY> <SAM>                                      <MCGUIRE>               <SMITH>             <BRISCOE>                      <SINFIELD> And for most of the first half the play either went right straight away and the play shape turned into                        <ROBY> <SAM>                    <MCGUIRE>                 <SMITH>                           <BRISCOE>                      <SINFIELD>

: Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:36 pm  

Personally thought Danny was out his depth on saturday. Thought young guns Eastmond and Tomkins played well and as mentioned Crabtree played very well gaining the hard yards.


Who was that Aussie prop with the blonde hair who took it up all night. (Yes that does sound rude) He had a stormer.

: Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:40 pm  

SiY wrote:

Personally thought Danny was out his depth on saturday. Thought young guns Eastmond and Tomkins played well and as mentioned Crabtree played very well gaining the hard yards.


Who was that Aussie prop with the blonde hair who took it up all night. (Yes that does sound rude) He had a stormer.

Hannant? looks like a bit fatter version of Jammer?