Re: Jack Welsby to become England’s youngest-ever captain : Sun Oct 22, 2023 4:28 pm  

Just couldn't get into that game today for some reason but from what I saw Smith played well and Lewis was threatening at times. Welsby quality as usual.

England's biggest task over the next few years will be developing forwards with size and strength that can match the best from the Southern Hemisphere. We have some very good forwards like McMeeken, Lees, Smithies, Havard, Oledzki etc but replacing the Burgess brothers, Graham, Whitehead, O'Loughlin and co will be tough.

Re: Jack Welsby to become England’s youngest-ever captain : Sun Oct 22, 2023 4:36 pm  

I enjoyed the game. The spine was excellent throughout I thought. I do worry a little that Waney won’t give enough opportunities to young forwards for them to develop ahead of the next World Cup. If you want to win in the here and now, then Hill and Whitehead were again good performers but do we need to use this next 2-3 years to build towards that and be pretty ruthless? I think there’s a case for it.

Re: Jack Welsby to become England’s youngest-ever captain : Sun Oct 22, 2023 4:49 pm  

NSW wrote:

Harry Smith hasn’t missed a goal since Lee Briers got back in the country

He has now

Re: Jack Welsby to become England’s youngest-ever captain : Sun Oct 22, 2023 4:51 pm  

NSW wrote:

What a ball from Welsby for the Johnstone try.

What’s happened to Bateman? Absolutely garbage.

I agree it was a super pass (world class) however I thought his overall performance was below average. Smith was my MoM, Radley was outstanding.

Re: Jack Welsby to become England’s youngest-ever captain : Sun Oct 22, 2023 5:03 pm  

Zig wrote:

I agree it was a super pass (world class) however I thought his overall performance was below average. Smith was my MoM, Radley was outstanding.

agreed. MIA in defence on more than one occasion and sometimes a bit of a headless chicken in possession. With no Sam T, are there any other full-back options? Not saying Welsby should be dropped, just wondering. Harry Smith looks to have cemented his place in the side, very good all round.

Was Harry Newman actually playing in that game?

Re: Jack Welsby to become England’s youngest-ever captain : Sun Oct 22, 2023 5:36 pm  

Zig wrote:

I agree it was a super pass (world class) however I thought his overall performance was below average. Smith was my MoM, Radley was outstanding.

Agree with this and I’m one of Welsby’s biggest fans. Thought he tried too hard and lacked composure. Let himself down as captain with the pushing and shoving incident too. Comes to something when Newman is the peacemaker.

Obviously his floated pass for the try was exceptional.

Thought Smith, Radley and McMeeken went well and an honourable mention to Knowles who didn’t take a backward step.

Have to say also I do agree with Wane pre-match. Wellens as assistant of Tonga doesn’t sit well with me, plotting the downfall of a country that he was Assistant coach for over a number of years. Given the fact that he’s the Saints head coach and he’s finding weaknesses in his own clubs players makes it stranger. It worked to some degree though with Welsby being out of position.

Re: Jack Welsby to become England’s youngest-ever captain : Sun Oct 22, 2023 5:40 pm  

NSW wrote:

What a ball from Welsby for the Johnstone try.

What’s happened to Bateman? Absolutely garbage.

Feels like we’ve had Batemans best years looking at that. He’s always had that determination and aggression that made him a surprise package and meant he played way above his weight but he looked his weight today and there is no surprise there anymore. He looks to have lost a bit of his edge to me.

Re: Jack Welsby to become England’s youngest-ever captain : Sun Oct 22, 2023 5:45 pm  

Bateman hasn't really done anything of note for a good 12 - 18 months. He was good during his second spell with us, but he certainly wasn't great. Since then he's moved to a poor team and things certainly haven't got any better. He's one of their big names and he's simply not performing - West's won't improve until he (& a couple of others do too).

Looking at the team Wane named, I've never been more glad that he's not our coach anymore. Won't sit well with some of his fan boys, but for me he's massively overrated.

Re: Jack Welsby to become England’s youngest-ever captain : Sun Oct 22, 2023 6:51 pm  

Thought Moore had a poor game. Tonga first try was obstruction on Smith, even though the commentary team keep rambling on about King coming in. Tongan player running in and pushing Welsby on the head has been a yellow or red all season.
Thought Smith, McMeeken, Radley, Johnson and Knowles went well. Lewis was decent in attack but needs to improve his defence and stop ripping the ball out.

Re: Jack Welsby to become England’s youngest-ever captain : Sun Oct 22, 2023 8:59 pm  

I don’t think there were any bad performances but not too many good ones.

We looked like a team that hadn’t played together before which reflects on the lack preparation time.

It was a good second half, once we stopped loving them position we were in control of the game but need to offer more in attack. I’d say our best performers were the subs, Knowles lifted the intensity in defence and McMeekin did well.

Both teams will be better next week