England Summer Tour 2008 - 1st Test Match Review

New Zealand 37 v  20 England 

England ventured off to the land of the Silver fern for their 2008 Summer Tour this time under the long distance view of their new manager Martin Johnson.  It almost feels like England are in a form of  "Limbo" until the great man becomes hands-on.  I am sure there would have been lots of Video conference calls back home and perhaps some Virtual Reality training sessions.  However, Rob Andrew we are told was calling the shots and sitting in his lonely booth, I kept wanting to shout ET Ring Home.

Anyway to the match itself, this was again a 'new look' England only one player from the 15 starters who played in the Rugby World Cup Final 2007 that being Andrew Sheridan.   

England have lots of new talent and this would have been a very useful work out for them because make no mistake the 'All Blacks' ran the England players ragged.  They played at such a high tempo that at times England could not live with them.  International level is always that  step higher but today's game was like lightening and the All Blacks deserved their win.  They were superb.

In the first half England set off really well especially in the first 20mins looking good on the charge, they also looked fresh and held the pace well.  However, sloppy re-starts and lack of concentration after scoring points let them down.   Why do teams not switch on the Red Alert button once they have scored, this is the time that the opponent will come back at you hard but England seemed to go asleep at this time.  

England's Andrew Sheridan was binned on the 32 min mark for not rolling away - England needed that like a hole in the head.

England went ahead first with a penalty from Ollie Barkley and that was wiped out almost immediately by Dan Carter who for me was man of the match for New Zealand.  England held on well in the first half but after that 20mins New Zealand started to rack up the points big style.   Near the end of the half a mistake by Carter throwing a pass for an almost certain try again for the All Blacks but London Irish Topsy Ojo intercepted and ran in a brilliant 80m score, with his pace he left Mils Muliaina to touch down in the corner and Barkley converted.  

England's Topsy Ojo - Pictures by Empics 

Half Time: New Zealand 23-13 England

England came out to the second half with heads up a little but with Sheridan still in the bin the All Blacks capitalised on the situation and frankly, it saddens me to say this but Charlie Hodgson is not an International  player, he is a good club player but he can't defend or tackle for toffee.  Maybe he does not want to get hurt but really when you are the last line of defence you have to stop your man and put your body on the line, he was very weak tonight.  I also felt Strettle was a bit lightweight, he should have had a try in the first half and he dropped many balls.  

As the All Blacks ran rampant through the England players, Hodgson was subbed by Jamie Noon, Barkley switched to fly half but again the split second kick away needs to improve for next week because England were lucky not to have the charge downs penalised.  Overall Barkley had a good game he missed a couple of kicks but he has to start in the 10 position next week.

England found it hard to live with New Zealand in the second half and the piled on the pressure and never let England catch their breath, taking quick line out ball from England's rushed kicks from the 20meter area.   Lots of substitutions in the second half  Kay for Palmer, Pane for Sheridan who had a blood injury Worsley for Mears but Wigglesworth for Danny Care was a great move.  Care made a mark on the match as soon as he came on again for me he would start next week.   

And up popped that man again Topsy Ojo for his second debut try, chasing down a ball from Danny Care Ojo gathered up and went under the posts.  That my friends was the only real highlight of the second half for England and for me England's man of the match.

Very late on Tindall was given the second yellow card of the match but by then it made no difference whatsoever.

Lots of mistakes, tempo needs to be upped and discipline needs to be addressed, all in all though I don't feel too down because we are building for the next RWC the All Blacks are already there again - peaking too soon again maybe?

New Zealand (3) 37
Tries: Smith, Carter, Muliaina, Sivivatu Cons: Carter 4 Pens: Carter 3

England (6) 20
Tries: Ojo 2 Cons: Barkley 2 Pens: Barkley 2

New Zealand: Muliaina; Tuitavake, Smith, Nonu, Sivivatu; Carter, Ellis; Tialata, Hore, Somerville, Thorn, Williams, So'oialo, McCaw (capt), Kaino.
Replacements: Mealamu, Schwalger, Boric, Lauaki, Cowan, Donald, MacDonald.

England: Brown; Ojo, Tindall, Barkley, Strettle; Hodgson, Wigglesworth; Sheridan, Mears, Stevens, Palmer, Borthwick (Captain), Haskell, Rees, Narraway.
Replacements: Paice, Payne, Kay, Worsley, Care, Noon, Tait.

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