Rugby World Cup 2007 

England v Samoa Match Review

Well at the risk of sounding like an advert for  'Direct Line'  I have to say...

That's Better, Much Better!

The first 10-12 minutes I thought we looked sharp, organised, knew the game plan and exactly what we were doing.  All the players looked at ease and focused and to be fair kept their focus throughout the game.  This opinion came from watching the match twice, once live and once with the anxiety and stress of it being a Must Win game all taken away.  

This week the players did turn up and played Full On with hearts on show!   Andy Gomarsall I think most would agree had a fantastic game and some of his quick thinking, darting moves and lovely boxed kicks saved many a tricky moment for England.  Gomarsall made the difference today stepping into the breach to boss the game when Wilkinson had gone AWOL.  

England came out the blocks running with a charge down kick and pass from Wilkinson out to Captain Martin Corry who went over for the Try, Wilkinson converting.  England off to a great start and confidence builder.  Wilkinson then a few minutes later went for a drop goal - got it and I thought this is much more like it.  Organised, controlled, knowing what they have to do and getting on and doing it.

Far from the shambles that was the USA and South Africa.  I sat back and started to enjoy the first England game in a long while but not for long as Samoa's Loki Crichton  started to rack up the penalties points from England's lack of discipline.  The annoying thing about this is, players should know better going offside and lacking discipline at this level is not good enough.  

Samoa also conceding penalties and by 20mins in England had another penalty converted by Wilkinson and the score line was reading 16 - 6. And just for those of you who like trivia, Wilkinson's kick puts him third on the list of all-time World Cup scorers behind Gavin Hastings and Michael Lynagh.

As the first half moved on we had some indifferent play from Samoa, England seemed to drop away and it all became very boring again and just on cue - here we go that damn Mexican Wave.  I wish it had never been invented, well yes call me miserable but players are trying hard to win and important game on both sides and they don't need the blooming Romans with their thumps up and down whilst the game is going on.  I refuse to join in when I find myself in this situation.  Bah Hum Bug.

Well this next move shuts them all up, Shaw and Stevens take the ball to Samoa then out to the backs, the ball moving right and left, Wilkinson putting a quick kick through Tait blocked but Sackey running through behind Samoa's defensive line and Wilko converts. Score  23-6.  During this half the England fans could be heard at last singing their hearts out.  

England players again conceding penalties for off side and impingement, points creeping up again against England and that niggly feeling creeping in again.

First Half Score:  England 23 - Samoa 12

Second half Samoa started off how they left the first half with again a penalty being awarded to them,  England must cut out this indiscipline.  England however, get their own penalty after Brian Lima nicknamed the chiropractor takes Wilkinson very high, this is the first time I have ever seen Jonny swear.  Had to chuckle could this be the makings of him.  Just joking, just joking don't send the hate mail please.

And then Jericho the walls came tumbling down - whoops wrong country!  This happened...  No way was this a try but typical of England's luck and no I am not a one eyed fan after Alan Lewis goes to the Video Ref.,  

A chip, chase and gather from Samoa's Lemi then to Scwalger, the ball is kicked on by the hooker (hookers should not be able to do this sort of thing) then it was a straightforward  race between  Polu and Taity.  Polu allegedly gets the touch and Samoa are back and my stomach feels unwell.  Loki Crichton converts.

England 26-22 Samoa

Samoa came right back into the game at this point and England looked shaky although we had some good breaks from Cueto we looked nervy again.  Wilkinson going for drop goals missing and then also missing the penalty kick.  Wilkinson not playing well really today, kicking percentages down and I wonder if his ankle for kicking is still a bit weak.

20min into this second half and my heart was in my mouth England looked ragged again and not very convincing and at one point it was mayhem in the top right hand corner of the field, one yard from England's try line.

Samoa kick ahead, the ball somehow goes to ground and Lewsey makes a wonderful recovery sliding back to collect inches from his own line, how he managed to do that I don't know!  England defend this situation really well and managed to get the ball away from the danger zone.

England make a few changes this half  Perry Freshwater and Steve Borthwick on. Andrew Sheridan and Simon Shaw and eventually Hipkiss for Taity ( who really has not shone as yet this Rugby World Cup).

It seemed like age before the next points went onto the score board, it was a drop goal from Wilkinson around the 70th min.  Making the score 29-22 bit more distance in the score line now.  England get another penalty and Wilkinson decides to kick from the half way line and he gets it!   Score 32-22, at this point I start to relax again but England are not giving the fans an easy ride by no means.

The Samoans starting to get tired and England capitalising on fresh legs. Sackey straightens the line in midfield sending a pass to Corry who barges over for his second try of the game - Wilkinson converts  39 -22.

England the game won now seemed to relax the match heading to the last minutes of the match plus a bit of overtime and in went Sackey for the fourth and final try and a bonus point.  

England's Paul Sackey - Picture Empics

Wilkinson  fails to convert from out wide.  Must try harder Wilko and I am sure he will be out there kicking even now probably in the dark if he has to but he must because we can't afford the kicks not to go over..

I fell that all players showed their metal today and did not give up or let their heads go down.  By far and away I felt that Gomarsall was my man of the match.

Josh Lewsey held up this week under a great deal of pressure and saved England's bacon in the second half.

The front row looked good and I though Chuter did just what it says on the Tin - Chuting into the line-out well.  Solid performances really by Shaw, Kay and Easter.

Thought Barkley made a couple of half breaks but sometimes a bit indecisive when he got the ball.  Cueto looked sharp and had some good breaks.

All in all as I said at the beginning  'Much Better'

Final Score:  England 44 v Samoa 22

Next up Tonga -  I know this match was a must but hey folks the next one is the ultimate.

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