Banahan scores first TRY

By Kath
November 20 2010

England v Samoa Investec Internationals 2010 - Match Thoughts Review

Investec Internationals 2010

England 26 v 13 Samoa

England took to the field against Samoa with the win against Australia still coursing through their veins.  Not the same team that played Australia last week but all England fans expected more of the same please.  To be fair I felt England tried to come out and play with the same intensity as last week but they were too hyper.   And what happens when you get too hyper? many errors....... penalties, ball bouncing off players instead of going to hands, fumbled ball and a bit of a mess.

One thing we must not overlook here is how much Samoa wanted to win this game and they put every body they had into this match, their physical strength and ferocious tackles made England take notice and to be fair shook England.  You could tell the tension was there when a fight almost kicked off from nothing, once everyone got that out of their system, we did see some good endeavour from England and Samoa alike.

A team on the build will always have ups and downs, you can't expect 100% error free rugby when you have young players being moulded into Test Match rugby.  

What you do not expect, is that your 'old uns' don't have a flash of the ~Red Mist as Steve Thompson did, who for some inexplicable reason decided to kick from the England 22 ( a useless sliced kick it was as well !!), as Chris Ashton was screaming for the ball on the wing.  

Yes we had errors and I wish we would stop giving penalties away especially in kicking distance but I still feel England have turned the corner and are building brick by brick as every game goes by now.

England's Toby Flood kicks a penalty - England v Samoa Twickenham Stadium - Picture by Empics

I think Toby Flood has made the No10 Jersey his own now but I do think he gets a bit too cute and over does moves sometimes.  The backs looked adventurous again really looking for the ball and running some good lines.  Thought Sheridan was fantastic charging around the field.

Englands Andrew Sheridan runs at Samoas Kahn Fotualii - Picture Empics

My Man of the Match was Shontayne Hape or as I have decided to rename him Champagne Happy!  He seemed to be involved in everything, thought Cueto also played well again this week and took some huge hits. I also thought he should have had the offload from Care but never mind.

Englands Shontayne Hape is tackled by Somoas George Stowers - Picture Empics

All in all a win, not a spectacular one but a good Test Match win and don't forget Samoa almost had Ireland last week.  Of course there will always be those who will bemoan doom and gloom but England set out their stall to win two of the four Autumn Investec Internationals - mission accomplished!

Now let's win a third next week.  Game On!............  Come on the Bok!

For England:
Tries: Banahan, Croft
Cons: Flood 2
Pens: Flood 4

For Samoa:
Tries: Williams, Otto
Cons: Williams

England: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Matt Banahan, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Nick Easter (captain), 7 Hendre Fourie, 6 James Haskell, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 David Wilson, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Andrew Sheridan. 
Replacements: 16 Steve Thompson, 17 Dan Cole, 18 David Attwood, 19 Tom Croft, 20 Danny Care, 21 Charlie Hodgson, 22 Delon Armitage.

Samoa: 15 Paul Williams, 14 David Lemi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Tasesa Lavea, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 George Stowers, 7 Manaia Salavea, 6 Ofisa Trevarinus, 5 Kane Thompsen, 4 Filipo Lavea Levi, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Mahonri Schwalger (captain), 1 Sakaria Taulafo.
Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Census Johnston, 18 Iosefa Tekori, 19 Afa Aiono, 20 Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Fautua Otto, 22 Fautua Otto.