England A v Portugal

[sockwithaticket]

Given how few other nations seem interested in having an A team (Ireland and New Zealand are the only ones) these days, more tier 2 games definitely need to be sought out, but only if they're going to be full blooded affairs. More matches like this will simply be a waste of air fares and match fees.

Might be worth tapping up Canada and the US to see what can be done about reviving the Churchill Cup. It's not the only factor in their decline, but they definitely seemed a lot more competitive when they were regularly playing the Saxons and Wolfhounds.

Ahem, we have played more Tier 2 teams than any other Tier 1 team over the last decade

Mostly because New Zealand and South Africa won't book you for a summer tour.

Anyway, I was saying that New Zealand Maori, England A and Emerging Ireland (formerly the Saxons and Wolfounds) should be looking to get games against tier 2 if it's to actually be worth resurrection them, no need to try and turn it into a contest about whose senior side is doing more.

[Slick]

The arrogance

[JM2K6]

91 - 5 not sure anyone got anything from that

A few players looked decent (Hodge, Ojomoh, Atkinson, Pearson) but not in a way we didn't already know about...

Hodge was infuriating. Superb runner but actively does all he can to avoid passing the ball to a teammate.

Ojomoh is a classy operator. Tuima looked excellent, so did Fisilau, but it is hard to say in such a mismatch whether they'd survive the step up.

[geordie_6]

91 - 5 not sure anyone got anything from that

A few players looked decent (Hodge, Ojomoh, Atkinson, Pearson) but not in a way we didn't already know about...

Hodge was infuriating. Superb runner but actively does all he can to avoid passing the ball to a teammate.

Ojomoh is a classy operator. Tuima looked excellent, so did Fisilau, but it is hard to say in such a mismatch whether they'd survive the step up.

Tuima looks a decent option coming up, but he was a bit lumbering at times? Slow off of the deck etc. Possibly just a couple of moments in the one game, as definitely seen him Iook more dynamic in other matches.

Hoping we will take a punt on Ojomoh at some point and shift Lawrence out to 13.

[JM2K6]

A few players looked decent (Hodge, Ojomoh, Atkinson, Pearson) but not in a way we didn't already know about...

Hodge was infuriating. Superb runner but actively does all he can to avoid passing the ball to a teammate.

Ojomoh is a classy operator. Tuima looked excellent, so did Fisilau, but it is hard to say in such a mismatch whether they'd survive the step up.

Tuima looks a decent option coming up, but he was a bit lumbering at times? Slow off of the deck etc. Possibly just a couple of moments in the one game, as definitely seen him Iook more dynamic in other matches.

Hoping we will take a punt on Ojomoh at some point and shift Lawrence out to 13.

Tuima did double up on work a few times, including making a big carry then being the guy tracking back to stop a counter attack. But he does look like he's carrying some extra timber.

Would be nice if he was taller, too - we're just not producing the giants other teams are...

[pjm1]

Given how few other nations seem interested in having an A team (Ireland and New Zealand are the only ones) these days, more tier 2 games definitely need to be sought out, but only if they're going to be full blooded affairs. More matches like this will simply be a waste of air fares and match fees.

Might be worth tapping up Canada and the US to see what can be done about reviving the Churchill Cup. It's not the only factor in their decline, but they definitely seemed a lot more competitive when they were regularly playing the Saxons and Wolfhounds.

Ahem, we have played more Tier 2 teams than any other Tier 1 team over the last decade

Games against us (England) don't count