Back line didn’t really get enough good ball to impress. Good to see May show what he can do, and I think the fact that Savea didn’t score shows an improvement in the right wing defence. Roko didn’t get the chance to shine going forward, but he was instrumental in some defensive situations where I think if most of the other wing options had been playing, it could have been a different story.

We have been saying for nearly 18 months now that it is reasonably positive. We are good for 40 mins, and just need to do that for the whole match. But this has yet to materialise. NZ and SA may miss chances to score, but they do not miss chances like Browns. And the way 1 to 9 went missing for 15-20 mins while Dane Coles was in the bin was unacceptable. Do we want to compete at this level or not.

The whole team rocket up the ****. All of the “leaders” in the team and Robshaw, as captain, in particular need to take some responsibility on the pitch to address problems as they arise. Care’s kicking was attrocious and possibly that brings Youngs into the team. But where were Farrell and Robshaw saying either keep it tight or get it out to fly half.

England retreated into a Premiership conservative kicking game to match the weather conditions. New Zealand then demonstrated that at this level that does not wash…

I could go on, but… leave that to the coaches.

It might be the start of England’s year, but that sshould mean a slow start. Instead England made a good quick start then ran out of steam, either physically or mentally. That does not bode well for the rest of the matches in which you would expect them to be more and more tired.

Furthermore, if England stick with Farrell, you would have a very familiar 8,9,10 axis, and with Kruis likely to start in the second row, it would be another familiar face for him.

Wigglesworth also has by some distance the best kicking game of all the English 9’s. He’s not flash but he gets the ball away from the ruck pretty quick and controls his pack well. It’s not going to happen, but it does make you think.

Having re-thought it though, it would be silly to drop Hartley given his excellent throwing. So scratch that as a change

Ireland did brilliantly but SA are a different prospect to NZ. They clearly thought they’d run through and over the Irish and when that didn’t happen they had no Plan B – not something you could ever accuse the ABs of.

Let’s see how England go against SA before we make comparisons. I just hope they are as aggressive in the tackle and at the breakdown as the Irish were

It isn’t all doom and gloom no, but it did prove we are some way off NZ at present. Injuries yes, but look what Ireland did with all the injuries they have.

Had the situation been reversed and it was England who had lost just 2 games in the last 38 (!), had twice as many caps as their opposition, (including a captain with more caps than the entirety of the opposition locks and back row ) and had they taken a field against a team carrying a few key injuries, an entirely new centre partnership and a winger getting a first cap, then we would be up in arms at anything less than a hefty win. In fact, we’d probably be calling for wholesale changes in both the coaching and playing team.

As it was England lost by just 3 points to the best team in the world, who closed out a game with great accuracy and professionalism. All of their experience came to the fore in that game, above all whilst Coles was off the field. Whilst they were helped by some pretty rubbish play from England, they did not manage to run away with it and had a few things gone the other way – Johnny May looking right to see Farrell, Mike Brown with slightly stickier fingers and Aaron Cruden’s ‘try’ being referred to the TMO – then England could have been looking at a win

Even without the ‘what-ifs’, there are positives:

1. Front row – we seem to have some good replacements and there is probably an argument for Webber and maybe even Brookes to start next week
2. Locks – Attwood bought the grunt that I think England have been missing. He should be starting from now on with one from Lawes and Launchbury. Also Kruis, our 6th (?) choice lock, played quite well for his first cap and showed we have some depth
3. Backrow – Robshaw had a great game. Vunipola did ok tho’ he needs to take the ball at pace, not standing still.
4. Centres – Eastmond showed his defence is solid. Its noticeable that SBW didn’t do too much until Eastmond came off
5. Wings – May showed what he can do with a superb try. Rokodoguni got his first cap against the best team in the world and whilst he didn’t do anything amazing, he didn’t do anything bad either and on a couple of occasions kept his nerve and calmly cleared loose balls up that otherwise could have been very dangerous. Definitely deserves another chance – preferably being given some space to run in!
6. Subs – George Ford didn’t have a chance to make a difference in attack but his brilliant tackle on SBW saved a definite try

There is no doubt though that some changes do need to be made:

1. Hartley needs to get more involved in the loose and failing that Webber should step in
2. Tom Wood is failing to have enough impact. We need the greater physicality and ball-carrying ability that Haskell would bring – look at the effect Kaino had
3. All the forwards need to hit the line at pace and stop being so static when they take the ball – esp Vunipola and Morgan. Would help if the fly-half played flatter…
4. Our scrum-halves’ kicking has a tendency to go haywire – both can be as bad as the other. Not sure what we can do about that, other than practise. Is anyone else holding their hand up to be picked?
5. Farrell plays far, far too deep all the time. He needs to be told to play flatter or Ford comes in
6. Barritt whilst great in defence is too slow at the level. He looked like he was running through treacle at times.

So assuming that those injured remain so, my team for next week would be:

1. Marler
2. Webber
3. Wilson
4. Attwood
5. Kruis
6. Haskell
7. Robshaw
8. Vunipola
9. Youngs – give Care the incentive of fighting his way back into the side
10. Farrell – I would give him another chance to play flatter and improve his kicking, with the proviso that he’s off at half time if he doesn’t
11. Rokodoguni
12. Eastmond
13. Barritt
14. May
15. Brown

I think had we been playing Aus next I’d have suggested Ford to start, but I’m just not sure how he’d cope with Vermuelen running at him for 80 mins

Missed Tuilagi’s ability to get us over the gain line too. Also got proved wrong on May who was very good, even aside from the try.

Last thing is Italy – looked like a brilliant result against a very good Samoan side.

I don’t think this squad isn’t good enough to beat them. It is. Just not without backs winning the contact.

When England went for the catch and drive, never once did i feel that a try would be scored when the ball was recycled to the backs. Put Tuilagi (or dare i say potentially Burgess?!) in there and it becomes a different story.

Steve Hansen has said England have gone backwards. On that performance it’s hard to disagree with him.

Wales – we “played well”, we “went forward”, we “gave away too many silly points”. So we can fix all that and be sorted. Except we don’t fix it. Ever. — Oh, and it was a brill game for the neutrals apparently. Could not care less.

England – “threw it away”, “shot themselves in the foot”, “not far off the ABs” etc. So again, that can be fixed and then Eng will beat them. It’s good to have hope but some realism that this current squad, management and style won’t beat them might be more useful.

Ireland were brilliant. SA seemed to think that just sticking at the physical would be enough but when Ireland didn’t buckle under that they then tried some running but too little too late. Tactically naive and underestimated their opposition.

Didn’t see the Scotland game.