From: grahamc@hpwin052.uksr.hp.com (Graham Cutting)
Subject: Re: Engl. vs SA
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 15:28:40 GMT
Organization: HP, Berkshire, England
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

Clive Boock (clive@otago.ac.nz) wrote:
>
>[deleted stuff]
>
>   England didn't really score from enterprising play  but capitalised on the
>mistakes of their opponents.  The only time that South Africa really ran the

It depends what you mean by 'enterprising' ;-).  Englands tries by Guscott 
and Carling were simply executed but they were very good options to take 
under the circumstances.  

First Guscott's try.  England had a 5m scrum.  SA put on the shove and Morris
feeds Andrew, Botha remains standing by the scrum.  Small, Richter and Strauss
attack Andrew with Gerber, Muller and van Rensberg up fast and flat on the
English line.  Andrew chips the oncoming defence and Guscott runs through
to collect the ball and touchdown, Smit being the nearest player to him
and yards away at that.  Botha is still standing by the now broken scrum.

Carling's try was more of a give away.  Andrew put up the garryowen, 
Wright and van Rensberg fumble and Carling picks up the loose ball over the 
line for a try.  Thank you very much :-).

Last but actually the first try, was Tony Underwood's and although there
was some good fortune it was not easy and involved a lot of phases.   

Botha had just kicked the penalty for Dooley pulling Wright away from
a ruck.  Andrew takes the drop goal which is tapped back by Hattingh.
Teague collects the tap and charges on with Winterbottom in support.
Morris feeds Bayfield who sets up another ruck.  Morris feeds Andrew,
to Carling who goes to ground in the tackle, Clarke and Andrew are there.
Clarke collects the ball and drives on and is stopped feet from the line 
to the right of the posts.  Englands ruck is slow (with a bit of help from
SA players on the ground) Morris is caught as the ball emerges by Smit
and the ball is spilt.  Van Rensberg fly-hacks the ball and it goes 
straight to Rory Underwood, who is to the left (facing) of the posts in space. 
Rory turns his back to Small and shields the ball feeding Tony Underwood
who has come round on the loop.  He gets a well weighted pass to send
him on his way to the corner flag with Hills and Andrews to beat.  Hills
gets an arm to him but Tony just manages to touch down before hitting the
corner flag or the ground in touch (honest Guv :-).  

Whilst Carling's try was pure pressure and follow-up the other two do merit
some credit to England's attack.  Andrews kick was exactly the right option
against the SA defence and Guscott's run was timed perfectly, onside all
the way.  Underwood's try was fortunate in that had van Rensberg picked up the
ball, although he was under a lot of pressure and under his posts, he may
have managed to clear the ball.  The rest of the play was England all the
way from the drop-out.

>ball was in injury time and it was far too bloody late by then.  New Zealand,
>Australia, France and England have all scored 25+ points against South Africa
>in the past few months and although I welcome them back to the test match arena
>wouldn't it have been better for them to have started a little more slowly?

There were meant to tour Italy and Romania but for reasons that I forget they 
cancelled.  Money I think.

>   Wales have the mountain to climb on Saturday against Australia and although
>the Wallabies were beaten in the weekend I dont expect the Welsh team to have
>the cohesion or the committment necessary to beat the world champions at full
>strength.

Welsh confidence must be at a high after victories by Swansea and Llanelli
against the 'champs but I have the impression that they have not been 
putting their collective all in to the performances.  They are certainly
showing weaknesses in strength with Lynagh and Campese out.  Just think
how many moves and tries Campese has made for Oz.  I don't think Horan
will be at fly-half, unless they haven't brought one with them.  Do the 
Aussies have a replacement fly-half?  I think the mid-field pairing of
Horan and Little is too good to break up.

I would expect Australia to win but it will be more interesting to see
how (if? ;-) many Wales score against them.  It should be a far cry from
the drubbing they received down-under shortly after England's.   

>
>Clive H. Boock, University of Otago, New Zealand.

--
Graham Cutting
grahamc@hpwin052.uksr.hp.com
Hewlett-Packard, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1HN, England