We have a good old fashioned mismatch here. England is ranked 4th in the world and are taking on Georgia, ranked 16th.
All the talk prior to this game has been about English skipper Mike Tindall's off field antics. The story has everything; a wronged princess, a mysterious blonde, dwarves, hidden camera footage, a bitter bouncer, and the suspicion of infidelity. Well almost everything, it has bugger all to do with Rugby. If the English team can keep their eyes on the prize they should run away with this.
NZ born Shontayne (how often do you meet a guy called Shontayne?) Hape soon does run away for the opening try within 4 minutes - a good sign for England who need to prove they can score tries as well as kick goals at this tourney. Toby Flood converts 7-0 England.
Georgia clearly haven't read their script because they thrice nearly score tries, and only a foot in touch denies them parity. Nice stuff from these impressive Eastern Europeans. They also fail to convert a kickable penalty - this stadium with no wind, seems to strangely confound goal-kickers.
There must be a huge number of England fans in Dunedin because the stands in the stadium are bathed in white, and a very audible chorus of Sing Low Sweet Chariot resounds. But they won't be in great spirits, because their team are under surprising pressure from the Georgians and are coughing up a disturbing number of penalties.
Normal service resumes after 20 minutes as Hape bags his second following good building pressure from the English back line. The score is 14-0 and if England can keep their hands on the pill they could score a hat full.
You have to feel for Georgia. They have played most of the rugby in the opening 24 minutes and have nothing to show for it - rugby can be a cruel game indeed. But then, having missed 3 penalties already Georgian first five Merab Kvirikashvili at last puts his team on the board. 14-3 after 27 minutes. Georgia really deserved some points - good on them! This is quickly undone by an English penalty. 17-3.
Georgia continue to press and the biggest cheer of the night comes when England hooker Dylan Hartley is yellow carded after persistent infringements. Georgia reject the easy three and opt to scrum, then poetic justice is served as their number 8 Dimitri Basilaia scores under the sticks on the stroke of halftime. What power, what passion - I'm starting to love Georgia.
England will return from the break 14 English players will try to maintain their 17-10 lead over the brave Georgians. Astonishing. If England are going to regain their dignity they will have to get hold of the ball themselves by fair means and then play some footy. If they keep infringing they'll lose more players to the bin and maybe even the match.
The second half is on, it would be smart for Georgia to keep the ball in hand and try and suck another yellow card out of the English team, but they kick away plenty of possession and allow England to regain some momentum. Credit where it's due here - watching the first mintes of this half you have no idea England are down to 14. They are playing pretty damn well with a man missing.
They confirm this by scoring a fine try to left winger Delon Armitage. As much as I'd love to see another boil over tonight, I think that is asking too much of the Georgians; they seem to be wilting.
Kvirikashvili misses his 4th penalty attempt after 50 minutes. If he'd converted them all we would have a tied ball game here instead it is 22-10 England. He misses his 5th kick shortly after and we all know that IF is a very big word sometimes.
With 20 minutes to play Martin Johnston looks ill. For good reason too - his charges merely sit back and wait for Georgian mistakes. Will the English team be able to win this cup without taking control of their games? Are they going to find it easier to play South Africa, or France or New Zealand? Hardly.
That is better, English center Manu Tuilagi earns his team a bonus point in the 62nd minute, with a well worked back line move. This will please his coach. 29-10 the game is in hand, but England will want more in the last quarter.
They get it when right winger Chris Ashton scores a lovely individual 50m try, as he cuts through the tiring Georgian backs like they are drunk. 36-10 England after 65 minutes. And then... nothing happens. England have the fitness and skills but not the temerity to push on. Georgia have ground themselves out.
Oops I spoke too soon, Ashton grabs his second try on the stroke of halftime, with a wee hollywood thrown in for good measure. The final score of 41-10 looks better than it appeared when watching it. New Zealand's victory over Tonga, and South Africa's over Fiji were of a similar scale. But they seemed to be a better caliber. Still England have played two, won two. You can't take that from them.
Final score: England 41 - Georgia 10
18 games 91 tries.
Tweet of the match- "Just saw Mike Tindall snogging a mystery blonde. It MAY have been Lewis Moody." @bigmeiks
No comments:
Post a Comment