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06.11.2018 14:44
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Stuart Barnes reviews Englands performance against South Africa, assesses their chances against Fiji and gives his opinions on Wales squad in this weeks talking points. 1. Another Saturday, another win for England as Eddie Jones made it 10 out of 10 since taking charge. From day one he has cracked the whip and demanded more than any of these players have ever given. The result is a team mentally tougher than the one that was so similar in terms of personnel to this current one. The boundaries between success and failure are as much in the strength of the mind as the body. Highlights of Englands opening Autumn International against South Africa at Twickenham. The Jones regime has a perfect strike rate but has yet to deliver a performance that would be described as memorable. For example, Jones England has never been near in terms of quality to what we saw from Joe Schmidts Ireland against New Zealand in Chicago. At some stage England will have to find a level of performance beyond what we have so far seen. But Jones is in no great hurry. His team are fit, determined, confident and dont have to face New Zealand until 2018. That is the game Jones will have inked into his planner. To be world champions, you have to be good enough to know you can beat the All Blacks. Ben Youngs rips through the South African defence on Saturday All he gave his team was a pass mark for ending the run of a decade and 12 games without victory against the Springboks but Englands discipline was sloppy and South Africa are currently at their least formidable. To see them pick a pine forest of lineout forwards and watch them fail to even compete in the air against England was to scratch your head and wonder.On the plus side was a magnificent performance from Joe Launchbury, a eye catching 70 minutes from Ben Youngs and an absolute gem of a first phase try....give them a pass. Joe Launchbury competes with Eben Etzebeth in the lineout 2. A pass mark should be enough to see them to Eddies 11th straight win against Fiji this Saturday. The Pacific Island teams are so nomadic in terms of their players global travelling that it takes time to bring a team together.In the World Cup, Fiji produced a brave performance against Wales and a more than half decent one against England at Twickenham. Australia drove them around the fringes and demolished them in the tight in their pool game in Cardiff. I wonder if England will start with the ambition witnessed for the Jonny May try or if they might attempt to pummel the Fijian forwards in the tight. It is not going to be a question of whether they will win but how.The make up of the team will also be interesting. Jones is not one of giving away caps but he wants to get as much depth as possible in his squad. It could be an exciting day for a few fringe players. Billy Vunipola has praised his England teammates for their performance against South Africa on Saturday 3. Irelands fringe players did their job against Canada, scoring in excess of 50 points to keep morale high ahead of what is arguably the game of 2016. Highlights of Irelands opening Autumn International against Canada from Dublin. Schmidt has said he is wary of New Zealand revenge. A good Kiwi, he knows how much those rare defeats hurt an All Black. Schmidt is smart and will know that Steve Hansen and his management will not allow themselves to be outsmarted as they were in Illinois.The same from Ireland will not suffice because New Zealand will have shrugged off what looked like a hint of complacency and changed the game. Ireland prepared for months to win in America, Schmidt has only a fortnight to mastermind what would be an even greater victory.4. Congratulations to Beauden Barrett for being named World Player of the Year. Beauden Barrett spills a high ball in the game against Ireland How ironic that the award came in the wake of a quite naive performance against Ireland. He was an easy target for Ireland to read, playing harder and flatter without it ever dawning on him that Ireland were not for cracking. A few chips to turn them would have made Irelands defence think, instead it just dominated. Still, we all have our bad days.It has crossed my mind that New Zealand could even start Aaron Cruden at fly-half in Dublin... but what a season Barrett has produced, a fly-half who has ripped the rule book up when it comes to Test match selection.He has made and scored so many tries that the kicker isnt the first name on the New Zealand team sheet. He has been the most positive player to have emerged on the world scene in years.5. Positive is not a word that springs readily to mind when considering the Springboks. Five away games this calendar year (if you include the Barbarians match) and not a victory or performance worthy of note. Lourens Adriaanse, Bongi Mbonambi and Adriaan Strauss show their disappointment after the defeat to England on Saturday If they dont break that sorry sequence against Italy we can start throwing around words such as `crisis like if we were tossing spaghetti.6. So close again for Scotland....they played some superb stuff against Australia and again came up short.Vern Cotter has got them playing some excellent stuff and the South African Scot with a Welsh name appears quite a find but now is the time to turn performances into wins.They beat Argentina convincingly prior to the World Cup, a similar result is needed if Scotland are going to grab themselves some of that self belief upon which Jones feeds his England team. Six months half price Upgrade to Sky Sports now to watch Man Utd v Arsenal this Saturday and get the first six months half 7. Australia played some good rugby too with Bernard Foley, Israel Folau and the tearaway flankers, Michael Hooper and David Pocock all impressive. But Scotland found a few more defensive chinks than Michael Cheika would have liked. Israel Folau stood out in a scrappy game against Scotland If Guy Noves France play with power and pace it could be quite a game between these teams. It is an `if as big as a French pack.8. Wales won but the question marks continue to surround Rob Howleys team.The return of Alun Wyn Jones and Sam Warburton added some beef in the pack and this was probably the reason Wales just about saw Argentina off in Cardiff.The Pumas look tired as their season and thin squad nears its end but where is a sign of something special from those talented Welsh backs?Liam Williams is an honourable exception to that particular question. I reckon this versatile man is going to make it to New Zealand as a Lion.9. Bristol recorded their first win of the season against Sale in the Anglo-Welsh Cup. Mitch Eadie is tackled by Ben Curry as Bristol beat Sale It came too late for Andy Robinson and, in all honesty, isnt likely to lead to a trophy but when losing becomes a habit like it has for Bristol, any win is important.I refer you back to Eddie, England and psychological strength.10. Back to where we started, Twickenham.It is fair to say that HQs pre and half-time entertainment with the military marching bands and Essex Dog shows have never done it for me but what a wonderful few minutes at the interval as Laura Wright sang `Hallelujah in tribute to the great Leonard Cohen.Whoever came up with the idea, a heart- felt thanks on behalf of we Cohen devotees who happened to be at Twickenham. It was a most moving gesture.Upgrade to Sky Sports now to watch Man Utd v Arsenal this Saturday and get the first six months half price! Also See: Well bore Fiji to death Itoje wins World Rugby award Beware All Blacks backlash Giles set for Wales debut Sam Jones Jersey . Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League. Bradley Chubb Jersey . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. http://www.cheapbroncosjerseyssale.com/?tag=demarcus-ware-jersey-sale .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Max Garcia Jersey . Now that hes hitting streaking teammates with pin-point passes for easy layups, Love is asserting himself as one of the true superstars in the league. Bradley Roby Jersey . Neymar curled home a free kick from just outside the area to put the 2014 World Cup host ahead in the 44th minute. Three minutes after the break, a simple through pass from Paulinho freed Oscar and the Chelsea star rounded goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong to extend Brazils lead. SAN DIEGO -- Star tight end Antonio Gates is under contract with the San Diego Chargers through the 2017 season.Hunter Henry is a rookie who has played in six games.And yet, the transition is already underway.Unlike at some positions, where a younger player largely sits until a veteran has retired or moved on, Henry is already showing that the Chargers made a smart choice with their second-round draft pick out of Arkansas.Hes a stud, man, said Gates, who came into the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2003 after starring in basketball at Kent State. Its self-explanatory with him. He was the No. 1 tight end coming out of college and now hes been able to be productive in the NFL. It just gives that added dimension of what he can do from an offensive standpoint.Gates is 36 and has been slowed by a hamstring injury, missing two games. He has 12 catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns.Henry is 21 and has made five starts, catching 19 passes from Philip Rivers for 310 yards and three touchdowns.Henry will eventually replace Gates. He could already be stealing his fantasy thunder.He should, man, rightfully so. He deserves it, said Gates, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection who was an AP All-Pro from 2004-06. Hes like a little brother. When you get to the point where Im at, I genuinely care about the kid. Offensively we are doing the things we need to do. So thats whats more important than anything. Obviously I want to be productive and he wants to be productive, But sometimes we have to take whats given to us. When he stops making those plays then vice versa, my chances and my opportunities come, I have to make my plays.Henry laughs at the little brother tag.I would consider him a big brother, but a lot older big brother, the rookie said. I like to mess with him because I was watching him like when I was in first grade. I was 7. They were in the playoffs like for four or five straight years and they were going back and forth with the Patriots and the Colts.Gates signed a two-year contract in March that will allow him to retire with the Chargers.This is his team. Hes the guy here, Henry said. I know that. Im not trying to step on any toes or anything like that, Im just going to try to do the best of my ability every time. Hes one of the best. I want him here as long as he wants to be here. I enjoy being around him off the field and then also juust on the field.dddddddddddd. Hes awesome to watch.Henry joined LaDainian Tomlinson (2001) and Keenan Allen (2013) as the only Chargers rookies to score touchdowns in three straight games. If he scores at Atlanta on Sunday, hed be the first Chargers rookie since Paul Lowe and Don Norton in the franchises inaugural season of 1960 in Los Angeles to score in four straight games. No Chargers rookie has scored touchdowns in five straight games.Exploiting mismatches, all three of Henrys touchdown catches have come with him lining up in the slot. At 6-foot-5, Henry is an inch taller than Gates. The rookie had San Diegos only touchdown in a 21-13 win against Denver on Oct. 13, reaching up to catch Rivers 5-yard pass.Hes got a great feel and a great knack, Rivers said. And really, one thing Im starting to realize is just the range he has. He has a real big catch radius, like the ball he caught on the touchdown. He was the only one who could have got that one.Henry went through his junior season at Arkansas last year without a drop, catching 51 passes.Not long after practice ends each day, Henry plugs in a Jugs football passing machine, grabs a teammate and a garbage can full of balls, and takes turns catching balls.It is a lot of repetition, Henry said. Im really hard on myself with it. Im almost OCD. I want to catch the ball. If I do have a drop in practice, I think about it all the time.Rivers has noticed, and passed along the example while playing in his backyard Tuesday with sons Gunner and Pete.It was boring for them to just stand there and play catch, Rivers said. They want to run around and run routes I tell them, our guys, our receivers, thats what they do is stand there and catch straight-on balls, all day, all the time, in between periods. Thats what pros do.Rivers and Gates have connected on 79 touchdown passes, the most in NFL history between a quarterback and tight end.Rivers also enjoys throwing to the young guy, and said there are still some different plays to be made with Gates and Henry on the field.But theres no better guy to learn from than Gates, Rivers said.---Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/berniewilson---Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Adidas Hockey Jerseys Wholesale College Jerseys Cheap Nike Basketball Jerseys Cheap Football Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Baseball Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Jerseys From China Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Nike NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Soccer Jerseys China Cheap NCAA Jerseys China Stitched NFL Jerseys Cheap Custom Jerseys China Cheap Basketball Jerseys Authentic NFL Jerseys China Cheap College Jerseys Wholesale Football Jerseys ' ' ' |
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