Armitage stars in 'New' England's win
Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:19
Starring start: England\'s Delon Armitage
Despite never really hitting their straps England, inspired by a couple of their new faces, recorded a comfortable 39-13 win over the Pacific Islands in their first-ever clash at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon.
On a day full of first’s, including four starting debutants for England there were a number of good things for Martin Johnson to focus on but, particular the performance of golden-boy Danny Cipriani will have given the new England manger some cause for concern.
Elsewhere Delon Armitage, Ugo Monye and Nick Kennedy all had impressive first-runs in an England shirt while Riki Flutey certainly didn’t let himself down but probably was never able to take the control of the game he would have liked.
The first half was an odd affair which, although entertaining, rarely felt like it got going. Both sides had opportunities which came and went while there were also two tries created out of nothing.
Following a minutes silence for the Sunday of remembrance, as well as the always intimidating, Haka from the Pacific Islands the game finally got underway.
There we’re early touches for both Flutey and Armitage while the visiting team showed their willingness to run the ball although the experienced heads amongst them, including Seilala Mapasua and Seru Rabeni where happy to also try and peg England in their 22 with intelligent kicks.
The visiting side had the first chance for points with a penalty in the 3rd minute but his miss meant that Cipriani’s first shot at goal, some five minutes later, gave the Home nation the early lead. |
Armitage particularly showed early on what Johnson had seen in him, secure under the high ball and unpredictable in counter attack, kicking and running at different times effectively.
With just less than a quarter of an hour gone Wasps wing Sackey got the first of his two tries, running in easily from 20 metres out after some strong work from his own forwards and an impressive outside break from fullback Armitage.
While the home fans were quick to get excited about their teams score they were stunned into silence just a minute later when, after the restart, Cipriani’s clearance kick was charged down by Rabeni. The Tigers star followed up the ball and dotted down for Islanders only try of the game. Hola’s conversion was successful and England’s lead was right back to three points.
The match then slipped into an odd phase – with errors from both sides, including a couple a restart from the England No.10 going directly out. Both sides struggled for dominance and the next scoring opportunitu only game on 26 minutes when some loose play from the visiting side saw Sackey get a boot onto the ball but Danny Care failed to control the ball in his drive and spilled the ball over the line.
Both sides turned down opportunities to go for goal during the first forty minutes. Obviously the two sides were looking for tries to steal the momentum of the game but it was not coming until...
Just like that Cipriani scored. Care, who had looked dangerous with quick taps throughout the first 30 minutes, seized the ball and went wide quickly.This time in his teams own 22, he first fed Cipriani who himself then sent the pass on to Monye, who showed his power by shrugging off Vilimoni Delasau, and then set off on a seventy metre gallop before given the ball inside to Cipriani who finished off with a swan dive.
Just before the break the Islanders landed another penalty to keep them in sight at 20-10 but Johnson was probably not overly impressed with his team forty minutes into his reign as team manager. While Armitage’s involvement was impressive another man who certainly took the game by the scruff of the neck was Care. In only his second start the Harlequins No. 9 was making the most of his chance. Dangerous and strong around the fringes he was probably at the centre of all the good England did have during the first half.
After the break Johnson’s men looked sharp. Sackey, and Care again, looking up for it.
Just three minutes into the second half a rehearsed move paid off with Kennedy’s deep lineout ball fed inside to Care in space who strode to just 10 yards out from the line and then fed back to the debutant no. 5 who scored his first try in England colours.
So early in the second half the game could well have then swung to England, and many might have feared the Islanders could crumbled, but instead, to their credit, they regrouped and began their next assault . Sailosi Tagicakibau and Kameli Ratuvou making good runs and replacement flyhalf Seremai Bai proving more options for his teammates.
With the score at 27-10 it was Seremai next to troubled the scorers with his penalty after 55 minutes. The game then entered its second obscure stage. Completely opening up, with the Islanders dominating possession but hardly threatening, England certainly got plenty of defensive practice.
With just thirteen minutes left in the match hooker Lee Mears scored his sides fourth try. A poor clearance was picked up by Armitage who put some real pace on the ball and got the defence on the back foot. Although his pass was loose, the resulting picked up found its way to Lee Mears just 10 metres out and the powerful Bath forward, who was certainly having one of his best days for England, showed some good strength to go over.
Six minutes later and Sackey got his second of the day - finishing in the corner after an expected period of England dominance.
Looking at the match as a whole Johnson will be delighted with his forwards work in producing a number of phases and a platform for their side. Dominating the lineout with Borthwick, Kennedy and Croft supreme, and looking dangerous in patches with an explosive back three of Armitage, Monye and Sackey, Johnson will want an improved showing next weekend against Australia. There was though plenty in the 39-13 win which will have the pundit’s praising ‘Johnno’s new era.”
Man of the match
The 365 man of the match award was tightly contested. It was certainly hard to disagree with the official choice of Armitage but massive credit too must go to Danny Care. Although replaced after 60 minutes the Quins No.9 bought his fine Premiership form to the international stage and should really have secured his spot for the coming weeks.
Moment of the match:
Nick Kennedy’s try on 43 minutes. A clever move inspired by the dominant England lineout saw Care in space and with good awareness was able to find the London Irish lock and probably give England the killing strike so early in the second half.
Villain of the
match:
Harsh call to call him a villain but with the chance to really step up to the mantle Danny Cipriani will look back at this weekend’s clash as a match as one in which he never really took centre stage. Simple errors and an annoying nack of passing the ball behind his attacking teammates means he has plenty to learn from just his fourth international game.
The scorers:
For England:
Tries: Sackey 2, Cipriani, Kennedy, Mears,
Pens: Cipriani 2
Cons: Cipriani 4
For Pacific Islands
Tries: Rabeni
Pens: Hola, Seremaia Bai
Con: Hola
Teams:
Pacific Islanders: 15 Kameli Ratuvou (FIJ), 14 Sailosi Tagicakibau (SAM), 13 Seru Rabeni (FIJ), 12 Seilala Mapusua (SAM), 11 Vilimoni Delasau (FIJ), 10 Pierre Hola (TGA), 9 Mosese Rauluni
(FIJ, captain), 8 Finau Maka (TGA), 7 Nili Latu (TGA), 6 Semisi Naevo (FIJ), 5 Kele Leawere (FIJ), 4 Filipo Levi (SAM), 3 Census Johnston (SAM), 2 Aleki Lutui (TGA), 1 Justin Va'a (SAM)
Replacements: 16 Sunia Koto (FIJ), 17 Kisi Pulu (TGA), 18 Hale T Pole (TGA), 19 George Stowers (SAM), 20 Sililo Martens (TGA), 21 Seremaia Bai (FIJ), 22 Epi Taione (TGA)
England: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Tom Rees, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Nick Kennedy, 4 Steve Borthwick (captain), 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Lee Mears, 1 Andrew Sheridan
Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley, 17 Phil Vickery, 18 Tom Palmer, 19 James Haskell, 20 Michael Lipman, 21 Harry Ellis, 22 Toby Flood
