RWC: England - Romania (24-09-2011, 18:00)

[Darwin]

It sounds like the stadium will be close to being sold out again - last time I heard there were just over 1000 tickets left for the match. As long as Romania scores a try and Wilkinson misses a few kicks at goal I'm sure most people in the stadium (apart from the English supporters) will go home happy

 

[Sixesandsevens]

Flood did very well for England last season, but what people do forget is his first start in the team coincided with Foden and Ashtons first starts too and in the next game Ben Youngs got his first start, pretty sure this had as big an influence on the change in fortune of the back line.

 

[RuckinGoodStats]

Lets have a look at today's game starting with referee Romain Poite:

• the scrums will be interesting the referee is averaging three scrum
  infringements per game this ranks him tenth out of the ten referees ie lowest,
  he is 5 times more likely to award a scrum penalty than scrum free kick
• He is awarding an average of 18 penalties a game and this is the 8th lowest
• On average 7 and a half penalties he awards the team will use to have a shot
  at the post
• On average 6 penalties are awarded inside the 22 this ranks him 5th
• He is averaging 1.5 penalties for off side ranking him 7th

Time, Poss & Territory

• England are the lowest in the competition for territory. On average England
  had 42 % of the territory this ranks them lowest in competition. It is in the
  1st half where they have the least amount of territory averaging 34 % in the
  rugby world cup this is the lowest. They also spend the least amount of time in
  the 22 in both the first half and in the competition.
• Romania are the lowest in the competition in possession stakes. Romania are
  averaging 38% possession in a game this is the lowest in the competition. It is
  in the 2nd half where they have only 35% possession that it catches up with
  them.

Points

• England are 33 % more likely to score a try on the right side of the field
  than the left. England are more likely to miss their penalties kicks at goal
  on the left side of the field than the right side of the field.
• England are 6 times more likely to concede a penalty that the opposition
  will take a kick at goal at on the left side of the field.

Attack

• Romanias lack of possession means they are only averaging 57.5 rucks and
  mauls in a game the lowest in the competition. England are averaging 77.5 rucks
  and mauls in a game ranked 13 th in the competition.
• England are on average breaking 7 tackles in the oppositions 22 the 5th
  highest
• Surprisingly for a northern hemisphere team England are averaging 8.5
  offloads a game the 4th highest!
• Both teams are averaging one kick error a game these are tackle kicks from
  the hand not kicks at goal.
• The first five eight for England from recycled ball at first receiver of set
  piece play will pass 72% of the time where as for Romania they will kick roughly
  the same amount of time as they pass
• Romania will kick for touch 60% of the time while England will kick for
  touch 38% of the time

Defence

• England are on average missing 1 out of every 7 attempts, Romania are
  missing 1 out of every 5 tackle attempts. England are most likely to miss a
  tackle between half way and the oppositions 22

Errors

• Both teams are averaging 13 penalties per game this is the highest in the
  competition
• England concede their most penalties between half way and their 22
• England are conceding 9 penalties per game at ruck this is the highest in
  the competition
• Both teams are conceding on average 1.5 penalties at scrum time
• England are on average making 6.5 handling errors per game this ranks them
  15 th in the competition. Romania are averaging 5.5 but have the ball for least
  amount of time so this is why it is low

Set Pieces

• Both teams are averaging 3.5 scrum resets a game.
• England are most likely to do a scrum infringement on their feed than on the
  oppositions feed so to are Romaina in fact the teams share very similar set
  piece scrum errors this could cancel each other out or make scrums extremely
  interesting

 

[Seaton]

Can we call the resting of many players for a very important next fixture 'The Hadden Maneouvre'?

The Romanian jerseys for this game don't look at all flattering, the primarily yellow ones look several times better.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I really don't like Phil Vickery's commentary style.

I'M TALKING LOUDLY. GETTING SLIGHTLY. MORE EXCITED WITH. EACH UNNECESSARILY. SHORTENED. SENTENCE!

 

[Seaton]

Hehe, can't you switch to NZ commentators?

What a clearance kick by the Oak fullback, must have been 60 metres at least

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Woop woop!
Cueto try


England penalty count is dreadful though

 

[Seaton]

At this rate Cueto could break the 8 try world cup record, hat trick and not even 30 minutes gone...

 

[Saintjay]

Woop woop!
Cueto try


England penalty count is dreadful though

Not sure about the couple for holding on, seemed a little quick to blow.

 

[Seaton]

Are you guys in England hearing the stuff about Wilkinson, the ball boy and the balls?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

No what's going on with that?
We've just got Phil Vickery TALKING LOUDLY ABOUT NOTHING IN PARTICULAR.

 

[Saintjay]

Are you guys in England hearing the stuff about Wilkinson, the ball boy and the balls?

No idea mate what did he or they say.

Ashton all over the park, seems to be playing well and then he does his little dive arghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Toko_11]

Romanians are doing ok considering its their second team on the field.
but Im falling asleep this wasn't worth staying up I hope NZ v France will be a better game

 

[Saintjay]

Romanians are doing ok considering its their second team on the field.
but Im falling asleep this wasn't worth staying up I hope NZ v France will be a better game

What sort of game did you expect mate.

 

[Toko_11]

What sort of game did you expect mate.

Georgia v England Kind

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Georgia v England Kind

what was good about that!?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

England trying to play audacious rugby but execution is letting them down .... should be up another 20+ points.

 

[Toko_11]

what was good about that!?

IDK 75% possesion by Georgians, contest Until 62nd minute. 10-17 at halftime etc ......

aww so close, Come on oaks !!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Tuilagi's had a good game today
A bit quieter than usual but ran some good lines and his passing has been good

Got a try for his troubles now as well

 

[Getofmeland]

We need to be getting another 20 Points to make in convincing... 2/3 Tries in the last 15 mins would be good...