EnglandEngland came in for scathing criticism from their coaches after failing to measure up to the intensity of the All Blacks, who won the third Test in Hamilton 36-13 on Saturday.

“We started poor and it got worse,” assistant coach Andy Farrell said, referring to a Freddie Burns opening kick-off a that failed to go the required 10 metres, setting the All Blacks up for a first-half rout in which they led 29-6 at half-time.

In the first two Tests, the All Blacks had to come from behind in the second half to win, but in Hamilton they seized control from the start.

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“The first half wasn’t good enough,” Farrell said, adding that the two sides demonstrated “in black and white what intensity looks like and what intensity doesn’t look like”.

The All Blacks scored four of their five tries in the first half, carving holes through the England midfield and forcing head coach Stuart Lancaster to replace hapless inside centre Kyle Eastmond after 40 minutes.

Eastmond, in only his fourth Test, was distraught after being the subject of attention by a barrage of All Blacks, including the powerful Ma’a Nonu playing his 90th international.

Farrell described Eastmond as “obviously disappointed” after the game.

England fought back in an even second spell, but only after Lancaster delivered what he described as “sharp words” during the break.

“I thought we might have put pressure on in the second half but the first half the All Blacks demonstrated why they’re the number one team in the world at the moment,” he said.

“For us to win at this level we need to be better.”

On the All Blacks side, head coach Steve Hansen deflected praise for the win to his assistant Ian Foster for masterminding their game plan after analysing England’s performance in the first two Tests.

Foster “set up plays that were going to challenge them a bit and tonight we got rewards for that,” Hansen said.

“We got quality ball and we executed our skills probably better than we had in the last two Tests, our running lines were better and our catch-pass was better, so as a result of that we put them under a bit of pressure.”

Left wing Julian Savea scored three tries and has now touched down eight times in four games against England, leaving Lancaster to point to the difference between the world champion All Blacks and fourth-ranked England.

“Savea’s a phenomenal player … and probably a reflection of the quality of the skills the All Blacks showed, particularly during the first half,” he said.

5 Responses to June Internationals: England – Coaches lash the team for performance

  • 1

    How refreshing…honest coaches. Even though their side lost against the best side in the world away from home, the coaches told it like it was.

    We almost lose at home to Wales, played 100 times worse than England, and our coach lauds the players and calls this the best test he has coached.

    Spare the rod and spoil the child

  • 2

    @ nortierd:
    We were blown away in the first 30 minutes. And all i can think what went wrong is, they fed from our coach praising his troops and they came out to show that they are just as good as al that World best players.

    At the same time the Springboks might have believed they are so good they only need to run on.

    Certainly HM must go for a refresh course, his Degree might have helped him a few years back , but new ways are now used and he is not that great with it anymore.

  • 3

    @ superBul:
    He must leave the pschycology babble and ego stroking to the shrinks in the squad. It’s their job to mollycoddle the players and build up their confidence.

    If a player, or in the case of yesterday, the team plays crap, he must be honest about it.

    I don’t buy into this character nonsense, if you can show character from minute 70 to 80, why didn’t you show the same character from the kickoff?

  • 4

    nortierd wrote:

    why didn’t you show the same character from the kickoff?

  • 5

    @ nortierd:
    Even if he keeps this team together until the WC i wont feel that confident to bet my house on it.
    FduP was not that good and he does not have that x-factor that Willie le Roux showed. Cornell Hendriks also look like a player who can bring something surprising to the game.
    Morne played well but although it might be much lower level Hanro had that unpredictable nip in his play.

    Although this team plays good winning rugby they wont be something new to the All Blacks. I have the feeling that The AB,s will have too many tricks up their sleeves for this group of Boks

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