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England 28 - USA 10

England

United States

  1. England woeful against USA

    England woeful against USA

    Defending champions England produced a woeful performance in their opening match of the World Cup as they struggled to defeat part-timers USA 28-10 in Lens. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:80'
    • England
    • United States
    • 80' Barkley kicks for touch and England have one last chance to end the game on a high. Decent enough move with Farrell standing out. But ref blows for full time. Pretty appaling from the world champions. Not sure where they go from here. One thing is for sure: the post-match analysis will not be very pretty!!! Great effort from the Americans who can certainly hold their heads up high!
    • 80' Emerik spear tackles Barkley and gets a yellow card. Bit of a sour note to end the game, but Barkley is ok.
    • 79' England concede another penalty and get another warning from the ref. Hercus again goes for the corner with a try in mind.
    • 77' England really are looking a shambles! On this form they will struggle against Samoa and who knows what the Springboks will do against them!?!?!
    • 77' England concede another penalty and again US tap and go. America certainly finishing the stronger!
    • 75' Hercus adds two points to cut the deficit to 28-10.
    • 74' US continue to pound England's line and finally Moekiola forces his way over. Superb effort from the Americans. 28-8.
    • 73' US win their line-out and pressutre the England line. They may not have the cutting edge America but they have certainly won some admirers today. England sent back 10m, Hercus takes a quick one and Dallaglio sent to the bin for killing the ball!
    • 72' Tait caught deep in defence trying to counter attack but US chasers nail him and win a penalty. Hercus goes for the corner.
    • 70' Barkley again makes ground, ball finds its way to Chuter who takes a hige hit!
    • 69' America's Mexted on for Mangan. England's Moody on for Worsley.
    • 69' England blow another perfect try-scoring position! Richards at fault this time as he fails to get the ball away cleanly.
    • 66' England's line-out has not been going well in the second half! In fact, nothing has been going well for England. Chuter has twice missed his man after coming on for Regan!
    • 66' Tait on for Robinson, Cueto goes to wing and Tait to full back.
    • 63' Nice break out of defence from Barkley, who has been England's best player today.
    • 63' Chuter on for Regan, Stevens for Vickery, Corry for Shaw and Farrell for Noon.
    • 63' Nice passage of play from America, with Hercus directing things. But Cueto strong in defence.
    • 62' Dallaglio pass from base of the scrum foiled. It has not been a good day for the Wasps man, who looks rather ponderous!
    • 60' Moekiola on for America's MacDonald. Richards on for England's Perry. Can Richards inject some pace into England in the last 15 minutes?
    • 58' America look like their starting to wilt and England must take advantage of their superior fitness. But Hercus slips a few tackles and releases Esikia, who makes 50m. England then concede penalty and Hercus kicks to the corner.
    • 56' Basauri on for Bloomfield
    • 55' Better stuff from England, Lewsey in particular, but again the ball comes back too slowly.
    • 51' Burdette and mMlifa on for the Americans.
    • 50' Barkley adds two points. 28-3. England have 30 minutes to find some form now ahead of their huge clash with South Africa next Friday.
    • 49' England win free kick from scrum and Rees takes quick tap and drives his way over for Engladn second try. Good thinking by the young flanker. 26-3.
    • 48' Lovely break from Sheridan who makes 30m deep into US half, Shaw in support but US knock on and England get scrum 5m from opponent's line.
    • 46' Sika is put clear down the right and only a tackle from Robinsion stops America from scoring. Cueto not looking comfortable in defence!
    • 43' Clever chip from Hercus this time moves America into England's 22m area.
    • 42' Erskine chips ahead and tackles Robinson before England clear their lines.
    • 41' England restart through Barkley. Can they produce something to give the fans cheer in the second half?
    • 40' Referee blows for half-time and England trudge off for a likely tongue-lashing from coach Brian Ashton. America have done well but England have made themselves look very, very poor. What a difference from four years ago. On this evidence they will do well to make it out of the group. South Africa and Samoa certainly won't be sweating!
    • 40' Barkley makes it 21-3.
    • 40' At last some decent play from England, who move the ball through the hands before Kay puts Barkley in at the corner with a lovely soft pass. Lewsey started the move. 19-3.
    • 38' US finishing the half well and Hercus goes for a long drop goal which falls just short. Erksine then nails Cueto as he tries to launch counter attack.
    • 37' England try to run out of defence but make a complete hash of it. What have they been doing in training these past eight weeks?!?!
    • 35' Lewsey finds some space and opens up the US defence, setting up position from which Catt kicks cross field for Robinson to touch down. At last a try from England who move to 14-3.
    • 33' US hooker Lentz is down and in a bit of difficulty after the last scrum. But he's up now and looking ok.
    • 31' Barkley makes it 9-3.
    • 29' England rumble forward through their pack but Americans keep them out again. But Esikia again concedes a penalty and ref Kaplan send him to the sin bin.
    • 28' Barkley puts through a little chip but Catt fails to collect and US full-back does very well to clear. Where is England's first try going to come from?!?
    • 27' Barkley finds Robinson with a cross-field kick but US defence covers well and then drives Dallaglio back. Things not going England's way at the moment! They seem lethargic and clueless!! What is going on?
    • 24' Regan throws to front of the line-out but it's not straight. No excuse for that. England fans are very, very quiet!
    • 22' Lovely kick from Barkley gives England the lead after what has been a poor first quarter from the world chamopions. 6-3.
    • 20' US doing well to slow the ball down but again they give away penalty. Ref Kaplan has warned the US forwards and will surely give a card for next offense. Barkley elects to go for goal.
    • 17' England still looking one-dimensional and need to pick the pace up! They win a penalty for coming off side and kick for the corner but they soon after concede one themselves for holding on. Worsley the guilty man.
    • 15' England win a penalty for Emerick not releasing but it should have gone to the US for a Vickery trip on the centre. Ref missed it but crowd certainly didn't!!!
    • 14' US defence holding firm and Hercus intercepts and breaks up field. But he doesn't have the speed top outstrip the cover defence.
    • 12' England looking more ambitious on the counter-attack - something they failed to do in their two warm-up games against France.
    • 11' Sliced clearance from Hercus but ref calls them back for a US scrum just outside their 22.
    • 6' England concede penalty for Shaw blocking and US have chance to draw level. Hercus on target. 3-3.
    • 6' Simple kick for Barkley gives England a 3-0 lead. Good start by England.
    • 5' Barkley makes another run as England apply the pressure. Clean, simple and very direct from England as the US give away another penalty for offside.
    • 3' Barkley cuts through the American defense and feeds Lewsey out wide for an early chance. But the US hold firm before giving away a penalty.
    • 1' America get us underway and immediately put England under pressure.
    • - It's a dry evening in Lens and England will look to follow New Zealand and Australia's example from earlier today by running in a host of points.
    • - Welcome to England's opening game of the 2007 World Cup against the USA. After their poor build-up - and wretched away form since winning the 2003 tournament - England have alot to prove this evening. They will be too powerful for the largely amateur Americans so it will be all about performance for Brian Ashton's side.

  • Summary

    England versus United States
    Robinson 35’, Barkley 40’, Rees 49’ Tries Moekiola 74’
    Barkley 40’, 50’ Conversions Hercus 75’
    Barkley 6’, 22’, 31’ Penalties Hercus 8’
      Drops  

Live Team Line-Up

  • Referee: Jonathan Kaplan

  • England

    Manager: Brian Ashton

    On the Field

    • Sheridan
    • Regan
    • Vickery Substitution Out (63′)
    • Shaw Substitution Out (63′)
    • Kay
    • Worsley Substitution Out (69′)
    • Rees Try
    • Dallaglio Yellow Card
    • Perry Substitution Out (60′)
    • Barkley Try
    • Robinson Try Substitution Out (66′)
    • Catt Substitution Out (63′)
    • Noon
    • Lewsey
    • Cueto

    Subs

    • Chuter
    • Richards Substitution In (60′)
    • Moody Substitution In (69′)
    • Corry Substitution In (63′)
    • Stevens Substitution In (63′)
    • Tait Substitution In (66′)
    • Farrell Substitution In (63′)

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • United States

    Manager: Peter Thornburn

    On the Field

    • MacDonald Substitution Out (60′)
    • Lentz Substitution Out (52′)
    • Osentowski
    • Gross
    • Mangan Substitution Out (69′)
    • Stanfill
    • Clever
    • Bloomfield Substitution Out (55′)
    • Erskine
    • Hercus
    • Ngwenya
    • Esikia Yellow Card
    • Emerick Yellow Card
    • Sika Substitution Out (52′)
    • Wyles

    Subs

    • Tuipulotu
    • Petri
    • Malifa Substitution In (52′)
    • Burdette Substitution In (52′)
    • Moekiola Substitution In (60′) Try
    • Mexted Substitution In (69′)
    • Basauri Substitution In (55′)

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None