Glory for England?
Last updated: 3rd July 2008
Rea: impressed with England
Once you break up the defensive line, well that is when you can score your points and I really think that England can win the World Cup by playing that sort of football.
Tont Rea
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Tony Rea told Boots 'N' All that there were positives and negatives in England's World Cup warm-up win over France.
A hat-trick from centre Martin Gleeson helped England cruise to an impressive 56-8 win in the Gillette International in Toulouse, and Rea said that while there are areas for improvement, he was on the whole impressed.
"Technically there were massive improvements particularly in defence," said Rea. "England had to be strong in contact, something they have not been against Australia and New Zealand in the last couple of years.
"Against France there was great contact, in the past we have seen a lot of grappling in the tackles. They have been catching players and being marched three of four metres in defence. That is why they lose games in the end because they are not winning them early.
"But the contact against France was impressive and a big improvement. If you can hit hard and control your defence with one good and solid touch you can dominate the game.
"There was one blip though and that was leaking the try. It was repaired early on though, but those little gaps really need to be sorted because in international rugby that means leaking points and psychological blows, especially when you are playing against Australia and New Zealand.
"They are very fixable though, but need to be sorted before they go on the field."
Rea also believes that England have a great chance of winning the World Cup -- if they play to their strengths.
"England have massive strength in their off-load ability.
"Guys like Pryce and Ellis use it very effectively and the Aussies will not be used to that. The key is that the other players have to know what is happening and have to support it.
"Players running on to the offloads will win it for England. The Aussies look to big throws, they don't look for the little around the fringes off loads.
"Sometimes a players is going too push on and not get the ball, but they still have to try it. Defenders will have to try and shut it down and that is when gaps will appear.
"Once you break up the defensive line, well that is when you can score your points and I really think that England can win the World Cup by playing that sort of football."
