News
Easter regrets stud choice
November 30 2008
Nick Easter was regretting switching to extra-long studs after England had brought their miserable autumn to a close with a 32-6 defeat against New Zealand.
The Harlequins number eight looked to be clean through and poised to slide under the Twickenham posts for a try which could have given England the momentum at the start of the second-half.
Until, that is, he was felled by the most desperate of last-ditch tap tackles by All Blacks full-back Mils Muliaina.
It was the sort of tackle which confirmed that prizes in top class sport are decided by the merest of fractions.
"I put 18mm studs in instead of 15mm ones before the match and he just managed in the last few millimetres to tap my stud and that was it, otherwise I think I was sliding under the posts," Easter explained.
"It was desperate last ditch tackling from them and great scrambling defence. It was an excellent tackle.
"I was hoping I could have slid in and it would have been a massive fillip for us just after half-time. It wasn't to be but we have to create more of those chances."
It was a valiant attempt by Easter to put some optimistic spin on a match in which England struggled to play referee Alain Rolland almost as much as the Tri-Nations champions.
Four England players - Lee Mears, James Haskell, Toby Flood and Tom Rees - were sent to the sin-bin as the ill-discipline which has been a feature of England under team manager Martin Johnson so far resulted in a deluge of penalties.
Easter, however, believes the Twickenham fans will see a much-improved England when the Six Nations tournament begins in February as the lessons of three defeats, 102 points conceded and just one try scored against southern hemisphere sides, are learned.
"You might laugh at this but there are positives. Creating chances is one of them. If we weren't creating things then that would be a struggle," he said.
"Giving away points so easily and finishing off chances when we are in the opposition 22. Those are things we have to improve at.
"You always want to play against the best and eventually it will come. Before England won the World Cup it took them a while to get a scalp and then they came thick and fast."
The problem is that while England are in a rebuilding phase following their World Cup final appearance last year, the southern hemisphere sides have been galloping ahead with a brand of rugby based on power and pace.
England have seemed to be overwhelmed in the final quarter by the apparent superior fitness of their opposition. Two tries by Muliaina and another by Ma'a Nonu in the second half pressed that point in a match which could have become truly embarrassing for England if All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter had been in his usual kicking form.
"The scoreboard doesn't lie. I suppose it is a fair reflection of where we are. The southern hemisphere sides have stretched the gap unfortunately since the World Cup last year," said Easter.
"It will take a couple of days to get over but we (Harlequins) have got big Heineken Cup games coming up. You don't want to be mulling over defeat and beating yourself up about it.
"Come the Six Nations the guys will take what they have learned and hopefully make a vast improvement."