Alex Goode predicts England wins against the world’s big three

By ALEX LOWE
Published on 12/11/2012 00:07

ALEX Goode has warned Australia that England have the attacking potential to blow the best teams in the world “out of the water” – and he is determined to prove it next weekend.

England 52 - 12 Fiji

Scorers: England: Tries: Sharples 2, Penalty, Monye, Johnson, Tuilagi 2. Cons: Flood 4, Farrell. Pens: Flood 3. Fiji: Tries: Matawalu, Kalou Qaraniqio. Cons: Matavesi

Goode was named man of the match for a sparkling individual performance as England warmed up for Tests against the Wallabies, South Africa and New Zealand with a record 54-12 win against Fiji on Saturday.

The Saracens full-back had a direct hand in three of England’s tries and he lends a new dynamic to the red rose attacking game, joining the line from full-back to act as a second playmaker.

England have been direct and predictable with the ball in hand in recent times but there were glimpses against Fiji of a greater variety in attack.

And with Australia reeling after Saturday night’s 33-6 thumping in Paris, Goode insists England are ready to pounce on the wounded Wallabies. “We are trying to evolve,” he said. “When Stuart Lancaster came in he laid the foundations and what a good Six Nations it was – built on hard work, defence, a kicking game and the set-piece.

“Attack takes time for people to understand each other’s roles, to get with the pattern, but that is hopefully something we are really looking to push this autumn and test it against the best.

“We have tough teams coming against us. We have to make sure we are on the money and play well. There will be a big improvement for next week. If we play as well as we can, we are good enough to blow teams out of the water.”

England scored seven tries on Saturday, with Charlie Sharples bagging his first two in Test rugby and Manu Tuilagi also touching down twice.

Ugo Monye and Tom Johnson added to the scoreline and England’s dominant pack earned a penalty try. Second-half tries by Glasgow scrum-half Nikola Matawalu and Seko Kalou rewarded the efforts of Fiji, who were overrun after making a ferocious start, which saw them pin the hosts down and led to Danny Care being sin-binned.

England: Goode, Sharples, Tuilagi, Barritt, Monye, Flood, Care, Marler, T. Youngs, Cole, Palmer, Parling, Johnson, Robshaw, Waldrom. Replacements: Brown for Monye (59), Farrell for Flood (59), B. Youngs for Care (58), Vunipola for Marler (46), Paice for T. Youngs (65), Wilson for Cole (58), Launchbury for Palmer (50), Wood for Johnson (59).

Fiji: Koniferedi, Wara, Goneva, Naqelevuki, Votu, Talebula, Matawalu, Makutu, Veikoso, Manu, Nakarawa, Ratuniyarawa, Naikatini, Ravulo, Qera. Replacements: Matavesi for Koniferedi (40), Fatiaki for Wara (67), Naureuere for Veikoso (47), Saulo for Manu (67), Kalou Qaraniqio for Ratuniyarawa (73), Ratuva for Naikatini (52). Not Used: Somoca, Bolatagane.

Att: 82,000. Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand).