Lancaster sees positives

Robson hoping Test team can go on and finish the tour on a high

Last updated: 19th June 2012   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Lancaster sees positives

Stuart Lancaster: pleased with the intensity and shape from his side

I thought the boys adapted to the conditions better, and they have been here a week now. It was good for the boys in the stand watching as well.

Stuart Lancaster
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England coach Stuart Lancaster was quick to pick out the positives after his side's 57-31 triumph over the Northern Barbarians.

Full-back Nick Abendanon bagged a first-half hat-trick of tries while substitute winger Jonny May touched down twice after the break for the visitors.

However England did not have things all their own way in Potchefstroom, with their plucky opponents crossing four times in an entertaining contest.

Lancaster admitted the leaky defence was a concern, but was preferring to reflect on an improved display from last week's success over South Africa Barbarians South in Kimberley.

Better intensity

"There are lots of positives, we can take positives from the performance although there were one or two areas where we let it slip, particularly in that third quarter defensively," he said.

"I think it was important to put in a positive performance.

"We wanted to improve on the quality of the performance we put in last week. I thought there was a better intensity and shape about what we did.

"I thought the boys adapted to the conditions better, and they have been here a week now. It was good for the boys in the stand watching as well."

England's biggest concern in the match was the sight of Ugo Monye being carried off on a stretcher in the first half.

The Harlequins winger, playing his first match of the tour after a hamstring injury, was taken to hospital after being knocked unconscious in a tackle.

Lancaster was able to give some good news about Monye's health afterwards, saying: "Ugo was knocked out during the tackle. He was taken to hospital but he has come round and he is fine, albeit a bit groggy.

"I have only just had medical updates but I think he will be travelling back with us.

"He will go through the concussion protocols and he will struggle to be fit for Saturday."

Momentum

Captain George Robson now hopes the Test team can maintain the momentum to wrap up the tour on a positive note by winning the third and final match of the series against the Springboks on Saturday.

"On the morale and the win, I think it is massive," the Harlequins forward said. "We can take a lot from it and a lot of the younger guys have come through it.

"It was a bit hairy out there and it could have gone one of two ways when we had a man in the sinbin.

"I think the younger guys will have learned a lot from that, in sticking to our approach, backing things up and turning things around again.

"It is great to get the win. We said we wanted to get the win and help build the momentum going into the last week, finishing the season on a high."

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