Quote: tvoc "While I'd have also kicked to the corner, the penalty kicked and re-gather from the re-start to hopefully work a position to attempt a field-goal was also a workable option - perhaps even the higher percentage option as it didn't require getting across the line with ball in hand.
As previously stated I'm only a casual viewer but time remaining (it appears to me) is not altogether critical as they seem to play on to the next infringement or the ball being kicked out of play before ending the tedium and that coud take forever.'"
It was chucking it down with rain, England hadn't been able to string 3 phases together the whole match without fumbling (neither had SA to be fair) and SA were tackling England backwards at the time. SA were going to kick deep and then could afford to infringe as much as they wanted as there wouldn't have been time for England to take a lineout from any penalty kick. Farrell and Robshaw between them had already turned down a kick at goal 4 or 5 minutes earlier from just inside the SA half, bang infront of the posts - again - a really poor choice, and suggesting that in the conditions (it was truly awful) Farrell needed to be close to the posts even for a place kick. He would have needed to be 25 out, band infront for a reasonable drop attempt.
Literally 80,000 people in the ground were screeming for England to kick to the corner. Even in perfect conditions moving the ball 70 metres after the end of the match and then dropping a goal is a miracle play. Catch and drive from 5 yards out is much higher percentage. I'd rather be on the SA line with the ball trying to score a try after the hooter, than 70 yards away trying to drop a goal.
He f****d up and made the wrong call. He'll learn from it though, he's a quality player. Anyway, all meaningless now, beat the All Blacks and nothing else matters.
