6N 2022

[HomerJSimpson]

It is now time for Jones to go (overdue).
He should have written this six nations off long ago and looked toward to The World Cup.
Yesterday England did very well but the result reflected the gap between the teams’ developments.
Firstly Smith should have been selected long ago. What a player. His skill level and game awareness us breathtaking and it is hard for others to keep up but he is an excellent orchester conductor. I was particularly impressed by the miles that he ran: catching balls in the 22; stopping moves out wide; going forward; changing the attack from the short side to the open. Then his goal kicking!
Jones finally finds a scrum-half with flair that is on his wavelength and gives him an extra half yard by delaying defences and then leaves him on the bench to play a has-been carthorse!
I don’t blame Youngs, he has had a good career but he should have been put out to grass long ago.
Then we come to Full Back. Jones was too reluctant to let Brown go. He should have brought in new talent to work under him, learning to play at that level. He hung on to him for far too long and then used utility players in that position. He finally selects a player with potential in Steward and instead of giving him the experience of playing against a team like France, he puts him on the wing!
Furbank is an interesting player, but he was not part of the England team in that match. He was like a gear cog with a few teeth missing - it did not quite fit nor do the machine much good.
I would now replace Jones with somebody with more vision and less stubbornness and reluctance to embrace change. I would also co-opt a redundant, unsupported, England Sevens coach to work with the backs to make the most of the wide open spaces created by new selection closer to the scrum.
The Premiership has too good a pool of talent to make-do-and-mend at international level.
I watched much of the game again to see where it was lost.
Yes, Curry was sorely missed and we don’t have a commanding number eight, but the pack was impressive.
The backs are the problem and again down to the lack of vision from Jones.
Tugiali is outstanding but he is never fit! Instead of playing good centres or utility players in that position, sizeable, direct, safe, specialist inside centres should have been identified in The Premiership and brought on at that level. That would have provided a focus for the pack, drawn in défenses and given Randall and Smith extra space.
As good as players like Marchant are, they have all been too similar and straightforward for défenses.
Jones has had a problem with injuries on the wing - May and Watson. He has not identified new talent or given exciting specialist wingers experience at that level. Instead he has used utility backs as a band aid. There are talented players out there with plenty of gas who can dive in at the corner. Why have they been ignored?

Here end my Sunday morning rambling rant!

And breathe. So if Jones should go, who would you replace him with and do you think they'll have enough time to drag England towards being competitive in the world cup

 

[Val]

France deserved winners, Ireland very solid and England ok in fits and busts. Seriously disappointed in Scotland should have beaten Wales in Cardiff and we were poor the last 60 in Dublin. Just completed my first 6N grand slam of matches home and away, had a great time.

Loved that last minute Italy try, what a roar for it in Dublin.

 

[GB72]

And breathe. So if Jones should go, who would you replace him with and do you think they'll have enough time to drag England towards being competitive in the world cup

So many options, aside from the much touted Erasmus, you have Baxter, you have Borthwick and his backroom team, you have Scot Robertson, even Garland for a stint through the world cup. Plenty of options better than Jones but the RFU already said they are happy so being short sighted as usual but may lack funding to sack him

 

[Bunkermagnet]

It is now time for Jones to go (overdue).
He should have written this six nations off long ago and looked toward to The World Cup.
Yesterday England did very well but the result reflected the gap between the teams’ developments.
Firstly Smith should have been selected long ago. What a player. His skill level and game awareness us breathtaking and it is hard for others to keep up but he is an excellent orchester conductor. I was particularly impressed by the miles that he ran: catching balls in the 22; stopping moves out wide; going forward; changing the attack from the short side to the open. Then his goal kicking!
Jones finally finds a scrum-half with flair that is on his wavelength and gives him an extra half yard by delaying defences and then leaves him on the bench to play a has-been carthorse!
I don’t blame Youngs, he has had a good career but he should have been put out to grass long ago.
Then we come to Full Back. Jones was too reluctant to let Brown go. He should have brought in new talent to work under him, learning to play at that level. He hung on to him for far too long and then used utility players in that position. He finally selects a player with potential in Steward and instead of giving him the experience of playing against a team like France, he puts him on the wing!
Furbank is an interesting player, but he was not part of the England team in that match. He was like a gear cog with a few teeth missing - it did not quite fit nor do the machine much good.
I would now replace Jones with somebody with more vision and less stubbornness and reluctance to embrace change. I would also co-opt a redundant, unsupported, England Sevens coach to work with the backs to make the most of the wide open spaces created by new selection closer to the scrum.
The Premiership has too good a pool of talent to make-do-and-mend at international level.
I watched much of the game again to see where it was lost.
Yes, Curry was sorely missed and we don’t have a commanding number eight, but the pack was impressive.
The backs are the problem and again down to the lack of vision from Jones.
Tugiali is outstanding but he is never fit! Instead of playing good centres or utility players in that position, sizeable, direct, safe, specialist inside centres should have been identified in The Premiership and brought on at that level. That would have provided a focus for the pack, drawn in défenses and given Randall and Smith extra space.
As good as players like Marchant are, they have all been too similar and straightforward for défenses.
Jones has had a problem with injuries on the wing - May and Watson. He has not identified new talent or given exciting specialist wingers experience at that level. Instead he has used utility backs as a band aid. There are talented players out there with plenty of gas who can dive in at the corner. Why have they been ignored?

Here end my Sunday morning rambling rant!

Whilst I agree Jones has he "favourites" (Farrell for example) I think it's greatly wrong to overlook the RFU's stubborness not to recruit Shaun Edwards when he left Wasps, and went to Wales. Then when he finished there, he's gone to France and made their defence immense. The RFU have to take the blame for letting an ex Rugby League player go and improve the defences of 2 of Englands opponents so much.
I know Englands tackling went downhill with Robinson and Farrell, but their is a man who would sort that out, but we let him take the sheckle of our opponents because the RFU are too stubborn.

 

[Captainron]

South Africa won the World Cup with a new coach appointed 18 months before the last one. It can be done but it takes balls from the governing body. England has the largest talent pool in the game.

 

[IanM]

Lots of empty seats in Cardiff for last two games.

WRU overcharging terribly. Bit like the thread about green fees/subs price holes. But the fans let them know, that's enough!

South Wales isn't a wealthy area... (there are some exemptions) but they had a clear demonstration that many won't pay £100 to watch an International.

My regular golf game were talking about going to Bristol/Bath recently. We were quoted £60. We didn't bother.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

South Africa won the World Cup with a new coach appointed 18 months before the last one. It can be done but it takes balls from the governing body. England has the largest talent pool in the game.

Talent wise we have a lot of decent-good players, but not enough world class players.

NZ, France and SA all have several players who challenge for best in the world in their respective positions. Do England have enough, I’d say not.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Lots of empty seats in Cardiff for last two games.

WRU overcharging terribly. Bit like the thread about green fees/subs price holes. But the fans let them know, that's enough!

South Wales isn't a wealthy area... (there are some exemptions) but they had a clear demonstration that many won't pay £100 to watch an International.

My regular golf game were talking about going to Bristol/Bath recently. We were quoted £60. We didn't bother.

Is it they won’t pay the ticket price or more that people are still nervous about masses of close contact and the risk of CV19?

 

[IanM]

Is it they won’t pay the ticket price or more that people are still nervous about masses of close contact and the risk of CV19?

Judging by the chat in an absolutely packed golf clubhouse on Saturday watching on a big screen, it's the price.

 

[Val]

Judging by the chat in an absolutely packed golf clubhouse on Saturday watching on a big screen, it's the price.

It's a scandal the cost at the Principality tbh. I was down for the Scotland game, 4 rows from the back of the 3rd tier was £100, the cheapest ticket. There is no need for it

 

[GB72]

It's a scandal the cost at the Principality tbh. I was down for the Scotland game, 4 rows from the back of the 3rd tier was £100, the cheapest ticket. There is no need for it

Totally agree but suspect that it is also the only way of funding club rugby in Wales. With the WRU insisting that players must play in Wales to represent their country, they they have to contract or subsidies player salaries to bring them back from the Premiership. Twickenham has enough idiots with more money than sense to pay whatever is costs, I am glad to see that Wales do not.

 

[Carlwm]

Haven't had a chance to see the games yet - busy weekend - but I've just seen the results. I know that Italy have been improving but I'm in shock that they managed to turn us over. Great for them, horrendous for us. Wayne Pivac & Stephen Jones seem to still be in their posts, somehow. More grim times ahead unless we appoint a decent head coach and attacks guru.

 

[spongebob59]

Haven't had a chance to see the games yet - busy weekend - but I've just seen the results. I know that Italy have been improving but I'm in shock that they managed to turn us over. Great for them, horrendous for us. Wayne Pivac & Stephen Jones seem to still be in their posts, somehow. More grim times ahead unless we appoint a decent head coach and attacks guru.

It was fairly bone headed to start AWJ just because of him getting 150 caps and leaving Rowlands on the bench when he was fully match fit and up to speed.

 

[Foxholer]

It's a scandal the cost at the Principality tbh. I was down for the Scotland game, 4 rows from the back of the 3rd tier was £100, the cheapest ticket. There is no need for it

That is, indeed, a horrendous cost. However, with only about 3/4 the capacity of Twickenham and Stade de France, there has to be some allowance made. Ireland are even worse off in that regard.
I hope the 'tour' fulfilled your hopes. I've watched International games in 3 of the stadiums, but not in the same season (nor for 5/6 Nations). Very different atmospheres! CA Park certainly had the 'best atmosphere', though all were memorable.

 

[greenone]

Haven't had a chance to see the games yet - busy weekend - but I've just seen the results. I know that Italy have been improving but I'm in shock that they managed to turn us over. Great for them, horrendous for us. Wayne Pivac & Stephen Jones seem to still be in their posts, somehow. More grim times ahead unless we appoint a decent head coach and attacks guru.

Root and branch reform of the WRU is required. The success of the national team has covered over the cracks of the mess it is in for numerous years, not for much longer I fear.

 

[GB72]

Root and branch reform of the WRU is required. The success of the national team has covered over the cracks of the mess it is in for numerous years, not for much longer I fear.

Not sure how they deal with the problem of the regional teams that are neither drawing in the support nor developing the players. Will not be long before those who have developed with Premiership clubs become wary of moving to the regions as quite a few now have been 'encouraged' to move with the promise of national rugby and ended up on the scrap heap.

 

[Foxholer]

Root and branch reform of the WRU is required. The success of the national team has covered over the cracks of the mess it is in for numerous years, not for much longer I fear.

To me, it's a numbers game - though Scotland, with the fewest registered players, is punching against its weight in that regard. England has nearly twice the number of registered players as Wales and not far that ratio cf Ireland.
Any Welsh 'play for a Welsh team' requirement for consideration for the National team is counter-productive imo.
I

 

[Val]

That is, indeed, a horrendous cost. However, with only about 3/4 the capacity of Twickenham and Stade de France, there has to be some allowance made. Ireland are even worse off in that regard.
I hope the 'tour' fulfilled your hopes. I've watched International games in 3 of the stadiums, but not in the same season (nor for 5/6 Nations). Very different atmospheres! CA Park certainly had the 'best atmosphere', though all were memorable.

74k is still a huge stadium, not that smaller than Twickers and larger than Murrayfield which despite being aold our frequently the last 5 years haven't milked prices the same.

I get why they do it, it's just too much now.

The tour was magic, the only stadium I've not seen an international in is Twickers although have been to a few Army v Navy games but nothing beats internationals.

Will be a Twickers next year to complete the set before heading to France for the RWC

 

[Foxholer]

74k is still a huge stadium, not that smaller than Twickers and larger than Murrayfield which despite being aold our frequently the last 5 years haven't milked prices the same.
...

Doh! I think I looked up Cardiff Arms Park's capacity! Living in the past (where I watched ABs v Wales) for a couple of minutes!

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Doh! I think I looked up Cardiff Arms Park's capacity! Living in the past (where I watched ABs v Wales) for a couple of minutes!

Foxy this is unlike you, first spelling mistakes and then duff gen, are you OK

Careful or your position as Chief Forum Pedant might be reassigned elsewhere, then what will you do ?