Ireland and France still the teams to beat, Scotland played superb, was expecting more from England with the new coach, but never really happened.
hairball_89
Club Champion
yes, England didn't win. And deservedly so.
But how nice was it to see attacking rugby for the first time in a while?! A thoroughly enjoyable game played in excellent spirit.
And we got to see Dan Cole, which is always wonderful!
But how nice was it to see attacking rugby for the first time in a while?! A thoroughly enjoyable game played in excellent spirit.
And we got to see Dan Cole, which is always wonderful!
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Bunkermagnet
Journeyman Pro
If I were Welsh, I would be seriously doubting the return of Gatland. To pick a 37 yr old player is just bonkers, no matter how good he was at his prime. AWJ just looked well off the pace yesterday.
D
Deleted member 1147
Guest
I don't think England were as bad as I feared, but defence needs work (especially the first try). Scotland were very good at times, but not a display I'd fear if I was Irish, as they are much better than England.
...and the ref wasn't one of the main talking points in any game this weekend, which makes a nice change
GB72
Money List Winner
Not a big fan of England at the moment as they sweep in to take the rest of the Tigers coaches that they could not get in their first smash and grab raid.
spongebob59
Journeyman Pro
Bunkermagnet
Journeyman Pro
I think there's obviously a chorus about Smith and Farrell, but for that game I'll let him have it. We lost 2 centres to injury. and as much as I like Tuilagi, he needs to know just being on the pitch isn't enough.
GB72
Money List Winner
Agree with that, think we lost 3 centres assuming the intention to play Daley in his best position. Honestly thought we would have Dan Kelly at 12 if he had not got injured.
My gut feeling is that Farrell and Smith will not be an issue going forward as I can see George Ford getting another shot at the 10 shirt, far more of a Borthwick type player than either of the other 2.
Newtonuti
Active member
I reckon Farrell will be playing 10, as Borthwick's backed himself into a corner by making him captain. Youngs needs to go altogether now, he's just too slow at the breakdown, and taking that step before passing just gives his intentions away every single time. Itoje's an absolute penalty generating machine at the moment as well.
hairball_89
Club Champion
Your last comment about Itoje. I remember when he first came through onto the international stage, everyone was talking like he was the next Johnson/Dallaglio and sure fire captain. He seems to be getting further and further from that image the more he plays. I don't know whether it's pressure or style of play, but he's so far short of what his potential looked like. A shame really - we could do with a calm head in the 2nd row!
spongebob59
Journeyman Pro
The Bristol V Sale PRC game is worth a watch to look at some who might come back into the reckoning.
B-teams for both but with a smattering of players from the match day 23s. Sale looked great and played a bit like they did before Quinsgate
Too early to judge too harshly re Sale but whilst Quirke looked good even in a struggling Sale team Ford was pretty poor. A useful remainder too of how damaging his passive defence is. On a couple of tried he pretty much watched them being scored rather than make a tackle. That said I do think he should be in for Smith if he starts to display any form. Smith may well be the future but I think the RWC is too soon. Quirke looks like he'd be a huge upgrade on current form Youngs but that's with the obvious caveat that Youngs has had good International games and Quirke is pretty much untested
Interesting times for Borthwick
...k.
Newtonuti
Active member
Everyone was obsessed with how good he was at the breakdown for a second row, but it's almost like he's more bothered about that, then doing actual second row work on the pitch nowadays. I think a lot of that is down to Jones seeming obsessed with playing him or Lawes at 6, just to try and shoehorn everyone onto the pitch.
He needs time away from international rugby, and to concentrate on getting his tackling and carrying back up to scratch.
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
Sir Clive Woodward saying that Twickenham is being turned into a pub and spoiling the match day experience for fans.
He wants to follow the example of Wales and make it alcohol free zones.
He wants to follow the example of Wales and make it alcohol free zones.
GB72
Money List Winner
Not quite, the North Stand is an alcohol free zone and they do not serve acohol in the second half. These have only just been introduced for the 6 naitons this year and is a trial. Prior to that the matches in Wales had the worst reputation for drunken behaviour (location means you can roll out of the pub and into the ground with no effort). Similar reputation as the Aviva and obviously at Twickenham. Just a sad knock on effect on how these events are ticketed and marketed. That said, that is how these grounds have pretty much always been in the 40 years I have been going to international matches (though it was not so bad in the ground as the bars were not as open and prevalant as they are now).
The only other thing I would correct is that it spoils the match day expereience for fans. There are very few true rugby fans at Twickenham these days. It has become a venue for high priced corporate jollies, few fans can afford the cost of tickets and travel now but the RFU do not care as long as the money keeps rolling in.
Bring back tickets issued through rugby clubs, car park picnics, bars only open at half time and, yes, there should be an alcohol free family stand.
Bdill93
Undisputed King of FOMO
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/64502475
Oh dear
Warriors are gone and never coming back.
Heartbreaking for my City!
Seems you were right @GB72
Oh dear
Warriors are gone and never coming back.
Heartbreaking for my City!
Seems you were right @GB72
GB72
Money List Winner
Sometmes it is horrible to be right. Worcester were a great club.
Bdill93
Undisputed King of FOMO
My Father in Law will be heartbroken!
Even I'm gutted!
That stadium is such a waste of space without the Warriors.
MiurasFan
Blackballed
Can you please explain what you believe modern 2nd row work is! My understanding - certainly pretty ancient - was that breakdown work is one of the 4 skills for a 2nd row. The other 3 being scrum magic, countering the opposite number and work in the maul.
GB72
Money List Winner
I see the mordern second row as more for muscle in th breakdown as opposed to jackaling for the ball, engine in the scrum is pretty essential but can be less essential if there is excellent lineout skill. You do look for yards gained as well but this can be either through pace or power. Not so easy to define a second row now as there are some that a more a converted 6 and specialise in different skills to some out and out second row enforcers.
From my poing of view, Itoje has not played what I would call badly but he is also not the stand out he was a few years ago. The constant change of position under Jones would not have helped and hopefully training under SB will bring back up to elite level in a pretty short period of time.
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