Rugby Thread

[GB72]

For me Fin Smith should be starting , I know Ford did well in the summer on the tour but it’s time to move on and look to build for the future and George Ford shouldn’t be it , and I think Smith is a better choice at ten and better with the boot

Not sure he stood out enough last week. Ford is still our best tactical fly half and the best with ball out of hand and is no slouch off the tee. He is also a great organiser and voice on the pitch. He has more than enough in the tank to get through to the next world cup. He and Smith will be battling for that starting shirt for the next year and that is great competition to have. Smith will start against Argentina

 

[hairball_89]

England v New Zealand: George Ford returns at 10 to face All Blacks

George Ford returns at fly-half and Freddie Steward at full-back for England's much-anticipated showdown with New Zealand on Saturday at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham.

www.bbc.co.uk

Interesting choices - find it a bit staggering that Fin Smith is not involved

Can't wait. Managed to get a ticket for the game and never seen the All Blacks.

Wanted to be going out to Madrid for the Commanders, missed out on tickets (after 7 hours in a queue online!) so somehow England vs All Blacks at Twickenham is the cheap option!

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Not sure he stood out enough last week. Ford is still our best tactical fly half and the best with ball out of hand and is no slouch off the tee. He is also a great organiser and voice on the pitch. He has more than enough in the tank to get through to the next world cup. He and Smith will be battling for that starting shirt for the next year and that is great competition to have. Smith will start against Argentina

Ford will need a huge performance imo

Smith was superb last season

There is no doubt Fords quality but will be 34 by the time the World Cup comes around

Think Smith can also play at 12 - the split Borthwick does limit his options

 

[GB72]

Ford will need a huge performance imo

Smith was superb last season

There is no doubt Fords quality but will be 34 by the time the World Cup comes around

Think Smith can also play at 12 - the split Borthwick does limit his options

Look at the age of some of the current South African squad. All world beaters with tons of experience. Did you watch Reinach play at the weekend, he is 35 and I cannot see anyone looking to move him on. We have been guilty of ditching experience too soon for the next shiny thing. Look at Ford against Argentina in the last world cup, you cannot train that. Listen to a few if the hour long interviews he did on the For The Love of Rugby podcast, his brain is incredible, the way he sees the game. Ford deserves that starting shirt and he will be improving Smith in training as well.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Look at the age of some of the current South African squad. All world beaters with tons of experience. Did you watch Reinach play at the weekend, he is 35 and I cannot see anyone looking to move him on. We have been guilty of ditching experience too soon for the next shiny thing. Look at Ford against Argentina in the last world cup, you cannot train that. Listen to a few if the hour long interviews he did on the For The Love of Rugby podcast, his brain is incredible, the way he sees the game. Ford deserves that starting shirt and he will be improving Smith in training as well.

Don’t get me wrong I think he is a very very good player and at times is a world beater and can create so much and is no doubt a very intelligent players but I just don’t think it’s been done at the highest level consistently enough

This weekend is going to be huge

 

[Neilds]

England inviting Emma Raducanu to tell them how to deal with pressure! They would be better off getting budget advice from Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng

 

[Lord Tyrion]

England inviting Emma Raducanu to tell them how to deal with pressure! They would be better off getting budget advice from Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng

That's a very strange choice. Not sure they would be listening to hard to the advice given there.

 

[AmandaJR]

England inviting Emma Raducanu to tell them how to deal with pressure! They would be better off getting budget advice from Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng

Didn't she have a panic attack on Centre Court? Or at least melted under the pressure. Not a great CV!

 

[Arthur Wedge]

England can’t afford to waste possession and field position like that ,got to get some points on the board when they have that much early pressure

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Two very easy scores for NZ

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Did well to get back into the game , good last 10 , Smith has done well since coming on

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I know Smith divides opinion but I love watching him play. He's exciting.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Great start to the half , very harsh yellow though

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Look at the age of some of the current South African squad. All world beaters with tons of experience. Did you watch Reinach play at the weekend, he is 35 and I cannot see anyone looking to move him on. We have been guilty of ditching experience too soon for the next shiny thing. Look at Ford against Argentina in the last world cup, you cannot train that. Listen to a few if the hour long interviews he did on the For The Love of Rugby podcast, his brain is incredible, the way he sees the game. Ford deserves that starting shirt and he will be improving Smith in training as well.

Apart from a bit of a ropey start Ford has been outstanding

 

[GB72]

I know Smith divides opinion but I love watching him play. He's exciting.

Totally agree great player but new Zealand were more comfortable kicking out of hand when Steward went off. We are developing a great squad for different styles of play.

Furbank is back for Northampton today though and he is the nearest to covering both options

 

[GB72]

Apart from a bit of a ropey start Ford has been outstanding

Still our best fly half. Those 2 drop goals changed the game. Get down there, score points, head back do it again and keep the board ticking over

 

[Captainron]

Absolute tosh red card call again today. Really bugs me. Both instances were locks on flyhalves. Size difference plays a huge part. Both times one arm was wrapping and the other braced for impact. It is a normal tackle style. Neither instance was done with malice. Thankfully both games were won at a canter.

Rugby is an impact sport and people are going to get knocked about. Making it sterile is not helping the game. Player safety is as good as it will ever get without wearing pads.

 

[Captainron]

And well played England. Good win against the All Blacks

 

[GB72]

Absolute tosh red card call again today. Really bugs me. Both instances were locks on flyhalves. Size difference plays a huge part. Both times one arm was wrapping and the other braced for impact. It is a normal tackle style. Neither instance was done with malice. Thankfully both games were won at a canter.

Rugby is an impact sport and people are going to get knocked about. Making it sterile is not helping the game. Player safety is as good as it will ever get without wearing pads.

Pads make it worse, you go in with no fear but your head is shaken around as much. Like that rugby is slowly moving back and publicising the physicality

Wish we had England v SA next week. That would end the autumn nicely

 

[Captainron]

That yellow in the wales game in the last few minutes was also rubbish. Hit him on the chest and was in the process of wrapping. Just looked like the guy was getting decapitated because of the force. No reason for the card.