EPS Watch / Player Form Thread

[Dan. Dan. Dan.]

Certainly when I first saw it I thought it was unlucky. However, I'm slowly training myself to shout "bend at the waist you idiot!" when watching games now.
Players just simply have to remember they can't go in like that anymore, even if they are a short stocky prop tackling a tall second row, they just have to go lower. Coaches need to drill this into them, and I welcome the Obano ban, not because I think he was wildly aggressive or stupidly unlawful, but because it should act as a perfect example...

[Oakboy]

Certainly when I first saw it I thought it was unlucky. However, I'm slowly training myself to shout "bend at the waist you idiot!" when watching games now.
Players just simply have to remember they can't go in like that anymore, even if they are a short stocky prop tackling a tall second row, they just have to go lower. Coaches need to drill this into them, and I welcome the Obano ban, not because I think he was wildly aggressive or stupidly unlawful, but because it should act as a perfect example...

I can follow, and pretty much mirror, that thought process. At the time I thought it was a harsh red to begin with and then harshened my view the more I saw it repeated. Having said that, it appears to be proving difficult for players to adjust. Maybe the coaches will need to concentrate on players getting their bodies into position (much) earlier. Might the downside be more missed tackles though?

[Which Tyler]

I think these things are just so ingrained over so many years, it simply takes time to train them out.
How many years did it take to see lifting tackles more-or-less disappear from the game? Or taking the man out in the air?
Hell, Owen Farrell still copies Butch James' tackle technique that was illegal 15 years ago!

[morepork]

I think these things are just so ingrained over so many years, it simply takes time to train them out.
How many years did it take to see lifting tackles more-or-less disappear from the game? Or taking the man out in the air?
Hell, Owen Farrell still copies Butch James' tackle technique that was illegal 15 years ago!

That's because he is as thick as pig shit. A developmental outlier, if you will.

[Peej]

Mateo Carreras only got 9 weeks for an eye gouge though?

[Digby]

I guess congrats to the ladies for their latest lights out performance. Truth be told however it did often feel like France were about to put us to the sword

[Raggs]

I guess congrats to the ladies for their latest lights out performance. Truth be told however it did often feel like France were about to put us to the sword

Felt like it was going to be close, but I will agree that France looked the stronger side (mostly through their forwards). That said, England never lost touch, and constantly went ahead too.

[Digby]

I guess congrats to the ladies for their latest lights out performance. Truth be told however it did often feel like France were about to put us to the sword

Felt like it was going to be close, but I will agree that France looked the stronger side (mostly through their forwards). That said, England never lost touch, and constantly went ahead too.

Mentally I suspect we're much better, though I'm wary of buying into a stereotype

[Mellsblue]

I guess congrats to the ladies for their latest lights out performance. Truth be told however it did often feel like France were about to put us to the sword

Felt like it was going to be close, but I will agree that France looked the stronger side (mostly through their forwards). That said, England never lost touch, and constantly went ahead too.

Mentally I suspect we're much better, though I'm wary of buying into a stereotype

You kept waiting for them to put us to the sword in the 6N final, too, but it didn’t happen. The first half against Italy was spent waiting for them to put us to the sword but they kept their composure, gained two (?)) breakaway tries and the rest is history. They are an impressive bunch.
There are some way short of their historical best but they keep on winning. They really miss KDM.

[Puja]

Abbie Dow is a complete freak. That first try where she just walked around the French defender like she was standing still was ridiculous.

Puja

[Digby]

The French defender was though basically standing still, oddly she ran forwards to then sit on her own heels when normally the French fullback idea is not to bother in the first place.

[Banquo]

Abbie Dow is a complete freak. That first try where she just walked around the French defender like she was standing still was ridiculous.

Puja

Ridiculous was what I thought, for both her tries tbh. It was terrible defending for both. Credit to Dow, she can certainly run.

[Danno]

Anyone getting excited about seeing Randall, Mitchell or A.N.other in the summer: Youngs has ruled himself out of the Lions.

[TheNomad]

Presumably if he’s spending time with the family, he might not play for England either

[Digby]

Ideally if a few more care about England they'll rule themselves out to. And they know who they are at this point

[morepork]

Ideally if a few more care about England they'll rule themselves out to. And they know who they are at this point

Brad Shields and Willy Heinz.

[Digby]

Ideally if a few more care about England they'll rule themselves out to. And they know who they are at this point

Brad Shields and Willy Heinz.

Two solid Kiwi pros, or is one an Aussie? either way there unlikely to be on the 50 list

[FKAS]

Anyone getting excited about seeing Randall, Mitchell or A.N.other in the summer: Youngs has ruled himself out of the Lions.

Something England needed to do irrelevant of whether Youngs and Robson were available or not. Got to start bringing through the young scrum half stock. Same for other positions as well.

[Mellsblue]

[twitchy]

[Digby]

Shame he had no outside break

[Puja]

Shame he had no outside break

Can't work out if that's sarcastic or not. He did have an outside break that set up a try.

Puja

[Danno]

Anyone getting excited about seeing Randall, Mitchell or A.N.other in the summer: Youngs has ruled himself out of the Lions.

Something England needed to do irrelevant of whether Youngs and Robson were available or not. Got to start bringing through the young scrum half stock. Same for other positions as well.

I'm not getting my hopes up is all

[Digby]

Shame he had no outside break

Can't work out if that's sarcastic or not. He did have an outside break that set up a try.

Puja

I don't do sarcasm.

Actually looking at that clip there is a chance to get some better blocking in and to fade off the pass. It's not a bad outcome as is, but it's an odd clip to post if the intent is to extol because it's merely an acceptable outcome. And going from what happened there, and it's not just on the lad kicking the ball away even if it's mostly him, there was a better possible play to make. And yes, mostly players don't make the 'best' call, it's rare to hit 50% of being best even if attending workshops with Melania, but then it's just a bit of an clip to post up by Felix

[FKAS]

Shame he had no outside break

Can't work out if that's sarcastic or not. He did have an outside break that set up a try.

Puja

2.35ish on the highlights there. Just does the one player and then requires another two to drag him down inches short.

I think his running style with the long stride makes him look likes not going that quick but actually he's covering the ground at a decent rate.