Jones gone (Now 100% confirmed)

[Banquo]

Think the Jersey pack might have been just a touch hacked off that their impressive scrum led to a Bedford score!

'bout the only points Bedford got wasn't it, and they were gifted.

and when did the Gary Linekar short become fashionable again?

He's still wearing his m and y shorts- deprived area, Bedford.

[p/d]

Think the Jersey pack might have been just a touch hacked off that their impressive scrum led to a Bedford score!

'bout the only points Bedford got wasn't it, and they were gifted.

and when did the Gary Linekar short become fashionable again?

He's still wearing his m and y shorts- deprived area, Bedford.

On a separate note are we at risk of Big Stevie B (have to credit Cashead for that one) of naming Ewels as captain

[FKAS]

'bout the only points Bedford got wasn't it, and they were gifted.

and when did the Gary Linekar short become fashionable again?

He's still wearing his m and y shorts- deprived area, Bedford.

On a separate note are we at risk of Big Stevie B (have to credit Cashead for that one) of naming Ewels as captain

I think we're safe. Mainly because Ewels is injured. I'm expecting it to be Lawes or Genge.

[Tom Moore]

'bout the only points Bedford got wasn't it, and they were gifted.

and when did the Gary Linekar short become fashionable again?

He's still wearing his m and y shorts- deprived area, Bedford.

On a separate note are we at risk of Big Stevie B (have to credit Cashead for that one) of naming Ewels as captain

Grounds for immediate termination if he does.

[Mellsblue]

Think the Jersey pack might have been just a touch hacked off that their impressive scrum led to a Bedford score!

'bout the only points Bedford got wasn't it, and they were gifted.

and when did the Gary Linekar short become fashionable again?

He's still wearing his m and y shorts- deprived area, Bedford.

Northampton Saints loanee…

[p/d]

He's still wearing his m and y shorts- deprived area, Bedford.

On a separate note are we at risk of Big Stevie B (have to credit Cashead for that one) of naming Ewels as captain

I think we're safe. Mainly because Ewels is injured. I'm expecting it to be Lawes or Genge.

Ah yes, forgot that. Tough injury to come back from.
I like the idea of Genge.

[Puja]

'bout the only points Bedford got wasn't it, and they were gifted.

and when did the Gary Linekar short become fashionable again?

He's still wearing his m and y shorts- deprived area, Bedford.

On a separate note are we at risk of Big Stevie B (have to credit Cashead for that one) of naming Ewels as captain

The Bigwick?

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Sam Warburton column in The Times today about Big ol’ Borthers: ‘His thinking was that if the quality was top-notch, then it did not matter what the defensive team was doing’. SW was writing about lineout drills but I hope BoB brings this philosophy to all facets.

and it gets better from BoB: “We want to develop decision makers on the field and, if you see something that hasn’t been coached and you need to do it, do it”.

[Spiffy]

Sam Warburton column in The Times today about Big ol’ Borthers: ‘His thinking was that if the quality was top-notch, then it did not matter what the defensive team was doing’. SW was writing about lineout drills but I hope BoB brings this philosophy to all facets.

and it gets better from BoB: “We want to develop decision makers on the field and, if you see something that hasn’t been coached and you need to do it, do it”.

This is hardly revolutionary in the annals of rugby coaching. It's pretty obvious that you can only coach so much, but successful teams have always gone beyond the play-by-numbers approach and left on-field decisions in the hands of play makers. One of the biggest problems of the Jones era was that players seemed reluctant to depart from the rigid game plan and just play what was in front of them, possibly (probably?) from fear of being dropped from not obeying H.M.V.
This was the case with the Ireland team under Joe Schmidt, which was reasonably successful, but played like automatons and lacked the rounded/flexible game we have seen under Farrell since his departure.

[p/d]

With Catt at the table hard to imagine it any other way.

[Oakboy]

I'm wondering if Borthwick will decide on Itoje for captain. His absence from Jones's consideration always surprised me. One big factor (which has always applied to Farrell as well) is that he always does the whole 80 minutes. That is an argument against Genge. Props rarely stay on the pitch for more than three quarters of the game.

I think Itoje has failed to make progress in the last three years. He has been a damned good player but he ought to have become the best lock in world rugby by now.

[p/d]

I'm wondering if Borthwick will decide on Itoje for captain. His absence from Jones's consideration always surprised me. One big factor (which has always applied to Farrell as well) is that he always does the whole 80 minutes. That is an argument against Genge. Props rarely stay on the pitch for more than three quarters of the game.

I think Itoje has failed to make progress in the last three years. He has been a damned good player but he ought to have become the best lock in world rugby by now.

How often does Kolisi do the full 80?

I think the captain 'tag' a bit redundant in the most part. Pack leader and someone calling the shots in the backs is all we need. If we want someone to point at the posts occasionally then prior to kick off tell the ref who that will be.

[Puja]

I'm wondering if Borthwick will decide on Itoje for captain. His absence from Jones's consideration always surprised me. One big factor (which has always applied to Farrell as well) is that he always does the whole 80 minutes. That is an argument against Genge. Props rarely stay on the pitch for more than three quarters of the game.

I think Itoje has failed to make progress in the last three years. He has been a damned good player but he ought to have become the best lock in world rugby by now.

How often does Kolisi do the full 80?

I think the captain 'tag' a bit redundant in the most part. Pack leader and someone calling the shots in the backs is all we need. If we want someone to point at the posts occasionally then prior to kick off tell the ref who that will be.

Disagree. Quite apart from the galvanising effect it can have on a player to be trusted and given responsibility (cf. Genge), it's massive for the team from a psychological perspective to have an on-field figurehead to inspire and encourage.

Plus, communicating with the referee is more important than ever nowadays.

Puja

[p/d]

I'm wondering if Borthwick will decide on Itoje for captain. His absence from Jones's consideration always surprised me. One big factor (which has always applied to Farrell as well) is that he always does the whole 80 minutes. That is an argument against Genge. Props rarely stay on the pitch for more than three quarters of the game.

I think Itoje has failed to make progress in the last three years. He has been a damned good player but he ought to have become the best lock in world rugby by now.

How often does Kolisi do the full 80?

I think the captain 'tag' a bit redundant in the most part. Pack leader and someone calling the shots in the backs is all we need. If we want someone to point at the posts occasionally then prior to kick off tell the ref who that will be.

Disagree. Quite apart from the galvanising effect it can have on a player to be trusted and given responsibility (cf. Genge), it's massive for the team from a psychological perspective to have an on-field figurehead to inspire and encourage.

Plus, communicating with the referee is more important than ever nowadays.

Puja

It has been devalued with the appointment of a plethora of 'vice captain's'. No problems with naming a captain who is best at communicating with the ref, but the likes of Itoje should not require the armband to galvanise his fellow forwards

[Banquo]

Sam Warburton column in The Times today about Big ol’ Borthers: ‘His thinking was that if the quality was top-notch, then it did not matter what the defensive team was doing’. SW was writing about lineout drills but I hope BoB brings this philosophy to all facets.

and it gets better from BoB: “We want to develop decision makers on the field and, if you see something that hasn’t been coached and you need to do it, do it”.

Did Sam Warburton write an article about Borthwick in the Times?

[Banquo]

How often does Kolisi do the full 80?

I think the captain 'tag' a bit redundant in the most part. Pack leader and someone calling the shots in the backs is all we need. If we want someone to point at the posts occasionally then prior to kick off tell the ref who that will be.

Disagree. Quite apart from the galvanising effect it can have on a player to be trusted and given responsibility (cf. Genge), it's massive for the team from a psychological perspective to have an on-field figurehead to inspire and encourage.

Plus, communicating with the referee is more important than ever nowadays.

Puja

It has been devalued with the appointment of a plethora of 'vice captain's'. No problems with naming a captain who is best at communicating with the ref, but the likes of Itoje should not require the armband to galvanise his fellow forwards

Still a vital role imo- we've touched on communicating with the ref, and frankly no-one should need galvanising to play intl rugby, but when the plan isn't working (whether its a framework or a detailed game plan), the skipper should be the key guy in regrouping and reshaping. The best captains do this.

[fivepointer]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0dqcvzf

Really impressed with Borthwick here. He said all the right things as far as i'm concerned.

[FKAS]

The captain should set the tone for the team. When Borthwick appointed Genge it was the confirmation of what he'd been saying about how Tigers should be hard to play against. They should be physical, passionate and want to get around the pitch and get stuck in. Shouldn't just be the best player or the most experienced.

Borthwick's a clever bloke, he'll always say the right things. Just don't expect much of interest.

[Puja]

Disagree. Quite apart from the galvanising effect it can have on a player to be trusted and given responsibility (cf. Genge), it's massive for the team from a psychological perspective to have an on-field figurehead to inspire and encourage.

Plus, communicating with the referee is more important than ever nowadays.

Puja

It has been devalued with the appointment of a plethora of 'vice captain's'. No problems with naming a captain who is best at communicating with the ref, but the likes of Itoje should not require the armband to galvanise his fellow forwards

Still a vital role imo- we've touched on communicating with the ref, and frankly no-one should need galvanising to play intl rugby, but when the plan isn't working (whether its a framework or a detailed game plan), the skipper should be the key guy in regrouping and reshaping. The best captains do this.

Disagree with this bit. Mindset and psychology are huge factors at the top level of sport. It's not a case of "Well, everyone should already be motivated, shouldn't they?" - the best performances in the sport have come when the team were united, focussed, and geed up beyond just "this is international rugby". The captain's a huge part of that.

I like Oakboy's theory of Itoje for captain. It's a good point that he's got more to give and more space to improve, and giving him that responsibility and trust could be the thing that pushes hin to the next level.

Puja

[p/d]

Itoje!!! .......... isn't screaming at the ref frowned upon?

I'm still very much of the view, pick your 15 pick your captain.

[Mellsblue]

Sam Warburton column in The Times today about Big ol’ Borthers: ‘His thinking was that if the quality was top-notch, then it did not matter what the defensive team was doing’. SW was writing about lineout drills but I hope BoB brings this philosophy to all facets.

and it gets better from BoB: “We want to develop decision makers on the field and, if you see something that hasn’t been coached and you need to do it, do it”.

Did Sam Warburton write an article about Borthwick in the Times?

Uh oh. Have I committed the second biggest sin on RR, the first being quoting yourself, of repeating something someone else has already posted?!? Apologies if I have. In my defence, I’m skiing in the US so a full day on the slopes and the time difference means trawling through a lot of posts at once in the evening. I remember when apres ski was multiple beers and a nightclub…

[Mellsblue]

Sam Warburton column in The Times today about Big ol’ Borthers: ‘His thinking was that if the quality was top-notch, then it did not matter what the defensive team was doing’. SW was writing about lineout drills but I hope BoB brings this philosophy to all facets.

and it gets better from BoB: “We want to develop decision makers on the field and, if you see something that hasn’t been coached and you need to do it, do it”.

This is hardly revolutionary in the annals of rugby coaching. It's pretty obvious that you can only coach so much, but successful teams have always gone beyond the play-by-numbers approach and left on-field decisions in the hands of play makers. One of the biggest problems of the Jones era was that players seemed reluctant to depart from the rigid game plan and just play what was in front of them, possibly (probably?) from fear of being dropped from not obeying H.M.V.
This was the case with the Ireland team under Joe Schmidt, which was reasonably successful, but played like automatons and lacked the rounded/flexible game we have seen under Farrell since his departure.

Yep, exactly why I posted the quotes.

[Puja]

Itoje!!! .......... isn't screaming at the ref frowned upon?

I'm still very much of the view, pick your 15 pick your captain.

In fairness, I've never seen him scream at the ref. Scream in delight at a collapsed scrum that he's convinced his side won, sure, but not at the ref.

One of the things I'm hoping Borthwick will knock on the head.

If you're saying, "Pick your XV, pick your captain," then Itoje seems to be the obvious bet. No-one else in the team is guaranteed his place like Maro is - Genge is fairly solid, but could face pressure from Marler and VRR, and Curry the same, but from Underhill/JWillis.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Making Itoje capt. would hopefully remove the screaming from his game just by the very fact. Worth doing solely for this reason, imo.

[p/d]

Sam Warburton column in The Times today about Big ol’ Borthers: ‘His thinking was that if the quality was top-notch, then it did not matter what the defensive team was doing’. SW was writing about lineout drills but I hope BoB brings this philosophy to all facets.

and it gets better from BoB: “We want to develop decision makers on the field and, if you see something that hasn’t been coached and you need to do it, do it”.

This is hardly revolutionary in the annals of rugby coaching. It's pretty obvious that you can only coach so much, but successful teams have always gone beyond the play-by-numbers approach and left on-field decisions in the hands of play makers. One of the biggest problems of the Jones era was that players seemed reluctant to depart from the rigid game plan and just play what was in front of them, possibly (probably?) from fear of being dropped from not obeying H.M.V.
This was the case with the Ireland team under Joe Schmidt, which was reasonably successful, but played like automatons and lacked the rounded/flexible game we have seen under Farrell since his departure.

Yep, exactly why I posted the quotes.

Where did those quotes come from Mells?