Team v Scotland - Announced!

[p/d]

2 kicks from Youngs = 7 points to Scotland

[Puja]

Terrible use of the advantage by Youngs there. Shocking kick.

Who on earth is Lawrence on for?

Puja

[Puja]

Shocking refereeing at the end. Ritchie was off his feet, two Scots were round the wrong side, and then he let Scotland fanny about for a full 40 seconds until the clock went red to kick the penalty off.

Can't blame the ref though - we had ball and territory and opportunity enough to win that several times over and we just weren't clinical in the Scotland 22. Our pack looked tired and I do question the wisdom of bringing on Isiekwe for Curry, given how shagged out Chessum looked by the end (he flopped off his feet rather than clearly Ritchie out properly at that last ruck).

Puja

[Puja]

2 kicks from Youngs = 7 points to Scotland

JVP didn't have his best game today. Even with that, Youngs was a massive downgrade.

Puja

[Mr Mwenda]

Shocking refereeing at the end. Ritchie was off his feet, two Scots were round the wrong side, and then he let Scotland fanny about for a full 40 seconds until the clock went red to kick the penalty off.

Can't blame the ref though - we had ball and territory and opportunity enough to win that several times over and we just weren't clinical in the Scotland 22. Our pack looked tired and I do question the wisdom of bringing on Isiekwe for Curry, given how shagged out Chessum looked by the end (he flopped off his feet rather than clearly Ritchie out properly at that last ruck).

Puja

Playing with heart only gets one so far. That was a victory for efficiency.

Total wank.

[SouthFalcon87]

Youngs comes on and suddenly our attack looks like Autumn all over again. Random box kicks and zero pace.
At least England looked like they actually wanted to be there. Farrell-Marchant a mess in defence. Would much rather have seen Smith-Lawrence-Marchant (or if they''re going to play Farrell, a decision I wouldn't understand, play him at bloody 10).
Itoje remains seriously off. I think I noticed him for the first time when he gave away an offside penalty in the 2nd half. Outshone by Chessum (who should have been subbed as he was gassed). Earl for Curry next week.

[Stom]

Congratulations Owen Farrell's Scotland, you won.

Seriously. Any other player at 12 and we would have won that.

[Mellsblue]

Youngs comes on and suddenly our attack looks like Autumn all over again. Random box kicks and zero pace.
At least England looked like they actually wanted to be there. Farrell-Marchant a mess in defence. Would much rather have seen Smith-Lawrence-Marchant (or if they''re going to play Farrell, a decision I wouldn't understand, play him at bloody 10).
Itoje remains seriously off. I think I noticed him for the first time when he gave away an offside penalty in the 2nd half. Outshone by Chessum (who should have been subbed as he was gassed). Earl for Curry next week.

I thought Itoje went well. The mythical unseen work.

[Galfon]

Scotland kept playing with ball in hand, Eng lapsed into aimless kicking at a crucial time. Cole and Youngs appeared to un-zip the play it seemed.

[Mr Mwenda]

I hope hask's set was good then...

[jngf]

From a non partisan perspective that was a lovely game of running test rugby to watch. Scotland deserved the win and I’m glad to see them re emerge as a side as good as they were in the 80s/very early 90s

From England point of view thought back row went very well and all deserve to keep their places for Italy test. Ludlum’s carrying and link play was superb and the contest between him and Willis looks mouth watering for that 6 shirt (no need for a lock there with these options). Willis has that X factor on fetching but arguably Ludlum has the better game in the loose?

[Timbo]

Incredibly frustrating & annoying.

Objectively probably not the worst flag in the ground game for a new regime.

We looked sharper in attack & most of our basics were much improved.
Itoje still not really firing. Lots of hard work but not the same volume of match turning moments. Gave away 2 lazy offside penalties.
Scrum & breakdown better.
Defence was physical but a mess out wide. Fixable.
Smith was good I thought. First game with Farrell where he looked the senior partner.
Chessum excellent. Ben Curry & Ludlum generally good & very competitive. Earl strong off the bench. Sinckler’s best game in a long time.
Dombrandt useless.
Whatever anyone’s opinions on Farrell & Youngs over the years, pretty undeniable that they’re now looking old & slow for modern test rugby. George borderline in this category too.

[fivepointer]

Well that h/t optimism wasnt maintained.
Genge's try was a really good one but thereafter we looked less impressive in attack and struggled when the Scots moved the ball with pace and width. Defensively some serious issues need addressing.
Thought the subs were a mixed bag. Youngs was dreadful, Isiekwe offered little as did Vunipola but Earl looked lively.
Farrell was a passenger for most of the game, bar the odd pass and one very good tackle I thought his impact was negligible.
we did some good things but you cannot concede soft tries and expect to win games.

[switchskier]

Shocking refereeing at the end. Ritchie was off his feet, two Scots were round the wrong side, and then he let Scotland fanny about for a full 40 seconds until the clock went red to kick the penalty off.

Can't blame the ref though - we had ball and territory and opportunity enough to win that several times over and we just weren't clinical in the Scotland 22. Our pack looked tired and I do question the wisdom of bringing on Isiekwe for Curry, given how shagged out Chessum looked by the end (he flopped off his feet rather than clearly Ritchie out properly at that last ruck).

Puja

Sour grapes much? Ritchie was clearly on his feet

[Puja]

Shocking refereeing at the end. Ritchie was off his feet, two Scots were round the wrong side, and then he let Scotland fanny about for a full 40 seconds until the clock went red to kick the penalty off.

Can't blame the ref though - we had ball and territory and opportunity enough to win that several times over and we just weren't clinical in the Scotland 22. Our pack looked tired and I do question the wisdom of bringing on Isiekwe for Curry, given how shagged out Chessum looked by the end (he flopped off his feet rather than clearly Ritchie out properly at that last ruck).

Puja

Sour grapes much? Ritchie was clearly on his feet

Poor turn of phrase perhaps - his feet may've been on the ground, but so was his head and hands, as he attempted an interpretive dance in the form of a capital A.

Puja

[Puja]

Anyone know who Lawrence came on for? The only back I can't account for is Steward, which would seem to be a weird decision on tactical (especially given Steward's international try scoring record against resolute defences). Was he injured?

Puja

[Timbo]

Anyone know who Lawrence came on for? The only back I can't account for is Steward, which would seem to be a weird decision on tactical (especially given Steward's international try scoring record against resolute defences). Was he injured?

Puja

Marchant, no?

[p/d]

No qualms about Richie intervention at the end. It was what we deserved. In the main our kicking was poor - Pele impression aside - and too many first up tackles missed. Our faltering line out forced us to be defensive, killing our momentum and the 12 dilemma remains a constant. Question to Tigers fans, should we see Steward's last line of defence as a concern.

Finally, those behind the England shirt design. If Cole is going to play please provide one with a high collar. Nobody wants to see where the hair from his head has gone!!

Well done Scotland.

[Puja]

Anyone know who Lawrence came on for? The only back I can't account for is Steward, which would seem to be a weird decision on tactical (especially given Steward's international try scoring record against resolute defences). Was he injured?

Puja

Marchant, no?

Nope, Marchant was involved in the last passage.

Puja

[Spiffy]

Scotland kept playing with ball in hand, Eng lapsed into aimless kicking at a crucial time. Cole and Youngs appeared to un-zip the play it seemed.

Scotland only kept the ball in hand towards the end of the game. The amount of aimless ping-pong from both sides was unbelievable. Lack of rugby brains, ideas, inventive pay and skills all round. Much of the game a snoozefest. Both teams looking far short of real international quality.
At least the new coach is allowing Smith to do the line kicking, and he's getting about twice the yardage of Farrell.

[Puja]

Question to Tigers fans, should we see Steward's last line of defence as a concern.

Potentially. It's definitely not a strength of his and he's made a few very poor ones of late, including a shocker against Ospreys that cost us the game.

Puja

[p/d]

Anyone know who Lawrence came on for? The only back I can't account for is Steward, which would seem to be a weird decision on tactical (especially given Steward's international try scoring record against resolute defences). Was he injured?

Puja

Marchant, no?

Nope, Marchant was involved in the last passage.

Puja

Marchant 75mins

[Oakboy]

I thought the over-riding conclusion from that game was that we are so far back from where we should be that SB's job is even bigger than I imagined. I'd not over-condemn or over-praise any individual. Generally speaking, the backs showed imagination in attack but a lack of cohesion in defence. The forwards showed more grit than in the AIs but discipline remains an issue.

The selection v Italy will be fascinating but the improvement (hopefully) in togetherness will matter most.

[Timbo]

Now we know who’s the better curry, eh?

Costly mistake, but an understandable one. Very fortuitous try for Scotland. Thought Ben showed up well in the more traditional duties of a 7. Hard at the breakdown and lots of big tackles. Nice hands on the gainline a few times. Big energy. Got banged backwards on the carry though, needs to pick smarter lines at this level.

[p/d]

Question to Tigers fans, should we see Steward's last line of defence as a concern.

Potentially. It's definitely not a strength of his and he's made a few very poor ones of late, including a shocker against Ospreys that cost us the game.

Puja

If it is a weakness the other parts of his game make up for it. Just felt he looked a bit exposed today. Mind you Malins is no Goliath in that department.