England vs Samoa - Sat 4.45pm

[16th man]

A lot more mild from Andy Bull:

. But given how good England were in previous weeks, .

Needle skip, spit take, sorry, what now? moment here.

Did I miss a couple of games or is he genuinely still pushing a line that the Chile game meant something?

[Stom]

A lot more mild from Andy Bull:

. But given how good England were in previous weeks, .

Needle skip, spit take, sorry, what now? moment here.

Did I miss a couple of games or is he genuinely still pushing a line that the Chile game meant something?

Since he 'moved upstairs', he's been a lot more...nice...toward coaches of all sports teams. Really does diminish the Granuaid's sports coverage when their best writer has become the sports equivalent of a corporate shill.

[jngf]

Banquo Itoje’s being (imo fairly) questioned because compared to the zenith he reached on his first few seasons he’s been bang average (at best) - like Billy and Farrell successive England coaches have been too reluctant to drop him when needed and his place in the starting XV being complacently taken as a given. I’d honestly swap him in that 4 shirt for Lawes at the moment which would give space for 3 out and out back rows not what used to be called in the old days a utility forward.

Despite Lawes not having played lock for what, 3 years or so. Try replacing Itoje's restart work, his excellence at 2,4,6 as a jumper, his phenomenal work rate at rucks both sides of the ball. I don't think you can be watching him very closely, frankly- his work is literally unseen to you; he's the only bit of glue in an inconsistent pack.

In all the time I’ve been posting here I’ve never felt that @jngf is watching anyone closely TBH. A good deal of his opinions are only held by him which kind of tells it’s own story …

For somebody so devoted to pontificating about facts, data etc. that’s a very subjective comment Scrummy

[Scrumhead]

Which bit? The second sentence is a fact isn’t it?

[Mellsblue]

LBB will likely make way for Villiere for the quarters.

He did not.

[Mikey Brown]

Oh what you want someone fast on the wing? Don’t they know how good Villiere is at the breakdown?

[FKAS]

Oh what you want someone fast on the wing? Don’t they know how good Villiere is at the breakdown?

Villiere isn't exactly slow.

[Mikey Brown]

Oh what you want someone fast on the wing? Don’t they know how good Villiere is at the breakdown?

Villiere isn't exactly slow.

Don’t mind me, I just hate rugby now apparently.

[Mikey Brown]

Oh no. He said the Eddie thing. Ford hasn't been dropped to the bench, he's "changed his role".

[morepork]

The Day Today with Steve Borthwick. This is genius satire.

[Mellsblue]

Ffs.

[Banquo]

what he said. What absolute shyte.

Slightly Bothered he looks very stressed and So bricking it.

[Danno]

Fucking hell. I've interviewed discarded takeaway boxes with more insight and charisma than those two

[p/d]

I have just read that Underhill was brought in solely to replicate Botia in training

[Mellsblue]

Any chance we could find someone replicate him in a match.

[p/d]

Any chance we could find someone replicate him in a match.

You would think wouldn't you.

[p/d]

Oh no. He said the Eddie thing. Ford hasn't been dropped to the bench, he's "changed his role".

That is priceless!!!!! .............. and yet I died a little inside.

[jngf]

Oh no. He said the Eddie thing. Ford hasn't been dropped to the bench, he's "changed his role".

“His ability to perform so well at 10 or 12” - in the context of manning the till at Aldi one assumes Steve?

[fivepointer]

I dont expect an all singling all dancing performance at these things. I'm sure the coaches and players find them a chore but jeez can they try and inject just a little life into proceedings?
Change of role. For crying out loud.....

[Mikey Brown]

I know, right.

I’m not sure if Borthwick considers himself a great actor, but this decision to present themselves as relentlessly jovial and positive about the opportunities ahead just doesn’t land at all. It really slipped in that moment.

At least when they released that video of Eddie announcing the team to finish the game you had the hilarious element of them all looking around trying to hide puzzled expressions and say “okay, sure but am I fucking starting or am I on the bench?”

[Mellsblue]

Did we expect anything different in front of the press. We can all remember his drivel as captain. What I didn’t expect was such a poorly drilled team and such poor off-field planning.

[jngf]

Did we expect anything different in front of the press. We can all remember his drivel as captain. What I didn’t expect was such a poorly drilled team and such poor off-field planning.

Sarah Brown used to give Aleicester Brexit Campbell a run for his money in the spin stakes

[Mellsblue]

Did we expect anything different in front of the press. We can all remember his drivel as captain. What I didn’t expect was such a poorly drilled team and such poor off-field planning.

Sarah Brown used to give Aleicester Brexit Campbell a run for his money in the spin stakes

Fascinating.

[p/d]

Did we expect anything different in front of the press. We can all remember his drivel as captain. What I didn’t expect was such a poorly drilled team and such poor off-field planning.

I was just pleased to hear just how many exceptional players we have who haven’t made the team.
Not forgetting how excited the anointed all are

[Mellsblue]

Did we expect anything different in front of the press. We can all remember his drivel as captain. What I didn’t expect was such a poorly drilled team and such poor off-field planning.

I was just pleased to hear just how many exceptional players we have who haven’t made the team.
Not forgetting how excited the anointed all are

…but forgetting how unexcited the disappointed all are.