Team for Scotland

[Puja]

Genge
George
Stuart
Itoje
Chessum
TCurry
Earl
TWillis

Mitchell
FSmith
Sleightholme
Slade
Lawrence
Freeman
MSmith

Baxter
Dan
Heyes
Martin
CCS
BCurry
Randall
Daly

You've got to reward most of the starting team from today, but our lineout was terrible and a big part of that was Martin and LCD. The former was ponderous in his movements and dropped a simple catch from a clean lineout, while the latter wasn't hitting double-top and made life difficult for his jumpers. The difference when Chessum came on was palpable and it'll be vital when playing Scotland who love a territory kick. Feels harsh on LCD to have him out the XXIII entirely, but Dan's impact in the loose from the bench is very much not to be sniffed at.

Would still keep the 6:2, as our style of game is hard work on the forwards and we have the flexibility in the backs to pull it off. Would've picked Roebuck at 23 up until minute 78 of the match, but Daly is now forgiven everything forever.

Puja

[jngf]

I think it’s worth looking at a Bamber, Chunya-Munga or Tuima to include in wider 23. Still don’t think Slade’s the answer at 12 and I would start Baxter rather than Genge.

[Captainhaircut]

Harsh to think about who isn’t up to it given the win today but I think from the 2 games we should look to move past Genge, LCD, Martin and Slade.

LCD and Genge flattering to deceive massively. I’d have Dan and Rodd ahead of both rather than waste more caps.

Martin’s lineout weaknesses now a major issue particularly if we are moving away from a third lock at 6.

Slade we all know is just not really offering anything. With the prior defence system a wonder at a second playmaker at 15 in Marcus or Furbank, I don’t really see why we would play him? The final try showed the benefit of another running threat.

I’d move Freeman to 13 (did he finish here with Daly on the wing or was Daly playing 13?), Roebuck right wing (pending IFW’s return). Chessum in at lock with Clark on the bench and Rodd/Dan for Genge/LCD as mentioned prior. I’d actually start Dan and maybe look at George in this Mealamu finisher role.

we’d need to upgrade on Lawrence at 12 long term but tried to think within current squad constraints.

Doubt we’ll see any of that from Borthers given his prior “experience” comments. Maybe Chessum swapped with Martin and George with LCD (possibly Dan on bench).

Getting closer to the right side step by step…

[Mr Mwenda]

Daly was on the left wing I thought. I didn't see who he replaced.

[Puja]

Harsh to think about who isn’t up to it given the win today but I think from the 2 games we should look to move past Genge, LCD, Martin and Slade.

LCD and Genge flattering to deceive massively. I’d have Dan and Rodd ahead of both rather than waste more caps.

Martin’s lineout weaknesses now a major issue particularly if we are moving away from a third lock at 6.

Slade we all know is just not really offering anything. With the prior defence system a wonder at a second playmaker at 15 in Marcus or Furbank, I don’t really see why we would play him? The final try showed the benefit of another running threat.

I’d move Freeman to 13 (did he finish here with Daly on the wing or was Daly playing 13?), Roebuck right wing (pending IFW’s return). Chessum in at lock with Clark on the bench and Rodd/Dan for Genge/LCD as mentioned prior. I’d actually start Dan and maybe look at George in this Mealamu finisher role.

we’d need to upgrade on Lawrence at 12 long term but tried to think within current squad constraints.

Doubt we’ll see any of that from Borthers given his prior “experience” comments. Maybe Chessum swapped with Martin and George with LCD (possibly Dan on bench).

Getting closer to the right side step by step…

Harsh on Genge - he had a very decent game in the scrum against a monstrous French pack. I actually think he's a better scrummager against more challenging opposition - he struggles when he's on top because he gives aaay silly penalties trying to overattack and assert his dominance, but he did very well today.

I'd need to form an opinion on Slade after the m-b-m - can't help but feel that he must've been a big part of the immense defesive effort, but I don't actually recall him individually. Plus his kicks for touch, which are supposed to be one of his USPs, were very erratic. If he isn't offering unseen work, then I could get behind moving Freeman inside and playing an extra winger, although I feel that'd be Roebuck - much as I now love Daly, I'm not convinced he should be starting.

Oh, and Freeman moved to 13 with Daly on the wing, at least for that last attacking phase.

Puja

[Stom]

I second Puja’s team.

I also do feel like Genge is having limited impact and is only there because there isn’t anyone ready to take over.

[Oakboy]

Lawrence is starting to look better but would moving to a conventional 12 slot with Beard, say, at 13 suit him now? I think changing the 12/13 needs to wait till 1. the 10/15 experiment settles and 2. the left wing is established (possibly Sleightholme, possibly not).

[Mikey Brown]

Lawrence is finally looking the part at 13. I’m frustrated with the midfield situation but with constant changing 6-15 I’d leave unless a new 12 is suddenly going to be trusted.

Mitchell had a pretty ropey game I thought, lively but inaccurate a lot of the time. I guess you could say that for a lot of players out there today. Obviously still starts though.

I’d be tempted to start Dan and keep George on the bench, but just taking the set piece reliability from the start is probably sensible. Swap Martin/Chessum.

I’m not sure what was happening out wide in defence, we seemed to be caught very narrow several times. Not really sure who takes responsibility for that. You could argue that was a trade off that pressured a lot of midfield mistakes from France but I’m not sure.

[FKAS]

our lineout was terrible and a big part of that was Martin and LCD. The former was ponderous in his movements and dropped a simple catch from a clean lineout, while the latter wasn't hitting double-top and made life difficult for his jumpers.

Yeah that missed catch by Martin in the first half looked like a timing issue (he still should have caught it), Itoje missed one in the second with a similar albeit more pronounced issue.

Martin isn't a top international class lineout jumper but he gets through a shed load of work. His tackle counts was massive. If he's not there burying himself for the cause doing the dirty work will be suffer? I think he topped the England tackle charts despite playing only 60 mins.

With Marcus or Steward at 15, how are Scotland going to kick? Marcus had a very mixed game ball in hand and no real contest in the air. If Scotland are going to kick to contest do you go with the safe option of the 17 stone unit? Certainly after today we should be going Fin at 10.

[Great Bloke]

Don’t understand the criticism of Genge…on top vs a very good French Scrum. That’s his job, carrying is a bonus.

George off the bench brings some much needed stability in the last quarter.

Mitchell needs to play 80mins, the drop off to Randall is crazy.

Fin Smith appears to bring others into the game brilliantly, stick with him.

[Banquo]

Daly was on the left wing I thought. I didn't see who he replaced.

slade

[Scrumhead]

I’m delighted we won but flip me, the Fin wank after one decent half is nauseating given how often Marcus has been our only bright spot.

[Banquo]

I’m delighted we won but flip me, the Fin wank after one decent half is nauseating given how often Marcus has been our only bright spot.

[Which Tyler]

Lawrence is starting to look better but would moving to a conventional 12 slot with Beard, say, at 13 suit him now? I think changing the 12/13 needs to wait till 1. the 10/15 experiment settles and 2. the left wing is established (possibly Sleightholme, possibly not).

So... An OC who never really convinced when played out of position, and asked to play to his weaknesses, whilst if ignoring his strengths; moves to OC, and is allowed to play to his strengths.
So the solution is... to move him back to where he failed, and ask him to play to his weaknesses again?

[Great Bloke]

Surely the ‘Fin wank’ is due to his input into us actually playing some phases. Marcus is a quality player but I’ve felt it’s been either let Marcus do something special, or box kick for too long… we still kicked away a lot of ball, which Lawerance and Fin did a lot, but it felt we had more to our game

[Banquo]

Surely the ‘Fin wank’ is due to his input into us actually playing some phases. Marcus is a quality player but I’ve felt it’s been either let Marcus do something special, or box kick for too long… we still kicked away a lot of ball, which Lawerance and Fin did a lot, but it felt we had more to our game

Me too, different player, more structure and shape which seemed to fit well. Not necessarily any shade towards Marcus to be fair, just looked a better fit for the way the side attacks best. One swallow and all that tho

[Puja]

I’m delighted we won but flip me, the Fin wank after one decent half is nauseating given how often Marcus has been our only bright spot.

Surely the ‘Fin wank’ is due to his input into us actually playing some phases. Marcus is a quality player but I’ve felt it’s been either let Marcus do something special, or box kick for too long… we still kicked away a lot of ball, which Lawerance and Fin did a lot, but it felt we had more to our game

Me too, different player, more structure and shape which seemed to fit well. Not necessarily any shade towards Marcus to be fair, just looked a better fit for the way the side attacks best. One swallow and all that tho

Agreed with all of that and why I've been saying MSmith is better suited to 15 at international level. *Such* a creative player and runner, and so talented, but how many times when "Marcus has been our only bright spot" has that been because he's made the break himself and how many times has it been because he's opened gaps for the rest of his team to run through?

Puja

[Banquo]

I’m delighted we won but flip me, the Fin wank after one decent half is nauseating given how often Marcus has been our only bright spot.

Surely the ‘Fin wank’ is due to his input into us actually playing some phases. Marcus is a quality player but I’ve felt it’s been either let Marcus do something special, or box kick for too long… we still kicked away a lot of ball, which Lawerance and Fin did a lot, but it felt we had more to our game

Me too, different player, more structure and shape which seemed to fit well. Not necessarily any shade towards Marcus to be fair, just looked a better fit for the way the side attacks best. One swallow and all that tho

Agreed with all of that and why I've been saying MSmith is better suited to 15 at international level. *Such* a creative player and runner, and so talented, but how many times when "Marcus has been our only bright spot" has that been because he's made the break himself and how many times has it been because he's opened gaps for the rest of his team to run through?

Puja

Still don’t agree on Smith at 15 tho, soz

[Puja]

Don’t understand the criticism of Genge…on top vs a very good French Scrum. That’s his job, carrying is a bonus.

Yup. When a prop keeps a much fancied opposition scrum under wraps, anything else is optional.

Thought Heyes showed up well actually. Didn't do much in the loose, but his scrummaging was very decent and a good mark of how well he's kicked on.

Puja

[Banquo]

Don’t understand the criticism of Genge…on top vs a very good French Scrum. That’s his job, carrying is a bonus.

Yup. When a prop keeps a much fancied opposition scrum under wraps, anything else is optional.

Thought Heyes showed up well actually. Didn't do much in the loose, but his scrummaging was very decent and a good mark of how well he's kicked on.

Puja

Unfortunately Genge coughed up dumb pens, not for the first time. Baxter after the 1st scrum was very impressive

[Puja]

I’m delighted we won but flip me, the Fin wank after one decent half is nauseating given how often Marcus has been our only bright spot.

Me too, different player, more structure and shape which seemed to fit well. Not necessarily any shade towards Marcus to be fair, just looked a better fit for the way the side attacks best. One swallow and all that tho

Agreed with all of that and why I've been saying MSmith is better suited to 15 at international level. *Such* a creative player and runner, and so talented, but how many times when "Marcus has been our only bright spot" has that been because he's made the break himself and how many times has it been because he's opened gaps for the rest of his team to run through?

Puja

Still don’t agree on Smith at 15 tho, soz

I recognise your reticence towards it, and obviously we're back to one swallow not making someone your boyfriend, but didn't he play pretty well there today, without any full-back errors?

Puja

[Puja]

Don’t understand the criticism of Genge…on top vs a very good French Scrum. That’s his job, carrying is a bonus.

Yup. When a prop keeps a much fancied opposition scrum under wraps, anything else is optional.

Thought Heyes showed up well actually. Didn't do much in the loose, but his scrummaging was very decent and a good mark of how well he's kicked on.

Puja

Unfortunately Genge coughed up dumb pens, not for the first time. Baxter after the 1st scrum was very impressive

I don't recall those. What were they for? I mean, I'll see them in the m-b-m soon, but I genuinely don't remember them.

Thought Baxter was robbed in the first scrum - just because your elbow touches the floor first doesn't mean it's your offence, not when the tighthead is diving at the floor like someone's dropped a fiver. But you're right that his comeback was hugely impressive. He looked a touch raw in the Autumn Internationals and got done several times, which is to be expected of such a young player promoted so quickly, but this shows he's learned and developed from the experience.

Puja

[Banquo]

Yup. When a prop keeps a much fancied opposition scrum under wraps, anything else is optional.

Thought Heyes showed up well actually. Didn't do much in the loose, but his scrummaging was very decent and a good mark of how well he's kicked on.

Puja

Unfortunately Genge coughed up dumb pens, not for the first time. Baxter after the 1st scrum was very impressive

I don't recall those. What were they for? I mean, I'll see them in the m-b-m soon, but I genuinely don't remember them.

Thought Baxter was robbed in the first scrum - just because your elbow touches the floor first doesn't mean it's your offence, not when the tighthead is diving at the floor like someone's dropped a fiver. But you're right that his comeback was hugely impressive. He looked a touch raw in the Autumn Internationals and got done several times, which is to be expected of such a young player promoted so quickly, but this shows he's learned and developed from the experience.

Puja

two stupid offsides

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah it will be interesting to see back how many of those kicks away from Smith were really on. It did feel like quite a few, and obviously the charge down at the beginning looked pretty panicked.

He did look very composed in that closing period though.

Agree the call on Baxter’s first scrum seems odd. When they recognise he’s dominating it makes you question why the elbow on the floor is used to decide that call, but it’s far too late for me to really start understanding scrums.

[p/d]

Lawrence is starting to look better but would moving to a conventional 12 slot with Beard, say, at 13 suit him now? I think changing the 12/13 needs to wait till 1. the 10/15 experiment settles and 2. the left wing is established (possibly Sleightholme, possibly not).

You really aren't for dropping Slade are you Dors?

He should have been jettisoned before the AI. By not doing so we are still debating his inclusion.

Again we create a rod for our own back. With a win we we will assume his role was a factor and he ei run out in 2 weeks with 12 on his back

Changes? 11, 12 & 15.