Team for Scotland

[Mr Mwenda]

It really hammers home how dependent England's performance is on Mitchell's. Presumably the reason they persist with the same tactics is because they reckon that executed properly they work. If players fail to execute plan A will they be able to execute plan b? For me yesterday the problem was the English couldn't kick like they managed to v the French, the kicks and the chase were poorer. In the second half, there were spells where it was appearing to get England on top but then there was a moment of stupidity to lose momentum. The ref being quite inconsistent was part of that but obviously that hit both ways.

Just trying to think through what the players are thinking. The idea that they are robots steered by shiny bumcrack seems ridiculous to me.

[Insouciant]

Meanwhile Italy v France is a right laugh.

France v Italy is making up for our turgid nerve shredder yesterday. I can't figure if it's good attack or lack of defence but there's so much ambition and invention. Italy's backline is so much more fun than ours, I'd like to see us play with their centre partnership. Our game against them might be trickier than people assume.

Jeez - as I was writing this it went to 28-17 France. Only 30 minutes played.

edit - ok, we could improve with Italy's centres in attack, but less so in defence. France going through Italy like a hot knife through butter. 54 minutes gone and France have scored 54. Nuts.

[Banquo]

I agree with the gist of this but it doesn’t fit the narrative so won’t be acknowledged. The best off the cuff, gain line pass from an England player all championship has been M. Smith vs Ireland but, well, you know.
F. Smith has a poor game, imo, but so would any 10 in that performance.

F Smith did not have a poor game, neither did m smith. Both are good interntionals.

Meanwhile Italy v France is a right laugh.

Two points here.

1) it’s possible to have a bad game but still be a good international.
2) I don’t think Fin had a bad game. He was just a bit meh. But I also feel like most of that wasn’t really his fault, and considering the tactics, we’d have been better off with Marcus at 10 and Steward at FB.

Which is not a good look, imo

Fin Smith barely touched the ball in fairness (his oppo had it about twice as much), did little wrong and a lot right esp in defence and nailed a key long distance kick. The point I was making though was that both Smiths are proper internationals. Not sure tho why you think Marcus was more suited to 10 for that game, Steward might have been a better bet at 15 possibly.

[Mellsblue]

F Smith did not have a poor game, neither did m smith. Both are good interntionals.

Meanwhile Italy v France is a right laugh.

Two points here.

1) it’s possible to have a bad game but still be a good international.
2) I don’t think Fin had a bad game. He was just a bit meh. But I also feel like most of that wasn’t really his fault, and considering the tactics, we’d have been better off with Marcus at 10 and Steward at FB.

Which is not a good look, imo

Fin Smith barely touched the ball in fairness (his oppo had it about twice as much), did little wrong and a lot right esp in defence and nailed a key long distance kick. The point I was making though was that both Smiths are proper internationals. Not sure tho why you think Marcus was more suited to 10 for that game, Steward might have been a better bet at 15 possibly.

According to B Youngs, F. Smith passed once more than he tackled. Which is less than ideal.

[Stom]

F Smith did not have a poor game, neither did m smith. Both are good interntionals.

Meanwhile Italy v France is a right laugh.

Two points here.

1) it’s possible to have a bad game but still be a good international.
2) I don’t think Fin had a bad game. He was just a bit meh. But I also feel like most of that wasn’t really his fault, and considering the tactics, we’d have been better off with Marcus at 10 and Steward at FB.

Which is not a good look, imo

Fin Smith barely touched the ball in fairness (his oppo had it about twice as much), did little wrong and a lot right esp in defence and nailed a key long distance kick. The point I was making though was that both Smiths are proper internationals. Not sure tho why you think Marcus was more suited to 10 for that game, Steward might have been a better bet at 15 possibly.

For me, Scotland are the opposite of us. Good out wide, poor close in. Marcus is better, for me, at making things happen. If he runs the ball from 10, or looks like he’s going to run before offloading, I feel like we’d have made more meters than by going wide. Our forwards could make a dent when they actually had the ball.

But it’s all moot, because the tactics stank.

If SB is going to go all “different tactics for different games”, he needs to actual analyze the opposition and change it up. Because that was dreadful.

[Banquo]

Two points here.

1) it’s possible to have a bad game but still be a good international.
2) I don’t think Fin had a bad game. He was just a bit meh. But I also feel like most of that wasn’t really his fault, and considering the tactics, we’d have been better off with Marcus at 10 and Steward at FB.

Which is not a good look, imo

Fin Smith barely touched the ball in fairness (his oppo had it about twice as much), did little wrong and a lot right esp in defence and nailed a key long distance kick. The point I was making though was that both Smiths are proper internationals. Not sure tho why you think Marcus was more suited to 10 for that game, Steward might have been a better bet at 15 possibly.

According to B Youngs, F. Smith passed once more than he tackled. Which is less than ideal.

Yep, because he had so little ball. Think he kicked 5 or 6 times, ran five times, passed 17 times.

[Oakboy]

F Smith did not have a poor game, neither did m smith. Both are good interntionals.

Meanwhile Italy v France is a right laugh.

Two points here.

1) it’s possible to have a bad game but still be a good international.
2) I don’t think Fin had a bad game. He was just a bit meh. But I also feel like most of that wasn’t really his fault, and considering the tactics, we’d have been better off with Marcus at 10 and Steward at FB.

Which is not a good look, imo

Fin Smith barely touched the ball in fairness (his oppo had it about twice as much), did little wrong and a lot right esp in defence and nailed a key long distance kick. The point I was making though was that both Smiths are proper internationals. Not sure tho why you think Marcus was more suited to 10 for that game, Steward might have been a better bet at 15 possibly.

If you did an analysis of the performances of the two HCs, how would they come out? Did either make good use of the gap week? In England's case was more preparation useful?

[Banquo]

Two points here.

1) it’s possible to have a bad game but still be a good international.
2) I don’t think Fin had a bad game. He was just a bit meh. But I also feel like most of that wasn’t really his fault, and considering the tactics, we’d have been better off with Marcus at 10 and Steward at FB.

Which is not a good look, imo

Fin Smith barely touched the ball in fairness (his oppo had it about twice as much), did little wrong and a lot right esp in defence and nailed a key long distance kick. The point I was making though was that both Smiths are proper internationals. Not sure tho why you think Marcus was more suited to 10 for that game, Steward might have been a better bet at 15 possibly.

For me, Scotland are the opposite of us. Good out wide, poor close in. Marcus is better, for me, at making things happen. If he runs the ball from 10, or looks like he’s going to run before offloading, I feel like we’d have made more meters than by going wide. Our forwards could make a dent when they actually had the ball.

But it’s all moot, because the tactics stank.

If SB is going to go all “different tactics for different games”, he needs to actual analyze the opposition and change it up. Because that was dreadful.

Personally I think Scotland would have had even more joy at the breakdown with Marcus doing his jink n die, and Fin S did well with his carrying and defence so we’ll have to disagree.

I agree that such horses for courses switches are difficult when they veer and with not much time to cohere. The other problem we clearly have is an inability to move from one mindset to another. Is that players or coaching? They just look utterly confused sometimes- esp odd yesterday in defence cos Scotland were always going to play like that.

[Banquo]

Meanwhile Italy v France is a right laugh.

France v Italy is making up for our turgid nerve shredder yesterday. I can't figure if it's good attack or lack of defence but there's so much ambition and invention. Italy's backline is so much more fun than ours, I'd like to see us play with their centre partnership. Our game against them might be trickier than people assume.

Jeez - as I was writing this it went to 28-17 France. Only 30 minutes played.

edit - ok, we could improve with Italy's centres in attack, but less so in defence. France going through Italy like a hot knife through butter. 54 minutes gone and France have scored 54. Nuts.

Unfortunately it’s a bit semi opposed now which France are good at!!

[Insouciant]

Meanwhile Italy v France is a right laugh.

France v Italy is making up for our turgid nerve shredder yesterday. I can't figure if it's good attack or lack of defence but there's so much ambition and invention. Italy's backline is so much more fun than ours, I'd like to see us play with their centre partnership. Our game against them might be trickier than people assume.

Jeez - as I was writing this it went to 28-17 France. Only 30 minutes played.

edit - ok, we could improve with Italy's centres in attack, but less so in defence. France going through Italy like a hot knife through butter. 54 minutes gone and France have scored 54. Nuts.

Unfortunately it’s a bit semi opposed now which France are good at!!

It surprises me how bad Italy are defensively. I suppose the game was over at half time, but damn - Italy must have more missed tackles than we did yesterday. They looked decent/ambitious going forwards but if they defend like that I'm back us to get a bonus point.

[Mellsblue]

Fin Smith barely touched the ball in fairness (his oppo had it about twice as much), did little wrong and a lot right esp in defence and nailed a key long distance kick. The point I was making though was that both Smiths are proper internationals. Not sure tho why you think Marcus was more suited to 10 for that game, Steward might have been a better bet at 15 possibly.

According to B Youngs, F. Smith passed once more than he tackled. Which is less than ideal.

Yep, because he had so little ball. Think he kicked 5 or 6 times, ran five times, passed 17 times.

Yep, not blaming the player…

[p/d]

Sleightholme 0 metres and Freeman 6 is pure gold!

[Banquo]

France v Italy is making up for our turgid nerve shredder yesterday. I can't figure if it's good attack or lack of defence but there's so much ambition and invention. Italy's backline is so much more fun than ours, I'd like to see us play with their centre partnership. Our game against them might be trickier than people assume.

Jeez - as I was writing this it went to 28-17 France. Only 30 minutes played.

edit - ok, we could improve with Italy's centres in attack, but less so in defence. France going through Italy like a hot knife through butter. 54 minutes gone and France have scored 54. Nuts.

Unfortunately it’s a bit semi opposed now which France are good at!!

It surprises me how bad Italy are defensively. I suppose the game was over at half time, but damn - Italy must have more missed tackles than we did yesterday. They looked decent/ambitious going forwards but if they defend like that I'm back us to get a bonus point.

Surprisingly Italy had a lower % missed than France, but had about twice as many to make so c 35 missed tackles…hence score line I suppose. Given France that room and inevitably they will rip you up

[Banquo]

Sleightholme 0 metres and Freeman 6 is pure gold!

5 of them was in not quite getting the ball down

[p/d]

Sleightholme 0 metres and Freeman 6 is pure gold!

5 of them was in not quite getting the ball down

Hush now.

[Mellsblue]

Sleightholme 0 metres and Freeman 6 is pure gold!

5 of them was in not quite getting the ball down

Hush now.

[Mikey Brown]

Good on him. Read that quote earlier and the tone came across very differently.

He’s quickly become one of my favourite England players, despite competing with Caden Murley and only making 6 metres.