RugbyRebels

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 9:46 am**

FKAS wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 8:08 am
Puja wrote: ↑Fri Nov 07, 2025 10:47 pm
Oakboy wrote: ↑Fri Nov 07, 2025 8:43 pm

Ah, it's all a bit airy-fairy for us on the outside looking in - we are speculating for fun, of course. To counter your concern based on past games, I suppose there are two factors where NZ may no longer have the edge over 80: 1. our players are fitter; 2. our depth is more solid and our bench, whoever is there/starting does not involve a major drop-off. In terms of NZ, maybe it's fair to only have concern about the 2nd row, perhaps? To give SB credit, Itoje on the bench for Fiji is a trial of that.

There are two general factors, for me. First, we need to constantly give them cause to fear us - Freeman, IFW, Roebuck at 13/11/14 for example. Second, we should kick accurately and intelligently (not speculatively). They need to be under pressure from us and we should not give them easy ball to counter-attack with. I know, to an extent that that is how it should always be but it just seems so much more important against them.
Not unfair on all counts - I'd still mark Spencer as being an utter handbrake of a player to have coming off the bench, but it is very much a case of who the hells else is there. As long as we keep Mitchell fit and he can play 70 minutes, our bench is probably good enough.

Puja
Pray that JvP recovers in time?

I do think we've missed a trick not having a look at Potter though. Quirke is a good player but he's made of glass and those injuries have meant he's not really kicked on in a long time.

I am falling away from JvP enthusiasm at present. Apart from his own glassness at present, his service has been poor since returning and I've spotted him passing off the wrong hand at a breakdown because he's not got himself in the right position on his approach.

Puja

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 10:03 am**

Puja wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 9:46 am
FKAS wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 8:08 am
Puja wrote: ↑Fri Nov 07, 2025 10:47 pm

Not unfair on all counts - I'd still mark Spencer as being an utter handbrake of a player to have coming off the bench, but it is very much a case of who the hells else is there. As long as we keep Mitchell fit and he can play 70 minutes, our bench is probably good enough.

Puja
Pray that JvP recovers in time?

I do think we've missed a trick not having a look at Potter though. Quirke is a good player but he's made of glass and those injuries have meant he's not really kicked on in a long time.
I am falling away from JvP enthusiasm at present. Apart from his own glassness at present, his service has been poor since returning and I've spotted him passing off the wrong hand at a breakdown because he's not got himself in the right position on his approach.

Puja

I find it strange that there is not a queue of SHs. In terms of game involvement and visual appeal is it not most youngsters' favourite position aspirationally?

I can remember advocating Mitchell on here 4 or 5 years back and getting pilloried. Now, he's the best and McParland, a half-decent prospective back-up, is at the same club (not that I dare mention his ceiling).

Maybe, Quirke, with maturity, will toughen up in injury-avoidance terms.

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 10:45 am**

Mitchell worked hard on his game. He went from being a tactical weakness to transforming his kicking game into a weapon. He should be held up as an example to what you can do if you fix your work ons. That pre world cup camp with Wigglesworth has transformed his career.

JvP, yeah Puja is right. He's not particularly robust either. I do think he suffered at the start of the season by our insistence on playing off 9 and him being the fulcrum of the attack. We saw Whiteley offer up some horror show appearances being asked to do the same. Given how the attack has evolved at Tigers since JOC came in I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do in that set up. It's a shame really because JvP is one of those rare options that has a strong running game and an absolute cannon of a box kick (now he's largely fixed the long wind up) which makes him handy at international level, particularly as Mitchell's back up.

Bracken at Sarries seems to have a lot about him, I'm hoping this is going to be a breakout season for him.

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 10:55 am**

double-post

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 10:58 am**

loudnconfident wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 10:55 am
Oakboy wrote: ↑ <deleted>
Maybe, Quirke, with maturity, will toughen up in injury-avoidance terms.
I hope so too. I was at HQ in November 2021 when we beat SA (after being seriously under the cosh) and will not forget his try.

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 11:56 am**

Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 10:03 am
Puja wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 9:46 am
FKAS wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 8:08 am

Pray that JvP recovers in time?

I do think we've missed a trick not having a look at Potter though. Quirke is a good player but he's made of glass and those injuries have meant he's not really kicked on in a long time.
I am falling away from JvP enthusiasm at present. Apart from his own glassness at present, his service has been poor since returning and I've spotted him passing off the wrong hand at a breakdown because he's not got himself in the right position on his approach.

Puja
I find it strange that there is not a queue of SHs. In terms of game involvement and visual appeal is it not most youngsters' favourite position aspirationally?

I can remember advocating Mitchell on here 4 or 5 years back and getting pilloried. Now, he's the best and McParland, a half-decent prospective back-up, is at the same club (not that I dare mention his ceiling).

Maybe, Quirke, with maturity, will toughen up in injury-avoidance terms.

Mind, 4-5 years back, we were right to pillory you - he wasn't half the player he is nowadays.

Puja

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 1:10 pm**

Puja wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 11:56 am
Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 10:03 am
Puja wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 9:46 am

I am falling away from JvP enthusiasm at present. Apart from his own glassness at present, his service has been poor since returning and I've spotted him passing off the wrong hand at a breakdown because he's not got himself in the right position on his approach.

Puja
I find it strange that there is not a queue of SHs. In terms of game involvement and visual appeal is it not most youngsters' favourite position aspirationally?

I can remember advocating Mitchell on here 4 or 5 years back and getting pilloried. Now, he's the best and McParland, a half-decent prospective back-up, is at the same club (not that I dare mention his ceiling).

Maybe, Quirke, with maturity, will toughen up in injury-avoidance terms.
Mind, 4-5 years back, we were right to pillory you - he wasn't half the player he is nowadays.

Puja

Fair enough.

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 1:23 pm**

Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 1:10 pm
Puja wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 11:56 am
Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 10:03 am

I find it strange that there is not a queue of SHs. In terms of game involvement and visual appeal is it not most youngsters' favourite position aspirationally?

I can remember advocating Mitchell on here 4 or 5 years back and getting pilloried. Now, he's the best and McParland, a half-decent prospective back-up, is at the same club (not that I dare mention his ceiling).

Maybe, Quirke, with maturity, will toughen up in injury-avoidance terms.
Mind, 4-5 years back, we were right to pillory you - he wasn't half the player he is nowadays.

Puja
Fair enough.

It’s all about recognising a player’s ceiling, hey Dors. Chapeau on spotting Mitchell’s.

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 1:49 pm**

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 1:23 pm
Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 1:10 pm
Puja wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 11:56 am

Mind, 4-5 years back, we were right to pillory you - he wasn't half the player he is nowadays.

Puja
Fair enough.
It’s all about recognising a player’s ceiling, hey Dors. Chapeau on spotting Mitchell’s.

Even I get something right occasionally. Best not mention it, though.

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 4:33 pm**

Sco vs NZ is really fun for anyone not watching.

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 4:56 pm**

twitchy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 4:33 pm Sco vs NZ is really fun for anyone not watching.

It is, Scotland are maddening though. Small lapses of concentration kill them.

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 4:59 pm**

I am not a proper england fan, I was really rooting for scotland there.

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 5:14 pm**

Yeah, they did really well to level the scores but NZ found a little extra in the last few minutes.

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 5:45 pm**

Missing Maro in the maul already

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 5:48 pm**

Other than the crap maul decision making, the rest has been good, clear decision making so far.

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 5:56 pm**

Whatever Blackett is doing I absolutely fucking love it

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 6:03 pm**

Good ref chat from Genge

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 6:07 pm**

The defense is poor out wide. I think it's the midfield, tbh, but it's not good. It's the same again.

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 6:11 pm**

Stom wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 6:07 pm The defense is poor out wide. I think it's the midfield, tbh, but it's not good. It's the same again.

Are you doubting the Wiggler as a defence coach?

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 6:21 pm**

Gotta be red.

Lucky it's a offield review rather than straight

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 6:23 pm**

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 6:21 pm Gotta be red.

Lucky it's a offield review rather than straight

Yeah, that's the most definite red...

Lucky for England, as we've been poor recently.

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 6:28 pm**

Fiji are simply better than us at the breakdown. Annoying, worrying. Needs sorting.

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 6:29 pm**

Stom wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 6:23 pm
Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 6:21 pm Gotta be red.

Lucky it's a offield review rather than straight
Yeah, that's the most definite red...

Lucky for England, as we've been poor recently.

That was a bloody stupid pen to give away. Dangerous of course, but really stupid - Fiji were on top at the least

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 6:32 pm**

Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 6:28 pm Fiji are simply better than us at the breakdown. Annoying, worrying. Needs sorting.

Our speed to the breakdown has been poor. Hence why a lot of folks here have always said Earl isn’t a great 7.

However, Fiji have benefited from extremely generous officiating at the breakdown too.

Posted: **Sat Nov 08, 2025 6:33 pm**

I'd obviously rather we were winning a lot more convincingly and had things like more accuracy, much better defence, a breakdown monster and weren't losing the set piece, but I am loving the ambition in attack we're showing

RugbyRebels

England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji

Re: England v Fiji