RugbyRebels

What a pitiful swing. That.

Or not

Anyone having fun?

They had chances. And made the most of missing them.

Well it's a much improved performance from last weekend but still some way short of where we want to be.

Manu doesn't look particularly fit. Youngs and Billy V are really struggling. Is Lawes even playing? We aren't resourcing the ruck particularly well.

Ford looks far more accomplished, we are disrupting their lineout, we are winning the kicking battle and the number of knocks on is far below the last two weeks.

I shouldn't be surprised but somehow I am. It's always the simple things that we get wrong, you'd think we might learn at somepoint.

I was going to criticise us for not going for a contestible kick-off given that time was in the red, but we haven't shown any desire to have attacking ball any other time in the half, why should we start in the last play.

Puja

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 5:59 pm I knew we could trust Dewi to bring up decade out of date talking points

Whereas we've got the main commentator asking Dylan, "Is there anything that England can take as positives going forwards, anything that's working well going into the World Cup?" before being treated to 30 seconds of New Zealand accented floundering.

Puja

I can't offer any objective criticism. There are 6 players that I would not pick. I think only one (Genge) is having a half-decent game. Maybe I'm just reacting to pre-conceived notions and there's another reason that we are so bad.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 6:11 pm Have we practised anything?

Pretty sure training has been George Ford practicing spiral bombs then everyone cheering and patting each other on the back.
Maybe a bit of Genge practicing his nonchalant jog followed by aggressive grimace and slightly faster jog...

So, how's the whole "Billy's the only #8 we need" thing going?


Other than laziness and knock-ons, I'm not seeing what he offers that TWillis and ZMercer don't

Watching the half-time analysis and everything bad for England has featured Will Stuart.

Puja

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 6:25 pm So, how's the whole "Billy's the only #8 we need" thing going?


Other than laziness and knock-ons, I'm not seeing what he offers that TWillis and ZMercer don't

To be fair I understand the Mercer a bit because Borthwick wants physicality and hard yards out of his 8 which isn't the strongest elements of Mercer's game. TWillis though should suit us perfectly well and surely couldn't be worse than Billy V.

Puja wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 6:27 pm Watching the half-time analysis and everything bad for England has featured Will Stuart.

Puja

He's not had a great game. Sinckler needs minutes as well so might as well get him on.

Farrell would've caught that pass and then scored a try and a drop goal from it.

Puja

Ben Young's special

What’s happened to Billy?

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 6:33 pm Ben Young's special

Yeah cause who wants a good start to the half with lots of attacking ball.

That was a clear and obvious penalty at that scrum that Stuart just won and the referee gave him absolutely nothing.

Puja

Why do the Irish players not have to retreat when a kick goes up. They all walk forward.

We need Mitchell, Smith and Lawrence off the bench now, except that SB has put Care there!!!

Kick kick kick kick....

Ribbans has cheated like an absolute bastard at that maul and it was exquisitely done. Good work!

Puja

Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 6:35 pm We need Mitchell, Smith and Lawrence off the bench now, except that SB has put Care there!!!

Why Smith? Ford's having a good game.

Puja

morepork wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 6:36 pm Kick kick kick kick....

It's the long term plan. Kill interest in rugby in Ireland and once more England can reign supreme.