Team for Japan

[p/d]

Earl is really not very good

[Mr Mwenda]

I know it's only Japan etc. but Fin looks too sharp to not have been on the bench for the earlier AIs.

Yes, notable that suddenly the backs appeared to click.

[Mikey Brown]

I know it's only Japan etc. but Fin looks too sharp to not have been on the bench for the earlier AIs.

Yeah 20 minutes against a wiped out Japan isn't going to tell us much. That cross-kick was pants, but Roebuck really made the most of it. His pass to Roebuck a few minutes before was beautiful though.

[p/d]

Motm choices sums it up.

[Banquo]

Young props were ok but I’d say AOF needs more time to develop physically. Not sure what else you can realistically take away other than our wide defence has gone to shyte

[Banquo]

I know it's only Japan etc. but Fin looks too sharp to not have been on the bench for the earlier AIs.

Yes, notable that suddenly the backs appeared to click.

He’s a distributing 10, but Japan were shagged out,

[Mr Mwenda]

I know it's only Japan etc. but Fin looks too sharp to not have been on the bench for the earlier AIs.

Yes, notable that suddenly the backs appeared to click.

He’s a distributing 10, but Japan were shagged out,

Fair

[Spiffy]

Freeman did not deserve to be subbed. Slade should have got the hook with Marcus Smith getting a run at 12 for a look at the dual playmaker model. Anything Slade can do Marcus can do better.It was not hard for Finn Smith to look good against a poor and clapped out Japan team. This game won't tell Smashed Beak anything new.

[p/d]

Freeman did not deserve to be subbed. Slade should have got the hook with Marcus Smith getting a run at 12 for a look at the dual playmaker model. Anything Slade can do Marcus can do better.It was not hard for Finn Smith to look good against a poor and clapped out Japan team. This game won't tell Smashed Beak anything new.

Slade did get the hook

[FKAS]

Freeman did not deserve to be subbed. Slade should have got the hook with Marcus Smith getting a run at 12 for a look at the dual playmaker model. Anything Slade can do Marcus can do better.It was not hard for Finn Smith to look good against a poor and clapped out Japan team. This game won't tell Smashed Beak anything new.

Marcus got a go at the dual playmaker role (again) but from fullback. Fin brought some real width to the attack that Marcus didn't. Be interesting to see if he could do that without having another flyhalf on the pitch at the same time. In a no win game Fin was the only one to emerge with more credit then they went into the game with.

It was a victory England coasted to.

[Captainhaircut]

Defence is a mess- not helped at all by having almost zero jackal threat. Isn’t that jackal threat a key part of the saffa defence? Force people inside and then get over the ball?

Martin looks dreadful- is he fit? Both legs strapped..

Earl woeful- bounced off tackles, running around like headless chicken with the ball.

Slade just as bad- looks very slow and some very poor decisions at the line in attack.

Stuart the big plus of this autumn series. Scrummaged well and got around the pitch. Big bonus.

[Banquo]

Freeman did not deserve to be subbed. Slade should have got the hook with Marcus Smith getting a run at 12 for a look at the dual playmaker model. Anything Slade can do Marcus can do better.It was not hard for Finn Smith to look good against a poor and clapped out Japan team. This game won't tell Smashed Beak anything new.

Er Furbank and Slade were subbed

[Spiffy]

Freeman did not deserve to be subbed. Slade should have got the hook with Marcus Smith getting a run at 12 for a look at the dual playmaker model. Anything Slade can do Marcus can do better.It was not hard for Finn Smith to look good against a poor and clapped out Japan team. This game won't tell Smashed Beak anything new.

Er Furbank and Slade were subbed

Wasn't Furbank subbed some time before Slade?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Freeman did not deserve to be subbed. Slade should have got the hook with Marcus Smith getting a run at 12 for a look at the dual playmaker model. Anything Slade can do Marcus can do better.It was not hard for Finn Smith to look good against a poor and clapped out Japan team. This game won't tell Smashed Beak anything new.

Er Furbank and Slade were subbed

Wasn't Furbank subbed some time before Slade?

Yes Furbank was subbed for Fin Smith and then Slade for Roebuck.

[francoisfou]

So has Shaven Bonce been granted a reprieve before the 6N?
Whatever, his team’s defence will need rebuilding pdq before Ireland (away) and France at HQ, or it’ll be ripped to shreds!!

[Danno]

So has Shaven Bonce been granted a reprieve before the 6N?
Whatever, his team’s defence will need rebuilding pdq before Ireland (away) and France at HQ, or it’ll be ripped to shreds!!

He's not going anywhere now, but post 6ns, bar some sort of miracle in defence and getting the subs and midfield right he'll be offski

[pjm1]

So has Shaven Bonce been granted a reprieve before the 6N?
Whatever, his team’s defence will need rebuilding pdq before Ireland (away) and France at HQ, or it’ll be ripped to shreds!!

He's not going anywhere now, but post 6ns, bar some sort of miracle in defence and getting the subs and midfield right he'll be offski

My worry is that with this being the “nicer” draw, we could well be winning 3 games (assuming we finally beat Sco at home - not a given!) If Sco beat Wal and Ita but lose at home to Ire (50/50 for me) and lose to us and Fra away… then we’re third.

Not a bad enough performance to get shot.

[Danno]

So has Shaven Bonce been granted a reprieve before the 6N?
Whatever, his team’s defence will need rebuilding pdq before Ireland (away) and France at HQ, or it’ll be ripped to shreds!!

He's not going anywhere now, but post 6ns, bar some sort of miracle in defence and getting the subs and midfield right he'll be offski

My worry is that with this being the “nicer” draw, we could well be winning 3 games (assuming we finally beat Sco at home - not a given!) If Sco beat Wal and Ita but lose at home to Ire (50/50 for me) and lose to us and Fra away… then we’re third.

Not a bad enough performance to get shot.

We don't have enough for Scotland at the moment, and we're breaking negative records as a habit - a loss to Italy (they were 3 points behind last game) feels like a real possibility if they're on form and our defence is still silly. Only Wales being utterly appalling is keeping us in it tbh.

[Which Tyler]

The RFU won't, but I'd be head-hunting for an actual experienced and competent international head coach now.
I would give SB an ultimatum that he needs to secure 1st or 2nd on the 6N to avoid triggering his 6 months notice.

[Banquo]

Freeman did not deserve to be subbed. Slade should have got the hook with Marcus Smith getting a run at 12 for a look at the dual playmaker model. Anything Slade can do Marcus can do better.It was not hard for Finn Smith to look good against a poor and clapped out Japan team. This game won't tell Smashed Beak anything new.

Er Furbank and Slade were subbed

Wasn't Furbank subbed some time before Slade?

well a- you said Freeman, and b- slade was hooked....Smith went to second/third playmaker from 15, and Slade went not long after. (54 and 60 mins)

[Danno]

The RFU won't, but I'd be head-hunting for an actual experienced and competent international head coach now.
I would give SB an ultimatum that he needs to secure 1st or 2nd on the 6N to avoid triggering his 6 months notice.

[Banquo]

The RFU won't, but I'd be head-hunting for an actual experienced and competent international head coach now.
I would give SB an ultimatum that he needs to secure 1st or 2nd on the 6N to avoid triggering his 6 months notice.

I'd hope such an ultimatum is contractually possible.

[FKAS]

The RFU won't, but I'd be head-hunting for an actual experienced and competent international head coach now.
I would give SB an ultimatum that he needs to secure 1st or 2nd on the 6N to avoid triggering his 6 months notice.

I believe they have someone on the books who monitors and helps develop English coaches here and abroad. If he doesn't have a dossier of prospective options then what's the point in having him.

I'm not sure there's many experienced coaches available I'd actually want. I'd keep Borthwick and more likely force a change in coaching setup on him with O'Shea taking more oversight and helping select new assistants.

[Banquo]

Defence is a mess- not helped at all by having almost zero jackal threat. Isn’t that jackal threat a key part of the saffa defence? Force people inside and then get over the ball?

Martin looks dreadful- is he fit? Both legs strapped..

Earl woeful- bounced off tackles, running around like headless chicken with the ball.

Slade just as bad- looks very slow and some very poor decisions at the line in attack.

Stuart the big plus of this autumn series. Scrummaged well and got around the pitch. Big bonus.

jackalling and dreadful wide defence are two distinct areas for um....urgent attention.
Not sure what Martin did wrong (aside from try fck up, fair) decent tackle count and a big hitter, couple of hard carries, won his lineouts, and doubtless was a big help at tighthead lock for your boy Stuart.

Defence, midfield, backrow and overall plot are just four of our issues.
And carrying. ...and...

[Banquo]

The RFU won't, but I'd be head-hunting for an actual experienced and competent international head coach now.
I would give SB an ultimatum that he needs to secure 1st or 2nd on the 6N to avoid triggering his 6 months notice.

I believe they have someone on the books who monitors and helps develop English coaches here and abroad. If he doesn't have a dossier of prospective options then what's the point in having him.

I'm not sure there's many experienced coaches available I'd actually want. I'd keep Borthwick and more likely force a change in coaching setup on him with O'Shea taking more oversight and helping select new assistants.

O'shea better left with elite pathways....what does 'more oversight' mean and then what Borthwick's job look like? It would look like a dead duck imo and put him in an impossible position. If he's not up to appointing coaches or preparing an intl team, let him learn somewhere else.