RugbyRebels

jngf wrote:That was by far the best match to watch -
Farrell like anybody can have a bad day at the office but he’s not our best 12 and certainly not our best 10 so does he really merit a starting berth? I guess whilst England keep winning Eddie can justify (at least to himself and a rather sycophantic rugby press) that that is all that counts.

Billy put in a tremendous defensive effort and fair enough got motm - I continue to maintain he’s easier to stop than a few years back and England have no credible plan B to him. Also think Underhill and Curry would benefit from switching flank berths, the justification of picking Underhill at 7 because he’s quick off defensive scrums (or whatever it was) is starting to wring hollow - he’s more a 6 than 7 and the reverse for Curry imo.

Also the fullback situation is as unsettled (and unresolved) as the centre partnership. On the plus side Launch and Itoje are beautifully balanced imo!

Raggs wrote:

jngf wrote:That was by far the best match to watch -
Farrell like anybody can have a bad day at the office but he’s not our best 12 and certainly not our best 10 so does he really merit a starting berth? I guess whilst England keep winning Eddie can justify (at least to himself and a rather sycophantic rugby press) that that is all that counts.

Billy put in a tremendous defensive effort and fair enough got motm - I continue to maintain he’s easier to stop than a few years back and England have no credible plan B to him. Also think Underhill and Curry would benefit from switching flank berths, the justification of picking Underhill at 7 because he’s quick off defensive scrums (or whatever it was) is starting to wring hollow - he’s more a 6 than 7 and the reverse for Curry imo.

Also the fullback situation is as unsettled (and unresolved) as the centre partnership. On the plus side Launch and Itoje are beautifully balanced imo!

How is it "wringing" hollow? And what's the difference between the 6 and the 7 in how England play?

fivepointer wrote:Things looking very good for France. They've long had the talent but now seem to have the discipline and resolve. Obviously the input of the Englishman Shaun Edwards shouldnt be underestimated

Farrell - who really was by a long way our worst player of the autumn - seems to have secured squatters rights to a place in the side. I do wonder what actually dropping him might do. As it is, he can play like a drain, week in and week out, and still get picked.
That cannot be a good thing when we have alternatives available.

Mikey Brown wrote:

Raggs wrote:

jngf wrote:That was by far the best match to watch -
Farrell like anybody can have a bad day at the office but he’s not our best 12 and certainly not our best 10 so does he really merit a starting berth? I guess whilst England keep winning Eddie can justify (at least to himself and a rather sycophantic rugby press) that that is all that counts.

Billy put in a tremendous defensive effort and fair enough got motm - I continue to maintain he’s easier to stop than a few years back and England have no credible plan B to him. Also think Underhill and Curry would benefit from switching flank berths, the justification of picking Underhill at 7 because he’s quick off defensive scrums (or whatever it was) is starting to wring hollow - he’s more a 6 than 7 and the reverse for Curry imo.

Also the fullback situation is as unsettled (and unresolved) as the centre partnership. On the plus side Launch and Itoje are beautifully balanced imo!

How is it "wringing" hollow? And what's the difference between the 6 and the 7 in how England play?

Are you honestly expecting a response?

Underhill just had a bad day.

Curry continues to impress with his multiple USPs including being a very powerful carrier. Almost looked like a number 8 at times.

morepork wrote:"Dressing room"?

Digby wrote:

morepork wrote:"Dressing room"?

We don't judge

loudnconfident wrote:More exciting than I expected; nowt to add but:

Ford had a good minute 78. Sidestepping the French 14 - at a vital moment - and nailing the penalty to touch

Why no chasers for the Farrell penalties? I remember Robshaw catching the rebound in Oz 2016

Scrumhead wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:

Raggs wrote:
How is it "wringing" hollow? And what's the difference between the 6 and the 7 in how England play?

Are you honestly expecting a response?

Underhill just had a bad day.

Curry continues to impress with his multiple USPs including being a very powerful carrier. Almost looked like a number 8 at times.

I strongly suspect Curry and Underhill could swap shirts, play the exact same roles they do now and jngf would say they’d both had brilliant games.

If anything is ‘ringing hollow’ (without the superfluous w), it’s jngf’s constant repetition of the same old sh*t.

Mikey Brown wrote:

loudnconfident wrote:More exciting than I expected; nowt to add but:

Ford had a good minute 78. Sidestepping the French 14 - at a vital moment - and nailing the penalty to touch

Why no chasers for the Farrell penalties? I remember Robshaw catching the rebound in Oz 2016

Why would you waste your energy? As far as I’m aware he’s never missed. And if he has it probably wasn’t important.

Mikey Brown wrote:

loudnconfident wrote:More exciting than I expected; nowt to add but:

Ford had a good minute 78. Sidestepping the French 14 - at a vital moment - and nailing the penalty to touch

Why no chasers for the Farrell penalties? I remember Robshaw catching the rebound in Oz 2016

Why would you waste your energy? As far as I’m aware he’s never missed. And if he has it probably wasn’t important.

loudnconfident wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:

loudnconfident wrote:More exciting than I expected; nowt to add but:

Ford had a good minute 78. Sidestepping the French 14 - at a vital moment - and nailing the penalty to touch

Why no chasers for the Farrell penalties? I remember Robshaw catching the rebound in Oz 2016

Why would you waste your energy? As far as I’m aware he’s never missed. And if he has it probably wasn’t important.

I suppose one could jump delightedly with arms aloft and try and get in the replay as the ball sails majestically through the posts...

But you - personally - must have been happy that we had a proper FB after Malins came on? (Rather than a winger)

loudnconfident wrote:
Why no chasers for the Farrell penalties? I remember Robshaw catching the rebound in Oz 2016

FKAS wrote:

Banquo wrote:

p/d wrote:
There were a number of times when one had to straighten but we continued to just ship it on giving our wide boys absolutely nothing to work with. This was highlighted when Daly didn’t fix the defence and just shipped a crap pass out to Watson, killing off any threat

True Daly did poorly twice. But my point remains, though could add poor lines in midfield. Even Malins was making ground but dying with it.

Who going to run the lines in midfield though? The two lightweight wingers or the two that really want to go on the outside arc Slade and Daly, definitely won't be stand flat waiting to ship bad ball to the wing Farrell. Backline selection was horrific. Ford did well to get any level of penetration going.

The kicking tactics are simple. If it isn't obviously on after two or three phases play for territory. If it's on go. There's not a lot of point playing lots of phases in the centre of the park if you're not going anywhere because eventually you concede a penalty and end up defending in your 22. Play territory and normally you end with a lineout just inside the opposition half then it's rolling maul pen and 3 points or launch a move off of first phase.

FKAS wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:
Are you honestly expecting a response?

Underhill just had a bad day.

Curry continues to impress with his multiple USPs including being a very powerful carrier. Almost looked like a number 8 at times.

I strongly suspect Curry and Underhill could swap shirts, play the exact same roles they do now and jngf would say they’d both had brilliant games.

If anything is ‘ringing hollow’ (without the superfluous w), it’s jngf’s constant repetition of the same old sh*t.

Doesn't matter what shirt he was wearing it was rare bad day at the office for Underhill. Conceded to many penalties and was then hooked shortly after half time. Presumably just enough time for Earl to finish warming up. He's otherwise been excellent this Autumn so an interesting sub plot ahead of the 6N. The contest for those backrow shirts is ridiculous.

Launchbury getting hooked early with Hill sent on to help the lineout and add some aggression. Another shirt that could change hands around 6N time. Will Lawes be back by then as well?

loudnconfident wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:

loudnconfident wrote:More exciting than I expected; nowt to add but:

Ford had a good minute 78. Sidestepping the French 14 - at a vital moment - and nailing the penalty to touch

Why no chasers for the Farrell penalties? I remember Robshaw catching the rebound in Oz 2016

Why would you waste your energy? As far as I’m aware he’s never missed. And if he has it probably wasn’t important.

But you - personally - must have been happy that we had a proper FB after Malins came on? (Rather than a winger)

Banquo wrote:And the kicking is obvious, but obviously poorly done and the wrong call against this French team. At least by going through a couple more phases you have a chance to move the backfield round a bit; instead of which we just kicked it down Dulins throat. It’s simply too blunt a weapon if done thoughtfully- and we aren’t especially good at getting the ball back tbh from ‘50/50’. If you are going to kick, kick well.

Banquo wrote:

FKAS wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:
I strongly suspect Curry and Underhill could swap shirts, play the exact same roles they do now and jngf would say they’d both had brilliant games.

If anything is ‘ringing hollow’ (without the superfluous w), it’s jngf’s constant repetition of the same old sh*t.

Doesn't matter what shirt he was wearing it was rare bad day at the office for Underhill. Conceded to many penalties and was then hooked shortly after half time. Presumably just enough time for Earl to finish warming up. He's otherwise been excellent this Autumn so an interesting sub plot ahead of the 6N. The contest for those backrow shirts is ridiculous.

Launchbury getting hooked early with Hill sent on to help the lineout and add some aggression. Another shirt that could change hands around 6N time. Will Lawes be back by then as well?

Sent on to help the lineout which we promptly lost :)

Puja wrote:

Banquo wrote:And the kicking is obvious, but obviously poorly done and the wrong call against this French team. At least by going through a couple more phases you have a chance to move the backfield round a bit; instead of which we just kicked it down Dulins throat. It’s simply too blunt a weapon if done thoughtfully- and we aren’t especially good at getting the ball back tbh from ‘50/50’. If you are going to kick, kick well.

Doubly so because the French blatantly set at least three men back deep on every single phase of English possession in our half, because they *knew* we weren't going to do anything else.

Puja

FKAS wrote:

Banquo wrote:

FKAS wrote:
Doesn't matter what shirt he was wearing it was rare bad day at the office for Underhill. Conceded to many penalties and was then hooked shortly after half time. Presumably just enough time for Earl to finish warming up. He's otherwise been excellent this Autumn so an interesting sub plot ahead of the 6N. The contest for those backrow shirts is ridiculous.

Launchbury getting hooked early with Hill sent on to help the lineout and add some aggression. Another shirt that could change hands around 6N time. Will Lawes be back by then as well?

Sent on to help the lineout which we promptly lost :)

very true though the lineout did improve over the second half. I'm not sure if that wasn't because Wookie went off though he seemed to be the thorn in our side.

FKAS wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:
Are you honestly expecting a response?

Underhill just had a bad day.

Curry continues to impress with his multiple USPs including being a very powerful carrier. Almost looked like a number 8 at times.

I strongly suspect Curry and Underhill could swap shirts, play the exact same roles they do now and jngf would say they’d both had brilliant games.

If anything is ‘ringing hollow’ (without the superfluous w), it’s jngf’s constant repetition of the same old sh*t.

Doesn't matter what shirt he was wearing it was rare bad day at the office for Underhill. Conceded to many penalties and was then hooked shortly after half time. Presumably just enough time for Earl to finish warming up. He's otherwise been excellent this Autumn so an interesting sub plot ahead of the 6N. The contest for those backrow shirts is ridiculous.

Launchbury getting hooked early with Hill sent on to help the lineout and add some aggression. Another shirt that could change hands around 6N time. Will Lawes be back by then as well?

Banquo wrote:

Puja wrote:

Banquo wrote:And the kicking is obvious, but obviously poorly done and the wrong call against this French team. At least by going through a couple more phases you have a chance to move the backfield round a bit; instead of which we just kicked it down Dulins throat. It’s simply too blunt a weapon if done thoughtfully- and we aren’t especially good at getting the ball back tbh from ‘50/50’. If you are going to kick, kick well.

Doubly so because the French blatantly set at least three men back deep on every single phase of English possession in our half, because they *knew* we weren't going to do anything else.

Puja

yep. And at least for an hour they won the aerial tennis. They also kicked the leather off it in fairness, cos they knew they'd get it back