Ireland vs England - 5:30pm Saturday

[monkey]

If Itoje is just focussing on ( presumably clearing? ) rucks it’s not exactly reaping dividends in terms of results and maybe he should go back to focussing on fetching more?

So just ignore his tasking and do what he wants? Good luck with that if you want to be picked again.

In that case the tasking needs revision

I can understand why so many England fans focus on it, but selection is absolutely not the problem England have atm.

[Banquo]

So just ignore his tasking and do what he wants? Good luck with that if you want to be picked again.

In that case the tasking needs revision

I can understand why so many England fans focus on it, but selection is absolutely not the problem England have atm.

Perzackly. It’s bald men fighting over a comb compared to the fundamental issues. Apart from the continual selection of Faz obvs

[Spiffy]

So just ignore his tasking and do what he wants? Good luck with that if you want to be picked again.

In that case the tasking needs revision

I can understand why so many England fans focus on it, but selection is absolutely not the problem England have atm.

Selection is obviously not the whole problem, but I'd say it is a significant part. An international team will not progress containing players not up to international standard, never mind how good (or bad!) the game plan and tactics may be. It only needs a few square pegs to screw up team performance. Of the current lot, quite a few probably should not be near the squad E.g. Youngs, Faz, Tuilagi, Malins, Billy VP, Stuart and possibly Lawes, Earls.

[Danno]

Just to nitpick, Stuart hasn't shit the bed and we don't have a lot of tightheads to choose from. On board with the rest of your discards.

[16th man]

[quote=Spiffy post_id=301379 time=1692998681 user_id=265]
. An international team will not progress containing players not up to international standard, never mind how good (or bad!) the game plan and tactics may be. [/quote=Spiffy post_id=301379 time=1692998681 user_id=265]

Sorry, but this is a bit of a stretch.

The Aussies spent years being pretty competitive with a tight 5 that was getting minced because they had a game plan that took that into account.

The All Blacks generally manage off the back of at best passable front rows.

Argentina and Japan have shown you can rock up to the world cup with players who have struggled in European pro domestic league but have good runs because you've drilled a game plan for the players they have.

Georgia manage to be competitive at world cups with very limited resources because they get organised with what they have.

Why England can't manage to do the same is a mystery, but I suspect it comes down to a refusal to accept that we can't somehow find a word class player in every position and therefore won't adopt a suitable plan for what we have.

[Mellsblue]

https://x.com/dominicrumbles/status/169 ... MV3j-SK8yQ

So you’re saying there’s a chance of setting a new record…

[Banquo]

Just to nitpick, Stuart hasn't shit the bed and we don't have a lot of tightheads to choose from. On board with the rest of your discards.

sentiment good, practicality of better replacements less certain. Which is why selection isn't top of the problems imo (faz aside; though tbh, him on the bench theoretically gives more options, even if I do think he's a shyte 12)

[monkey]

Just to nitpick, Stuart hasn't shit the bed and we don't have a lot of tightheads to choose from. On board with the rest of your discards.

sentiment good, practicality of better replacements less certain. Which is why selection isn't top of the problems imo (faz aside; though tbh, him on the bench theoretically gives more options, even if I do think he's a shyte 12)

That’s exactly my thinking too. In nearly all cases, I don’t agree the next cabs off the rank are the upgrades that some people seem to think they are. And even if they were, I don’t see your structures changing and, for me, that’s your biggest problem. Under Jones and Sweaty Bollocks you haven’t kept up with innovations in attacking and defensive structures the way other top sides have. Regardless of what players you had, I don’t think your coaches have either the smarts or experience to deliver an effective game at this level, to be blunt.