Team for Scotland

[Oakboy]

Reasonable analysis?

[Mellsblue]

and the missed tackles!!!

The tackle completion % for the backs, Freeman aside, is grim.

Individual poor tackling or defensive system failure? My (subjective/selective) memory is of many desperate late tackles as Scots almost broke through.

My one abiding memory is Lawrence showing DVDM the outside and, quelle surprise, then being easily beaten on the outside.
The system is far too easily beaten on the edges, imo, but it’s only had three games against live fire.

[Mellsblue]

Reasonable analysis?

Congratulations on getting to end of that. Eng v Scot is now only the second most boring thing I’ve watched this weekend.

[p/d]

Reasonable analysis?

Congratulations on getting to end of that. Eng v Scot is now only the second most boring thing I’ve watched this weekend.

Surely third? Unless you missed Martin Johnson at half time

[Mellsblue]

Reasonable analysis?

Congratulations on getting to end of that. Eng v Scot is now only the second most boring thing I’ve watched this weekend.

Surely third? Unless you missed Martin Johnson at half time

Watched after the fact so I had the luxury of the fast forward button.

[p/d]

Congratulations on getting to end of that. Eng v Scot is now only the second most boring thing I’ve watched this weekend.

Surely third? Unless you missed Martin Johnson at half time

Watched after the fact so I had the luxury of the fast forward button.

You chose well.

Anyway Steward back for Italy game along with any other 9 that is fit and willing.

And hopefully Roebuck will finally get a start as the ridiculous haircut sits out

[Banquo]

Yes, we won. Some players were good to ok, Ritchie and Duhan were a handful.

But fck me our basics were piss poor a lot of the time. Wide defence remains a joke, our kicking was overdone and mostly bad albeit apparently having the desired effect… though it didn’t lead to any sort of territorial dominance and had the bonus of squandering possession. Our tackling was poor to compound defence system flaws. Difficult to critique attack as we did little proactive, and even when we did, Slade esp thought gaining 20 yards more productive than keeping it in hand.

A wins a win, and it clearly was a plan not to play in our half, so there’s that. France do the same in fairness. But Christ it was a hideous watch, and in the end relied on Russell missing kicks.

It’s too robotic for me, and our players just don’t react well to anything unexpected.

[Mellsblue]

France do the same in fairness.

But they do try and play in the oppo’s half in a radical and bold move to have a balanced gameplan. Nutters.

[Banquo]

France do the same in fairness.

But they do try and play in the oppo’s half in a radical and bold move to have a balanced gameplan. Nutters.

[p/d]

We are just a much better version of Wales under Gatland. The worry is Wales have moved on from him

[Stom]

I've not read all this thread. So here are my thoughts unbiased by my reading of others' opinions...

That was crap. It was all the same crap that we're used to, except that we didn't throw it away at the death with a stupid penalty.

I thought Genge, Baxter, and Stuart all did well enough. George is just a level up on LCD. And I think everyone knows that I prefer Dan to LCD, too...because I just want that impact. I mean, LCD wasn't atrocious, but he just was...meh.

Itoje was pretty damn good again, and Chessum did well enough. I thought our backrow got through a lot of work, but my god, they were given a lot of work by...

A pretty awful performance from Mitchell. And yes, I know, the tactics were appalling, but he still executed on those tactics poorly, with very few box-kicks allowing competition or finding grass. Just straight into the breadbasket of a Scottish back 3 who were more than willing to simply keep the ball and run it.

Fin Smith was OK. He did well in the face of a lot of runners, but I still felt he took the wrong option a few times in attack. And again, I get it: our attack was hampered very badly by having very few opportunities.

I actually felt that Marcus gave more impetus when he stepped in at 10, and I also felt that on the (insanely rare, I mean, if you're not going to have him join the line, what the hell is the point of him playing 15! Ridiculous) rare occasion he actually hit the line, we made yards.

Lawrence...he is just brain fart after brain fart. I thought he was turning a corner on his overall gameplay, but this was a reversion to the norm. Again, if there are more opportunities to run, he can get away with a couple of poor decisions, but because we only had 3-4 actual opportunities, he looks bad.

Slade was awful.

Freeman was very good, imo. A bright spark.

In total, I felt like the pack deserved more from their backs. Especially 9,10,11,12,13. Marcus got his positioning much better, but was still liable for some defensive mishaps, understandably in my book. Which makes the tactics even more ridiculous. I mean, you really just expected Scotland to kick long? Of course they're going to stretch our wide defense. That's what they ALWAYS do. So adjust the bloody tactics and don't give them the ball!

It's hard watching a test match AFTER the one Amashukeli refs. I mean, Brousset wasn't that bad...but in comparison he was crap. I just felt the consistency of the application of the breakdown rules was poor. We had several instances of something being pinged one way, then an almost identical case going the other way. It broke up the game somewhat for me. He also tended to favour the defense, which doesn't help bring flowing, attacking rugby. At least he wasn't Keith.

I give that performance 4/10. But if I could split it up, the forwards would get 6, the backs 3. Or, the forwards 6, the outside backs 5, the 9 and coaches 2.

[Adam_P]

and the missed tackles!!!

The tackle completion % for the backs, Freeman aside, is grim.

Haven't seen his completion %, but Fin Smith made more tackles than any other player on the pitch

[twitchy]

The more I watch england, the less it makes sense to me.

[Banquo]

and the missed tackles!!!

The tackle completion % for the backs, Freeman aside, is grim.

Haven't seen his completion %, but Fin Smith made more tackles than any other player on the pitch

https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/playerstat ... gue=180659

[Mellsblue]

and the missed tackles!!!

The tackle completion % for the backs, Freeman aside, is grim.

Haven't seen his completion %, but Fin Smith made more tackles than any other player on the pitch

Test ice animal.

Only just realised the above is only one letter away from testicle animal and I’m gutted I didn’t spot it during Farrell’s ‘pomp’.

[Banquo]

and the missed tackles!!!

The tackle completion % for the backs, Freeman aside, is grim.

Haven't seen his completion %, but Fin Smith made more tackles than any other player on the pitch

he made one monster tackle midway through the second half which switched momentum in an attack.

[Adam_P]

It's the second coming of Jonny, no doubt

[FKAS]

I actually felt that Marcus gave more impetus when he stepped in at 10, and I also felt that on the (insanely rare, I mean, if you're not going to have him join the line, what the hell is the point of him playing 15! Ridiculous) rare occasion he actually hit the line, we made yards.

I've not watched it back but I thought Marcus did Marcus things when he was at first receiver, basically went himself. It makes metres but it's not a platform to attack from, he's much more useful as a secondary option to go and make those metres and then have Fin use the momentum. I think we lose that test match if Marcus starts at 10. I liked what Fin was trying to do more as he was looking to move the point of attack and vary what we were doing. Chose the wrong option a couple of times but the ball would have never got that far with Marcus at 10.

[Stom]

I actually felt that Marcus gave more impetus when he stepped in at 10, and I also felt that on the (insanely rare, I mean, if you're not going to have him join the line, what the hell is the point of him playing 15! Ridiculous) rare occasion he actually hit the line, we made yards.

I've not watched it back but I thought Marcus did Marcus things when he was at first receiver, basically went himself. It makes metres but it's not a platform to attack from, he's much more useful as a secondary option to go and make those metres and then have Fin use the momentum. I think we lose that test match if Marcus starts at 10. I liked what Fin was trying to do more as he was looking to move the point of attack and vary what we were doing. Chose the wrong option a couple of times but the ball would have never got that far with Marcus at 10.

We had a great little passage where Marcus was at first receiver for 3? phases, before getting involved in the ruck once Fin was back in the line. He didn't go himself, he hit his men.

I just felt like Fin did not make the right choices, often. There were a couple of missed pull-backs I distinctly remember, where if he'd hit Marcus and then, maybe Slade?, we'd have had an opportunity.

But that may have been tactics.

And it was highlighted by the sheer paucity of attacking opportunities.

[FKAS]

I actually felt that Marcus gave more impetus when he stepped in at 10, and I also felt that on the (insanely rare, I mean, if you're not going to have him join the line, what the hell is the point of him playing 15! Ridiculous) rare occasion he actually hit the line, we made yards.

I've not watched it back but I thought Marcus did Marcus things when he was at first receiver, basically went himself. It makes metres but it's not a platform to attack from, he's much more useful as a secondary option to go and make those metres and then have Fin use the momentum. I think we lose that test match if Marcus starts at 10. I liked what Fin was trying to do more as he was looking to move the point of attack and vary what we were doing. Chose the wrong option a couple of times but the ball would have never got that far with Marcus at 10.

We had a great little passage where Marcus was at first receiver for 3? phases, before getting involved in the ruck once Fin was back in the line. He didn't go himself, he hit his men.

I just felt like Fin did not make the right choices, often. There were a couple of missed pull-backs I distinctly remember, where if he'd hit Marcus and then, maybe Slade?, we'd have had an opportunity.

But that may have been tactics.

And it was highlighted by the sheer paucity of attacking opportunities.

Can't say I remember that, will look for it on Puja's mbm.

[Mellsblue]

I actually felt that Marcus gave more impetus when he stepped in at 10, and I also felt that on the (insanely rare, I mean, if you're not going to have him join the line, what the hell is the point of him playing 15! Ridiculous) rare occasion he actually hit the line, we made yards.

I've not watched it back but I thought Marcus did Marcus things when he was at first receiver, basically went himself. It makes metres but it's not a platform to attack from, he's much more useful as a secondary option to go and make those metres and then have Fin use the momentum. I think we lose that test match if Marcus starts at 10. I liked what Fin was trying to do more as he was looking to move the point of attack and vary what we were doing. Chose the wrong option a couple of times but the ball would have never got that far with Marcus at 10.

We had a great little passage where Marcus was at first receiver for 3? phases, before getting involved in the ruck once Fin was back in the line. He didn't go himself, he hit his men.

I just felt like Fin did not make the right choices, often. There were a couple of missed pull-backs I distinctly remember, where if he'd hit Marcus and then, maybe Slade?, we'd have had an opportunity.

But that may have been tactics.

And it was highlighted by the sheer paucity of attacking opportunities.

I agree with the gist of this but it doesn’t fit the narrative so won’t be acknowledged. The best off the cuff, gain line pass from an England player all championship has been M. Smith vs Ireland but, well, you know.
F. Smith has a poor game, imo, but so would any 10 in that performance.

[Charlatan]

Couldn’t watch either of the matches lives yesterday so been catching up today. I agree with a lot of what Stoms put above and others on thread generally.

Pretty dire watch and the frustration of seeing England regress much more so than progress as hoped was so disappointing. Scotland played all the rugby and really should have put that game away, I feel after a first watch even less than I did v France that it was down to much we did that they didn’t convert their opportunities.
Sure an ‘ugly win’ is still a win and all that but…
It seemed baffling how unprepared we were defensively for what Scotland were going to do, and the constant and often badly executed kicking just played into their hands. We played like we were so far in our shells and afraid to lose.
What is going on with our kicking? Why, despite having two international quality fly halves on the pitch is Henry bloody Slade taking on so much of the kicking duties and buzzing round Itoje like a mosquito for every kicking decision? It feels symptomatic of a team run by committee.
Centre partnership generally reverted to type as well mistakes from both.
Freeman was a bright spark once again.
Mitchell didn’t play well but jeez I still winced when Randall came on and sure enough up go more dreadful box kicks - but what was the point of that change anyway if you ask him to come on and play exactly the same way?
I guess at least we coped quite well despite the injury/HIA disruptions?

[Banquo]

I've not watched it back but I thought Marcus did Marcus things when he was at first receiver, basically went himself. It makes metres but it's not a platform to attack from, he's much more useful as a secondary option to go and make those metres and then have Fin use the momentum. I think we lose that test match if Marcus starts at 10. I liked what Fin was trying to do more as he was looking to move the point of attack and vary what we were doing. Chose the wrong option a couple of times but the ball would have never got that far with Marcus at 10.

We had a great little passage where Marcus was at first receiver for 3? phases, before getting involved in the ruck once Fin was back in the line. He didn't go himself, he hit his men.

I just felt like Fin did not make the right choices, often. There were a couple of missed pull-backs I distinctly remember, where if he'd hit Marcus and then, maybe Slade?, we'd have had an opportunity.

But that may have been tactics.

And it was highlighted by the sheer paucity of attacking opportunities.

I agree with the gist of this but it doesn’t fit the narrative so won’t be acknowledged. The best off the cuff, gain line pass from an England player all championship has been M. Smith vs Ireland but, well, you know.
F. Smith has a poor game, imo, but so would any 10 in that performance.

F Smith did not have a poor game, neither did m smith. Both are good interntionals.

Meanwhile Italy v France is a right laugh.

[Stom]

We had a great little passage where Marcus was at first receiver for 3? phases, before getting involved in the ruck once Fin was back in the line. He didn't go himself, he hit his men.

I just felt like Fin did not make the right choices, often. There were a couple of missed pull-backs I distinctly remember, where if he'd hit Marcus and then, maybe Slade?, we'd have had an opportunity.

But that may have been tactics.

And it was highlighted by the sheer paucity of attacking opportunities.

I agree with the gist of this but it doesn’t fit the narrative so won’t be acknowledged. The best off the cuff, gain line pass from an England player all championship has been M. Smith vs Ireland but, well, you know.
F. Smith has a poor game, imo, but so would any 10 in that performance.

F Smith did not have a poor game, neither did m smith. Both are good interntionals.

Meanwhile Italy v France is a right laugh.

Two points here.

1) it’s possible to have a bad game but still be a good international.
2) I don’t think Fin had a bad game. He was just a bit meh. But I also feel like most of that wasn’t really his fault, and considering the tactics, we’d have been better off with Marcus at 10 and Steward at FB.

Which is not a good look, imo

[Mellsblue]

We had a great little passage where Marcus was at first receiver for 3? phases, before getting involved in the ruck once Fin was back in the line. He didn't go himself, he hit his men.

I just felt like Fin did not make the right choices, often. There were a couple of missed pull-backs I distinctly remember, where if he'd hit Marcus and then, maybe Slade?, we'd have had an opportunity.

But that may have been tactics.

And it was highlighted by the sheer paucity of attacking opportunities.

I agree with the gist of this but it doesn’t fit the narrative so won’t be acknowledged. The best off the cuff, gain line pass from an England player all championship has been M. Smith vs Ireland but, well, you know.
F. Smith has a poor game, imo, but so would any 10 in that performance.

F Smith did not have a poor game.

I must just set a higher bar than you.

Being serious, they are both test quality and will make a nice combo for years to come assuming one is on the bench and not 15 or, god forbid, at 12.