fivepointer wrote: ↑Fri Sep 22, 2023 5:07 pm
Nothing much in it for England. We'll win but even if we play well and a few players stand out, it will be "its only Chile"
Agreed. The 'glass half-empty' view might be the risk of serious injury playing 'reckless triers' - Dupont v Namibya etc.
Curious about the Smith at FB experiment. He certainly has the attributes to light it up and he's taken enough (unpressured) high balls at Quins. Wouldn't ever want to see it trialled against anyone else in this group, mind. Plus it's the only way he sees the ball with you know who around.
Won't last, (or if it does Smith is going to be jettisoned as a fall guy at the next loss, because he can't defend there after about 28 international minutes ) but it's probably the most interest I can really muster up about this game given the selection and opposition.
Danno wrote: ↑Fri Sep 22, 2023 10:28 pm
Tell me you haven't watched England this year without saying "I have not watched an England match this year"
Tomorrow is a great opportunity for Arundell to get his hands on the ball and show what he can do and for Jack Willis to be given license to do what he does best and attack the breakdown.
So with the headline Farrell convinced Smith will deliver from fullback I scanned the article to see where he mentions Ford being an inspiration from the bench
p/d wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 8:52 am
So with the headline Farrell convinced Smith will deliver from fullback I scanned the article to see where he mentions Ford being an inspiration from the bench
All that really matters is what our QF team will be. I'll predict that we will see 10. Ford, 12. Farrell, 13. Tuilagi, 15. Steward, 22. Smith. I don't want to see it, mind!!!
p/d wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 8:52 am
So with the headline Farrell convinced Smith will deliver from fullback I scanned the article to see where he mentions Ford being an inspiration from the bench
All that really matters is what our QF team will be. I'll predict that we will see 9. Youngs 10. Ford, 11. Daly, 12. Farrell, 13. Tuilagi, 14. Steward, 15. Smith. I don't want to see it, mind!!!
p/d wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 8:52 am
So with the headline Farrell convinced Smith will deliver from fullback I scanned the article to see where he mentions Ford being an inspiration from the bench
All that really matters is what our QF team will be. I'll predict that we will see 9. Youngs 10. Ford, 11. Daly, 12. Farrell, 13. Tuilagi, 14. Steward, 15. Smith. I don't want to see it, mind!!!
Filled that for you.
The only selection I agree with in that line-up is 11. Daly!
All that really matters is what our QF team will be. I'll predict that we will see 9. Youngs 10. Ford, 11. Daly, 12. Farrell, 13. Tuilagi, 14. Steward, 15. Smith. I don't want to see it, mind!!!
Filled that for you.
The only selection I agree with in that line-up is 11. Daly!
Really? I've not been impressed with him so far. He's often found himself in good positions and either run into touch, thrown the ball away or kicked the ball away.
The only selection I agree with in that line-up is 11. Daly!
Really? I've not been impressed with him so far. He's often found himself in good positions and either run into touch, thrown the ball away or kicked the ball away.
Agreed but there's nobody better in the 33. I wonder how many passes he's had early enough to do much. Perhaps the instructions of something like, 'unless it's a 100% certainty, kick', don't help. That theme is why I'd pick Smith at 10 in the hope that he'd ignore the rules more.
The only selection I agree with in that line-up is 11. Daly!
Really? I've not been impressed with him so far. He's often found himself in good positions and either run into touch, thrown the ball away or kicked the ball away.
Agreed but there's nobody better in the 33. I wonder how many passes he's had early enough to do much. Perhaps the instructions of something like, 'unless it's a 100% certainty, kick', don't help. That theme is why I'd pick Smith at 10 in the hope that he'd ignore the rules more.
Yeah I'd probably agree we're a bit short on options to replace him.
Borthwick was never that rigid at Tigers, he espoused pragmatism but at the same time trusted the players to play it if they thought it was on. Potter and Nadolo were regular selections on the wing and neither were shy of running it instead of using the boot. Daly seems to be lacking confidence; the pass to May when the space was gone, the grubbers into the corner (which were decent kicks) when he had plenty of space to accelerate into and running into touch way to easy after the Lawes break. None of that is prime Daly.
Smith at 10 is often seen as the key to the attack but he's not unlocked much in attack since that game Vs the Boks. Looked like he might have turned a corner Vs Wales in the pre tournament fixtures but didn't get the points on the board we needed and then vanished after half time. Currently I like him as the impact sub at 15, the game is breaking up and our fitness is generally telling when he comes on. He gets more space and tired defenders to exploit. It's a short term thing but it could be just what we need in this tournament. Unless we can find space elsewhere in the backline for a secondary playmaker which I think Smith needs if he's at 10.
All that really matters is what our QF team will be. I'll predict that we will see 9. Youngs 10. Ford, 11. Daly, 12. Farrell, 13. Tuilagi, 14. Steward, 15. Smith. I don't want to see it, mind!!!
Filled that for you.
The only selection I agree with in that line-up is 11. Daly!