Rugby Union Autumn Internationals
Discussion
Posting on my phone so not worth the hassle to cross quote. Frustrated probably sums up how most fans feel. I don't buy in to this getting beat by the top 2 teams narrowly so it's not so bad mentality. SA weren't great on Saturday they were just less bad than England. It's fine margins at the top. You can't have that much possession and territoy and not do anyhings with it.
At least our maul (at least we did it in the oppo half on sat) looks a weapon.
ETA I'm also a Cipriani fan but I believe he's not even in the EPS so barring injury won't feature on the bench or otherwise.
At least our maul (at least we did it in the oppo half on sat) looks a weapon.
ETA I'm also a Cipriani fan but I believe he's not even in the EPS so barring injury won't feature on the bench or otherwise.
Some interesting comments.
Lancaster's a good coach, a facilitator, but I reckon we need a proper attack coach or give Catt more responsibility. International coaches as a rule can do little about form IMO when they come in I suspect it's more about drilling in the coaches system with the limited time they have with the players. They can however pick players on form.
Will say it again, Farrell is a good if limited player when on form. He was massively short of game time yet was still automatic pick to start. Why? Lack of a back up?-A problem of their own making. Farrell Snr in his ear? Lancaster has a bit of a penchant for playing players out of position.
Agreed Robshaw, Wood, Vunipola it appears are the first choice backrow. I'll submit that another reason our backs are struggling is due to this selection via the lack of quick ball at the breakdown, also due to ponderous play at 9. Vunipola is out of sorts, or worked out a bit? Lack of variety in running lines? In any case too much being put on him as the chief ball carrier/gain line breaker, which is why we need something else at 6, A fit and firing Haskell although Ewers is in bloody good form this season too.
Wigglesworth, Haskell and Twelvetrees in squad for Samoa. The proof will of course be in the Aussie game, Eastmond has apparently had a knock but otherwise would have liked to have seen a similar team but with Haskell at 6, Ford at 10. I don't think Twelvetrees can cut it at this level other than being a utility player?
Returning to Aviva Premiership clubs
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Calum Clark (Northampton Saints)
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
England squad to face Samoa
Forwards (13)
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
Matt Mullan (Wasps)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, captain)
Rob Webber (Bath Rugby)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Backs (10)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Lancaster's a good coach, a facilitator, but I reckon we need a proper attack coach or give Catt more responsibility. International coaches as a rule can do little about form IMO when they come in I suspect it's more about drilling in the coaches system with the limited time they have with the players. They can however pick players on form.
Will say it again, Farrell is a good if limited player when on form. He was massively short of game time yet was still automatic pick to start. Why? Lack of a back up?-A problem of their own making. Farrell Snr in his ear? Lancaster has a bit of a penchant for playing players out of position.
Agreed Robshaw, Wood, Vunipola it appears are the first choice backrow. I'll submit that another reason our backs are struggling is due to this selection via the lack of quick ball at the breakdown, also due to ponderous play at 9. Vunipola is out of sorts, or worked out a bit? Lack of variety in running lines? In any case too much being put on him as the chief ball carrier/gain line breaker, which is why we need something else at 6, A fit and firing Haskell although Ewers is in bloody good form this season too.
Wigglesworth, Haskell and Twelvetrees in squad for Samoa. The proof will of course be in the Aussie game, Eastmond has apparently had a knock but otherwise would have liked to have seen a similar team but with Haskell at 6, Ford at 10. I don't think Twelvetrees can cut it at this level other than being a utility player?
Returning to Aviva Premiership clubs
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Calum Clark (Northampton Saints)
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
England squad to face Samoa
Forwards (13)
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
Matt Mullan (Wasps)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, captain)
Rob Webber (Bath Rugby)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Backs (10)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Farrell seems to be getting the brunt of it when he should just be allowed to go back to his club and try to play himself back into form. Instead he'll continue to bare the brunt of it as the focus remains on him, it's like under age rugby where the coach picks his kid and the other parents get pissed! He's been somewhat extra exposed as Danny Care has also had a couple of poor performances. Farrell's strengths are his defence and his place kicking, it's ugly if it comes off but we've not played tight enough to award him the 3 pointers.
Getting away from Farrell for at least a few sentences...... The backrow looks more balanced with Morgan and Haskell, two ball carriers/line breakers and a grafter. Webber if his darts were as good as Hartley's would almost certainly keep him in the side.
I'd just like Lancaster to explain and justify his selections, it smacks of Farrell Snr having too much influence which sounds daft it can't be true cant it> Farrell AND Barritt in the centres? It's almost like they're setting Ford up to have no chance to look good, don't be surprised if Billy 36 comes on with Farrell going to 10 and Ford off. Any of the others English centres must be wondering if it's really worth bothering trying to break into the England side. I worry a bit about the defence a little, saw some analysis highlighting the absence of a sweeper which teams are exploiting.
We'll not learn much on Saturday I fear, we should win and comfortably after Samoa struggled against Canada and were beaten by Italy but if they're going to turn in a performance you'd expect this to be the. Team against Australia? Who knows? It looks like Care may have played himself out? I honestly expect Wood will come back regardless of how Haskell goes at the weekend.
Getting away from Farrell for at least a few sentences...... The backrow looks more balanced with Morgan and Haskell, two ball carriers/line breakers and a grafter. Webber if his darts were as good as Hartley's would almost certainly keep him in the side.
I'd just like Lancaster to explain and justify his selections, it smacks of Farrell Snr having too much influence which sounds daft it can't be true cant it> Farrell AND Barritt in the centres? It's almost like they're setting Ford up to have no chance to look good, don't be surprised if Billy 36 comes on with Farrell going to 10 and Ford off. Any of the others English centres must be wondering if it's really worth bothering trying to break into the England side. I worry a bit about the defence a little, saw some analysis highlighting the absence of a sweeper which teams are exploiting.
We'll not learn much on Saturday I fear, we should win and comfortably after Samoa struggled against Canada and were beaten by Italy but if they're going to turn in a performance you'd expect this to be the. Team against Australia? Who knows? It looks like Care may have played himself out? I honestly expect Wood will come back regardless of how Haskell goes at the weekend.
Big game for England and Stuart Lancaster today.
Missed the Samoa game with being on holiday but found a place showing the game today. By all accounts the Samoa game wasn't particulary inspired with the only person playing himself in being Ford? Shame Haskell didn't turn in a performance warranting another start today. From what I read we played far too loose against the Samoan's we need to play down our strengths to win tonight. Doesn't necessarily all have to be 'up the jumper rugby' we just need to smash em up front.
Need a win tonight otherwise mentally it will be seen as we're further behind than we were at this stage 12 months ago. The Aussies will want this desperately but at least have half an excuse of the the back room shenanigans pre tour with the new coach etc.
Missed the Samoa game with being on holiday but found a place showing the game today. By all accounts the Samoa game wasn't particulary inspired with the only person playing himself in being Ford? Shame Haskell didn't turn in a performance warranting another start today. From what I read we played far too loose against the Samoan's we need to play down our strengths to win tonight. Doesn't necessarily all have to be 'up the jumper rugby' we just need to smash em up front.
Need a win tonight otherwise mentally it will be seen as we're further behind than we were at this stage 12 months ago. The Aussies will want this desperately but at least have half an excuse of the the back room shenanigans pre tour with the new coach etc.
First of all well done to Wales!
It was a nervy but much needed victory for England a lot was much better a lot of room for improvement still. We fell of A LOT of tackles last night. Fair enough Skelton is a behemoth and difficult to stop, but the Aussies brought a lot of physicality in the loose and we're winning the collisions. Our lineout wasn't so solid yesterday, but it proves 8 men can win a game against 15..... Morgan was outstanding but the back row has room for improvement still but I feel only through selection.
Wood was a walking penelty last night, Robshaw put in his usual shift but we need another dimension to that back play to compete more at the breakdown IMO. Ford should start the 6N Young kicking was good but passing was awful at times.
We played a more intelligent game last night, basic skills were better if not great, I reckon we'd have won against the saffers with the greater nounce showed in this performance.
Players to come back from injury, a few selection headaches, ex Rugby league players to hopefully come good....
It was a nervy but much needed victory for England a lot was much better a lot of room for improvement still. We fell of A LOT of tackles last night. Fair enough Skelton is a behemoth and difficult to stop, but the Aussies brought a lot of physicality in the loose and we're winning the collisions. Our lineout wasn't so solid yesterday, but it proves 8 men can win a game against 15..... Morgan was outstanding but the back row has room for improvement still but I feel only through selection.
Wood was a walking penelty last night, Robshaw put in his usual shift but we need another dimension to that back play to compete more at the breakdown IMO. Ford should start the 6N Young kicking was good but passing was awful at times.
We played a more intelligent game last night, basic skills were better if not great, I reckon we'd have won against the saffers with the greater nounce showed in this performance.
Players to come back from injury, a few selection headaches, ex Rugby league players to hopefully come good....
Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff