Discussion
The substitutions and the timing on Saturday are so far as I can say the only negative of EJ's management. Lets not forgot some piss poor decision making really put England on the back foot and allowed Wales back in the game. A more clinical side would have Wales dead and buried by half time and put 40 points plus on them-Cole's disallowed try, Mike Browns relatively easy run in for the corner that never was then the charge down.
I tare my hair out week in week out with our team if you're under pressure just kick the leather off the f
ker for gods sake! Yet you still see stupid stuff like players trying to run it back from deep in your own 22 etc without support.
Gatland I would suggest should take the shackles off a bit, their defence was uncharacteristically poor at the weekend but they looked effective once they started to play and bit of rugby and move the ball through the hands. Wales will get crucified in New Zealand if they play anything like they did on Saturday.
I tare my hair out week in week out with our team if you're under pressure just kick the leather off the f
ker for gods sake! Yet you still see stupid stuff like players trying to run it back from deep in your own 22 etc without support.Gatland I would suggest should take the shackles off a bit, their defence was uncharacteristically poor at the weekend but they looked effective once they started to play and bit of rugby and move the ball through the hands. Wales will get crucified in New Zealand if they play anything like they did on Saturday.
How do the Welsh lads feel about Gatland at the moment? His 6N record is great but I have the feeling that he won't take them any further from where they are now by time the next world cup comes? That is to say they'll compete for the 6N and be there or there about but will continue to struggle against to get results against the southern hemisphere teams.
A10 said:
a311 said:
That is to say they'll compete for the 6N and be there or there about but will continue to struggle against to get results against the southern hemisphere teams.
You could apply that to any of the home nations though to be honest...In my simplistic view I expect Assuming Gatland is still in charge in 2019 (his contract at least suggests he will) Other than personnel changes Wales will look very similar 1,2,3,4 years from now.
Of course Wales punch well above their weight in terms of resources and population.
More sheep required is an interesting approach.
Ultimately the All Black's have the (proven) structures in place to give or take keep them at the top of world rugby.
I've worked in NZ, sure there are other sports people play, cricket, rugby league, football, sailing? But rugby is king and due to their close proximity ensure they get their pick of any promising young pacific island talent. There has to be something to be said about at schools and in kids sides where they are picked by weight rather than age. In my own experience I was bigger than most underage and used to run riot up until the rest got bigger an stronger
On a new coach for Wales, not sure. Rob Howley should come in for some criticism but Gatland will ultimately have the coaches singing to his tune. I just expect skills and attacking rugby more from Wales.
How about a job swap? Joe Schmidt for Gatland. Schmidt seems to want a brand of rugby that Wales can deliver and Gatland is more suited to the Irish template
Ultimately the All Black's have the (proven) structures in place to give or take keep them at the top of world rugby.
I've worked in NZ, sure there are other sports people play, cricket, rugby league, football, sailing? But rugby is king and due to their close proximity ensure they get their pick of any promising young pacific island talent. There has to be something to be said about at schools and in kids sides where they are picked by weight rather than age. In my own experience I was bigger than most underage and used to run riot up until the rest got bigger an stronger
On a new coach for Wales, not sure. Rob Howley should come in for some criticism but Gatland will ultimately have the coaches singing to his tune. I just expect skills and attacking rugby more from Wales.
How about a job swap? Joe Schmidt for Gatland. Schmidt seems to want a brand of rugby that Wales can deliver and Gatland is more suited to the Irish template
Got to say the whole PC things these days is getting a bit daft. I'm generally a nice bloke (honest) but on a rugby pitch can be a nasty piece of work either as instigator or retaliator, main thing unlike other sports you can go in the club house afterwards and be best friends with that same person.
In a tight game getting any edge, physiological or otherwise helps
I think the fact that he apologised to him at HT was a good gesture and what he said wasn't exactly a 'racial slur'.
On to tomorrow's game I'm pretty nervous. Grand Slams are a precious commodity and it's been a long wait from the last.
On a positive note England have improved game on game. France looked decent in patches, but for a fortuitous first result in the first game against Italy and got the rub of the green against Ireland could be going into this game with the wooden spoon looming. They look like they've never played together for the most part.
In a tight game getting any edge, physiological or otherwise helps
I think the fact that he apologised to him at HT was a good gesture and what he said wasn't exactly a 'racial slur'.
On to tomorrow's game I'm pretty nervous. Grand Slams are a precious commodity and it's been a long wait from the last.
On a positive note England have improved game on game. France looked decent in patches, but for a fortuitous first result in the first game against Italy and got the rub of the green against Ireland could be going into this game with the wooden spoon looming. They look like they've never played together for the most part.
Enjoyed yesterdays game with one or two many pints....
England deserved winners on the night and the Grand Slam. I couldn't believe how France tallied that many points and at one point it was squeaky bum time getting within a score, despite the fact they never really looked like crossing the white wash. I'd like to see the points reduced for a penalty to 2.
France aren't in flux they are officially just pretty st. They've now finished in the bottom half for something like the last 5 6N's? No doubt their national side continues to suffer with the influx of foreigners and lack of cooperation with the clubs and the union.
The ceiling of this potential England team is high, I say potentially as some of the young ones need further development while some of the more experienced heads need to be slowly phased to the bench and then out of the squash in time for the next WC.
Australia will be an interesting tour. At this time of year in the UK when the pitches are starting to firm up the difference really tells in fitness etc. I'm pretty sure EJ will have the team in the best shape possible. What is most encouraging from England is we seem to have plenty of creativity and are scoring trys.
England deserved winners on the night and the Grand Slam. I couldn't believe how France tallied that many points and at one point it was squeaky bum time getting within a score, despite the fact they never really looked like crossing the white wash. I'd like to see the points reduced for a penalty to 2.
France aren't in flux they are officially just pretty s
t. They've now finished in the bottom half for something like the last 5 6N's? No doubt their national side continues to suffer with the influx of foreigners and lack of cooperation with the clubs and the union.The ceiling of this potential England team is high, I say potentially as some of the young ones need further development while some of the more experienced heads need to be slowly phased to the bench and then out of the squash in time for the next WC.
Australia will be an interesting tour. At this time of year in the UK when the pitches are starting to firm up the difference really tells in fitness etc. I'm pretty sure EJ will have the team in the best shape possible. What is most encouraging from England is we seem to have plenty of creativity and are scoring trys.
Trophy Husband said:
Sorry, I just don't get what justifies Eddie Jones talking about the All Blacks and beating them? Let's get it right. England beat Wales on two very dodgy penalty decisions and the linesman ruling North out of play when he slipped the winning inside pass at the death. Add the 5 minutes resetting the scrum under the posts due to constant England transgressions which I think is cynical foul play (Hence the moron Cole being binned eventually). Suddenly world beaters! My wobbly eye.
Hartley? A cheat. Every time the opposition weer penalised for not rolling away, he was there, doing nothing to contribute to the ruck except stopping the player moving away. I counted 4 occasions when he did this against Wales alone. If you are not active in the ruck WTF are you doing there if not to cheat?
OK I'll bite. I haven't heard about Jones and beating the AB's. BUT Wales were sHartley? A cheat. Every time the opposition weer penalised for not rolling away, he was there, doing nothing to contribute to the ruck except stopping the player moving away. I counted 4 occasions when he did this against Wales alone. If you are not active in the ruck WTF are you doing there if not to cheat?
te against England for 60 mins and if England were a bit more clinical and less brain dead could have put 40 plus points on the board. What about your man staying on the pitch after making contact with someone's eye?No one here including myself is calling England world beaters, I think this team has a lot of potential though. For now they are the best team in Europe-end of!
All Black's winning the world cup makes them the best team in the world.
England winning the 6N makes them the best team in Europe currently until the next one.
Or am I missing something?
http://www.worldrugby.org/rankings#mru
England are now ranked at 4th in the world and Wales 5th. Argentina are ranked 6th. I believe if they played each tomorrow they'd be two close games with Argentina possibly shading it on their world cup form but who knows.
England are the the best team in Europe and 4th best in the world.
Wales are the second best team and 5th best in the world.
In conclusion England are better than Wales.
England winning the 6N makes them the best team in Europe currently until the next one.
Or am I missing something?
http://www.worldrugby.org/rankings#mru
England are now ranked at 4th in the world and Wales 5th. Argentina are ranked 6th. I believe if they played each tomorrow they'd be two close games with Argentina possibly shading it on their world cup form but who knows.
England are the the best team in Europe and 4th best in the world.
Wales are the second best team and 5th best in the world.
In conclusion England are better than Wales.
I think if Georgia, Romania et el continue to knock on the door then a play off with promotion and relegation is fair? Would it kill off the game in Italy or set it back, possibly. The issue is rugby in Italy's popularity if confined to a very small area. Argentina should be the blue print for success but I don't believe there will be a huge appetite for a franchise team from Georgia etc to break into the Pro 12 or similar although you'd think the Pro 12 would make most sense given it's not a national league.
Lots of people having a go at a tournament XV or Lions squad.
Coach: I think I'd like to see Joe Schmidt give it a go as a Kiwi who'll bring a lot attacking guile that Gatland won't. Hell let's get big Eddy involved too
1. McGrath
2. Hartley
3. WP Nel
4. Jones
5. George Kruis
6. Falateu/Itoje
7. John Hardie
8. Billy Vunipola
9. Murray
10. Farrell
11. Watson
12. Henshaw
13. Joseph
14. North
15. Hogg
Lots of people having a go at a tournament XV or Lions squad.
Coach: I think I'd like to see Joe Schmidt give it a go as a Kiwi who'll bring a lot attacking guile that Gatland won't. Hell let's get big Eddy involved too
1. McGrath
2. Hartley
3. WP Nel
4. Jones
5. George Kruis
6. Falateu/Itoje
7. John Hardie
8. Billy Vunipola
9. Murray
10. Farrell
11. Watson
12. Henshaw
13. Joseph
14. North
15. Hogg
I thought Farrell played well at 12, and agree Ford needs to sort his form out. I can see Farrell going back to 10 or potentially featuring at 12 as his place kicking is invaluable. I can also see him staying at 12 as there are many proven candidates it seems.
Slade, back from injury what his best position?
Tuilagi, he's a 13 or occasional winger. Seem Jones wants to turn him into a 12.
England will have a very interesting B team for the mid week games down under.
Slade, back from injury what his best position?
Tuilagi, he's a 13 or occasional winger. Seem Jones wants to turn him into a 12.
England will have a very interesting B team for the mid week games down under.
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