2017 Six Nations

[timlongs]

Made hard work of that but Nowell is a class finisher.

[Robbo66]

irocfan said:

this is dreadful by England.

As an aside much as I like Brown for his ability to make metres with nearly every run I really bloody wish he'd pass

Runs into 1st tackler and falls down, last 3 years. He will never, ever pass. Same with Cuthbert. Only two players who you know will never look.

[Derek Smith]

It's taken us 72 minutes to crack that tactic.

[sidicks]

timlongs said:

Made hard work of that but Nowell is a class finisher.

Come on the Cornishman!!

[Derek Smith]

While we wait for the kick to miss, why was that penalty on the line not a penalty try?

The ball was less than a metre from the line and we were blocked from playing it.

[sidicks]

Derek Smith said:

While we wait for the kick to miss, why was that penalty on the line not a penalty try?

The ball was less than a metre from the line and we were blocked from playing it.

French ref.

[Derek Smith]

sidicks said:

Derek Smith said:

While we wait for the kick to miss, why was that penalty on the line not a penalty try?

The ball was less than a metre from the line and we were blocked from playing it.

French ref.

It was deliberate and cynical.

[sidicks]

sidicks said:

Come on the Cornishman!!

And the Cornishman does it again!

[Vocal Minority]

The worrier here - is that England were totally clueless as to what to do when posed with a tricky question.

They aren't thinking on their feet - New Zealand can,


On a more positive note - Nowell's a good little player

[Derek Smith]

That was a try and a half. We should get seven and a half points for it.

I never had the necessary enthusiasm for a charge down.

[Derek Smith]

That was a match that kept the interest. The scoreline didn't reflect the play but a win's a win.

[Leithen]

Vocal Minority said:

The worrier here - is that England were totally clueless as to what to do when posed with a tricky question.

They aren't thinking on their feet - New Zealand can,

Shocking really.

[basherX]

Leithen said:

Vocal Minority said:

The worrier here - is that England were totally clueless as to what to do when posed with a tricky question.

They aren't thinking on their feet - New Zealand can,

Shocking really.

Yes and no. It's disappointing (and was frustrating at the time) but the fact is they worked it out in the end, albeit with some coaching support, and the experience of doing so should hopefully leave them stronger. Ultimately, another win for England.

[Derek Smith]

Launchbury MotM again. He's quality.

[basherX]

Derek Smith said:

Launchbury MotM again. He's quality.

I thought he was great but Itoje edged it for me

[RichB]

basherX said:

Leithen said:

Vocal Minority said:

The worrier here - is that England were totally clueless as to what to do when posed with a tricky question. They aren't thinking on their feet - New Zealand can

Shocking really.

Yes and no. It's disappointing (and was frustrating at the time) but the fact is they worked it out in the end, albeit with some coaching support, and the experience of doing so should hopefully leave them stronger. Ultimately, another win for England.

indeed, a win by 21 points, the bonus point and top of the table. Frustrating in the first half but good enough in the second.

[Derek Smith]

basherX said:

I thought he was great but Itoje edged it for me

Itoje had a couple of errors, but then, given his work rate, that's a decent counter.

My lad way playing against a Wales under 19 side and I was filming it next to the 'official' cameraman. He had radio reception from the ref, from the premiership, we were honoured. He was Welsh and totally impartial.

At one time the Welsh captain challenged a decision, politely of course. The ref pointed to their coach and said, 'You need to ask him. I'm having enough trouble referring.'

It sounded delightful in his accept.

The thought is that this tactic might become the norm, if only for a while, at lower levels. Not sure it will work as well as every coach up and down the country, and around the world, will come up with a way to exploit it.

Good match. Well done the Italians. They saved that tactic for England. If they'd tried it against Wales . . .

[RichB]

Derek Smith said:

...They saved that tactic for England. If they'd tried it against Wales . . .

England would have rehearsed how to deal with it.

[ninja-lewis]

basherX said:

Leithen said:

Vocal Minority said:

The worrier here - is that England were totally clueless as to what to do when posed with a tricky question.

They aren't thinking on their feet - New Zealand can,

Shocking really.

Yes and no. It's disappointing (and was frustrating at the time) but the fact is they worked it out in the end, albeit with some coaching support, and the experience of doing so should hopefully leave them stronger. Ultimately, another win for England.

Disagree. It should not take 40 minutes and a team talk to counter a fairly simple tactic. Even then they still failed to deal with it at times in the second half.

The game didn't just highlight a failure to understand the laws (see Haskell's chat with Poite), it exposed the lack of vision to see the attack opportunities in the opposition's defence.

Too many NH sides consist of brawny players with no rugby intelligence who are spoon fed everything by coaches. They can't deal with the unexpected nor think on their feet. Case in point Wales yesterday and England today. Mental ability is the difference between NH and NZ/Australia.

[basherX]

ninja-lewis said:

Disagree. It should not take 40 minutes and a team talk to counter a fairly simple tactic. Even then they still failed to deal with it at times in the second half.

The game didn't just highlight a failure to understand the laws (see Haskell's chat with Poite), it exposed the lack of vision to see the attack opportunities in the opposition's defence.

Too many NH sides consist of brawny players with no rugby intelligence who are spoon fed everything by coaches. They can't deal with the unexpected nor think on their feet. Case in point Wales yesterday and England today. Mental ability is the difference between NH and NZ/Australia.

Which is rather the point. England should come away from this stronger: it's a tough lesson and they're lucky in some senses they got to learn it against the Italians. Only time will tell if they do but at least they cam away with a bonus point win.

Edited by basherX on Sunday 26th February 17:31