General rugby thread

[DocJock]

But they played against only 14 of them for an hour and conceded 40 points in that time.

There was no discernible game-plan, no control, and a ridiculous number of handling errors.

[JonChalk]

basherX said:

Glad I decided to do a car clean instead. Sounds like were st.

I didn't even know it was on and spent a pleasant afternoon doing very little with England cricket ODI on in the background.

I suspect watching this would have made me very angry, so am glad I missed it.

[Kermit power]

DocJock said:

But they played against only 14 of them for an hour and conceded 40 points in that time.

There was no discernible game-plan, no control, and a ridiculous number of handling errors.

I'm not arguing that, just saying that the England team was near enough as much of a scratch team as the BaaBaas.

Regardless of the result, I hope we never see another BaaBaas team like it, as to my mind having a single nation's coaching team effectively using it as a team selection fixture doesn't chime at all with my understanding of the spirits of the Barbarians.

[DocJock]

Kermit power said:

I'm not arguing that, just saying that the England team was near enough as much of a scratch team as the BaaBaas.

Regardless of the result, I hope we never see another BaaBaas team like it, as to my mind having a single nation's coaching team effectively using it as a team selection fixture doesn't chime at all with my understanding of the spirits of the Barbarians.

I take your points. I also agree that it was not in the spirit of a BaaBaas side to pick so many French players.

That said, 'scratch' England team or not, they should never concede so many points against 14 men. There was also, despite EJ's "exploring new avenues" BS, no evidence of a game plan in either attack or defence. He really is past his sell-by date for me.

[Smollet]

Squad for down under
https://www.ultimaterugby.com/news/_/646075

[DodgyGeezer]

it was a poor show from England IMO, there were flashes of good things but there were massive brainfarts too. Some thoughts...

Too many stupid/loose passes
I love Tom Curry, his work-rate is prodigious and he generally tackles well - however he is, IMO, not a good/effective ball carrier
Lawes is a monster who seems to get better with age (as does Danny Care)
Joe Cokanasiga has flashes of promise but I'm yet to be convinced
I like the idea of Jack Nowell in the centres




Tour squad

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/61863940

[Kermit power]

DocJock said:

Kermit power said:

I'm not arguing that, just saying that the England team was near enough as much of a scratch team as the BaaBaas.

Regardless of the result, I hope we never see another BaaBaas team like it, as to my mind having a single nation's coaching team effectively using it as a team selection fixture doesn't chime at all with my understanding of the spirits of the Barbarians.

I take your points. I also agree that it was not in the spirit of a BaaBaas side to pick so many French players.

That said, 'scratch' England team or not, they should never concede so many points against 14 men. There was also, despite EJ's "exploring new avenues" BS, no evidence of a game plan in either attack or defence. He really is past his sell-by date for me.

We have now settled on 100% mutually agreed common ground.

[JerryEXE]

DodgyGeezer said:

…I like the idea of Jack Nowell in the centres…

I prefer the idea of Jack Nowell chilling on a beach somewhere and doing nothing to put himself in harms way. I can already see him missing the first half of next season for the Chiefs as he injures himself playing for England yet again

An exciting player to watch when he’s fit.

[Smollet]

JerryEXE said:

DodgyGeezer said:

…I like the idea of Jack Nowell in the centres…

I prefer the idea of Jack Nowell chilling on a beach somewhere and doing nothing to put himself in harms way. I can already see him missing the first half of next season for the Chiefs as he injures himself playing for England yet again

An exciting player to watch when he’s fit.

Another Sinbad sadly.

[Majorslow]

I am lucky we had a power cut when England played the Baa Baa's and missed it.

I don't think England can get much lower than G Cruise back kicking a 2 pointer?

This tour down under may well be a good one to miss

I suspect 3-0 to the Aussies

Hopefully EJ sacked.

Can England get out of the group stage next year?

Are Italy looking forward to playing us or what!!!?

[Kermit power]

Majorslow said:

I am lucky we had a power cut when England played the Baa Baa's and missed it.

I don't think England can get much lower than G Cruise back kicking a 2 pointer?

This tour down under may well be a good one to miss

I suspect 3-0 to the Aussies

Hopefully EJ sacked.

Can England get out of the group stage next year?

Are Italy looking forward to playing us or what!!!?

Take a look at the pedigree of some of the last England rugby players to lost a test series 3-0 in Australia!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_England_rugby...

[Sn1ckers]

Squad announced;

15. Freddie Steward
14. Jack Nowell
13. Joe Marchant
12. Owen Farrell
11. Joe Cokanasiga
10. Marcus Smith
9. Danny Care
1. Ellis Genge
2. Jamie George
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje
5. Jonny Hill
6. Courtney Lawes (C)
7. Tom Curry
8. Billy Vunipola
Finishers
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Mako Vunipola
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Lewis Ludlam
21. Jack van Poortlviet
22. Guy Porter
23. Henry Arundell

Have to say I like the selection (first time in a while with EJ).

We don’t have outright gas (would have liked to see Radwan in with a shout) but Cokanasiga is pretty fast (is apparently quicker in training at Bath than Watson!) as Marchant adds pace through the centres.

Really pleased to see Care starting.

[DocJock]

All four GB&I teams playing on TV on Saturday. Plus GP qualifying.

It's going to be a long day on the sofa!

[prand]

Sn1ckers said:

Squad announced;

15. Freddie Steward
14. Jack Nowell
13. Joe Marchant
12. Owen Farrell
11. Joe Cokanasiga
10. Marcus Smith
9. Danny Care
1. Ellis Genge
2. Jamie George
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje
5. Jonny Hill
6. Courtney Lawes (C)
7. Tom Curry
8. Billy Vunipola
Finishers
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Mako Vunipola
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Lewis Ludlam
21. Jack van Poortlviet
22. Guy Porter
23. Henry Arundell

Have to say I like the selection (first time in a while with EJ).

We don’t have outright gas (would have liked to see Radwan in with a shout) but Cokanasiga is pretty fast (is apparently quicker in training at Bath than Watson!) as Marchant adds pace through the centres.

Really pleased to see Care starting.

Interesting mix. For some reason I'm actually glad to see Farrell in at 12 (think England have actually missed his presence while he's been injured). Though its concerning how that back line is completely new to each other, though Care/Smith play together at Quins, so hopefuly they can work some magic together.

Billy at 8 nice to see instead of Curry who just isn't the bulldozing 8, but great at 7.

[DodgyGeezer]

apparently OF isn't overly happy at not being capt...

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/owen-farrell-very-u...

TBF to him though I suspect any top-level player would feel the same

[JonChalk]

Sn1ckers said:

Squad announced;

15. Freddie Steward
14. Jack Nowell
13. Joe Marchant
12. Owen Farrell
11. Joe Cokanasiga
10. Marcus Smith
9. Danny Care
1. Ellis Genge
2. Jamie George
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje
5. Jonny Hill
6. Courtney Lawes (C)
7. Tom Curry
8. Billy Vunipola
Finishers
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Mako Vunipola
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Lewis Ludlam
21. Jack van Poortlviet
22. Guy Porter
23. Henry Arundell

Have to say I like the selection (first time in a while with EJ).

We don’t have outright gas (would have liked to see Radwan in with a shout) but Cokanasiga is pretty fast (is apparently quicker in training at Bath than Watson!) as Marchant adds pace through the centres.

Really pleased to see Care starting.

I’m not sure. Got the fast Quins 9/10 pairing, but then what in the backs? What’s the game plan, because it isn’t run around the defence, so it must through or over via a kicking game? Same ol’ EJ, with different faces?

[Sn1ckers]

JonChalk said:

Sn1ckers said:

Squad announced;

15. Freddie Steward
14. Jack Nowell
13. Joe Marchant
12. Owen Farrell
11. Joe Cokanasiga
10. Marcus Smith
9. Danny Care
1. Ellis Genge
2. Jamie George
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje
5. Jonny Hill
6. Courtney Lawes (C)
7. Tom Curry
8. Billy Vunipola
Finishers
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Mako Vunipola
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Lewis Ludlam
21. Jack van Poortlviet
22. Guy Porter
23. Henry Arundell

Have to say I like the selection (first time in a while with EJ).

We don’t have outright gas (would have liked to see Radwan in with a shout) but Cokanasiga is pretty fast (is apparently quicker in training at Bath than Watson!) as Marchant adds pace through the centres.

Really pleased to see Care starting.

I’m not sure. Got the fast Quins 9/10 pairing, but then what in the backs? What’s the game plan, because it isn’t run around the defence, so it must through or over via a kicking game? Same ol’ EJ, with different faces?

What I’m hoping to see is the back line being given a bit of freedom to play whilst encouraging certain players to play with an emphasis on particular roles. For example, I’ve noticed Joe C has been much more physical in an English shirt than he for Bath and I’d like that to continue; he’s got the potential to be a latter day Lomu but it hasn’t happened yet, maybe this series?

[Kermit power]

Sn1ckers said:

JonChalk said:

Sn1ckers said:

Squad announced;

15. Freddie Steward
14. Jack Nowell
13. Joe Marchant
12. Owen Farrell
11. Joe Cokanasiga
10. Marcus Smith
9. Danny Care
1. Ellis Genge
2. Jamie George
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje
5. Jonny Hill
6. Courtney Lawes (C)
7. Tom Curry
8. Billy Vunipola
Finishers
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Mako Vunipola
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Lewis Ludlam
21. Jack van Poortlviet
22. Guy Porter
23. Henry Arundell

Have to say I like the selection (first time in a while with EJ).

We don’t have outright gas (would have liked to see Radwan in with a shout) but Cokanasiga is pretty fast (is apparently quicker in training at Bath than Watson!) as Marchant adds pace through the centres.

Really pleased to see Care starting.

I’m not sure. Got the fast Quins 9/10 pairing, but then what in the backs? What’s the game plan, because it isn’t run around the defence, so it must through or over via a kicking game? Same ol’ EJ, with different faces?

What I’m hoping to see is the back line being given a bit of freedom to play whilst encouraging certain players to play with an emphasis on particular roles. For example, I’ve noticed Joe C has been much more physical in an English shirt than he for Bath and I’d like that to continue; he’s got the potential to be a latter day Lomu but it hasn’t happened yet, maybe this series?

I remember one particular season where every England fan was bhing and moaning about Mike Brown at fullback because he didn't offload the ball once in the Six Nations. In the very same season, he topped the offload chart in the Premiership, even though he was missing for the international games! That goes to show the impact that a manager can have on an individual player's game, but I do have to wonder just how easy Eddie will find it to stop Care, Smith and Marchant playing a Quins game with all three of them starting?

[Sn1ckers]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

This is where I’m hoping EJ can encourage Joe Cokanasiga to start using his size and speed; he’s taller, heavier and faster than Manu and is the same height/weight as Esterhuizen but is quicker so could play that role coming in off the wing and looking for work. Fingers crossed!

[prand]

Kermit power said:

I remember one particular season where every England fan was bhing and moaning about Mike Brown at fullback because he didn't offload the ball once in the Six Nations. In the very same season, he topped the offload chart in the Premiership, even though he was missing for the international games! That goes to show the impact that a manager can have on an individual player's game, but I do have to wonder just how easy Eddie will find it to stop Care, Smith and Marchant playing a Quins game with all three of them starting?

I remember that very well. I used to hate seeing Brown collect a ball as all he'd do is run into traffic and bog the ball down.

Then it appears it was all EJ instructions, playing safe, percentage rugby. tt.

I'd like to see this tour as a bit of an experiment, maybe with Jones trying a few things out. But I also fear that as we saw with Barbarians, the team aren't capable of playing off the cuff rugby, and generally it's doomed to failure. So back to safe percentages again....