England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
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Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
About three weeks ago England were number 2 team in the world and expected to win the championship, well in my eyes at least. They haven't suddenly become terrible.
This looks like a better team than the one they put out for the last two rounds.
A win in twickers will be seriously difficult.
This looks like a better team than the one they put out for the last two rounds.
A win in twickers will be seriously difficult.
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Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
When you look at that English backline, Farrell is the only one capable of actually bringing any of the other backs into play. Don't get me wrong, they're all very good individually (although some are struggling for form), but looking at that team sheet makes me think they'll all just be looking inside to Farrell the whole time to tell them what they should be doing. Slade has been a disappointment at international level, but if they had him at 13 I'd be far more worried about the decision making and creativity they have in the team.
Now Farrell is one of the best players in the world and is capable of running the show, but the balance just looks off to me. When I think of Farrell's best games at ten for England, it was when they were much stronger up front than they are at this moment in time, and he benefits hugely from having Goode at Saracens.
The back row is the same, no big carrier and no breakdown specialist, and that's behind an out of sorts second row combination. The back row isn't really going to do much for their lineout either.
When I first saw their team I thought they had made some necessary changes and do still expect there to be more of a spark about them, but there's no doubt in my mind that there are issues with that selection. I'm guessing they'll target us in the air and would back them to win that battle if they do, but even that seems a strange tactic when you consider where other teams have got so much joy out of us over the last 4 games.
Now Farrell is one of the best players in the world and is capable of running the show, but the balance just looks off to me. When I think of Farrell's best games at ten for England, it was when they were much stronger up front than they are at this moment in time, and he benefits hugely from having Goode at Saracens.
The back row is the same, no big carrier and no breakdown specialist, and that's behind an out of sorts second row combination. The back row isn't really going to do much for their lineout either.
When I first saw their team I thought they had made some necessary changes and do still expect there to be more of a spark about them, but there's no doubt in my mind that there are issues with that selection. I'm guessing they'll target us in the air and would back them to win that battle if they do, but even that seems a strange tactic when you consider where other teams have got so much joy out of us over the last 4 games.
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Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
The TJ has been removed and is replaced by Owens...what a shambles.
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Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
Backrow is arguably more balanced but Robshaw is in garbage form (as is Itoje) and Haskell is still HaskellDave Cahill wrote:They have a far better balance to their back row now, Farrell is the only outhalf in the NH close to Sextons level and wigglesworth is the best scrum half in England. This team is considerably better than they've put out in this competition this season.simonokeeffe wrote:He is that level of evil Xan
I think most of those changes suit us. Theyre more one dimensional in midfield (and 9) plus Sinkler is a proven hot head
One change for Ireland, Ryan in for Toner
Last time Sinckler played an Irish team he tried to lose the fixture all by himself
Combine Haskell with Sinckler and probably Launchbury and of course Hartley then half the pack is prone to meltdowns in big fixtures
Their scrum is weaker now too. Not that we demolish many teams but we probably have our strongest available scrummaging front 5
Their lack of a second distributor of any kind in 3/4 line makes it harder to attack us out wide where we are weakest in defence
If we let them score early points and take a big half time lead I'd be very worried. We get on top MENTALLY early on and we are in the driving seat
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Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
Kruis is apparently the strongest scrummaging lock according to Jones and even if Sinckler is a suspect there I don't us getting much change out of it primarily because of the way it's reffed now. The 4 additions to the pack should freshen things up in the pack which has looked a bit knackered.simonokeeffe wrote:Backrow is arguably more balanced but Robshaw is in garbage form (as is Itoje) and Haskell is still Haskell
Last time Sinckler played an Irish team he tried to lose the fixture all by himself
Combine Haskell with Sinckler and probably Launchbury and of course Hartley then half the pack is prone to meltdowns in big fixtures
Their scrum is weaker now too. Not that we demolish many teams but we probably have our strongest available scrummaging front 5
Their lack of a second distributor of any kind in 3/4 line makes it harder to attack us out wide where we are weakest in defence
If we let them score early points and take a big half time lead I'd be very worried. We get on top MENTALLY early on and we are in the driving seat
The 10-12-13 combo will be much better defensively given Farrells difficulty at 12 the past few months. They're probably right to keep it tighter given their problems retaining possession which would be hard to fix in a week even without the changes to the first 15.
Ruddock's tackle stats consistently too low for me to be taken seriously as a Six Nations blindside..... Ruddock's defensive stats don't stack up. - All Blacks Nil, Jan 15th, 2014
England A 8 - 14 Ireland A, 25th Jan 2014
Ruddock(c) 19/2 Tackles
England A 8 - 14 Ireland A, 25th Jan 2014
Ruddock(c) 19/2 Tackles
Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
Owens replaces van Der Westhuizen as assistant referee for Saturday.
https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/sta ... 08258?s=21
https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/sta ... 08258?s=21
Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
I don’t where you’re getting that from, I thought Robshaw was one of the few English players who actually stood up over the last couple of games.simonokeeffe wrote:Robshaw is in garbage formDave Cahill wrote:They have a far better balance to their back row now, Farrell is the only outhalf in the NH close to Sextons level and wigglesworth is the best scrum half in England. This team is considerably better than they've put out in this competition this season.simonokeeffe wrote:He is that level of evil Xan
I think most of those changes suit us. Theyre more one dimensional in midfield (and 9) plus Sinkler is a proven hot head
One change for Ireland, Ryan in for Toner
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Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
Kinda disappointing we won't get to see Stander running at Ford but looking forward to Leavy hunting and terrorising Farrell and getting him rightly tetchy and annoyed
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Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
Not necessarily a good thing, Nige's moment in the limelight (he always has one nowdays) will effect the match.Sionnach wrote:Owens replaces van Der Westhuizen as assistant referee for Saturday.
https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/sta ... 08258?s=21
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Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
@A16 his clearouts have been highlighted already but his discipline and decision making have been poor (for a player of his experience)
@TJ Farrell isn't a great defender at this level especially going by stats
@TJ Farrell isn't a great defender at this level especially going by stats
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Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
On the corridor of power post.
My tuppence halfpenny's worth.
1. The channel between 10 and 12.
2. The pick and go though gaps around the fringes.
3. The sqeeze space that the defensive team's line speed is trying to minimise.
My tuppence halfpenny's worth.
1. The channel between 10 and 12.
2. The pick and go though gaps around the fringes.
3. The sqeeze space that the defensive team's line speed is trying to minimise.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall who's the greatest player of them all? It is Drico your majesty.
Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
He'll try to ref the game from touch...olaf the fat wrote:Not necessarily a good thing, Nige's moment in the limelight (he always has one nowdays) will effect the match.Sionnach wrote:Owens replaces van Der Westhuizen as assistant referee for Saturday.
https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/sta ... 08258?s=21
Dont Panic!
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Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
The Hyperbole surrounding the touch judge on here is reaching Nigel Owens levels of pantomime.
"It was Mrs O'Leary's cow"
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Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
oh nid ydyw!Peg Leg wrote:The Hyperbole surrounding the touch judge on here is reaching Nigel Owens levels of pantomime.
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Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
Owens is sending him a signed photo as a consolation prize
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Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
Owens is good at spotting off the ball stuff so we need to keep our discipline. I'd imagine England will go out to rough us up so we really want to avoid any cards or penalty reversals.
Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
The best take on this game is to-
Forget all the bs from EJ.
Forget England's very recent form.
Remember that England are a powerful team.
Remember that England backed into a corner will come out fighting.
And lastly don't forget to remember to enjoy the drama that tomorrow will bring.
Forget all the bs from EJ.
Forget England's very recent form.
Remember that England are a powerful team.
Remember that England backed into a corner will come out fighting.
And lastly don't forget to remember to enjoy the drama that tomorrow will bring.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall who's the greatest player of them all? It is Drico your majesty.
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Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
With no Mike Brown theyre at a serious angry face defeceit.Edna Kenny wrote:Owens is good at spotting off the ball stuff so we need to keep our discipline. I'd imagine England will go out to rough us up so we really want to avoid any cards or penalty reversals.
I do expect Te'o to target Johnny all day.
Our pack would win in a straight fight.
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Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
And that's why England are so dangerous.simonokeeffe wrote:With no Mike Brown theyre at a serious angry face defeceit.Edna Kenny wrote:Owens is good at spotting off the ball stuff so we need to keep our discipline. I'd imagine England will go out to rough us up so we really want to avoid any cards or penalty reversals.
I do expect Te'o to target Johnny all day.
Our pack would win in a straight fight.
That last statement is an affront that the English more than any other country take very personally.
They are one of the most dangerous teams to play when they are underdogs because they so rarely are and as a result it's usually down to poor form rather than ability.
This is a team that was ranked 2nd in the world only a week ago, that backboned a successful Lions to the 1st ranked country. The ability is there, the bulldog spirit will rise tomorrow and Connacht might be where they want to send us.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall who's the greatest player of them all? It is Drico your majesty.
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Re: England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17
Joe will be having a word with the refs RE: T'eo's plaster paris of power move.
"It was Mrs O'Leary's cow"
Daniel Sullivan
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