First nations & Pasifika XV v British & Irish Lions

[TRF_Olyy]

Missed the game, how did Morgan go? Seen very little to suggest he did enough. Part of me hopes he gets a crack.

Only played 50mins so I'm guessing he's either starting or benching on Saturday

Didn't do anything wrong but didn't really do anything tbh,
Got a joint turnover with JvdF, made a few tackles, not sure if he had any carries

No one really stood out tbh, so it's not like it's a slight on him, was just a very subdued performance all round

 

[ncurd]

Only played 50mins so I'm guessing he's either starting or benching on Saturday

Didn't do anything wrong but didn't really do anything tbh,
Got a joint turnover with JvdF, made a few tackles, not sure if he had any carries

No one really stood out tbh, so it's not like it's a slight on him, was just a very subdued performance all round

Yup pretty much unless it was a tactical sub felt like JvdF stuck his hand up more.

But nobody really pushed for selection to single out one guy for being anonymous is unfair.

If Morgan starts its definitely a DEI pick though.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I think Cummings did enough for a bench spot if McCarthy's out but after playing 80 that seems highly unlikely

I also thought George went well, but same as the above (though it was 75mins not 80 for him)

Thinking about it i bet Beirne goes into the 2nd row and we have 6. Curry 7. Morgan (or maybe Chessum starts in the row and we have both Morgan and Earl on the bench)

 

[IT157]

I would not be surprised to see Fin Smith and Owen Farrell starting together for England.

 

[IT157]

Is it just me but does it look like van der Merwe never actually grounds the ball.

 

[Hmmmmmm]

Is it just me but does it look like van der Merwe never actually grounds the ball.

It wasn’t just you

 

[Ddanno]

I'm not seeing an issue

 

[AlRums]

Is it just me but does it look like van der Merwe never actually grounds the ball.

Should have gone to Specsavers

 

[Derpus]

I would not be surprised to see Fin Smith and Owen Farrell starting together for England.

From a distance its bizarre to me that you've turned a great attacking flyhalf in Smith into a garbage fullback in favour of Fin Smith who looks like a midtier journeyman.

 

[IT157]

Should have gone to Specsavers

So he can see where to put the ball down correctly?

It wasn't just you

It's not just this game either. It's pretty much every game. He's so nonchalant when it is an easy run in that it looks like he just doesn't bother putting it down correctly.

 

[IT157]

I'm not seeing an issue

It's probably fine. But he's just so casual with it I do wonder on previous occasions if he's correctly put the ball down.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

From a distance its bizarre to me that you've turned a great attacking flyhalf in Smith into a garbage fullback in favour of Fin Smith who looks like a midtier journeyman.

Fin has looked brilliant all season up until the lions were a long season and new systems are taking their toll. A mid tier journeyman is a lazy assessment of him really.

Marcus on the other hand might love to run the ball himself like every under 10 year old but can’t seem to get a backline moving and unlock defences at an international level yet. Maybe that’s England fault though.

 

[higgik]

Fin has looked brilliant all season up until the lions were a long season and new systems are taking their toll. A mid tier journeyman is a lazy assessment of him really.

Marcus on the other hand might love to run the ball himself like every under 10 year old but can't seem to get a backline moving and unlock defences at an international level yet. Maybe that's England fault though.

Fin is a game manager in the Ford style, but with better acceleration to get through gaps himself.
Marcus is the Maverick who needs players to also see options.
Dombrandt looks good at Quins as he is on Marcus' wavelength.

 

[Ddanno]

It's probably fine. But he's just so casual with it I do wonder on previous occasions if he's correctly put the ball down.

Learned from Hogg maybe

 

[ncurd]

Reality is much like most of his career Ford is best option for England right now. But he's not liked for 'reasons' I prefer excuses clearly something about him rubs management up wrong.

Farrell was never really it but his last year or two for England should of finished him off.
Marcus just hasn't stepped up to international level and is now working in a position frankly he's not good enough at either. Maverick is pushing a Maverick like Cipriani or Russell has the ability to produce magic often at international level.
Fin might be it but isn't there yet, shouldn't be starting at this present time.

Reality is part of the problem is we've not had a true worldy fly half in quite some time be want the ultimate goldilocks players as well.

 

[Ddanno]

It's always felt like coaches were too focused on Ford's defence and it took about 8 years for fans to forget about one bad match with the boot in the 2014 6N.

Both completely unfair, but here we are.

 

[ncurd]

It's always felt like coaches were too focused on Ford's defence and it took about 8 years for fans to forget about one bad match with the boot in the 2014 6N.

Both completely unfair, but here we are.

Oh its entirely what happened, people now say Ford can't break the gainline himself....and I just think did no one watch his early career? He's either had it coached out him or just lost the pace required.

 

[Which Tyler]

He's either had it coached out him or just lost the pace required.

On the former...
He was brilliant at taking the ball to the line, and making the right decision to pass the ball once there.
But at international level, A] The international gameplan he was playing was pretty much always designed for a different FH (OF), B] his first support player was Farrell at 12, who wouldn't be offering anything, C] there are fewer right options anyway, and D] if no good options presented themselves, he'd take it into contact, and get absolutely ragdolled (though often finding a way to maintain possession - gods alone know how) which => E] at international level his backrow were tasked with rucking over him if he took contact, rather than providing a good option to receive that pass - meaning he was down by 2 of the options he needed, which meant the defence wasn't stretched.

On the latter - I'm not sure I've seen him trying a full-on acceleration or sprint to judge, but with the various niggling lower limb injuries he's played through, I'd be amazed if he hadn't also lost some speed - but the criticisms way pre-dated that.

 

[Derpus]

Fin has looked brilliant all season up until the lions were a long season and new systems are taking their toll. A mid tier journeyman is a lazy assessment of him really.

Marcus on the other hand might love to run the ball himself like every under 10 year old but can't seem to get a backline moving and unlock defences at an international level yet. Maybe that's England fault though.

I mean - I've seen last years test and then the Lions so that's all I have to run off. I couldn't give a **** about your provincial comps.

In the autumn test I think Smith got four try assists and was basically the only bloke keeping you in it?

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

On the former...
He was brilliant at taking the ball to the line, and making the right decision to pass the ball once there.
But at international level, A] The international gameplan he was playing was pretty much always designed for a different FH (OF), B] his first support player was Farrell at 12, who wouldn't be offering anything, C] there are fewer right options anyway, and D] if no good options presented themselves, he'd take it into contact, and get absolutely ragdolled (though often finding a way to maintain possession - gods alone know how) which => E] at international level his backrow were tasked with rucking over him if he took contact, rather than providing a good option to receive that pass - meaning he was down by 2 of the options he needed, which meant the defence wasn't stretched.

On the latter - I'm not sure I've seen him trying a full-on acceleration or sprint to judge, but with the various niggling lower limb injuries he's played through, I'd be amazed if he hadn't also lost some speed - but the criticisms way pre-dated that.

The thing I love most about George Ford is his ability to time the pass perfectly to put the receiver through the gap in the defence, but if he has Owen Farrell at inside centre who is not a stike runner Ford's skill is completely wasted.