[2015 Six Nations] England vs Scotland (Round 4)

[Crapspray]

Good to see Guscott calling out SCW on his "I'd play Maro Itoje at 10 with Tuilagi at Hooker" ********.

While I agree SCW can come out with some weird things, I agree with him in this case; England have missed a trick this Six Nations by not playing Cipriani and/or Slade at some point. We now won't know how either will cope until the warm-ups, if at all.

 

[ratsapprentice]

While I agree SCW can come out with some weird things, I agree with him in this case; England have missed a trick this Six Nations by not playing Cipriani and/or Slade at some point. We now won't know how either will cope until the warm-ups, if at all.

That would be fine if this was last year, but it isn't.

Ford needs experience - at this stage I think it's more sensible to put more eggs in less baskets if you actually plan on mounting a serious challenge for the RWC.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Just to point out I picked Lawes as MoM but Youngs came up and had to deal with it.</p>â€" Brian Moore (@brianmoore666) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmoore666/status/576819071305560064">March 14, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Called it.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Feel gutted for Scotland.

 

[Peat]

I'm passing annoyed with performance. Fair, or am I too grumpy and demanding?

 

[Crapspray]

That would be fine if this was last year, but it isn't.

Ford needs experience - at this stage I think it's more sensible to put more eggs in less baskets if you actually plan on mounting a serious challenge for the RWC.

Fair enough, I wouldn't have started Cips like Clive said, but I would have given him more than three minutes. Similarly, I would have liked to have seen Slade given a go against Italy and again today.

 

[goodNumber10]

*mic drop*

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I'm passing annoyed with performance. Fair, or am I too grumpy and demanding?

Torn. We showed some really impressive play with ball in hand today - like, better than any other team have shown this tournament in all fairness.... but what's the point of line breaks and offloads if you lack the basic skills, decision making etc, to finish off.
I'm also alarmed by the amount of ground ceded by George in defence, regardless of his prowess with ball in hand.

 

[martinspoonboy1]

It's that moustache it gives him strength. Talking about Nowell here.

Poor cips.

I think Brian Moore actually wanted to give Courtney Lawes man of the match but noticed Ben Youngs name was already on the screen.

Yeah that was funny. Youngs is in my fantasy team (due to lack of replacements) so I'll take it!

 

[ratsapprentice]

I'm also alarmed by the amount of ground ceded by George in defence, regardless of his prowess with ball in hand.

Of course you do... you're English after all.

It's the reason why yeomen like Farrell are held in such high regard and players like George and Danny aren't trusted.

 

[j'nuh]

I feel that we are making some positive steps forwards with the backline whilst simultaneously also going backwards in the pack.

A lot of this is because of missing players. Launchbury, Morgan and Wilson are all XV players imo. Launchbury is our best player and Morgan is arguably our second best player, so they are big losses.

Some of this is a lack of quality at loosehead and hooker. Marler has gone backwards this tournament and Hartley, who is only there for his set piece skill, must surely be under scrutiny after his throwing has gone wonky. It's not like he provides much of anything else. There aren't stunning replacements available though. I would still be inclined to go with Corbs and Youngs.

And a small amount of selection issues on the flanks. Ewers is clearly the best option at 6 and would prefer Kvesic to Robshaw too. Ewers would improve the team a fair bit imo, Kvesic would improve the team marginally.

And a significant coaching issue. We haven't done anything to address problems that have existed for years, namely the speed of our forwards to the breakdown.

 

[Bluemoon]

Yeah that was funny. Youngs is in my fantasy team (due to lack of replacements) so I'll take it!

Haha me too. I needed those point as well.

 

[Peat]

Torn. We showed some really impressive play with ball in hand today - like, better than any other team have shown this tournament in all fairness.... but what's the point of line breaks and offloads if you lack the basic skills, decision making etc, to finish off.
I'm also alarmed by the amount of ground ceded by George in defence, regardless of his prowess with ball in hand.

This is why I'm on the Henry Slade bandwagon. Well, that and the fact that Slade is quality.

And as you say, you've gotta finish them off. It also helps not to let the other team back into the game...

 

[j'nuh]

Ford-Slade-Joseph all the way.

 

[martinspoonboy1]

Should've scored more. Ford was my MoM (Despite some ground conceded in the tackle). Ran the show so so well.

Frustrating, but all set for a killer final weekend!

Also well done to Wales. If you can now go and lose in Rome that'd be great

 

[goodNumber10]

I thought Lawes was MOTM, Youngs did have a good game as well but he and Ford linked well so a bit unfair to seperate the... also special mention for Robshaw who was immense again, and i thought Marler had a pretty solid game.

 

[Peat]

Ford-Slade-Joseph all the way.

By Slade bandwagon, I mean Slade at 10, preferably sooner rather than later.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Burns for 10!!!!!

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Well that was frustrating, we've butchered more try scoring opportunities than anyone else. We seem to panic and try forcing things. Also the refreeing was an absolute shambled. At the end the England pack marched clean through the middle of the Scottish scrum, no England penalty. Scotland were driving early on pretty much all their put ins, never penalised. Doing all sorts of crap to collapse the mauls, never penalised, multiple knock ons by them where they got the penalties... truely shocking performance.

England lack discipline and it is costing us, we aren't finishing our opportunities because we mess up by trying to force things too often.

 

[goodNumber10]

Burns for 10!!!!!

^^^^this!