[2015 Six Nations] England

[Patchey]

****Edit:
Planet Rugby's predicted starting 15 for the Wales game:

http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16016_9644260,00.html

England's expected XV to face Wales: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Luther Burrell, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Chris Robshaw, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 David Wilson, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler.

I mean that's by no means a bad team. I'd like to see what Eastmond and Burrell could do but the BB-LB worked very well last year.

Watson starting on the wing though? Head of Rokko or Nowell? I know Lancaster bloody loves Watson but even so, it seems an odd call.

 

[Tony Manx]

I mean that's by no means a bad team. I'd like to see what Eastmond and Burrell could do but the BB-LB worked very well last year.

Watson starting on the wing though? Head of Rokko or Nowell? I know Lancaster bloody loves Watson but even so, it seems an odd call.

Likewise No 8......will Lancaster's love affair with an out of form at League level Billy really continue?

 

[goodNumber10]

can we sticky these 6N threads?

 

[Wendigo7]

Pretty sure Watson is a fair bit bigger than roko.

(phone playing up)

 

[Every Time Ref]

Watson starting on the wing though? Head of Rokko or Nowell? I know Lancaster bloody loves Watson but even so, it seems an odd call.

He is the man in possession though, and there being no reason to drop him either on international or Prem form it makes sense. We know Lancaster likes continuity.

Roko shouldn't be near the starting XV to be blunt. Since the injury which cost him his place after the NZ game he's been a shadow of his former self for Bath.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Back on Cipriani, isn't he on around 70% kicking from the tee ? Now I want him to play but I feel you need Slade with Cips if he is going to get 3/5, on average.
Another thing about Slade is his running, he's made 433 meters which is nearly as much as May (478) Roko (484) Brown (457) Ashton (510). Sinoti has 801 ?!?! Goode (704) #bestrunningfullback #bringhimback #betterthanben

 

[Mr Ruggleby]

Pretty sure Watson is a fair bit bigger than roko.

(phone playing up)

Watson: 6'1", 92-93kg

Rokoduguni: 6'0" 98kg

Source: bath rugby website and england rugby website (Roko was up to about 103 at the end of preseason)

 

[TheSaffycen]

Likewise No 8......will Lancaster's love affair with an out of form at League level Billy really continue?

Morgan Tries 1 Assist 0 DB 12 CB 1 MR 239 Tack 47
Vunipola Tries 1 Assist 0 DB 29 CB 3 MR 472 Tack 55
Easter Tries 1 Assist 1 DB 19 CB 5 MR 379 Tack 70
Waldrom Tries 9 Assist 1 DB 17 CB 8 MR 785 Tack 82
Ewers Tries 2 Assist 0 DB 25 CB 3 MR 219 Tack 122
Hughes Tries 6 Assist 1 DB 30 CB 8 MR 527 Tack 62

Also a poll saying who should replace Morgan ? http://www.therugbyblog.com/poll-who-should-replace-ben-morgan-in-the-england-squad
Armitage 49%
Easter 27%
Waldrom 14%
Ewers 9%
Wilson 1%

 

[Wendigo7]

Back on Cipriani, isn't he on around 70% kicking from the tee ? Now I want him to play but I feel you need Slade with Cips if he is going to get 3/5, on average.
Another thing about Slade is his running, he's made 433 meters which is nearly as much as May (478) Roko (484) Brown (457) Ashton (510). Sinoti has 801 ?!?! Goode (704) #bestrunningfullback #bringhimback #betterthanben

Slade's kicking stats aren't too hot from what I've heard either.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Slade's kicking stats aren't too hot from what I've heard either.

He's at 100%, only took 2 kicks mind.

Out of the regular kickers the best are
Steenson 92.5% (37/40)
Goode 89.4% (34/38)
Farrell 80.95% (17/21)
Ford 76.92% (30/39)
Myler 76.47% (26/34)
Cipriani 71.05% (27/38)

 

[goodNumber10]

kicking stats as of 28 December:

http://www.goalkickers.co.za/

 

[Wendigo7]

Missed 2 or 3 against Irish.

Think it'll be around 70/75% only 10 kicks though.

 

[goodNumber10]

Missed 2 or 3 against Irish.

Think it'll be around 70/75% only 10 kicks though.

he missed two, but he only really kicks the long range stuff

 

[Patchey]

Yeah, considering he only takes the long ones Slade has an alright percentage.

 

[j'nuh]

Morgan Tries 1 Assist 0 DB 12 CB 1 MR 239 Tack 47
Vunipola Tries 1 Assist 0 DB 29 CB 3 MR 472 Tack 55
Easter Tries 1 Assist 1 DB 19 CB 5 MR 379 Tack 70
Waldrom Tries 9 Assist 1 DB 17 CB 8 MR 785 Tack 82
Ewers Tries 2 Assist 0 DB 25 CB 3 MR 219 Tack 122
Hughes Tries 6 Assist 1 DB 30 CB 8 MR 527 Tack 62

This is kind of misleading without a minutes played/games played column. (It's kind of misleading even with a minutes played column tbf.)

e.g. Morgan has only played 8/14 of the games, Vunipola will have missed a few with England too, Ewers plays more games from 6,

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Also the context of the game is important, someone playing in a team with many strong forwards will have an easier time than someone who is the only decent carrier and thus always double tackled.

 

[j'nuh]

There are tens of considerations, maybe even hundreds of considerations.

e.g. some players have inflated tries scored stats because they are the ones that control the ball at the base of a maul. Some 8s have an excessive meters run stat because they occasionally drop into the back three to make a run from deep (2 or 3 of these a game and you're looking at 40+ meters a game, even on weak carries). Some 8s beat more defenders and make more clean breaks because their attacking systems are faster so there are more gaps to exploit. Some 8s tackle more/less depending on whether their team typically plays the territory (tackles more, e.g. Saracens) or possession (tackles less, e.g. Gloucester) game.

There really isn't a substitute for seeing with your eyes how well players are playing unfortunately. Rugby stats are just simply too limited. Under controlled conditions and over the course of 100+ games, you might start to distinguish patterns. Kicking stats are relatively acceptable though. (Problems creep in if you're a long or short distance kicker.)

 

[goodNumber10]

There really isn't a substitute for seeing with your eyes how well players are playing unfortunately. Rugby stats are just simply too limited. Under controlled conditions and over the course of 100+ games, you might start to distinguish patterns. Kicking stats are relatively acceptable though. (Problems creep in if you're a long or short distance kicker.)

absolutely this

 

[TheSaffycen]

I can only post the stats available to me. When I get home I will post the link to the site, on phone at the moment.

http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/KickingStrikeRateHome?comp_id=469

 

[goodNumber10]

I can only post the stats available to me. When I get home I will post the link to the site, on phone at the moment.

don't think there is an issue with the stats mate, think J'Nuh is just pointing out it's all about interpretation.

also from BBC Ford on Burgess and the Saxons:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/30822860