[2015 Six Nations] England

[ratsapprentice]

Double penetration?

 

[Patchey]

England certainly need some penetration over the game line, doubly important against Ireland next week...

 

[Maverick1987]

England certainly need some penetration over the game line, doubly important against Ireland next week...

Fair play you are really trying hard to get this back on track aren't you ?!? Haha

 

[Patchey]

I've just rewatched some of last weeks action. Much as it surprised me to say this, I'd back Goode to come in at 15 for Brown. Him or Pennell actually. My head says Goode but my heart says it would be something to have a Championship player come in and have a stormer against Ireland!

Fair play you are really trying hard to get this back on track aren't you ?!? Haha

I really was... I can conclude that posting while under the influence of a bottle of fine red wine and a vicious head cold made me a marginally better poster.

 

[goodNumber10]

Goode won't let anyone down. He just won't really do much either.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I do kinda agree with this idea that england have chopped and changed and yet the same time stuck with other players who arn't anything special.

Other countries seem to have stuck with players who arn't in form as they have a smaller player base.

I don't know what's right for an international team but what I do know is that Lancaster should have stuck with a decent backline 2 years ago not now

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Yeah I don't think Lancaster can be accused of that much chopping and changing, to be fair a large chunk of it is down to injuries. If anything when a player is in poor form and not getting injured, Lancaster had a tendency to stick with them. See Ashton, Goode, Brown on the wing etc

Midfield is perhaps the exception with Tuilagi injured and players not being outstanding.

 

[Patchey]

Goode won't let anyone down. He just won't really do much either.

Quite. And if rather have someone come in and be (almost) certain not to cock it up under the high ball, even if they may not be very exciting ball in hand.

 

[goodNumber10]

Sam Burgess frustrated at Rugby union (shocker):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31595304

 

[ncurd]

"I know one of his ambitions is to try and get on the Australia tour in 2016 and try and become a regular international player in 2017."

I don't think anyone but the media (and Russell Crowe) really thought he'd be international class at Union before the World Cup. After his injury it was never going to happen, as noted in the Premiership thread he get noticeably better every week.

 

[msf]

Does he? I think Bath have stopped him making much progress by (understandably) preferring Eastmond at 12, when Burgess played there he actually had a positive influence on the match. Unfortunately, Eastmond is even more of a positive influence, so the only way I can see Burgess making the World Cup is if Eastmond is injured for the rest of the season, and even then they might prefer Devoto for the big games.

- - - Updated - - -

I really can't see him sticking around till 2017 if he misses the World Cup, especially if they then want him to start playing back-row, where he will have an even harder apprenticeship.

 

[ncurd]

Bath paid the big money for him (and is on a three year contract) I don't think they'll want to see their investment leave. Reports have said they see him as back-row player rather than centre so I think he was always going to be more of a bench player this season before graduating next season to the back-row becoming a regular for Bath by end of 2015/16 season followed summer tour for England then 2017 6 nations. All of which would fit under his three year contract just nicely.

I think the 'frustrated' bit is just Mike Ford being honest and saying look were telling him we'll try give him more ball but we haven't been producing that against two other top sides in the Premiership.

 

[Every Time Ref]

I think the problem is we haven't been able to help him make the transition to back row fast enough. I understand why not, I'm sure Ford has been watching him in training and I'd be very surprised if he's ready for it yet, but Ford always said that was his ultimate destination (and I agree) so it's no surprise he's not there yet.

He's obviously improving every match but he's still a fair way off - he rightly got praised for aspects of his game against Sarries, however he got off very lightly in the media for the two occasions he rushed up out of defence and mistimed it, and the two attempted offloads that went to ground. I don't mean to sound too critical - for someone learning the game, the progress is really positive and the mistakes understandable, but if we're talking about him as a potential international player then those four poor judgements are unacceptable.

 

[goodNumber10]

Does he? I think Bath have stopped him making much progress by (understandably) preferring Eastmond at 12, when Burgess played there he actually had a positive influence on the match. Unfortunately, Eastmond is even more of a positive influence, so the only way I can see Burgess making the World Cup is if Eastmond is injured for the rest of the season, and even then they might prefer Devoto for the big games.

- - - Updated - - -

I really can't see him sticking around till 2017 if he misses the World Cup, especially if they then want him to start playing back-row, where he will have an even harder apprenticeship.

I don't think Eastmond is really in the England reckonings anymore. He was shocking in defence at the weekend, so it's going to come down to how bath Rotate him. Eastmond always seems to have a loss of form around now, so he may well get a decent run into the tail of the season once JJ is back.

Fords words about involvement lead me to believe that they'll be moving him to backrow in the off season.

 

[steve9145]

nobody wanted sam burgess to suceed more than me but to me he looks a fish out of water at centre.
i watch a lot of ozzy league and it seems to me that the two codes are developing in completely different directions. sam burgess at international centre is unlikely to happen and its even less likely that he will make an international back row.
i think bath have made a big mistake, if they wanted an international centre or back row they could of bought one and not grown one !!!!!!

 

[Spartan]

I think Sam thought he could have been in the World Cup this year, a tad optimistic. He is capable of suceeding in Rugby but the impression I got after watching South Sydney tonk St Helens is that he is a League man at heart and wouldn't surprise me if he quit after his contract expires or just wants out entirely.

 

[steve9145]

he looks disallusioned to me.
you choose.............bondi beach........demi god........drinks at wooloomooloo with the gladiator........trips on a super yacht..........surrounded by the beautiful people...........or
******* with rain..........victoria park(avoiding the dog ****) trips to ikea and b/q...........drinks in a crappy bar where some ****** up prat (gavin henson?) might want to try to make a name for himself..
duhhhhhhhhh
my guess is he will go back sooner than expected.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Wtf is up with your ability to type normally?

 

[LiRFCMatt]

Wtf is up with your ability to type normally?

I dont...........no wut...........u mean............(gavin henson?)........duhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I dont...........no wut...........u mean............(gavin henson?)........duhhhhhhhhhhh

I meen u....... cant tipe proper.........(gavin henson?)....... its a load of *********************..........berderp..........dotdotdot