[2015 Six Nations] England

[Peat]

i din't think you were, it was more i thought you were mocking my 15.

*slaps chippieolamus with silk glove*

Ooh! Ooh! Lets play Will Carrick-Smith!

 

[Big Ewis]

I actually wouldn't be too upset with that, as long as they are allowed to play their natural game and forgoe the "everyones a fetcher" mantra.

well England's only potential real fetcher plays 50min away from here, a bit too far really for Lancaster !!

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i din't think you were, it was more i thought you were mocking my 15.

*slaps chippieolamus with silk glove*

you can't slap chippieolamus, he doesn't even have an avatar !

 

[ratsapprentice]

The stream is working properly now if anyone was trying it earlier.

Sam got himself a try in the first half BTW.

 

[goodNumber10]

well England's only potential real fetcher plays 50min away from here, a bit too far really for Lancaster !!

not actually true, but i wouldn't pick him even if he lived next door to twickenham.

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you can't slap chippieolamus, he doesn't even have an avatar !

*SLAP*

The stream is working properly now if anyone was trying it earlier.

Sam got himself a try in the first half BTW.

wrong thread again?

'ows he going at 6 Rats?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Nope, right thread this time.

Can't tell, the stream wasn't working correctly in the first half and has just descended into 1 frame per 5 seconds again.

 

[goodNumber10]

i reckon he'll be pretty good. Wonder how his scrummaging will go, also if they leave him at the tail of the lineout or get him trying to lift.

 

[ratsapprentice]

He came off after 63 minutes.

Will wait to see what people who are in attendance and the post-match report say.

 

[Aristodemus]

Yeah I turned it off after about 30secs, couldn't watch that. Might check the vod out if it is seamless.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Taken from the Bath board...

Sam was EITHER at the tail of a pretty well ordered and functioning line out, where he was confidently involved in a couple of lifts OR he stood in the midfield as a runner or a decoy. Didn't look out of place. One or two notable carries and one significant decoy that led to Lane's second try. At the breakdown he was fine - certainly remember him very strongly clearing a few rucks, no penalties against, generally looked quite comfortable.

It will come with time but I just can't wait to see him in the game more. You can watch him trying to time his involvements and often looking lost or being left a bit in the cold as the game does the unexpected. In league, he would have known when and where to time his runs - it is structured, simpler. But, as a union attack evolves, the way the ball moves is far more unpredictable. The few times Sam did manage to time his runs on to the shoulder of the ball carriers, he looked damn dangerous. Also, exactly the same in defence - it is less clear and obvious in union where the next opportunity is for the big hit but, as happened on at least one occasion, when Sam learns how to time his involvements in to defensive contact, he's going to make quite some impact.

 

[McTallshort]

Will Slade get a look in soon? The lad looks very talented very natural with the ball in hand like to see him with Eastmond or Burrell.

 

[j'nuh]

Just watching the Bath vs Glos game. There was a moment 30 mins in where it took four Bath players (Eastmond, Fa'osiliva, Houston and Day) to be able to shift Kvesic away from a particular breakdown. It's ridiculous how powerful a position Kvesic can get in at times. A fun stat too: in his 11 starts this season, Kvesic has been Gloucester's top tackler in 7 games.

Also, Moriarty had his best game to date. Still too young for thoughts about England any time soon, but he's absolutely the kind of player England could use right now, if he were a few more years down the line in his development. A carrying 6 who makes enormously powerful tackles. He's not as prevalent in Glos' game yet, would like to see an improvment in work rate, and for him to make more tackles per game, but he's certainly on the right track.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I don't want to be a prick (acknowledging that I am, in fact, being a prick), but did I not predict that 6. Moriarty, 7. Kvesic, 8. Morgan would be an awesome combo?

 

[McTallshort]

Yeah....dont seem to be doing Glou much good at the minute though does it?

 

[j'nuh]

I don't want to be a prick (acknowledging that I am, in fact, being a prick), but did I not predict that 6. Moriarty, 7. Kvesic, 8. Morgan would be an awesome combo?

Haha, we will see when they actually line up together. It was Kalamafoni/Kvesic/Moriarty on the weekend (Morgan and Evans were both injured). Moriarty played 8. He looked powerful there and he's not even at his final weight.

But yes, I love the idea of it in theory. That said, that back row leaves out Gareth Evans...

Yeah....dont seem to be doing Glou much good at the minute though does it?

Actually, the second and back rows are by far the most functioning part of the Glos game. Before he went away for the AIs, Morgan was playing better for Glos than I've seen him ever before. Kvesic has gone up several levels this season. Evans has come back from injury and laid down some terrific performances. (In fact, for several weeks, Kvesic and Evans were by far the standout Glos players.) Moriarty is in his breakthrough season and put his best game in on the weekend and the signs are good. Laurie is doing some terrific work here.

Sort out the front 3 and the backline, and Glos will be onto something.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sort out the front 3

You've probably got the most expensive front row in England already!

 

[j'nuh]

You've probably got the most expensive front row in England already!

Don't I know it.

Putting Hibbard and Afoa together is like having a lobster with revolvers for pincers. Two terrifying things when put together, does not strike fear into your enemies. <_< They are great in the loose, but one scrummages high, one scrummages low, and neither are able to show their best there. Our alternative tightheads and hookers aren't good enough, and we need a starting loosehead.

 

[chippieolamus]

Taken from the Bath board...

Anyone got highlights of the game?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Slightly OT... just realised that Fraser Balmain is a Geordie...

...and also that Cole played the full 80 again.

 

[goodNumber10]

front and center of BBC Rugby page:

Burgess scores first try in union

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/30577732

 

[ratsapprentice]

Of course... as would Manu Tuilagi's first try if he switched to RL.