[2015 Six Nations] Ireland vs England (Round 3)

[bushytop]

Decent performance from Ireland... we'll until Sexton went off. He is so important that the Grandslam only seems possible with Sexton fit at the moment.

This result could well be the best thing that could have happened to England as far as the WC is concerned. They looked overly-confident before refusing the kick at goal at 6-3. As a Welshman I have witnessed my team going into certain games with too much confidence and refusing to play the percentages. It rarely ends well against a top-tier nation.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I find it odd people are excusing Lancaster from blame for the poor performance

You think Lancaster is in charge of getting the forwards rucking well?

I just don't think that Stuart is a traditional HC - his main role is basically that of a DOR/manager.
The specialist coaches are in charge of honing skills.

Selection is an issue - but do you really think that his backs coach has no responsibility for it?

 

[goodNumber10]

To be fair he's been forced into a lot of those changes by injury or fixture clashes - consitency has been missing by the hand of fate, nit really by a desire to keep swapping.

 

[msf]

Winning team's have a style that you can pinpoint - Northampton play a power game, the All Blacks a counter-attacking game, Ireland a kicking game, England a...

 

[Crapspray]

I find it odd people are excusing Lancaster from blame for the poor performance, especially as England were just beaten by a country that definitely doesn't have the depth of playing resources that England has.

Because he isn't responsible for the majority of the coaching. Farrell and Rowntree are. Now, for Rowntree, his pack is usually top-notch. They were slow (in body and mind) today, but are usually very good and have been carrying the backs for nigh-on two years.

For Farrell, the only backs we've consistently selected have been Sarries donkeys. That should say enough.

 

[LiRFCMatt]

My ratings for what its worth.

1.Marler 6.5
2.Hartley 5.5
3.Cole 7.5 - 28 metres made, 9 tackles, great use of the head.
4.Attwood 5.5 - 19 tackles that people seem to have forgotten about, but my god there was a lot missing from that man today.
5.Kruis 6 - Carried quite well, made some good tackles
6.Haskell 5.5 - Made a lot of tackles, but couldn't turn the ball over, which we needed desperately.
7.Robshaw 6.5 - Very good in defence again, only person chasing kicks.
8.Vunipola 7
9.Youngs 5 - I'm usually a fan, not today, missed 1/3 of his tackles.
10.Ford 6 - Actually think he played alright, good tackling for the most part.
11.Nowell 6 - Made 1 tackle, missed 2. Unusually poor in the air, but threatening in attack.
12.Burrell 5.5
13.Joseph 5 - Where was the man of rounds 1 & 2? Poor.
14.Watson 5.5 - Good running, but not smart thinking and poor in the air.
15.Goode 5.5 - Not as bad as people made out. 136 metres made, a lot of poor areas, especially in the air, but only as bad as the others around him.

I'll upload a more detailed version on my blog in the near future.

 

[msf]

Just to take the centres, Twelvetrees has been dropped 3 times, Joseph once, Burrell once, Farrell once. The only players who were taken out by injury were Tuilagi and surprise, surprise, Barritt.

 

[goodNumber10]

Winning team's have a style that you can pinpoint - Northampton play a power game, the All Blacks a counter-attacking game, Ireland a kicking game, England a...

I agree that England are a team lacking identity.

 

[msf]

Crapspray, if he isn't responsible for the majority of the coaching, what is he responsible for? The brilliant selections we make? And isn't it his job to select the best coaches too? Who made Andy Farrell backs coach?

 

[j'nuh]

At this point, Lancaster has tried out 31 backs.

Of these, how many have achieved a sustained period of international quality? Brown and Care for a year or so?

There isn't an elusive combination of players that will click for Lancaster. He simply needs his backs better coached.

 

[msf]

Oh, and I forgot Eastmond, who has been dropped twice.

- - - Updated - - -

Which backs? The ones he picks that week?

 

[goodNumber10]

Just to take the centres, Twelvetrees has been dropped 3 times, Joseph once, Burrell once, Farrell once. The only players who were taken out by injury were Tuilagi and surprise, surprise, Barritt.

Nope. Burrell was injured for the AI's, he was likely to start.

Both Burrell and 36 were unavailable for the first test summer due to fixture clashes....

 

[TommiG88]

So was it a forward pass?

 

[Peat]

Nope. Burrell was injured for the AI's, he was likely to start.

Both Burrell and 36 were unavailable for the first test summer due to fixture clashes....

36 was unavailable due to injury. Both men were dropped from the starting lineup for the 3rd test.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Crapspray, if he isn't responsible for the majority of the coaching, what is he responsible for? The brilliant selections we make? And isn't it his job to select the best coaches too? Who made Andy Farrell backs coach?

He is definitely responsible for who his coaches are, without doubt.
His role is largely PR and management of the elite squad and pathway from age grade sides to senior side and also keeping the clubs on side.
Having someone in charge who isn't an abrasive **** is much rarer and far more important than I think some people realise.

As is the effect that specialist coaching personnel have... look at how quickly and significantly both Newcastle and Northampton's respective attacks improved when they brought in new attack coaches.

I also think that having one generic "backs coach" is fundamently flawed as his responsibilities are conflicting.

 

[chippieolamus]

Has anyone got a video of the last disallowed try by Nowell? I'd like to see what was actually wrong.

 

[Peat]

There is no question in my mind that we would be served with better technical coaches - but, since Lancaster said yay to their contract extensions, that means we would be better served with a better man in his seat as well.

 

[Crapspray]

Crapspray, if he isn't responsible for the majority of the coaching, what is he responsible for? The brilliant selections we make? And isn't it his job to select the best coaches too? Who made Andy Farrell backs coach?

A question many are/have asked.

As far as I can tell: selection and PR. Maybe involved with gameplan ("how we want to play" etc.), but in terms of skills/fitness I can't see him pitching-in much. Or having much to add, to be honest.

EDIT: Rats beat me to it. What he said.

DOR/Manager: Lancaster
Head Coach: Baxter
Forwards: Rowntree
Attack: King
Defence: Gustard

Job done.

 

[lucky number 7]

It would appear that our raw sexiness isn't the only thing that makes us the best around here! *finishes wanking LN7 off and waits for return of favour*

*tug *tug *tug

So was it a forward pass?

Didn't see the replay but looked flat anyways , forward I can't say
U

 

[goodNumber10]

36 was unavailable due to injury. Both men were dropped from the starting lineup for the 3rd test.

yes you are right, i'd meant to say that but then didn't for some reason.

The England Midfield has gone like this:

2012:
12: Farrell, 13: Barritt (MT inured)
12: Barritt 13: Tuilagi
12: Tulagi 13: JJ (change because Baritt Injured)
12: Barritt 13: Tuilagi
2013:
12: 36, 13: Barritt (change because MT injured)
12: Barritt, 13: MT (change Back)
12: 36, 13: JJ (MT on Lions Tour, Barritt Rested)
12: Easmtond 13: JJ (36 called up to Lions tour)
12: 36 13: Tomkins (MT injured)
2014:
12: 36, 13: Burrell (barritt & Tuilagi injured)
12: Eastmond 13: Tuilagi (36 Injured, Burrell unavailable)
12: 36 13: burrell
12: Eastmond, 13: Tuilagi (36 & LB dropped )
12: Eastmond, 13: Barritt ( change because Burrell & Tuilagi injured)
12: Eastmond 13: Barritt (change Burrell & Tuilagi injured)
12: Farrell, 13: Barritt (Eastmond injured)
12: 36, 13: Barritt (Farrell dropped)
2015:
12: Burrell, 13: JJ

So bar 2012 there has only really been two occasions when they've changed the midfield due to selection.