[2017 RBS Six Nations] Round 4: England vs Scotland (12/03/2017)

[The Jones Boy]

Well I definitely didn't expect a 40pt win.

Was it Jones Boy who predicted that?

Yeah, I take all recognised credit cards. you're a beautiful audience, dontcha go changin'.

 

[Scotty]

Loss of hogg made a diff to the score, loss of his replacement made a diff to the score having a SH on the wing... non of which made a cha ge to the result i thi k england were the bettet team throughout

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Brown. Will someone get him to pass the ball?

I think this is overplayed a bit.
He certainly does get a bit selfish at times, but he's a victim of his own work rate and want/need to get stuck in. Often, if we receive a kick, or are looking a bit lost in the back field, he offers himself running from deep onto the ball. He's running into a brick wall, but he's at least fighting for a yard or more rather, than the opposition getting a dominant tackle on a player looking for a passing option.

 

[Raggs]

But he also gets the ball in the line. And he rarely passes then, even with men outside him. Joseph is similar, but he at least is willing to open his eyes after beating the first man, and Joseph of course get's a pass today regardless.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Fair point, I just feel like people are over stating it a bit.

We definitely need to be looking at a new fullback sooner rather than later, but I don't think it's as pressing as other needs (i.e. replacing Wood, though that's just a matter of time until Kruis is fit again).

 

[Raggs]

Fair point, I just feel like people are over stating it a bit.

We definitely need to be looking at a new fullback sooner rather than later, but I don't think it's as pressing as other needs (i.e. replacing Wood, though that's just a matter of time until Kruis is fit again).

If it was just this game, it's over stating it, but it really is every game. Yes, he passes occasionally, but half the time you can even see his team mates don't even bother looking for the pass when they see he has the ball.

Do you think Kruis gets back in, what about Robshaw is back? Lawes, Itoje, Launch, Kruis... I suspect Lawes gets dropped.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I thought Brown was good today...annoyed me once or twice but was better than he has been...

Similarly Hughes had a good game and yet you won't find a single soul saying that because I think minds are made up..

 

[kesh]

Loss of hogg made a diff to the score, loss of his replacement made a diff to the score having a SH on the wing... non of which made a cha ge to the result i thi k england were the bettet team throughout

This.Hamishshouldhavethat7shirtnailedon.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Fair point, I just feel like people are over stating it a bit.

Nah, he practically never has the ball in both hands, and when he does it's mostly to dummy.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I thought Brown was good today...annoyed me once or twice but was better than he has been...

Similarly Hughes had a good game and yet you won't find a single soul saying that because I think minds are made up..

Agree on both counts. Think this sort of game suited Hughes far more than we were playing him before. He's not a Binny type first reciever running into 5 tacklers and still making 10yrds player. Give him a weak shoulder or a half gap and that's where he's doing damage.

If it was just this game, it's over stating it, but it really is every game. Yes, he passes occasionally, but half the time you can even see his team mates don't even bother looking for the pass when they see he has the ball.

Do you think Kruis gets back in, what about Robshaw is back? Lawes, Itoje, Launch, Kruis... I suspect Lawes gets dropped.

Some tough decisions. I'm a huge fan of Krutoje but I'm also a big fan of how Lawes and Launch are playing atm (and have historically).
No idea how Jones plays it when everyone's fit, and I don't envy him at all for having to pick his 23. I can't even think it myself, unless we go from 2 backrowers on the bench to 2 locks? Lautoje in the 2nd row, Krawes on the bench, Robshaw back at 6?

 

[ncurd]

Whenever we talk second rows I always feel sorry for poor Dave Astwood. Good enough for most international teams but so far down the pecking order for England he needs a massive injury crisis to even get called up.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

If it was just this game, it's over stating it, but it really is every game. Yes, he passes occasionally, but half the time you can even see his team mates don't even bother looking for the pass when they see he has the ball.

Do you think Kruis gets back in, what about Robshaw is back? Lawes, Itoje, Launch, Kruis... I suspect Lawes gets dropped.

Lawes has got the shirt and really upped his game this 6N. Much though I like Kruis, I think he's just going to have to wait. Our 2nd row strength is ridiculous.

Once Robshaw's back and Underhill's available there's going to be a right old dust up for the flanking spots too. Not to mention the whole reserve front row piling pressure on the incumbents.

Behind the scrum we should really say thanks and goodbye to Brown after Dublin. He's solid and all that, but the lack of passing and pace is out of keeping with the rest of the side. Watson to FB and Nowell and May on the wings, which is harsh on Daly, but I don't think he's the very best in any one position yet.

JJ will have tougher tests, but hell he looked good.

 

[Raggs]

I think Itoje calling the lineouts instead of Lawes is significant with regards to both Kruis and Lawes... I think we'll see Launch + Itoje going forwards.

And I suspect we'll see Hughes on the bench too, going to be a while though, since Argentina will probably have him in the 8 shirt, and if Eddie rests BV for the AIs (and the other lions) it'll still be Hughes I reckon.

EDIT - Lawes has been playing well, but at the end of the day he's been packing down at 6...

 

[MarkyH]

Fanbloodytastic

Ford and Farrell oozing class from the off. Nice hands, good players have no much time to make decisions even when they look to have no time at all. Josephs lines fantastic but helped by our 10/12 axis. Ford, Farrell and Joseph to Watson was another; tidy hands from the half backs and gave Joseph chance to show he has vision and good hands to feed Watson in.

All being fit I couldn't pick our best second row. I'm glad EJ can make that decision. Lawes, Launch and Itoje class today. Hughes shows what he can do but as mentioned here, he's different to Billy. Billy hands down our best 8 but Hughes a more than quality replacement.

Brown. Mike Brown. SOLID 7 out of 10. Bruising, tough and takes the hits but when attacking the line PLEASE look on your outside.

Possible red early doors, but not complaining. Hughes yellow/non yellow in the 2nd half was fantastic from the TMO. Showing some common sense at last. FOR ONCE a TMO who's prepared to overrule the referee, to many times you hear 'i agree' when really a difference of opinion opens the mind of them both.

Bring on next week, it won't be easy but it should be fun.

 

[ncurd]

I'll ask what I did earlier in thread when was the last time Brown was better than 7 out of 10?

 

[MarkyH]

Ha. Never!

Brown is what he is, but Watson has to go to FB at some point, he was class under the high ball. Actually looked sharp considering his layoff..

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

What would people prefer Daly or Watson at 15?

 

[MarkyH]

Daly isn't a full back. Watson has played full back a fair bit. So Watson.

Daly shouldn't even be an option

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

What would people prefer Daly or Watson at 15?

If we had a really top quality winger besides Nowell I'd say Watson FB, Daly bench, but as we don't I'd go Watson wing, Daly FB.

I want Haley to start in Argentina, if he does well then I'd definitely keep him at 15.

Also think Woodward deserves to be in the conversation.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, I'd love to see Haley get some game time. Not someone I'd bring in straight away, but definitely has the skillset to be an international 15.


Back when Daly was getting most of his game time at 15 I remember saying, on here, that I wish he'd move to 13 fulltime because with Manu injured it looked like his way into the England side. Damn me!
I'd love Daly to go to 15 (though I know it won't happen) simply because he's too good to be left out, but I don't think he's a wing.
Watson to 15 seems the logical step, though (for me) I'd like our back 3 to be Watson, Nowell and Haley.


I'm not a massive fan of Woodward. Definitely talented, but not English and not as good as Watson or Haley. Seen him put a few poor performances in the last month or so as well.