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

[Scotty]

Though mako on form should be a starter i thonk EJ wants mako and billy to come on together to make an impact cos of how devastating they can be together

 

[Scotty]

Thats what i want to see this weekend but with his lack of game time i hope he comes on at 50 min for lawes move itoje back to lock end the game with hughes hask billy, leave wood to come on only if we have an injury

True but thats potentially our finishing pack againster a tiring scotland defence.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Huge amount of firepower on the bench.

Scotland will need to be winning by half time to stand a chance IMO.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Huge amount of firepower on the bench.

Scotland will need to be winning by half time to stand a chance IMO.

With complete respect for Scotland who are a good side, I don't think England can go through another close game without serious questions arising about where we actually are as a squad. Rustiness is forgivable and we've played some really physical sides, but I don't think another scraped victory can be viewed as acceptable. That's not disrespectful to Scotland I don't think - Teller would obviously say so, but England have won 17 on the bounce and completed a whitewash down-under. Scotland are nascent. I really hope it doesn't come down to the bench again because I don't think that's acceptable progress.

 

[MarkyH]

With the players we have available, plus players that are a given in a Jones team (Brown anyone?) I'm more than happy with the line up of the team.

With the perceived weakness in the Scottish scrum (which I'm sure really isn't that weak) we are looking at out scrummaging them before we bring on the firepower front row in the 2nd half. Don't give two hoots if Wood makes it on, but bringing Billy on in the 2nd half should be great. Happy to leave Hughes out there too if need be and play him at 6 for 30 mins if we're ahead...

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price, 8 Ryan Wilson, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 John Barclay (c), 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Gordon Reid
Replacements: 16 Ross Ford, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Cornell Du Preez, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Mark Bennett

If Visser can have another good game then Scotland are just about strong enough to pounce on an substandard English performance. Their starting 9-15 is for me the strongest in the competition. How are the English wingers with the aerial ball that Finn & Visser used to good effect against Wales?

Not convinced by the Scottish back row come 60mins. Du Preez has his fans but this would be his international debut and he has pretty much lost his club place to the again overlooked Bradbury. Combined with the English bench this does not bode well. If Strauss and Hardie had been fit I'd have put Scotland within 8 points or so here but...

England by 15

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

No chance for the Scots, England's centres and Nowell will have them under far too much pressure to make use of the back three. England will do what Ireland did from 40-70 minutes in Murrayfield and just overpower them.

England by >14.

 

[ncurd]

Their starting 9-15 is for me the strongest in the competition. How are the English wingers with the aerial ball that Finn & Visser used to good effect against Wales?

Not sure how you can rate the Scottish 9-15 better than the English when you have no idea how good they are under the high ball, the answer is very good. May would of been the only one who worried me(out of Daly, Watson & Nowell) and he's not playing.

 

[MarkyH]

Not sure how you can rate the Scottish 9-15 better than the English when you have no idea how good they are under the high ball, the answer is very good. May would of been the only one who worried me(out of Daly, Watson & Nowell) and he's not playing.

I think Bruce_ma_goose was suggesting ours (Englands) 9-15 was the strongest in the competition. Presuming he is Scottish, and by theirs he means England and not Scotland.

 

[ncurd]

I think Bruce_ma_goose was suggesting ours (Englands) 9-15 was the strongest in the competition. Presuming he is Scottish, and by theirs he means England and not Scotland.

Ah fair enough my fault complete misread of what was written.

I was just thinking "I rate out 9-15 quite highly especially 10,11, 13 &14 and I quite like what were doing with 12 and the player is class act".

 

[ALJ]

Is it it just me or is that one hell of an impact bench? Part from wood would have rathered clifford

It does look good doesn't it.

Can see your point about Clifford but I'm guessing Jones sees him as too high a risk.
Ignoring my instincts about Clifford's anonymity against Wales, his stats were dreadful - 10 tackles (of the starting forwards, only Hartley and Cole made less), 2 carries for a net gain of 2 metres (one of those carries he just happened to be in the way and wasn't expecting the ball) and no turnovers.

He has talent but he's just not proved yet at this level.

While Wood might not be everyone's cup of tea, you at least know what you're getting.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

While Wood might not be everyone's cup of tea, you at least know what you're getting.

4 penalties conceded?

 

[MarkyH]

Clifford needs to get chances, he has talent and is young enough to improve. He will only learn more by being in the squad and getting game time. He was MOM against Wales in the end of season international and would be useful to cover 6,7,8 from the bench. Rate him more than Harrison anyway

 

[ncurd]

4 penalties conceded?

I'm not too worried unless two of our back row get injured.....he may not even be used. Please.

 

[MarkyH]

I'm excited about this game, I'm still going for a high scoring game with little more than a score in it. However, after seeing the line up in print I'm more optimistic but I'm definitely not over confident (or arrogant) about our chances. We should win, I believe we have the stronger team and we're playing at home. Not totally writing off the Scots tho, I like their 9-15, and Watson is a fantastic forward

Game. On.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I'm not too worried unless two of our back row get injured.....he may not even be used. Please.

Note to self: Next time people try to tell you a player has massively improved, before you believe them check first whether its a Northampton Saints player. Then you'll know for sure it's a false dawn.

 

[ALJ]

Clifford needs to get chances, he has talent and is young enough to improve. He will only learn more by being in the squad and getting game time. He was MOM against Wales in the end of season international and would be useful to cover 6,7,8 from the bench. Rate him more than Harrison anyway

He does but the white hot atmosphere of Twickenham when we're gunning for a GS probably isn't the time to be giving him that experience.

There's a big difference between an international friendly that nothing is riding on to what awaits on Saturday.

He will get his chance in Argentina I think and it's probably a good way to go as the games will be really tough but with nothing really at stake.

Yeah, Harrison - that really hasn't worked out so far.

 

[MarkyH]

He does but the white hot atmosphere of Twickenham when we're gunning for a GS probably isn't the time to be giving him that experience.

There's a big difference between an international friendly that nothing is riding on to what awaits on Saturday.

He will get his chance in Argentina I think and it's probably a good way to go as the games will be really tough but with nothing really at stake.

Yeah, Harrison - that really hasn't worked out so far.

You're quite right. Looking forward to the summer tour, hoping we get to see younger players coming through in our 'problem' positions

 

[nh206]

I think this has the potential to be an absolutely brilliant match. The Scotland back line has looked very threatening whenever they've got the ball but particularly when the game gets a bit more open. For me they have been the most clinical side this tournament at taking their opportunities.

It's interesting that Eddie's gone for Marler over Mako, I guess Marler might edge it on the up front stuff in his eyes. I can see this being pretty key as England will want to dominate the front 5 early on. If they opt for an open game then Scotland definitely have the players to punish us. Most of the bench players (bar Tom Wood), I would say are all better ball carriers than their starting counterparts so this will be great to see if we really have dominated the front 5 early on.

How are the Scotland front row rated? They're not players I have seen a lot of.

I feel like England should win if they turn up on time.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

He does but the white hot atmosphere of Twickenham when we're gunning for a GS probably isn't the time to be giving him that experience.

There's a big difference between an international friendly that nothing is riding on to what awaits on Saturday.

He will get his chance in Argentina I think and it's probably a good way to go as the games will be really tough but with nothing really at stake.

Yeah, Harrison - that really hasn't worked out so far.

Can't quite agree with this - I think a home game against a strong but far from finished Scotland side, in a pretty settled and confident England side, is a perfectly safe opportunity for him. The polar opposite of this would be getting your very first cap away from home, e.g away to Ireland , in a big pressure game where your team has little form going into it.

I think either Clifford is good enough or he's not.