[2020 Six Nations] England vs Wales (07/03/20)

[BiggusLaddus]

I guess the WRU just don't care if Norths brain turns into soup

That's terrible but I'd be lying if I said I was surprised.

He was clearly unconscious for a brief moment in the France game.

 

[big ginger 8]

I seem to remember Furlong struggling against Marler. Could be wrong without going back and rewatching the whole thing, but I remember thinking during the match that Furlong isn't the dominant player he was back in 2018.

It was Porter who got done in. Or scrum with Furlong was at least solid or like the one before halftime dominant.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Eddie gonna Eddie... Thought he had completely lost the plot when I didn't see Underhill but he is injured (in training by Eddie via a baseball bat...?) That Welsh backrow is pretty good, even back from injury. Lawes is powerful but is not quick to the breakdown nor particularly skilled at clearing out. Wales like to let the first player go low around the legs causing the attacker to fall into a second player who immediately gets over the top. We are going to need someone on the should of a carrier to ensure this is countered, which unfortunately we don't tend to do well.

Don't get Wilson and Curry being the way round they are other than Jones being stubborn. I think Curry is going to be the next Lawes or Daly, a player Jones is convinced needs to play in a position other than the one they are used to. I could understand if we lacked other quality 8's but we don't. Also has any other team in the world had a pair of identical twins where one twin is completely ignored whilst the other is hailed as one of the great finds? Surely getting both Curries in and trying to make them function across the whole back row would be ideal as a form of contingency planning?

Lastly, why experiment everywhere except 9? A quick 9 who offers a sniping ability would give so much for our power game by keeping momentum once we generate it. Too often it fizzles out because Youngs slows everything down and lets the defence reorganise. Why did Heinz have to kick so much directly in to touch in the one game where Youngs was finally dropped to the bench...?

 

[Reiser99]

I guess the WRU just don't care if Norths brain turns into soup

Honestly wonder if they'll be liable in about 10-15 years.

 

[dullonien]

I guess the WRU just don't care if Norths brain turns into soup

That's a bit unfair imo. Despite not looking great, by all accounts it wasn't that serious in the end. He's gone through all the correct return to play procedures which have been put in place to protect players + he's visited an independent specialist this week to make sure.

 

[Jakedood]

It was Porter who got done in. Or scrum with Furlong was at least solid or like the one before halftime dominant.

One of Rory Best's big strengths was his scrummaging, he's been known for it as one of the best in the world. Herring is more average in this regard, and hence why the Irish scrum is looking less dominant since the six nations/ WC

 

[Not Eddie Jones]

Not particularly happy with the England team, but if Underhill was injured the back row is a tad bit understandable.

Still don't understand the 6/2 split bench though.

Keep the winning run going. England have never lost a game under Eddie when they've gone 6-2 on the bench.

 

[Not Eddie Jones]

It was Porter who got done in. Or scrum with Furlong was at least solid or like the one before halftime dominant.

Don't remember that, so I went back and had a look. At 16 minutes, Furlong was going backwards against Marler, though the scrum was wheeling, so hard to say and the ref gave nothing. At 20 minutes, Furlong got pinged for a penalty for going straight down against Marler. At 55 minutes, Furlong was driven back by Marler and the ref awarded another penalty against Furlong. All the other scrums Furlong was involved in were stationary. Furlong got well-beaten by Marler on the day, and Farrell yanked Furlong off the pitch after Furlong conceded his second scrum penalty. Marler left moments later and Porter came on and and Ireland won their first scrum penalty of the day (but struggled thereafter).

As I said, I don't think Furlong is the player he was back in 2018, and this illustrates why.

 

[LIONSxv]

Underhill is a big loss. Close to our best player the last 3 matches and a key component to our defensive strategy. Whilst you will get the same work rate with Wilson he isn't as explosive in the tackle sept as underhill. If nvidi is fit it's clear Wales will target the breakdown another area where underhill is strong.
Having seen the line ups I think it's england by 5 or less. With a proper back row and with Wilson at 8 and underhill fit. England by 10

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I've always been under the impression that Wilson actually offers a fair bit more at the breakdown than Underhill. I don't have any stats to back it up or anything but he's always seemed to me to be the far more effective jackaler.

 

[LIONSxv]

I've always been under the impression that Wilson actually offers a fair bit more at the breakdown than Underhill. I don't have any stats to back it up or anything but he's always seemed to me to be the far more effective jackaler.

Wilson workrate and carrying seem to be his main strengths. I've not seen a ton of him at club level so base my opinion on what I've seen for England. I don't recall too many turnovers. But tons of carries and tackles. Underhill is a six and a half where Wilson is outright 6 for me. But again the caveat is that I've not seen him much at club level

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

England have never lost a game under Eddie when they've gone 6-2 on the bench.

In that case it's a s*dding shame he didn't think of it in the RWC final when we were up against the bomb squad.

 

[Reiser99]

That's a bit unfair imo. Despite not looking great, by all accounts it wasn't that serious in the end. He's gone through all the correct return to play procedures which have been put in place to protect players + he's visited an independent specialist this week to make sure.

While head injury protocols have improved things, it's years later when players really suffer the consequences of repeated head injuries. So while he may have passed all the protocols, it doesn't mean that he should play. They really have to consider his long term health, not just his short term and passing tests that assess people solely at the time. North has had repeated head injuries and I would hope they would have at least discussed having an extended break to try and assess longer term implications, rather than just being fit for the next game. I honestly think North will regret this decision sometime around his 40s when he has long term issues related to concussions.

 

[Which Tyler]

While head injury protocols have improved things, it's years later when players really suffer the consequences of repeated head injuries. So while he may have passed all the protocols, it doesn't mean that he should play. They really have to consider his long term health, not just his short term and passing tests that assess people solely at the time. North has had repeated head injuries and I would hope they would have at least discussed having an extended break to try and assess longer term implications, rather than just being fit for the next game. I honestly think North will regret this decision sometime around his 40s when he has long term issues related to concussions.

What the current protocols also take into account (yet) is how much more dangerous repeated concussions are than one-offs; also that North's personal baseline in tests was after he'd already taken a decent number of knocks - and of course, the disgrace that has seen him KOd but not picked up, and so not logged as yet another incident.

Sorry, but the Welsh medical staff have done nothing to earn our trust on this issue.

 

[j-dawg]

I guess the WRU just don't care if Norths brain turns into soup

I can't understand why he's still playing rugby. I fear there's already some damage done which will only show itself in a few years time.

 

[LIONSxv]

Going back to underhill... I do hope he doesn't end up in the same category as Watson, biny and manu ( as in perpetually injured) He does seem to miss more matches than he plays. Although I acknowledge its his first injury for 6 months or more.

 

[BPM]

I can't understand why he's still playing rugby. I fear there's already some damage done which will only show itself in a few years time.

100% agree. Hopefully we're wrong, but in a week where Anthony Fainga'a has agreed to donate his brain to science for concussion research (when he dies obviously), it puts it in to sharp focus.

 

[Every Time Ref]

100% agree. Hopefully we're wrong, but in a week where Anthony Fainga'a has agreed to donate his brain to science for concussion research (when he dies obviously), it puts it in to sharp focus.

Thank God for that...

I think there's going to be some serious legal repercussions for someone at some point over concussions in rugby. I think a lot of organisations assume that by following the protocols to the letter they'll be covered legally down the line, but thats not guaranteed.

I'm neither a legal nor medical expert but ... North still playing looks decidedly unsafe.

 

[dullonien]

I'm still inclined to back the professionals in their field, be it the WRU medical team, or the independent specialist who have access to all of North's medical history + current scans.

It's easy to speculate, but ultimately none of us know anything really.

 

[Which Tyler]

100% agree. Hopefully we're wrong, but in a week where Anthony Fainga'a has agreed to donate his brain to science for concussion research (when he dies obviously), it puts it in to sharp focus.