[2022 Six Nations] England vs Wales (26/02/22)

[big ginger 8]

MotM is as much about narrative as anything and you can make a decent bet on who it will be if you know the commentator picking. Smith was 6-1 yesterday when I got him and given he kicked his points and played well overall I was never really in doubt.

MotM for Ireland today will probably be someone making their first start. Either Sheehan or Lowry. Although Quinlan could well be the commentator and he has a massive tendency to pick a backrow and especially a Munster backrower so POM could have a decent shot.

 

[ncurd]

MotM is as much about narrative as anything and you can make a decent bet on who it will be if you know the commentator picking. Smith was 6-1 yesterday when I got him and given he kicked his points and played well overall I was never really in doubt.

MotM for Ireland today will probably be someone making their first start. Either Sheehan or Lowry. Although Quinlan could well be the commentator and he has a massive tendency to pick a backrow and especially a Munster backrower so POM could have a decent shot.

See Lawrence Dallaglio as an ex back row and the fact the game was won in the second and back row (at least to me) he'd have picked any of those guys and a case could be made for all 5 (maybe not Curry).

 

[Welsh Exile]

Cuthbert was man of the match

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

With Smith I feel part of it is that English media are desperate to have something similar to the French.
You listen to how commentators talk about Randall and you would think he's Dupont, same with Smith and Ntamack.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Launchbury went through the same phase a few years ago, regularly picking up MoTM almost regardless.

I think Smith will be absolutely fine. He's still very new to the international game, yesterday and Sco and what's probably about to come with Ire and Fra will be invaluable experience for him, but even by the RWC he won't be the finished article. 2027 should see him at the peak of his powers.

In addition to his own development there needs continuity of selection around him so that everyone can get used to each other. And that also takes time.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Launchbury went through the same phase a few years ago, regularly picking up MoTM almost regardless.

I think Smith will be absolutely fine. He's still very new to the international game, yesterday and Sco and what's probably about to come with Ire and Fra will be invaluable experience for him, but even by the RWC he won't be the finished article. 2027 should see him at the peak of his powers.

In addition to his own development there needs continuity of selection around him so that everyone can get used to each other. And that also takes time.

 

[ncurd]

View attachment 13476

The only thing good that came out of the that tournament.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

The only thing good that came out of the that tournament.

For me the charity shop that got my England shirt from that tournament.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

View attachment 13476

Was looking for this, but appear to have deleted it. Cheers

 

[ncurd]

TBF he was probably the best player on the pitch that day. Just on wrong side and got booted out the world cup. I think it is directly why they prefer not to do it until the game is properly put to bed now and always pluck for the winning side regardless.

 

[Jetwash Johnny]

Ok - here's what i would do to fix England. I would bin Youngs, Nowell, Malins, Farrell and Daley. Pick Radwan and Odogwu on the wings. Bring in Raffi Quirke as 9 with Randell as back up - Mitchell a good option to cover injuries. Train Sam Simmonds as a 13 and the 'glass Manu' problem is gone. Bring in Alfie Barberrie as cover for Dombrandt and get Curry to mentor him on 7 skills as cover.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Cool, looking forward to 2027.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Ok - here's what i would do to fix England. I would bin Youngs, Nowell, Malins, Farrell and Daley. Pick Radwan and Odogwu on the wings. Bring in Raffi Quirke as 9 with Randell as back up - Mitchell a good option to cover injuries. Train Sam Simmonds as a 13 and the 'glass Manu' problem is gone. Bring in Alfie Barberrie as cover for Dombrandt and get Curry to mentor him on 7 skills as cover.

Already cost us the match not picking OHC over Radwan.

Actually crazy, these selections are so bad I can't picture another year of Jetwash Johnny in charge.

Although being serious Odogwu makes more sense at 13 than trying to convert Simmonds now and Mitchell chokes in the big games.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Mitchell chokes in the big games.

You won't be saying that when it's revealed you're the ones who are signing him, to replace Wigglesworth

 

[Lé Ddanno]

I know it's all bants, but really can't figure out how Tigers are top with Youngs and his pension drawing compadre feeding ball (through a ******* straw) to the backs.


Apparently Adamson has awarded 50 pens in just two 6N matches. An international ref like no other.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I can get on board with Odogwu at 13 and in theory Slade at 12 would balance him but I'm just not sold on slade at 12.

Although the theory of Simmonds in the centre is brilliant it's just not going to happen. What we needed to do was get some balance in the centres two years ago but there probably hasn't that many choices and Jones had a massive hard on for a Farrell Ford combo for too long.

Either way I think I new coach would work well for us right now. New coaches often lift the team short term in most cases. We've just gone backwards with Jones, tactics and selection is a constant problem.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/60546520

 

[Reiser99]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/60546520

"There is something holding them back."

Yeah, it's called Jones. The words Dawson is too afraid to write, but happy to imply.

 

[TobesHodges]

I feel like so many people are being way to harsh on this England team at the moment, I would say 8 of that starting 15 are relative newbies to the international stage (Steward, Malins, Smith, Randall, Genge, LCD, Dombrandt and Nowell, hes been around but in and out). Then Marchant, Simmonds and a couple of others on the bench.

We are massively in transition at the moment, which could be aimed at EJ not moving players along preemptively over the last year or so, but comparing us to the other home nations who look like there peaking or have very settled squads, I dont think is the way to go.

I think this england team will push both Ireland and France in the final 2 games, they'll get a good autumn series under there belts and then theres no real excuses from next years 6n leading to the WC.

Yours Sincerely,
Eddie Jones Love Child.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Lawes is a pretty understated kind of captain which is fine but who were his sargeant majors getting under the oppo's skin and geeing up team mates in the way that Brown and (pre captain) Farrell used to? The loud voices, the big characters. It just all feels a bit passive and nice. Even Genge and Sincks don't seem anywhere near as angry as they used to. The fire can still burn without being a liability.