[2022 Six Nations] Scotland vs England (05/02/22)

[Crash Hamster]

There has been a history of picking one pace merchant and one all-rounder for England, but we've ended up with two all-round good players. Definitely a case for OHC and Radwan. What a pair they'd make...

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I think it should be one or the other.

I think Malins has all the makings of a good winger tbh

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I think it should be one or the other.

I think Malins has all the makings of a good winger tbh

I'm a reasonably big fan of Malins and I think he has a great rugby brain but he just seems unable to beat a defender which, as a winger, just isn't good enough.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah I'm not against Malins or Marchant on the wing but having no specialised winger in the XV is a mistake
As much as EJ wants to push this "there are no specific positions in rugby" angle, it's just not true

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Pack problems for me.
Personally I didn't think Ludlam and Curry combo worked.

Lacked a heavy hitter in the tackle and just a nose down carrier. I do feel like Chessum or move Iskiwe to the flank would've been more productive in that regards.

I think after that Ludlam is imo well deserved of his curry understudy though.

I just don't see Simmonds as a international 8 either.

 

[Scotty]

I genuinely think it was a mistake taking smith off, yes ford is agreat but Smith plays 80 min week in week out and was doing well, he didnt need replacing and you lose him in the last 20 when he genuinly can change a game.

Also taking Smith off before bringing Dombrandt on seems stupid as they have that chemestry from Quins.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

it's international rugby George isn't some youngster who needs someone to hold his hand it was underthrown the Scottish lock didn't even have to reach for it.

It's like saying Smith needs Farrel or Andre.

I don't think it was hugely. The Scot was in the air earlier and was pretty high. Ewels was coming forward and to me it looked more timing than anything else. But at such a critical time you'd surely give the responsibility to Itoje as the senior man who was in the flow of the game. Things can go wrong at any time but the risk would have been less with club mates who knew each other's game inside out.

But that's the least of our worries.

I actually thought our starting pack went reasonably well for the most part but plenty of issues behind. Smith did some good stuff including his try but his missed kick for the corner was a howler. For the likes of Smith and Steward today was crucial experience banked - they'll be better for it.

LCD obviously cocked up, but he shouldn't take too much stick. I'm more bothered why he was defending there in the first place.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah backrow balance was way off (as everyone predicted)
Ludlam was the pick of the bunch today,
Curry very quiet and looked to be playing a different role to usual - lots of head down into traffic, possibly due to the lack of a carrier at 8

Disappointing that Dombrandt came on at 6 and Simmonds stayed at 8, suggests to me that Simmonds is seen as our 8 when he should be viewed as our utility backrower

I'd like to see Isiekwe at 6, but we don't have another lock other than Ewels, who I don't want to start
Be interesting to see if Lawes goes to Lock or Blindside when he's back - presumably 6, though, as that's where he plays almost exclusively these days

 

[higgik]

Can we just pick some wings on the wings

Yes, but who?
Only OHC is in form and is very inexperienced.

The lack of development of the squad is now really showing.

 

[higgik]

Yeah backrow balance was way off (as everyone predicted)
Ludlam was the pick of the bunch today,
Curry very quiet and looked to be playing a different role to usual - lots of head down into traffic, possibly due to the lack of a carrier at 8

Disappointing that Dombrandt came on at 6 and Simmonds stayed at 8, suggests to me that Simmonds is seen as our 8 when he should be viewed as our utility backrower

I'd like to see Isiekwe at 6, but we don't have another lock other than Ewels, who I don't want to start
Be interesting to see if Lawes goes to Lock or Blindside when he's back

Yes,
Lawes and Dombrandt in.
Get Simmonds to move to a club that needs a hard running 12 and get him to play there. He would become the 6th forward, 3rd back on replacement bench.
A BR of Lawes, Curry and Dombrandt has nicer balance.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Honestly, as long as he has a functional body then get Barbeary in at 8 for me. Dombrandt is a clever player who runs great lines and has great hands but he hates contact and will not carry hard. Simmonds makes loads of tackles and runs hard but just doesn't have the size for international 8. Barbeary loves monstering people and right now I think this England side could do with that. If not him, then as @LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan) mentioned, today's game would've been perfect for Vunipola, who has picked up his form somewhat.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I said Daly starting was ridiculous but was told he was a class centre.

By who? I haven't been reading these pages recently but from memory we're fairly unanimously against Daly in general, particularly playing somewhere he hasn't been regularly playing recently.

In other news...Nowell being brought on with the clock in the red is a special level of bulls**t the like of which football coaches all over would be proud

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Only OHC is in form and is very inexperienced

Inexperienced but still played exponentially more wing than Malins or Marchant

By who? I haven't been reading these pages recently but from memory we're fairly unanimously against Daly in general, particularly playing somewhere he hasn't been regularly playing recently.

In other news...Nowell being brought on with the clock in the red is a special level of bulls**t the like of which football coaches all over would be proud

Gets his match fees though

Honestly, as long as he has a functional body then get Barbeary in at 8 for me. Dombrandt is a clever player who runs great lines and has great hands but he hates contact and will not carry hard. Simmonds makes loads of tackles and runs hard but just doesn't have the size for international 8. Barbeary loves monstering people and right now I think this England side could do with that. If not him, then as @LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan) mentioned, today's game would've been perfect for Vunipola, who has picked up his form somewhat.

Forgot he was even in the squad!
Would definitely have him in the mix vs Italy - probably off the bench but if Lawes is still out then would give serious thought to a start

 

[McTallshort]

Should have taken the 3 points at the end and not gone to the corner but otherwise I'm not overly bothered about losing to Scotland today. I thought the pack played very well and our penalty count wasn't as bad as normal. Think this England team has got some room to grow

 

[Grizwald]

Disappointing. I didn't expect ab England win today. Lacking experience and as the commentary team said more than once looked like they hadn't played together. Worry for me is Jones sticking with Youngs, I wish he'd got pinged for the amount of time he was taking to use the ball. Needed a settled back line and to get them some experience.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Some hottish takes
I feel that Blamire is better suited to our sub hooker
I feel Ford should've been brought on sooner

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I feel that Blamire is better suited to our sub hooker

If George can't hit that lineout no way Blamire does

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

If George can't hit that lineout no way Blamire does

He can through the power of believing

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Inexperienced but still played exponentially more wing than Malins or Marchant


Gets his match fees though

Forgot he was even in the squad!
Would definitely have him in the mix vs Italy - probably off the bench but if Lawes is still out then would give serious thought to a start

Even worse dickery for Randall, then.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

I think Eddie Jones gets blowjobs from Ben Youngs in accordance with how many minutes Youngs is on the pitch. Its the only explanation for why Jones wont give any other scrum half game time.