[2023 Six Nations] England Squad

[Crash Hamster]

I'm not sure how you can come away from that thinking Farrell shouldn't be dropped. A few good tackles and one good inside pass is the woeful. He's completely holding this England side back.

And it was against an absolutely dreadful Wales side. Very poor from Farrell again. It's not as if it's a blip.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

I'm not sure how you can come away from that thinking Farrell shouldn't be dropped. A few good tackles and one good inside pass is the woeful. He's completely holding this England side back.

I agree. If any other player had played as badly as Farrell has the last 3 games they would be dropped. I don't know why an exception is made for Farrell. His main strength is supposed to be his kicking so when his kicking is awful he shouldn't be in the team.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I agree. If any other player had played as badly as Farrell has the last 3 games they would be dropped. I don't know why an exception is made for Farrell. His main strength is supposed to be his kicking so when his kicking is awful he shouldn't be in the team.

 

[Wendigo7]

There was lots to like though. Farrell however was horrific.

Defence from Sinfield, that moment when the Welsh prop went through in the first half, and the backs then got back into shape and rushed at a crazy rate. Was incredible to see. One interception aside, it was a slapping bar Farrells awful performance.

Breakdown work is getting better. There's even some nice first looks at set plays we're putting together in phases. Attack IS getting faster. Thought JVP had one of his better games. A lot went right; but it was that period in the second half where Farrell and Slade kicked for the sake of kicking, kicked away good field position or it needed to go through the hands and they wouldn't do it. Peeved me off no end.

Also, let's get this right - if we are having a go at Farrell for over doing the game management (Garry owens) then Slade kicking away 2 … 2/3 on 1 situations was criminal. His kicking from hand to touch is average, has a lack of pace and doesn't get involved in our attack much. What does he currently do?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Slade's a lot better than we see for England....but then Farrell at Saracens is infinitely better than we see for England

Slade is shovelled **** a lot of the time and often ends up up in positions where he probably shouldn't be (there was a backs move in the first half where we worked some space down the left wing nicely, and I was interested to see how Watson got on in a footrace...only for Slade to be on the wing and shut down easily)

If we're not going to play to Slade's strengths then I think Marchant should definitely be at 13 - I hope he's not being judged too harshly on his game outside the Smith/Farrell axis

 

[Noonz]

I know it's been said but I legitimately don't understand the lack of Smith/Arundell off the bench. Should have been given 20-30 minutes based on how that game was going.

 

[TommiG88]

I wouldn't mind if we started looking at Marchant or Dingwall at 13. I don't think Slade is as quick as he use to be.

One thing that has occurred. Our defence is a level above what Eddie had us doing for the last year or 2. We had become awful after a line break but the defence kept its shape and got back into to formation quickly.

 

[Teddington Logic]

Can see England being 20+ points down against France and Ireland and then Smith & Arundell being brought on with 3 mins to go and asked to try and win the game

Slade very poor yet again

Farrell very poor

Malins flatters to deceive

All of the kicking was woeful

Heart sinks when Mako and Cole come on as speed around the pitch grinds to a halt

For about 10 mins they played to Nick Evans's attacking plans and then the old mindset took over

They even forgot that they had mastered the driving maul in the last game

The substitutions at the end were ridiculous and a complete insult to the players involved

 

[Teddington Logic]

But I will give credit to the Sinfield defence which is vastly improved

 

[BPM]

Discipline seems markedly improved too IMO. Considering how many stupid penalties we had been giving away in the Autumn, it feels like we've made a decent step forward in that respect.

I can't recall any penalties outside of the scrum and although I'm sure there were some, they definitely haven't been anywhere close to the amount of 'scream at the TV' moments for dumb penalties. Now I save those screams solely for Farrell.

 

[LIONSxv]

I see England loosing to France but I don't see by 20 points. The 7-10 range. England are marginally better than last season and France are marginally worse
Last year I didn't see any part of the team that was comparable to the French this year you could argue that the row and back row would be comparible to what the French field.
The French have a massive advantage at 9,10 and their front three are better
Penaud is in the world best three wingers in the world. However take him out the equation their isn't much difference in quality at FB and wing slots.
Fickou on his his day is world class but like Aldritt is a bit off so far

 

[TommiG88]

For France I would like to see (knowing we won't get it)

Genge
George
Sinkler
Itoje
Chessum
Ludlam
Willis
Dombrandt

JVP
Smith
Watson
Lawrence
Slade
Arundell
Steward

Walker
Rodd
Heyes
Lawes
Earl (if fit) / B Curry
Mitchell
Ford
Marchant

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Earl played the full 80 for Saracens yesterday so does look like he was not picked rather than not available

 

[TommiG88]

Radwan looked decent in the highlights yesterday

 

[higgik]

Slade's a lot better than we see for England....but then Farrell at Saracens is infinitely better than we see for England

Slade is shovelled **** a lot of the time and often ends up up in positions where he probably shouldn't be (there was a backs move in the first half where we worked some space down the left wing nicely, and I was interested to see how Watson got on in a footrace...only for Slade to be on the wing and shut down easily)

If we're not going to play to Slade's strengths then I think Marchant should definitely be at 13 - I hope he's not being judged too harshly on his game outside the Smith/Farrell axis

Think a
Smith, Lawrence, Marchant midfield would be exciting.
All have got some experience and caps now, so would not be bad.
Add, Arundell, Watson and Steward and that might be a backline to get excited about.
Pace, power, rugby brains, add in Mitchell.
Nothing to lose v Ireland and France so why not.
Evans would have a field day with them.

 

[Jimbo]

Think a
Smith, Lawrence, Marchant midfield would be exciting.
All have got some experience and caps now, so would not be bad.
Add, Arundell, Watson and Steward and that might be a backline to get excited about.
Pace, power, rugby brains, add in Mitchell.
Nothing to lose v Ireland and France so why not.
Evans would have a field day with them.

I'm not adverse to looking at other options to Slade but I don't think we have many 13s that are not a significant drop off defensively, he is also a great kick option, not convinced any perceived gain in attack would make up for this, whilst he's not been stand out and has made some silly kicks in attack he's been average to ok, for the majority recently few if any real note worthy contributions but sometimes that has to be enough where there are no real proven better quantities around, besides it's hard to gauge anything when he's been outside of Faz at 12, it will take time to Gel with OL but I am interested to see how that develops think they need some consistency in selection before we start rotating for rotations sake.

 

[Geordie]

Malins...meh. we have talented young wingers and we play him. Lacks explosive pace or power. His 'playmaking' doesn't make up for it.

Farrell...when did he actually last have a good game for England. He's a huge problem for me now. Smith is now 24...should be starting games now. Where does ford come in aswell.

Is Lawrence the set 12 now...or do we move him to his natural 13 when we have Kelly or Atkinson (or one of the other 12s) available. Slade never quite hits the levels we expect.

 

[Jimbo]

Malins...meh. we have talented young wingers and we play him. Lacks explosive pace or power. His 'playmaking' doesn't make up for it.

Farrell...when did he actually last have a good game for England. He's a huge problem for me now. Smith is now 24...should be starting games now. Where does ford come in aswell.

Is Lawrence the set 12 now...or do we move him to his natural 13 when we have Kelly or Atkinson (or one of the other 12s) available. Slade never quite hits the levels we expect.

Agree on these points but as we have no proven 12 currently I quite like the idea of giving Lawrence time at 12 even if he is going to be mainly 13, I'd rather have a backup can do it 13 than a can't really 10.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Agree on these points but as we have no proven 12 currently I quite like the idea of giving Lawrence time at 12 even if he is going to be mainly 13, I'd rather have a backup can do it 13 than a can't really 10.

Lawrence has been playing 12 as a 12 should imo. I wouldn't mind trying him at 13 with a different 12 but he had been performing well enough to not be dropped. Likewise with Ludlam. On paper they may not be our ideal choices but they keep delivering on the pitch on the day when it actually matters. The same cannot be said for the like of Slade, Farrell, JVP etc

 

[Geordie]

Lawrence has been playing 12 as a 12 should imo. I wouldn't mind trying him at 13 with a different 12 but he had been performing well enough to not be dropped. Likewise with Ludlam. On paper they may not be our ideal choices but they keep delivering on the pitch on the day when it actually matters. The same cannot be said for the like of Slade, Farrell, JVP etc

Ive wanted Lawrence in for a long time...he's been one of our most effective players...certainly don't want him dropped. Just curious how the back line evolves.