[2023 Six Nations] England vs Italy - 12 February 2023

[Ragey Erasmus]

I'll give a Like to anyone who can name all 11 of Slade's centre partners.

Farrell
Tuilagi
Lawrence
Marchant
Daly
Pugh
Pugh
Barney McGrew
Cuthbert
Dibble
Grub

 

[TommiG88]

Positives
We won
Willis
Pack in general played well
Lawrence

Negatives
Too much kicking
Dombrandt
Borthwicks changes being random and spoiling the team balance

 

[Grizwald]

Job done. Bench and general fitness/intensity really dropped off.

I don't think England have the game or cohesion to worry Ireland or France at home.

 

[TommiG88]

Farrell
Tuilagi
Lawrence
Marchant
Daly
Pugh
Pugh
Barney McGrew
Cuthbert
Dibble
Grub

Atkinson

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Farrell
Tuilagi
Lawrence
Marchant
Daly
Pugh
Pugh
Barney McGrew
Cuthbert
Dibble
Grub

Don't be silly. He's a winger. And Welsh.

 

[Which Tyler]

I'll give a Like to anyone who can name all 11 of Slade's centre partners.

Farrell
Manu
Lawrence
Porter
Marchant
Joseph
Te'o
+ Some weird ones during lions tours, RWC shuffling or you're including off the bench to reach 11

 

[Reiser99]

Well that was a disappointing end... England lost their way a bit in the second half and I think like last week Borthwick got his bench and subs wrong. There was no continuity.

It's a step in the right direction, but still lots of work to do.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

No idea - hence saying that the tackler risks a penalty for holding on

Ah fair read that wrong.

I guess if you take it to it's logical conclusion, imagine 2 players in isolation:
Player A tackles player B and there is no support for either. Player A then places the ball and lets go of it. To pick it up again they would need to get back to their feet and not obstruct the other player getting to the ball in the process before they regain possession, otherwise it's playing the ball on the ground or obstruction. The Italian player did neither and Earl was still holding him at the point he regathered the ball. I don't see how that can be deemed legal.

I think he picked it up as he was standing back up from memory, happy for that to be let go to be honest. But again not sure on the ruling. Can see why it was let go in tye moment anyway.

Capuozzo should have kicked and chased to avoid all this.

 

[BrokenWing]

Slade as he would have still been on.

Ultimately it's irrelevant. If Farrell gets injured someone else takes it on and England aren't going to lose the game down to the loss of Farrell's captaining skills.

 

[IT157]

Italy are a fly half short of being a good team

Garbisi.

 

[ntun82]

Italy are a fly half short of being a good team

Troncon

 

[mdaclarke]

I think Italy have a mental block when it comes to England. They never seem to turn up against them.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I feel like I was watching a different match to the commentators. A team that lost to Georgia last year outscored England, away from home, in the second half, scored two lovely tries and broke the gain line almost at will.

Maybe England took their foot off the gas but there was a world of positives for Italy in that second half.

I'm starting to think my pick of England to win the tournament might have been just a little bit off. I can't recall seeing a pass from Lawrence. Is he a decent passer or should I anticipate another 5 years of commentators wetting themselves about a physical and athletic centre who kills moves (like a Jamie/Jonathan? Joseph or Chris Harris). Put Slade outside Farrell and Lawrence and you are as well putting your best ball handler in witness protection.

 

[Saintjay]

Can we stop rating Dombrandt yet.

 

[TopTen2003]

Job done. Bench and general fitness/intensity really dropped off.

I don't think England have the game or cohesion to worry Ireland or France at home.

Agree- we've seen tiny glimpses of what key partnerships (I.E midfield) can do, but depth is woeful, fitness looks below the standard of top teams as does defence.

Borthwick bringing on Smith for Slade was highly disappointing- I thought we saw a clear improvement by having two proper centres.

Would like to see Steward do more in attack if possible- we aren't scratching the surface of his full potential and threat.

Arundell clearly a bright spark who will be a huge threat if/when England improve into a better side.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Farrell
Manu
Lawrence
Porter
Marchant
Joseph
Te'o
+ Some weird ones during lions tours, RWC shuffling or you're including off the bench to reach 11

No clue, it was comms who said it. I've also got Lozowski and Francis to make it 9. Not sure if Daly ever paired with him?

 

[Reiser99]

Barritt?

 

[BrokenWing]

Garbisi.

No, straight up…

 

[Which Tyler]

Can we stop rating Dombrandt yet.

Was this cap #7?
I think it's fair to start questioning whether he can take the step up to international rugby, but too early to right him off absent better (at club level) alternatives... Like TWillis and ZMercer...

 

[BrokenWing]

"Marcus lad, get ready, I'm putting you in to close out the game"

"Who's coming off?"

"Henry"

"Nah, you're alright "