[2025 Six Nations] England vs Scotland - 22/02/25

[Wasps92]

Freeman ok ,Sleightholme was just a bizarre choice

Even Freeman didn't get much joy in the air today.

 

[Grizwald]

Confused why kicking was such a big part of our plan today when you consider we were asking our wingers to duel with Kinghorn and van der Merwe.

It's when you combine it with the personnel that has me scratching my head. To chase loads of contestable kicks like that pick Roebuck and Steward there was only Freeman on the pitch that if effective at that sort of game.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Even Freeman didn't get much joy in the air today.

Agreed. Weird and unpleasant day

 

[TommiG88]

Me at the end of the game

 

[higgik]

Wales to beat England. Borthwick is single handedly killing my joy of watching England.

Yes please.

 

[higgik]

Has Randall nailed a box kick yet in an England shirt? It's incomprehensible to me that Spencer is out on his ear.

But he is being asked to play a style that is not him.

Surely, you pick someone based on the game plan. If it is to control and kick, then put in Spencer.
The Boks do that really well. They pick the players for the plan.

 

[higgik]

It's when you combine it with the personnel that has me scratching my head. To chase loads of contestable kicks like that pick Roebuck and Steward there was only Freeman on the pitch that if effective at that sort of game.

Exactly, surely you have a plan and pick the players that suit the plan.
Becoming similar to foitball team, where the press began to 'select' teams and the coaches tried to make it work.
If we want to play kick chase, then have a back 4 of
13 Freeman
11 Roebuck
14 Steward
15 Furbank or Smith

 

[Saintjay]

I'm not blaming or criticising F Smith but today he hardly controlled or lit up the attack, people were very quick to credit him last week for game management and bringing people into it apparently in a way Marcus can't.

Nobody really set the world on fire today. Did anyone have a better game today than last time vs France.

I think Fin is in the driving seat at 10 for now. Mainly on the basis of England winning and I don't think England have won back to back games with Marcus at 10 since the world cup. (Could be wrong) and Marcus isn't to blame for those loses.

 

[Duct Tape]

Fin Smith created a lot of space in the Scottish defense when the English pack found him the territory to play in the right places

I'm literally don't recall him receiving a single ball from Mitchell until somewhere in the second half. Will prob watch replay tomorrow to see the ones I'm sure I missed.

 

[Duct Tape]

England v Scotland player ratings: Fin Smith shows nerves of steel while Finn Russell bottles it

A tale of two 10s at Twickenham where one held his nerve with a 50m kick while the other’s radar went haywire at the worst possible moment

www.telegraph.co.uk

M Smith - 6/10
Freeman - 7/10
Lawrence - 5/10
Slade - 4/10
Sleightholme - 5/10
F Smith - 7/10
Mitchell - 5/10
Genge - 7/10
Cowan-Dickie - 7/10
Stuart - 8/10
Itoje - 8/10
Chessum - 7/10
T Curry - 6/10
Earl - 7/10
Wills - 6/10
Replacements - 7/10 (B Curry, George and Cunningham-South singled out for praise.)


Kinghorn - 7/10
Rowe - 8/10
Jones - 7/10
Jordan - 7/10
van de Merwe - 7/10
Russell - 5/10
White - 6/10
Schoeman - 6/10
Cherry - 6/10
Fagerson - 5/10
Gray - 6/10
Gilchrist - 6/10
Ritchie - 8/10
Darge - 6/10
Dempsey - 6/10
Replacements - 6/10

sometimes I wonder if I'm watching the same game.

 

[Duct Tape]

One box kick wasn't great yet England retained possession well from it =/= every kick sliced. The other incident was a charge down from a scrappy ruck. Otherwise fine and definitely upped the tempo from Mitchell.

Randall has also barely played any rugby for quite some time due to Borthwick's poor management to boot, so some rust is to be expected. No doubt Bristol will have to recondition him again.

Agree. When he came in and brought the back line back into,play it seemed to be part of the monmentum shift.

When England seem to have no one to consistently contest the high ball they should be getting the ball out and box kicking less.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Steve borethwick strikes again. Despite the win, he needs to go. England are absolutely turgid and have not progressed in any meaningful way for over half a decade.

The RFU need to stop ******* about, after the next world cup we need to get the best coaches we can get hold of fit the head role and assistant roles.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Steve borethwick strikes again. Despite the win, he needs to go. England are absolutely turgid and have not progressed in any meaningful way for over half a decade.

The RFU need to stop ******* about, after the next world cup we need to get the best coaches we can get hold of fit the head role and assistant roles.

Gats says he's not ruling out a return to coaching international rugby.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Steve borethwick strikes again. Despite the win, he needs to go. England are absolutely turgid and have not progressed in any meaningful way for over half a decade.

The RFU need to stop ******* about, after the next world cup we need to get the best coaches we can get hold of fit the head role and assistant roles.

Can't argue. The team has no identity, co-coaches are either anonymous or have already left and none of the players selected play this poorly for their clubs

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

England fans remembering all the abuse they gave Wales for the jam slam when supporting France in tow wèeks:

 

[Zed]

Steve borethwick strikes again. Despite the win, he needs to go. England are absolutely turgid and have not progressed in any meaningful way for over half a decade.

The RFU need to stop ******* about, after the next world cup we need to get the best coaches we can get hold of fit the head role and assistant roles.

Yup. Really England should be 0/3. France dropped a ton of ball and should have won, Scotland scored 3 tries to 1 and missed all their conversions and should have won. That would leave England playing Wales at home after 3 losses and possibly wooden spooning it with Italy. As it goes they might end up second instead.... papering over the cracks.

 

[Zed]

How many England backs would make the Lions starting XV? Possibly Marcus Smith, but that's it.