[2025 Six Nations] Wales vs England - 15/3/25

[Duck a l'Orange]

A young Finn Russell for example would of been binned off by SB very quickly.

He'd have been put at fullback, then dropped, then picked at fullback again.

 

[LIONSxv]

He'd have been put at fullback, then dropped, then picked at fullback again.

IC in between stints at fullback. Then dropped

 

[Geordie]

This the problem with SB and coaches like him. They select players based on what they can't do as opposed to what they can

A young Finn Russell for example would of been binned off by SB very quickly.

I totally agree, but i think alot of that is to do with options.

Scotland (like Wales ) dont have a huge player pool so have no option but to play them and develop them. Takes time but they eventually get there. England are oft guilty of the next cab off the rank. Eddie Jones was much maligned for sticking with the same players. But the issue was he stuck with the wrong ones too much.

Dont forget in general SB has been quite rigid with the pack (injuries permitting) .The backs hes been as rigid as he can be (9,12,13, IFW or Freeman on the wing). I think he knows what he wants but the players he wants arent available to him yet and some of the current ones have areas of their games to work on.

 

[LIONSxv]

I totally agree, but i think alot of that is to do with options.

Scotland (like Wales ) dont have a huge player pool so have no option but to play them and develop them. Takes time but they eventually get there. England are oft guilty of the next cab off the rank. Eddie Jones was much maligned for sticking with the same players. But the issue was he stuck with the wrong ones too much.

Dont forget in general SB has been quite rigid with the pack (injuries permitting) .The backs hes been as rigid as he can be (9,12,13, IFW or Freeman on the wing). I think he knows what he wants but the players he wants arent available to him yet and some of the current ones have areas of their games to work on.

I agree with what you saying in terms of the first paragraph, players have not been given the opportunity to develop and selection has either been next or cab or rigid

In terms of SB knowing what he wants. I disagree his most recent back row, wings , centres and full back been the case in point. It's all over the place in terms of both personnel and strategy. Picking multiple players of position when their are specialists available.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Honestly in wingers I feel OHC all round game has gone up massively in the last year, would certainly like to see him tour in the summer.

 

[Geordie]

I agree with what you saying in terms of the first paragraph, players have not been given the opportunity to develop and selection has either been next or cab or rigid

In terms of SB knowing what he wants. I disagree his most recent back row, wings , centres and full back been the case in point. It's all over the place in terms of both personnel and strategy. Picking multiple players of position when their are specialists available.

Well the way i see it:

Back Row:
We didnt have an 8 . So he picked Earl as someone who can be a very good carrier, then matched with Curry. In most games its generally been those two with A.N.Other. So its pretty consistent. Im pretty sure had all the locks been fit..Chessum would have been the 6. CCS was playing early games to provide some heft in Chessums absence etc but hes raw and had everyone been fit i dont believe he would have started. His defensive lapses are a work on. Tom Willis has come in and is showing he can be what we need at 8. Ted Hill, well i still think it goes back to his stats. Hes way below everyone else so maybe SB is puzzled about him.

Centres:
Slade and Lawrence have been the go to but are they what we need. Slade has been ok and offers the tactical kicking etc but his defence has left a lot to be desired. Likewise Lawrence isnt your heavy duty 12, (hes a 13) but at 13 there are questions over his defensive leadership and his tactical management / kicking (something many 13s have to do) . Marchant going to France was a HUGE blow. And then we have all discussed the alternatives or new centres on this forum its a nightmare of a situation. Dingwall is a glued type player, and has played with Freeman for saints in the midfield regularly so they'll look at that. Many people called for Freeman at 13 anyway. Hopefully the summer tour has a good look at Beard, Hartley Atkinson, Waghorn etc etc

Full Backs:
Furbank injured is the issue.
Steward has positives but his defence as mentioned on here numerous times is an issue. So hes not trusted.
There is seemingly no others....Carpenter not in the picture, so Marcus Smith gets a go there as hes not trusted at 10. This is another position we need to develop some back ups

We have all raised issues on the quality of players in these positions on here....so its understandable that SB is finding it difficult in reality. We dont have the players with the right skills set and physicality i too many positions in the backs but they are on their way...like the young locks and monster props etc. Just my tuppenceworth anyway

Strategy...well thats different...im not sure him and his team are getting that one right,

 

[Geordie]

Honestly in wingers I feel OHC all round game has gone up massively in the last year, would certainly like to see him tour in the summer.

Agree...he has the lot...size, pace and he goes looking for the ball...leaves his wing...

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Freddie Steward is such a frustration for me. Talented, physically ideal and looked strong - plus he's got 36 caps and he's still only 24 - but with one glaring weakness that gets exploited every time he plays for England.

Can we get him working with the speed coach that fixed Mike Brown? Margot Wells.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Freddie Steward is such a frustration for me. Talented, physically ideal and looked strong - plus he's got 36 caps and he's still only 24 - but with one glaring weakness that gets exploited every time he plays for England.

Can we get him working with the speed coach that fixed Mike Brown? Margot Wells.

Easier said than done when rocking about at 10-15% bf but shifting a bit of weight would surely go along way. No FB needs to be walking around at (reportedly) 105kg.

Steward's strengths caused us so much trouble in the 1st half in Dublin but the weaknesses outweighed them in the end.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Had that final week in the Lancaster era where everyone needed to score big to win and we just missed out to Ireland but had a ridiculous game against France. Defence was completely abandoned by both sides.

That was a great day in the 6 nations. Every team was attacking with abandon in all 3 games.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

What options in the prem have out and out gas who are ready for this level?

Radwan

 

[Flankers' paradise]

Came down to a try in the end didn't it? If I remember correctly the points difference was 6 between ireland and england. Would much prefer it for the sport if we had more finales like that.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Dont forget in general SB has been quite rigid with the pack (injuries permitting)

Paucity of options in the front 5 have frankly made that fairly easy.

But in the back row…this tournament we've switched between Earl and Willis at 8, two very different types of player and played either 2 or 3 open sides in every game which is a total switch from the big guy at 6 which we saw in the latter part of the 24 6N in Chessum or CCS in NZ and the AIs. And we'll ignore that Roots (remember him?) started the last 6N at 6.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

There's nothing wrong with switching players and tactics depending on the team we play, injuries and experience. I also like the fact that SB has learned how to use a bench properly this 6 nations so our little stevie B growing up.

I'm excited about a tired wales watching CCS and Willis coming off the bench in the back row. Now that's pretty awesome. What's no so awesome is not having a lock to come with them. But we came into this tournament with three out our four locks not at full fitness. If Coles just isn't fit enough (which I do think is odd) we should have called another lock up as however good anyone thinks Hill and CCS are, there is a reason every of country has a lock on the bench 99% of the time.

 

[Welsh Exile]

 

[Welsh Exile]

I really don't like Roberts on the wing and think he could get exposed there big time but in Sherratt I trust.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

So Wales have picked 3 centres whereas England only have one.