England 2024/25

[Booboobang]

I think that build's pretty much spot on TBH. Bit of height for the high ball, weight should mean he's solid enough in contact and be able to bust tackles once he gets going. But not so heavy as to reduce his pace, or probably more importantly, agility. I'm all for our backs being powerful but for those out wide that should be a secondary trick.

Just one thought. Lot more to any position than sheer physical attributes, but are we missing the threat of some sheer gas? Mitchell and M Smith are probably around the fastest in their positions, but not sure that applies to the outside backs. Definitely not the midfield, and while Sleightholme, IFW, Freeman and Furbank are all quick, none seem to be total sprinters like peak Watson and May who at their peak you'd have backed against anyone. Isn't Earl supposed to be about the fastest over 20m?

Sleightholme is pure gase man, freeman sure, IFW looks quick, furbank is meh but who else is quicker at FB?

 

[Which Tyler]

who else is quicker at FB?

Bath have a couple. De Granville is probably a little shy of international class, but may yet develop further now that Gallagher is out of his way, but I'd back Harris to overtake him if he can put his injuries behind him.
In terms of pace, both are rapid, not Watson quick, but still rapid.
Both are 2nd playmakers, btw

 

[AlRums]

Quite hilarious really

They even fiddled the stats.

They played 12 matches this year, including the summer in NZ.

In total England won 5, Italy, Wales, Ireland and Japan X2

So taking 5 wins from 10 (12-NZ) that's a 50% win rate.

So let's include NZ that's 5 from 12 that's just shy of a 42% win rate.

If you want to exclude the two losses to NZ (why? It's just a device to make the win rate better than it was) then surely you should exclude the first win against Japan seeing as that took place on the same tour.

 

[AlRums]

Where have you seen this ?

Joe Marler: Ex-England prop announces retirement from rugby

Former England and Harlequins prop Joe Marler announces his retirement from professional rugby aged 34.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Lé Ddanno]

On this, we also only won games by a handful of points, two against teams we should be easily winning in wales and italy. People talk about close losses, but the wins werent impressive either.

This isn't being highlighted enough

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

They even fiddled the stats.

They played 12 matches this year, including the summer in NZ.

In total England won 5, Italy, Wales, Ireland and Japan X2

So taking 5 wins from 10 (12-NZ) that's a 50% win rate.

So let's include NZ that's 5 from 12 that's just shy of a 42% win rate.

If you want to exclude the two losses to NZ (why? It's just a device to make the win rate better than it was) then surely you should exclude the first win against Japan seeing as that took place on the same tour.

Don't think they have.

It's a formal annual report, but it can't be for the calendar year as that's not yet finished. Looks like the financial year runs from 1/7 to 30/6 so presumably the whole report is written for the year to 30.6.24.

Last year from Jul to Dec we played 11 winning 7. This year to end Jun we played 6 winning 4. Add them together for an aggregate of 11 out of 17 - 65%.

The NZ fixtures would have been played by the time the report was written but, played in July, were outside the reporting period so not included in the numbers.

 

[Reiser99]

Don't think they have.

It's a formal annual report, but it can't be for the calendar year as that's not yet finished. Looks like the financial year runs from 1/7 to 30/6 so presumably the whole report is written for the year to 30.6.24.

Last year from Jul to Dec we played 11 winning 7. This year to end Jun we played 6 winning 4. Add them together for an aggregate of 11 out of 17 - 65%.

The NZ fixtures would have been played by the time the report was written but, played in July, were outside the reporting period so not included in the numbers.

Well in that case, England are off to a **** start this year. 2/8 won, so 25%, both of which were against Japan. For me if we keep playing like we are then it's likely to be 2/5 in the 6Ns, which would be 4/13 and 31% win ratio. Even if we won the GS we would only hit 54% win ratio.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Well in that case, England are off to a **** start this year. 2/8 won, so 25%, both of which were against Japan. For me if we keep playing like we are then it's likely to be 2/5 in the 6Ns, which would be 4/13 and 31% win ratio. Even if we won the GS we would only hit 54% win ratio.

I think it's 1 from 6 (16%) since Jul - NZ tour x 2 plus the 4 AIs, so even worse. This calendar year we've been 5 from 12 - 42% which is the kind of ratio Jones was at when he got sacked. Another year at those levels would make SB's job untenable.

As you say, a v unlikely GS would only take it to 54% for the reporting year (6 from 11) , but would probably save SB by sheer virtue of being a GS.

Looks like we might be going to Arg in the summer for 2 tests but presumably with a weakened team due to Lions which may or may not get included in the stats depending on timing and results….but could still only take it to 8/13 - 61% max. So however it goes the % in the next year's report will have dropped. At the end of next year we'll be half way through the RWC cycle, so the 6N does have a bit of a make or break feel, esp with 3 at home and the 2 away fixtures being against teams we beat last time round.

 

[BPM]

This isn't being highlighted enough

Probably not. Although IIRC, they were the first two games in the 6N and we played ourselves in to better form.

That doesn't make it any better, but from a contextual PoV, Italy are not the pushovers they were (even less so in Rome) and Wales hadn't quite reached their nadir. Always worth factoring in how much the Welsh raise their game against us too.