England 6N 2016 - General Chit Chat

[yaboyjj]

Brookes isn't in consideration cause of injury (his first game in however long was yesterday).
Same as Manu wasnt in consideration (even before this newest injury).

He played ~65 mins for Northampton and showed the same kind of scrummaging form as before the injury.
Bearing that in mind, he'd be a much better option than Cole.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I wouldn't say no to that just to fek up saints.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Unless you are Andy Nicol and are convinced that Scotland are going to secure yet another grand slam, just like they have the past few years and after their world cup victory.

Is Andy Nichol still going?
Oh my Goodness.
I have a bone to pick with that safer referee Joubert.
If had have simply let Aussie have the scrum feed with two minutes to go right up on attack they would have the scored the necessary points anyway.
It was a dogged and determined effort by Scotland but in no way did they deserve to be in the semi final.

 

[Peat]

Hey Tony! Good news Tony!

"Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill says that England centre Manu Tuilagi's latest injury is "nothing serious" - and that he could still figure in this year's Six Nations."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35452144.app

 

[Tony Manx]

Hey Tony! Good news Tony!

"Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill says that England centre Manu Tuilagi's latest injury is "nothing serious" - and that he could still figure in this year's Six Nations."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35452144.app

Haha!!

Let us hope that he really is fit for the sake of his long term playing career and health.

Maybe he will show that he is what you want him to be in due course?

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Kieran Brookes has rejoined the England squad.

http://www.englandrugby.com/news/rbs-nations-brookes-joins-england-squad/

He replaces Henry Thomas.

 

[Crapspray]

Good news.

Any bets on him going straight into the starting XV ahead of Cole? If we're wanting to squish the Jocks up front, then Brookes is the best bet.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Good news.

Any bets on him going straight into the starting XV ahead of Cole? If we're wanting to squish the Jocks up front, then Brookes is the best bet.

Judging by his continued form on return from injury and the way Jones has straight up dropped Thomas (absolutely brutal- though presumably Thomas will have been aware of the situation) I'd say it's more than a little bit likely.

I didn't realise Brookes already has 15 caps, most off the bench to be fair, but didn't he only make his debut on the New Zealand tour?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Think he'll definitely be in the 23, not sure if they'd have him starting though.

 

[Maverick1987]

My favourite Brookes moment was when he came off the bench and won a penalty try against New Zealand in a front row with Vunipola .....

 

[Peat]

NZ's replacement props aren't all that mind.

Anyway, this looks interesting - http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/?p=89863

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

NZ's replacement props aren't all that mind.

Anyway, this looks interesting - http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/?p=89863

Surely that style of play would require a team to actually be competant at the breakdown and England are probably the worst tier 1 team in the world at the breakdown. Maybe in a year when he's had a chance to properly coach the team but right now England too easily get turned over to build a game around controlling the breakdown. However it would explain having Haskell in the squad. If mobility isn't want you need and instead just want a big block to put in place, he can probably do that job.

Also with our wingers and 13's available, all with lots of speed, it would be mad to limit our game where that advantage is negated. It's the English back 3 and 13 that have been the stars recently, not our forwards.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Very good article... it's very rare that you see in-depth analysis on any given team's patterns of play.

 

[Peat]

Surely that style of play would require a team to actually be competant at the breakdown and England are probably the worst tier 1 team in the world at the breakdown. Maybe in a year when he's had a chance to properly coach the team but right now England too easily get turned over to build a game around controlling the breakdown. However it would explain having Haskell in the squad. If mobility isn't want you need and instead just want a big block to put in place, he can probably do that job.

Also with our wingers and 13's available, all with lots of speed, it would be mad to limit our game where that advantage is negated. It's the English back 3 and 13 that have been the stars recently, not our forwards.

Rugby requires a team to be competent at the breakdown in general to be fair. In some ways, it's an easier to execute style for a team with a poor breakdown as at least your runners aren't getting isolated all the time. It completely stalls if you do fail of course, mind. But name me a style of play that doesn't require you to be competent at the breakdown other than 'offload everything'. We have to improve our breakdown regardless.

That said, I'd agree pace out wide has been our strong point in recent years and maybe we'd lose out on that.

Still, there's absolutely no guarantee he's going to go down this route mind. He could easily decide something different suits better. There are certain things about it that suits England though; it puts the least amount of pressure on our handling, for one thing. Our scrum-halves are all better at sniping them distributing. We'll want more power runners though.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

That style might suit Japan but Eddie Jones has stated he will find a style that suits the strengths of the English players and that style of play would not suit us at all.

I think we will see something rather similar to a smash it up the middle, then take opportunities out wide when they are on game plan.

A lot of emphasis on players playing heads up rugby.

 

[Crapspray]

A lot of emphasis on players playing heads up rugby.

Given what Jones has said in interviews, I think the opposite will be true. At least for the next twelve months. Unless it's all one giant bluff and he was joking about killing teams at the scrum and maul.

I hope we start out playing at a roughly similar style/level to the 2013/14 season, when I think Lancaster's pack was at it's best: superb set-piece and hard carrying off a flat 9 and 10. Add better outside backs to take the opportunities when they arise and it's a good foundation -- and it shouldn't be too difficult to get the team playing that way again.

Priorities then become:

- Breakdown
- More breakdown
- Getting Tuilagi back
- Back row balance
- Kick-chase
- Width in attack

 

[TommiG88]

All I care about is winning against Scotland!

Edit: the Scottish feature articles are flying out. Dickinson now, Hardie last week and a Tom English Scottish article the week before.

 

[YoungScud]

All I care about is winning against Scotland!

Sorry to disappoint you.

 

[TommiG88]

Sorry to disappoint you.

I just hope the banter is good if we lose. Otherwise drinking in Edinburgh after the game won't be too fun.

 

[Saint4805]

Edit: the Scottish feature articles are flying out. Dickinson now, Hardie last week and a Tom English Scottish article the week before.

Isn't it normal for the press to interview players as the tournament approaches? Are you implying that Scottish players have been 'mouthing off' in the press?