England EPS 2016/17 season.

[brokenoses]

If we are going to go for a player like Tom Wood in our back row then I would seriously consider bringing Don Armand into the training squad and see how he performs within the setup. I see him as a harder hitting and more skillful version of Wood. He is a strong lineout option, a good maul defender, and an aggressive carrier with good hands and a fair bit of pace. It would be bad news for Exeter if he was called up as he has made a huge impact since he has returned from injury, but I think it's an option that should be considered at least.

 

[Scotty]

If we are going to go for a player like Tom Wood in our back row then I would seriously consider bringing Don Armand into the training squad and see how he performs within the setup. I see him as a harder hitting and more skillful version of Wood. He is a strong lineout option, a good maul defender, and an aggressive carrier with good hands and a fair bit of pace. It would be bad news for Exeter if he was called up as he has made a huge impact since he has returned from injury, but I think it's an option that should be considered at least.

Agreed don armand is such a strong player and im surprised he has been called up. Wheb he plays exeter play so much better.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Wood alongside Itoje and Hughes actually sounds pretty balanced to me and very strong in the line out. Will be interesting to see what happens.

The kicking stats are interesting. Faz 84% against Ford's 72%. We've had the DG discussion before, but Cips 20 absolutely stands out. Very under used weapon in my book.

 

[Which Tyler]

We've had the DG discussion before, but Cips 20 absolutely stands out. Very under used weapon in my book.

So interesting. it can only be a typo - 20 DGs in 12 matches and no-one's noticed?
I also very much agree, the difference between international and domestic kicking for Ford and Farrell really tells a story.

ETA: Yep, cock-up in my formula - I'd summed left-right, rather then up-down on the Excel sheet; so was adding his 9 conversions to his 11 attempted, and calling it 20 in the DG. I won't bother imaging it again right now; but have corrected it for future use.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Thanks WT.

Thought it was too good to be true, but prompted me to look at ESPN. For England:

Farrell 2 in 47 caps
Ford 1 in 30
Wilko 36 in 91
Andrew 21 in 71

Of course the game's moved on and perhaps teams play for pens more now than they did. But even so I still don't get why the DG is so out of favour. Its not an easy skill,m but points are being left out on the park. Always good to keep a scoreboard moving.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Thanks WT.

Thought it was too good to be true, but prompted me to look at ESPN. For England:

Farrell 2 in 47 caps
Ford 1 in 30
Wilko 36 in 91
Andrew 21 in 71

Of course the game's moved on and perhaps teams play for pens more now than they did. But even so I still don't get why the DG is so out of favour. Its not an easy skill,m but points are being left out on the park. Always good to keep a scoreboard moving.

I guess the Aussies whinged enough about how scoring tries was all that mattered and we have now bought into the idea that taking a drop goal is "wasting" your position.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Yep. In the same way that they whinged that we were dull and boring before the 91 RWC final. Sadly we listened.

 

[Scotty]

Watson playing 15 for bath this weekend...has EJ had a word with him and bath coach do you think? Seems strange to give him game time there if he is getting back up to fitness amd playing wing for england so maybe he is teed up as the future england FB ratjer than wing.

 

[Which Tyler]

No - for the same reasons as yesterday. He's been a full back for 3 years. The fact that he's still a full back really shouldn't surprise anyone.

 

[Peat]

I think to a certain extent, you're seeing a generation of players who did what the coaches told them to do rather than owning and running the game themselves. Ford and Farrell can both see and execute a drop goal when its on - its just not been in the playbook.

Given Jones' latest utterances about the players running the show, maybe we'll see it return.


edit: Also, Sam Jones' stats look really really good.

 

[ratsapprentice]

No - for the same reasons as yesterday. He's been a full back for 3 years. The fact that he's still a full back really shouldn't surprise anyone.

I really don't understand why seemingly everyone thinks that he's barely played FB.

 

[Every Time Ref]

I think to a certain extent, you're seeing a generation of players who did what the coaches told them to do rather than owning and running the game themselves. Ford and Farrell can both see and execute a drop goal when its on - its just not been in the playbook.

Given Jones' latest utterances about the players running the show, maybe we'll see it return.

edit: Also, Sam Jones' stats look really really good.

No stats, but my impression from watching Bath is that Ford's ability to see and especially execute a dropgoal is pretty shaky.

Good point on the influence of the coaches playbook, although I would say that Wilko's love of the dropgoal was not in any way a spontaneous thing

edit: Also, yes, why does everyone think Watson isn't a fullback?

 

[Peat]

Not a spontaneous thing at all but something he decided to practice then had the freedom to pursue when he saw fit.

And I'm probably being misled by Ford's performance against Saints earlier in the season.

 

[Which Tyler]

No stats, but my impression from watching Bath is that Ford's ability to see and especially execute a dropgoal is pretty shaky.

Agreed, just a lot less shaky than anyone else's.

Really not himself any favours with the boot again today; and I've no idea what you people see in Rocco on today's match; we really don't want anyone with that skillset playing for England, we have a reputation to think about!

 

[Every Time Ref]

Not a spontaneous thing at all but something he decided to practice then had the freedom to pursue when he saw fit.

And I'm probably being misled by Ford's performance against Saints earlier in the season.

What I meant was, they had set moves designed to get him into position for the dropgoal. Literally straight out the playbook

- - - Updated - - -

Agreed, just a lot less shaky than anyone else's.

Maybe it's not that he's any worse, maybe it's just that he tries more often (and fails). He's certainly hit some shockers in his time.

and I've no idea what you people see in Rocco on today's match; we really don't want anyone with that skillset playing for England, we have a reputation to think about!

The missed tackle on Goneva won't have helped his cause though

 

[ratsapprentice]

Maybe it's not that he's any worse, maybe it's just that he tries more often (and fails). He's certainly hit some shockers in his time.

I think that's probably the case... if literally nothing else is on then he does seem to go for a snap DG.

 

[Peat]

What I meant was, they had set moves designed to get him into position for the dropgoal. Literally straight out the playbook

I completely agree with that - I'm saying Wilko had a lot more freedom to draw up the playbook then decide which plays to call than Farrell or Ford do. Although I could be wrong about that.

 

[Scotty]

My previous comment about watson playong FB against falcons was not saying i did not believe or was surprised at it but that i had heard blackadder said 8he was a winger for bath not a FB, then he is playing for bath as FB just after training with EJ,s england, just wondered if Ej saw him as a future FB. May. Watson. Nowell as the back 3 sounds dangerous. Daly as cover.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

My previous comment about watson playong FB against falcons was not saying i did not believe or was surprised at it but that i had heard blackadder said 8he was a winger for bath not a FB, then he is playing for bath as FB just after training with EJ,s england, just wondered if Ej saw him as a future FB. May. Watson. Nowell as the back 3 sounds dangerous. Daly as cover.

I really like the balance in that back three. May offers real pace and a vastly improved work rate and defence, Nowell a real work horse and isn't too shabby in attack either, and Watson as an out and out attacker.

 

[Which Tyler]

My previous comment about watson playong FB against falcons was not saying i did not believe or was surprised at it but that i had heard blackadder said 8he was a winger for bath not a FB, then he is playing for bath as FB just after training with EJ,s england, just wondered if Ej saw him as a future FB.

Ah, in that case; no, foir the exact same reasons as yesterday; but in a slightly less exasperated tone, as you're not yet another poster being surprised that Watson plays full-back.