England Post-WC discussion

[stus768]

My question is: If you are naturally a big, powerful lump then what do you do in training? Why are you not getting taught and drilled in skills as your main attribute is natural and doesn't need as much training?

Eg Jamie Roberts I would like to know what he does in training all day? Run at brick walls? If they focused on developing his kicking and passing what alternative training would he miss out on? Would it be detrimental to other areas of his game?

 

[Peat]

My question is: If you are naturally a big, powerful lump then what do you do in training? Why are you not getting taught and drilled in skills as your main attribute is natural and doesn't need as much training?

Eg Jamie Roberts I would like to know what he does in training all day? Run at brick walls? If they focused on developing his kicking and passing what alternative training would he miss out on? Would it be detrimental to other areas of his game?

Jamie Roberts is a pretty good passer by NH standards and a decent enough kicker imo. Just that the standard Wales game plan doesn't call for him using those traits.

 

[ratsapprentice]

FWIW, I was mainly referring to the last couple of paragraphs of his article, which I have now quoted.

 

[Patchey]

Just saying that Toby Flood has bulked up and is looking fly...

#BringBackFlood #FloodFor12

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Just saying that Toby Flood has bulked up and is looking fly...

#BringBackFlood #FloodFor12

Lancaster ruined that.

In Flood we trust.

Lancaster and Farrell drove him out of country.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Flood was ****house.

My blood pressure has lowered chronically since he left these shores.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Flood was ****house.

My blood pressure has lowered chronically since he left these shores.

Only because we play boring crap predictable rugby now.

People like you are what's wrong with English rugby.

Flood for player/Captain/Manager now.

9) Youngs, 10) Burns, 12) Flood, 13) Manu

Sorted

 

[chippieolamus]

Ew Flood. Flakey.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Ew Flood. Flakey.

Ew Goode and Farrell, Crap.

Ewwwwww

 

[ratsapprentice]

Thrice a winner.

 

[Peat]

Flood spent most of his England career in and out of the side in some desperately poor sides. His first decent run in a decent team and he performed.

There's still probably a little of the flake about him but I think the older he's got, the less there is about him - like Hodgson before him and now Cipriani after him.

Apart from his tendency to lose his head a little, and his injury-proneness, Flood had no notable weaknesses. He could play either 10 or 12 to an acceptable level. I think he'd have added to the squad if he'd stayed and possibly been a better option than Ford or Farrell.

Instead we lost a player just as all the investment was about to pay off in terms of his prime years and started again with flawed players who need honing. What odds on us losing more players and starting this chain all over again? We're about to do that with quite a few players I think. The best you can say is we'd stuck the house on the wrong players and now we'll have the right ones and it'll go well. The worst is we take good players, develop them poorly, then get rid before when you'd expect the pay-off to come.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

TBH Lancaster would never have used Flood.

Like Cips the only poss game time would be from the bench and most likely in this 2 be position.

 

[McTallshort]

Flood spent most of his England career in and out of the side in some desperately poor sides. His first decent run in a decent team and he performed.

There's still probably a little of the flake about him but I think the older he's got, the less there is about him - like Hodgson before him and now Cipriani after him.

Apart from his tendency to lose his head a little, and his injury-proneness, Flood had no notable weaknesses. He could play either 10 or 12 to an acceptable level. I think he'd have added to the squad if he'd stayed and possibly been a better option than Ford or Farrell.

Instead we lost a player just as all the investment was about to pay off in terms of his prime years and started again with flawed players who need honing. What odds on us losing more players and starting this chain all over again? We're about to do that with quite a few players I think. The best you can say is we'd stuck the house on the wrong players and now we'll have the right ones and it'll go well. The worst is we take good players, develop them poorly, then get rid before when you'd expect the pay-off to come.

and it looks like we are making the same mistake with Cipriani.

 

[j'nuh]

Flood spent most of his England career in and out of the side in some desperately poor sides. His first decent run in a decent team and he performed.

There's still probably a little of the flake about him but I think the older he's got, the less there is about him - like Hodgson before him and now Cipriani after him.

Apart from his tendency to lose his head a little, and his injury-proneness, Flood had no notable weaknesses. He could play either 10 or 12 to an acceptable level. I think he'd have added to the squad if he'd stayed and possibly been a better option than Ford or Farrell.

Instead we lost a player just as all the investment was about to pay off in terms of his prime years and started again with flawed players who need honing. What odds on us losing more players and starting this chain all over again? We're about to do that with quite a few players I think. The best you can say is we'd stuck the house on the wrong players and now we'll have the right ones and it'll go well. The worst is we take good players, develop them poorly, then get rid before when you'd expect the pay-off to come.

With exceptions, the best players are ahead of the curve all the way through their professional career. Pocock might be in the form of his life, and he might be reaching his best years, but he's looked outstanding for years now. Alun Wyn was impressive years before his best, starting in the Lions when he was 24. So I'm not worried about dropping players reaching their pay-off years; if they are just about to go into their best years, then form and merit alone should be enough for them to keep their places ahead of inexperienced youth. If they can't keep their place, then the pay-off won't be particularly worth it.

 

[McTallshort]

With exceptions, the best players are ahead of the curve all the way through their professional career. Pocock might be in the form of his life, and he might be reaching his best years, but he's looked outstanding for years now. Alun Wyn was impressive years before his best, starting in the Lions when he was 24. So I'm not worried about dropping players reaching their pay-off years; if they are just about to go into their best years, then form and merit alone should be enough for them to keep their places ahead of inexperienced youth. If they can't keep their place, then the pay-off won't be particularly worth it.[/QUOTE]

Which I would agree with if they lost their place to a better player. Both Flood and Cipriani would have been better bets that Farrell and possibly even Ford.

 

[Mattybuck]

Ford is the best 10 we have, but Cips very good and dangerous. I'd use a mix of the two.

Never a Flood fan until just before he left when he actually played well.

Definitely an option at 12... His experience would be valuable.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Best 10 is Cips.



Olyy did I do good.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Maybe Ford could get a look in if he played for a top 6 side.
Should never have left Tigers.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Maybe Ford could get a look in if he played for a top 6 side.
Should never have left Tigers.

This is why you are a mod.

So wise.

 

[Mattybuck]

Maybe Ford could get a look in if he played for a top 6 side.
Should never have left Tigers.

How did the play offs go for Tigers last year?

On serious note I do want to Cips get some meaningful time at 10 for Eng...