England vs Italy - 10/03/2013

[McTallshort]

Agree Lancasters ego is getting in the way, whats wrong with bringing in Easter when morgan was injured? instead Wood has to pull the gap and no offence to WOod he has done it well but we need a BIG ball carrying 8 -specialist.

Re: Haskell
I actually didn't think he played badly it was just that lancaster had to change something and croft brings a lot to the game. Would he risk starting croft against Wales???

Said it before Easter will never be selected by SL. I think something or several things happened during the world cup that have ruined Easters stock with him. Not just the "blow £30K" either. Think he pi"$ed off some of the younger players that SL was close to and now he has no hope of getting back in the England team.

 

[psychic duck]

I'll swap you J Davies for Barritt? I think Davies runs better lines and just does more. Neither can really pass though or even know when to pass and when to take contact.

Fair enough. But if you want one of the Welsh centres, then here is a good example of totally sh*t passing you will get with them. It has been nullifying North and Cuthbert of late. And would take your wingers out of the game as well.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/petDm4xFt-g#t=2950" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

I would swap you Davies for Barritt, watch JD2 passing 20 feet over your wingers head into Row Z. Then I would bring back Henson and hopefully could bring the best out of Roberts and wingers with beautifully weighted passes like this that Davies could only dream of. Beck would also be ahead of Barritt, but I would still swap him with Jonathan Davies just to see you butcher more 7 on 2 overlaps.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I didn't say Haskell played badly, but the ball was always given to Parling instead of him so he never had a chance to make an impact with ball in hand.

Thoughts after re-watching it:

1) "Give it to Manu" seems to be their only pre-planned tactic - I counted three clear chances out wide when the ball was given to Manu when the defense was already drawn to him. Particularly off set peice, but the phase at 56:30 where Robshaw and Brown have a 2 on 1 against the Italian LH sticks out.Even when he is used as a dummy (only 2 times I saw) the receiver ran straight into the defenders who were marking Manu in the first place.
2) Flood looked like he didn't give a ****. He was playing as if it was one of the old Italian teams and he was expecting a walk over. He and Care can't or won't communicate with each other properly.
3) Tom Youngs and Mako Vunipola played even better than I originally thought. Youngs is supremely physical, Mako is too but also has phenomenal hands.
4) Brown is one of our best players and is being done a huge disservice being played on the wing. (Barring the non-pass to Ashton, although to be fair it looked like Ashton was about to move around to his left as he was about to give the pass)
5) Manu rushing out of the line combined with our wingers defending so narrow could kill us if Wales make any attempt to target it with North and Cuthbert. Italy did it and consistently gained from it, notably for their try, and at no point during the match did Eng try and adapt to it.
6) For every bit of good Goode did, he did something equally bad.

 

[Crapspray]

Really disappointing news about Morgan. Firstly, because he's a good player, but I also read that Lancaster expected it to be a six to eight week injury. If that was the case, why didn't bring in a specialist 8 earlier? We need someone other than Tuilagi who can get past the gain line regardless. I really think we missed a march by not putting Billy Vunipola in this Sunday. We know Wood can cover, and we've got another two blindsides to cover 6 should he move across, so why Vunipola didn't get a run-out I'll never know.

The two areas that England have fudged, back-row and back three, are coming round to haunt them. However, on the bright side, unbeaten so far with a several players out of position. Good to see the locks aren't all crocked, as well. The idea of heading to Cardiff with something like Botha and Robson in the engine room would cause sleepless nights.

Woops, brain fart. This summer tour doesn't really count due to the Lions tour and the knock on effect that causes imo though.

It's still a good chance for fringe players to get a go against good opposition. Especially so for the players everyone wants to see on the pitch (Burns, Twelvetrees, May, Wade, B. Vunipola, etc.). They'll all get to make a claim for the shirt.

 

[Peat]

Said it before Easter will never be selected by SL. I think something or several things happened during the world cup that have ruined Easters stock with him. Not just the "blow £30K" either. Think he pi"$ed off some of the younger players that SL was close to and now he has no hope of getting back in the England team.

And quite right - this team lives and dies on its team spirit and that should be paramount. Not like Easter's particularly good either. Lancaster has made a few mistakes, but having nothing to do with Easter isn't one of them.

 

[mstar]

Well if he was disrespectful to SL young players then i think its safe to say Easter is finished. He probably rather put Ashton as a number 8 then bring back Easter.:lol:

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An interesting piece of play happened in the 77 minute, Italy lineout 3m from touchline.
my dad was in the front row directly by the corner. Robshaw/Lawes/Wood say we going to attack
Lawes nodds and says i can do it, Robshaw re-confirms to Lawes that "we need this" lawes replys "i got him [italy jumper he has to contest with]".

I cannot think how seriously brave decision this was by Robshaw/Lawes/Wood etc it was sooo close to touchline and chances of a steal by Lawes was slim/none.

I have played as a lineout jumper in my youth years and in a pressure situation like that i can;t emphasise how brave/courageous decision and CONFIDENCE by lawes he can do it.
None of the other 6N games in similar situation the teams always played it safe, and not contest the lineout.

Unbelievable!! To go for the lineout. If England got it wrong and a try is scored Robshaw/Lawes of got pasted in the press.

 

[ratsapprentice]

It was very brave, but to be fair Lawes has been extremely good at stealing opposition lineouts for Saints this season.

 

[mstar]

Thats why i love Lawes he takes the risks -heart on his sleeve type of player, and credit to Robshaw+pack for backing him 100% to steal. IF parling was there i think he would of wimped out and played safe. When was the last time parling stole a lineout under pressure in his half? That was MJ kind of play wasn't it?

BTW:

i been saying this for a few games... SL is to reliant on Parling for lineouts. He needs to give other people to call lineouts as he COULD be missing this weekend (or injured one day) and who do it then?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Croft or Wood.

 

[mstar]

I was talking about for England. But thanks for letting us know. But my concerns remain and no succession planning by SL if parling injured etc.

 

[mstar]

Croft or Wood.

Thats a difficult one. I say Wood, just because in all 6N he hasn't played badly. With robshaw he has been englands best player. Croft has to prove he is better FOR THE SIDE.

However, for type of game Lancaster plays wood fits in more into it. Wood all day for me.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Agree with both of that - I fully expect Croft to start at 6 vs Wales, so (if Parling misses the game) I imagine Croft and Wood will share the calling, as they're both very good lineout jumpers with experience of running a lineout (Croft with more experience, I think? Have a feeling he used to call the England lineout pre-Palmer).

 

[Peat]

Can't say I recall that - he doesn't call much for Leicester. Nor does Wood for Northampton. If Parling doesn't make it, I wouldn't be utterly surprised if George Robson ends up in the team, depending on who else is dead.

 

[mstar]

Lawes? Can he?

If i remember rightly he and wood was calling when Parling went off (correct me if i am wrong), but he was helped by Hartley helping out as well so you have that "Northampton triangle connection".

 

[mstar]

Jeez such a shame calum clarke got injured he would of had 3 caps by now coming on for haskell. I am sure croft wouldn't of been pushed so hard into the team if he was still around. SL is a BIG fan of CC.

 

[Peat]

It's never a shame Calum Clarke isn't around. Besides, Croft's fully fit or he wouldn't be there, and he's a better player.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Clarke has done nothing to suggest that he should be there ahead of any of the current EPS forwards full stop.
The only legitimate tactical reason that I can see to bring Croft in is to put pressure on the Welsh lineout.

Bar injury and reversals I can't see any changes being made to the starting 15 other than Croft.

 

[mstar]

I am a fan of CC, i think he be a great England player. Your right currently croft is much better so i have no issues him in the side. I hope Croft can last at least 70mins as he is so dangerous with the ball that other then the backs when croft is in full flow he be gone! sam "bicep" warburton bread, and "tic tack toe" tipuric be left for dust (and throw all the other forwards and centres into that)

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Just out of curiosity (general culture, if you want to put it that way), what accent is the commentator's in this highlight reel?

 

[ratsapprentice]

You mean which country? or which Irish regional accent?