[Natwest 6 Nations] Round 4 : France Vs England (10/03/2018)

[Grizwald]

On top of other issues England are collectively way off they look lethargic and lost the intensity they had. England's injuries haven't helped but it's surprised me when you looked at the age of some of the players would be come the world cup he's stuck with. I expected he'd be phasing younger, fresher, more dynamic players in to replace follow8ng that first 6N ***le.

It was like watching England of 10 plus years ago today static, lack of game management etc etc. I'm putting it down to a lot of the core players being off form.

The backrow has become embarrsing, along with the decision not to give an up.and coming scrum half some game time.

I've got tickets for next week which I was hoping would have been the decider. Was always an up hill struggle with 2 home games but having watch the pace and intensity if the Ireland Scotland game we're way off.

 

[ratsapprentice]

What I would give to have a proper back up to Billy.

The tiger in me wants ford to be dropped and Faz at 10, then Ireland to batter us just to show Faz doesn't **** gold.

We won't miss billy anywhere near as much if we regarded physicality as a fundamental requirement for every single forward.
Certain players simply wouldn't be picked if that was a criterion for selection.

 

[Grizwald]

On top of other issues England are collectively way off they look lethargic and lost the intensity they had. England's injuries haven't helped but it's surprised me when you looked at the age of some of the players would be come the world cup he's stuck with. I expected he'd be phasing younger, fresher, more dynamic players in to replace follow8ng that first 6N ***le.

It was like watching England of 10 plus years ago today static, lack of game management etc etc. I'm putting it down to a lot of the core players being off form.

The backrow has become embarrsing, along with the decision not to give an up.and coming scrum half some game time.

I've got tickets for next week which I was hoping would have been the decider. Was always an up hill struggle with 2 home games but having watch the pace and intensity if the Ireland Scotland game we're way off.

 

[Jimbo]

What I would give to have a proper back up to Billy.

The tiger in me wants ford to be dropped and Faz at 10, then Ireland to batter us just to show Faz doesn't **** gold.

No it doesn't but Ford on the back foot is awfull, Faz is better in this aspect.

 

[Yoshimitsu]

Anyone think Billy being out was a big part of the issue he wouldn't neccacerly fix the breakdown but does do a hell of a lot of ball carrying and almost always gets on the front foot, we do seem to have lacked any gain line success which is always going to make the break down more difficult.

Absolutely, as a primary carrier he's pretty much world class. England don't have anyone like him. He's also enormously effective when supporting a carrier as he is powerful enough to clear breakdowns single handed. Without him we're relying on Mako who is a walking turnover and launchbury who isn't dynamic enough to generate go forward. The reason sinckler made such a difference was the intent into contact. The only other player that actually made the decision to carry at full bore was Jonny may ffs.

 

[KanyeWest]

You could copy and pass the comments over from the Scotland game. England lost for three reasons, again:

1. Playing without an openside, not securing own ball.

2. Not running hard or direct enough.

3. Discipline.

1 and 2 lead on to 3. You can't expect to compete against an average or above breakdown team without a 7. It's just impossible, you end up with centres hitting the majority of rucks and it effects your attack. He has to make a decision on his second rows, Robshaw back at 6 and play a 7. Once again, every time we had a couple of phases of possession we lost the ball.

Horrendously passive with the ball, side ways, backwards, any way but forwards. Trying to go wide without tying French forwards into the breakdown. Easy to defend and turnover. They've got to straighten up, get some momentum and then bring Ford and Farrell into the game.

There doesn't need to be dramatic changes or massive over reactions but there are a couple of clear issues that need fixing. Frustratingly, they're fixable but it hasn't been.

 

[The5thOfficial]

Well, at risk of a not very sophistigated commentary, as accused, before the game I thought England would win. After the first half I thought hmmmm! 2 on the bounce, this isn't very good! Last few minutes though were pretty exhilarating! I actually think EJ has lost his aura not England. I think next weeks match with Ireland will be intreresting to say the least. Fortress Twickenham has gone.

 

[McTallshort]

Well, at risk of a not very sophistigated commentary, as accused, before the game I thought England would win. After the first half I thought hmmmm! 2 on the bounce, this isn't very good! Last few minutes though were pretty exhilarating! I actually think EJ has lost his aura not England. I think next weeks match with Ireland will be intreresting to say the least. Fortress Twickenham has gone.

Why do you keep going on about this aura? I know Wales havent beaten England in 3 years but Ireland, Scotland and now France have

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I scraped the barrell for positives about today and what I came up with is that Scotlands win over us now seems less of an achievement.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Little else matters if the forwards aren't going forward. The starting front 5 again looked underpowered, passive and lethargic.

Mako who I've always thought as better from the bench looks knackered. Shame Genge isn't around.

George failed his audition. But still better than Hartley.

Cole was totally shown up by Sinckler. He needs a long long rest, but his days should probably be done.

Launch was willing, but looked a bit one paced and not as powerful as his opponents.

I'll be charitable and say that Itoje's suffering a post Lions hangover. But I've been consistent in never getting as carried away by him as most. For all his athleticism and line out ability I still stick by my view that he's just not big and powerful enough. I hope we get a good look at Isiekwe in the summer.

The back row we've discussed ad infinitum. But why there wasn't another specialist 8 on the bench beats me. It's such a key position. Like Simmonds, but he's a flanker.

Whoever said Ford only looks great on the front foot nailed it. The reality is that we don't have a dominant pack, and aren't likely to have for a while. Even though Faz's skills aren't as silky, i'd rather have him in a fight. The way Ford was thrown around in the first half is one reason I struggle with him and exactly why I don't understand why Smith is even on Jones radar.

Manu can't rediscover his mojo quickly enough. As a team we need to be so much more aggressive and physical. It still matters - Underhill showed it a couple of weeks ago as did Hask and Sinckler today.

And Eddie. Welcome to the British press. The honeymoon's so over. Tomorrow will be lively. Lose next week, as is likely, and the knives may not be out, but they'll be being sharpened.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Happy for Brunel, a definite sign of improvement in the French versus Ireland, England and Italy, but a masssssssively long way to go. Trinh-duc should have cemented his place(hopefully with a young understudy), especially after Beauxis' hilarious lack of composure at the death (his relieved reaction when England knocked on at the end was hilarious).

EJ said before the match that England didn't have the "same skill as Scotland" and fair play to him, his Lions filled side backed up those words with a performance to match.

Seriously though, very disappointed at the lack of ambition shown by the England side in this fixture and it's denied the neutral a grand finale next time out. Chasing four tries to stay in the tournament should have been a thrilling swashbuckling contest filled with risky offloads, creative set piece movements and a singular focus (like Ireland) on crossing the try line. Instead I just fast forwarded much of the second half.

Frankly baffling how this is the same side and coach as the England side that scored tries for fun in the Oz series last year and literally looked like becoming world beaters. Even more mystifying how their dominance in the forwards seems to be disintegrating. Wales and Scotland should be absolutely kicking themselves at not being more competitive in a year when the giants of France and England were so off the boil. Those opportunities are few and far between.

 

[corny]

England are a tired looking team. They had line speed for the first 5 minutes today but for the rest of the game France had all the energy.

Jones is making these grandiose claims about fitness and bringing in Georgian scrummagers etc......i wonder is he overdoing it on the training pitch, perhaps with a view to the World Cup.

So many England players who've decided games previously are now anonymous in general play. The obvious technical problems might all stem from this. I mean they got by without a 7 last year and the year before right?

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Remember, people... Haskell isn't wanted by any prem club, if we want more physicality there are better 6s we can pick.

Haskell has always put in a reasonable shift off the bench - he hasn't proven anything today except that he remembers how to concede penalties.

 

[RugbyMarvel]

If Hughes is out we have a problem as Simmonds did not look good enough at 8 today in the tight, as said before he's a flanker. Shame it was so obvious today.

Taking away the locks, across the front row and back row and I want a minimum of 3 powerful ball carriers. Then I want to locks to hit rucks and clear, and the others who aren't carrying to do the same. Believe me, watch Sinckler hovering around other carriers, he clears and then he's hitting up next, clears, then is a link player, clears, hits up. It's what we need!

 

[TW27BA]

Someone should show Eddie this thread. Maybe he'll see where its going wrong.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Is Faz really better on the back foot?
His goal kicking is better which won't matter if our forwards can't win penalties, not sure he is better kickin from hand. His defence is just as questionable or have people forgotten how Huw jones ran through him? The only plus is he prob fits the defence system better at 10 than 12.

End of the day England won't be winning comp with a backwards pack so playing a 10 just becuase he is better behind one doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[Lomu]

This game signified whats great about the six nations. For the neutral it was a great game. There are no easy games in this tournament and a win on the road is a tough thing to find.

 

[The5thOfficial]

Why do you keep going on about this aura? I know Wales havent beaten England in 3 years but Ireland, Scotland and now France have

They have! Its great.

 

[McTallshort]

They have! Its great.

What Wales not beating England in 3 years?

 

[Maverick1987]

They have! Its great.

You are literally everything wrong with Welsh armchair rugby fans ...... fortunately the six nations will be finished next week and we won't have to hear from you for a while