RBS 6 Nations - Scotland Vs England (04/02/2012 - 17:00)

[Seaton]

Hmm?
He's be involved in the majority of Sale's matches this season.

Looking at Sale's fixtures/ results, he has played more than Ithought he had.

Still only started in 2 of the last 6 or so, so I stand by my reckoning that someone starting for the national team should be starting regularly in the games preceeding his appearance.

 

[Ayrshire Warrior]

Am I the only person who rates Dan Parks ? I'm glad he is starting as he has bags of experiance at international level

I think Robinson has picked the best team he can with the players we have. Gutted that Ansbro is injured, this would have been a game he would excelled in.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Am I the only person who rates Dan Parks ? I'm glad he is starting as he has bags of experiance at international level

I think Robinson has picked the best team he can with the players we have. Gutted that Ansbro is injured, this would have been a game he would excelled in.

In a word, yes. The man seems to think that kicking is the only aspect of rugby that is in any way important. Expect Scotland to be incredibly one dimensional with Parks at 10.

 

[gingergenius]

let's hope for, from the remaining squad:

1. Corbisiero
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Botha
5. Palmer
6. Croft
7. Robshaw
8. Morgan
9. Dickson
10. Farrell
11. Strettle
12. Barritt
13. Turner-Hall
14. Sharples
15. Foden

16. Webber
17. Stevens
18. Parling
19. Dowson
20. Youngs
21. Hodgson
22. Ashton

I suspect that we'll have the Saracens midfield, Youngs ahead of Dickson, Ashton will start ahead of Sharples, and that Dowson will start ahead of Morgan.

Either way, it does not look like a strong team. The pack in particular is really up against it - a talented front row somewhat short of form, a second row missing a bit of grunt and a back row which will lack grunt if Dowson plays, and lack balance anyway with no proper 7.

The backs will be using an off-colour scrum half or one who's not (imo) quite up to international quality, with a 10 who's never performed internationally, and a 13 out of position.

On the plus side, it could work out nicely with an exciting back 3.

Scotland should win this, with home advantage. England should concern themselves with performance and not result, beating Scotland at Murrayfield with a team like that is a huge ask.

 

[psychic duck]

In a word, yes. The man seems to think that kicking is the only aspect of rugby that is in any way important. Expect Scotland to be incredibly one dimensional with Parks at 10.

if you don't rate Parks just because he plays a kicking game then by that logic do you not like Lionel "Boot"xis, Morné Steyn, Jonny Wilkinson, Ronan O'Gara or Jonathan Wisniewski who all play a kicking game? although they are all with the exception of Wisniewski better at the kicking game plan than Parks

also have you ever considered that having centres such as Graeme Morrison, Nick de Luca, Andrew Henderson outside you are hardly going to make you look good? look at how much better Wilkinson played with Greenwood outside than Tindall/Noon/Hape

alongside Parks playing negative rugby, Morrison, de Luca, Lamont need to take some blame for Scotland's lack of tries as well as they all seem to have only one move, which is run straight

Scotland don't have the players for a running game plan

 

[Seaton]

I'd contest that claim duck.

We didn't have the players.

In between Scott, Ansbro, Jones, Visser, Laidlaw, Hogg and Brown, I feel the outlook for an attacking game is pretty good actually.

I agree that Parks is hard done by wrt to the inside centres he has had at his disposal, and given direction (and proper service) can at least try and play an expansive game, even if it doesn't pull off.

The gripe many have with him is that he personifies how Hadden wanted us to play, however another major bugbear is not only his inability to tackle to an acceptable level, but his unwillingness to even try make one.

He has it tough, more so than he deserves, but he just isn't in good form right now, no more so than Weir, and oven that Parks hasn't learnt or progressed at all in the last 4 years, I think it is fruitless to continue playing him. Rather play someone who can progress, instead of trundling on as Enland have been doing up until now.

 

[Feicarsinn]

if you don't rate Parks just because he plays a kicking game then by that logic do you not like Lionel "Boot"xis, Morné Steyn, Jonny Wilkinson, Ronan O'Gara or Jonathan Wisniewski who all play a kicking game? although they are all with the exception of Wisniewski better at the kicking game plan than Parks

also have you ever considered that having centres such as Graeme Morrison, Nick de Luca, Andrew Henderson outside you are hardly going to make you look good? look at how much better Wilkinson played with Greenwood outside than Tindall/Noon/Hape

alongside Parks playing negative rugby, Morrison, de Luca, Lamont need to take some blame for Scotland's lack of tries as well as they all seem to have only one move, which is run straight

Scotland don't have the players for a running game plan

Nope, don't like any of them


I know that Scotland's lack of tries isn't all down to him, but you only need to look at the deterioration of Cardiff's wide game in recent years to see that he isn't a great distributor and will struggle to get the Scotland's backs, however limited they are, into the game.

 

[Peat]

Scotland should win this, with home advantage. England should concern themselves with performance and not result, beating Scotland at Murrayfield with a team like that is a huge ask.

They've got Dan Parks. Advantage over...

I'm going to try and be optimistic for the rest of the week. Rowntree's a good coach and he'll get them scrummaging ok. It's a mobile yet big pack, they should get quick ball (they've been doing it a lot in training). That creates something for any scrum-half, and from there we've got some talent in the backs. And if it gets tight, I will be very grateful for Farrell (despite everything I've said) and equally grateful they're sans Paterson.

Murrayfield or no - we can do them. And we're gonna.

Maybe.

Nope, don't like any of them


I know that Scotland's lack of tries isn't all down to him, but you only need to look at the deterioration of Cardiff's wide game in recent years to see that he isn't a great distributor and will struggle to get the Scotland's backs, however limited they are, into the game.

Morrison probably wonders why he was cursed with Parks as much as Parks wonders why he was cursed with Morrison. And Lamont's not a great deal better tbh, just quicker.

 

[Feicarsinn]

England will win by about 4 points. It'll be dull and pretty poor in terms of quality and no one will be happy.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If Rowntree couldn't get them, on fairly decent form, to scrummage well after working for them for two months in the run up to the WC, how is he going to manage it when they're on crap form and with only two weeks to work with them?

 

[Peat]

If Rowntree couldn't get them, on fairly decent form, to scrummage well after working for them for two months in the run up to the WC, how is he going to manage it when they're on crap form and with only two weeks to work with them?

Since he's managed it every other time, I'm going to assume it was an aberration caused by the general shittiness of that camp and the weird decision to have Stevens start at loosehead, which if Rowntree's decision was his first bad one. Possibly not his though.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Since he's managed it every other time, I'm going to assume it was an aberration caused by the general shittiness of that camp and the weird decision to have Stevens start at loosehead, which if Rowntree's decision was his first bad one. Possibly not his though.

It has to be a Johnson discion like moyne at FB, Erinle at 13, geherty at 12 (when we had been playing 10 all season), noon on the pitch, tindall at 12, flood at 12, Easter at 8 while off form, haskell at 8, foden on the wing (yes thats where johnson put him first) the list goes on.

I think lancaster would at least have a proper LH play LH, i assume thats why in the camp we still have Corbs & marler LH cover and Cole and Stevens TH cover. it makes sense.

 

[j_remos]

It will depend on what team Lancaster picks as to wether i feel quietly confident or just doomed.
It will be hard for England thats for sure. Its difficult to bring a squad together this quick but it the future we should be looking too, so a performance is key.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

England:
15. Ben Foden, 14. Chris Ashton, 13. Brad Barritt, 12. Owen Farrell, 11. David Strettle, 10. Charlie Hodgson, 9. Ben Youngs, 1. Alex Corbisiero, 2. Dylan Hartley, 3. Dan Cole, 4. Mouritz Botha, 5. Tom Palmer, 6. Tom Croft, 7. Chris Robshaw, 8. Phil Dowson.
Replacements:
16. Rob Webber, 17. Matt Stevens, 18. Geoff Parling, 19. Ben Morgan, 20. Lee Dickson, 21. Jordan Turner-Hall, 22. Mike Brown


Very "meh" side, but I suppose it's the best side they could put out from the EPS (minus the backrow, which is pretty poor.)

 

[Seaton]

discion .

They pluck out mine eyes!


I have just seen a certain Mr Clancy shall be taking charge of this game.

Oh joy. How lucky are we? What's next, an explosion in the sewage piping? Snowstorm that stops all the trains going to Edinburgh? A competent team selection by the English? It just keeps getting better and better.

 

[HowieLO6]

In a word, yes. The man seems to think that kicking is the only aspect of rugby that is in any way important. Expect Scotland to be incredibly one dimensional with Parks at 10.

For me, its his sideburns that bring him down. Way down.

He's been part of a Scotland generation that had minimal talent and had no choice but to play a territorial game, rather than attacking, ball-in-hands rugby. Now that that is beginning to change, it's clear that he doesnt fit with the modern ethos of rugby. But why isn't the young kid, who's name i forget, starting at 10?

 

[Teh Mite]

On the plus side (from a Scottish perspective), George Clancy won't let a good game of rugby ever get in the way of his hatred of the Sassenach.

 

[retardedgenius]

For me, its his sideburns that bring him down. Way down.

He's been part of a Scotland generation that had minimal talent and had no choice but to play a territorial game, rather than attacking, ball-in-hands rugby. Now that that is beginning to change, it's clear that he doesnt fit with the modern ethos of rugby. But why isn't the young kid, who's name i forget, starting at 10?

which young kid, jackson who played in the wc is injured and dont know why weir isnt playing, also laidlaw has been $$$$ hot for edinburgh this year so we arnt exactly short of stand offs at the moment

 

[TRF_heineken]

What is up with this new trend in england to play South African Born players more and more?? first the cricket and now the Rugby...

I counted 3 South African born players in the 22 for England...

Sad state of affairs for England... Those guys weren't good enough to play for SA, but are good enough to play for England.

Go you Scots!!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yet two of the three have English parents...