The Rugby Union Thread

digitalscream

VimFuego said:

I'd like to see some changes to England, bring in Pearson and start Cunningham South in the back row, Wabosi to get a start, drop care and bring in Spencer. Still think we'll lose, and lose royally, but it'll be more towards the team we want going forwards. 

I'd go further than that, and drop at least half the team.

We're too scared of losing, with the result that we're dribbling in new players who're being brainwashed with that "play to not lose" approach that's been part of the England culture for years, before they have a chance to put their own stamp on the game.

It just feels like every exciting new blood coming into the team quickly gets forced into the England way of doing things, and becomes another anonymous player that you barely notice.

fretmeister

Good.

crunchman

One of the Smiths needs to start at fly half.  We need to be looking to the future.

The bigger problem in the last match was scrum half though, and Ollie Lawrence's stone hands at centre.

fretmeister

crunchman said:

One of the Smiths needs to start at fly half.  We need to be looking to the future.

I'd give them half the game each and let them settle in a bit. None of that 5 mins at the end shit.

But, I would definitely want Finn with Mitchell whichever half it was. They work very well together.

VimFuego said:

I'd like to see some changes to England, bring in Pearson and start Cunningham South in the back row, Wabosi to get a start, drop care and bring in Spencer. Still think we'll lose, and lose royally, but it'll be more towards the team we want going forwards. 

Pearson and C-S would be good to see, but I agree with Bertie that Earl isn't really an 8. C-S might be though.

tbm

Stop talking up Ireland, ye w*nkers. One of the Smiths will come in and do a Cipriani in 2008. Comfortable 15 point win for England....

bertie

fretmeister said:

  but I agree with Bertie 

you do realise plagues of locusts are now sweeping the country,  shortly to be followed by drought (we've already had the floods I think)

Dr_Necessiter

crunchman said:

One of the Smiths needs to start at fly half.  We need to be looking to the future.

The bigger problem in the last match was scrum half though, and Ollie Lawrence's stone hands at centre.

There is only one now: Fin Smith is injured apparently. 

I just don't see England breaking down the Irish defence, they nilled Italy and only conceded one try to Wales. Scotland might do better than the other home nations but they have to get enough ball and territory to be competitive and that will take some doing.

fretmeister

bertie said:

fretmeister said:

  but I agree with Bertie 

you do realise plagues of locusts are now sweeping the country,  shortly to be followed by drought (we've already had the floods I think(

I did throw up a little when I typed that.

TJT1979

I hope they stick with Lawrence. Yes, he had a shocker last match but he's young, powerful and that's not something I've seen from him before so hopefully it's just a blip. Ford sent some shocking passes his way, as well.

I'd like to see Marcus and Mitchell start (although they might be rusty after being away). Cunningham-South, Feyi-Waboso as well. There's a chance we get bullied by Ireland but that's almost certainly going to happen anyway. Give them some proper game time, and target winning in Paris.

scrumhalf

I don't think that this is the game for England to be experimenting. It could end up a cricket score if they freeze. 

digitalscream

scrumhalf said:

I don't think that this is the game for England to be experimenting. It could end up a cricket score if they freeze. 

That's a distinct possibility no matter what they do, though.

camf

I admire your pessimism but I think England are a better team than that. 

Gassage

Dr_Necessiter said:

crunchman said:

One of the Smiths needs to start at fly half.  We need to be looking to the future.

The bigger problem in the last match was scrum half though, and Ollie Lawrence's stone hands at centre.

There is only one now: Fin Smith is injured apparently. 

No, he will train Thurs.

bertie

I was going to say "99"  but we'd loose that as well I think

fretmeister

The match clashes completely with the F1.

One will be on the TV And the other on my iPad. Not sure which way round I want it.

Big screen slaughtering by Ireland, or Verstappen just buggering off into the distance.

Tough choice.

bertie

@fretmeister ;; @VimFuego
Feyi-Waboso gets a start !!

England: Furbank; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Lawrence, Freeman; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, George (capt), Cole, Itoje, Martin, Chessum, Underhill, Earl.

Replacements: Dan, Marler, Stuart, Cunningham-South, Dombrandt, Care, M Smith, Daly.

VimFuego

yeah, saw that. Shame he didn't start Smith at 10, and I can't see the point of Care when Spencer offers more. But we'll see, hopefully they'll be signs of something good to come.

bertie

VimFuego said:

yeah, saw that. Shame he didn't start Smith at 10, and I can't see the point of Care when Spencer offers more. But we'll see, hopefully they'll be signs of something good to come.

we're going to get our craic well and truly widened,  so might was well give Care his 100th,  then he'll drop him

fretmeister

bertie said:

VimFuego said:

yeah, saw that. Shame he didn't start Smith at 10, and I can't see the point of Care when Spencer offers more. But we'll see, hopefully they'll be signs of something good to come.

we're going to get our craic well and truly widened,  so might was well give Care his 100th,  then he'll drop him

I had not thought about that.

Ok - I'd probably do that too.

Surprised that Steward isn't even on the bench.

ewal

Pleased to see George Horne get a start this weekend. He's our most attacking scrum-half, although he doesn't perhaps have Ben White or Ali Price's control. He seems to have gone for max mobility in the back row too.

It could just be, as Townsend says, to give White a rest, but I'm hoping it means we're going for speed at breakdown, heads up, open rugby.

Cam Redpath is the obvious choice at 12, but I remain curious to see Rory Hutchinson getting a shot, and Stafford Macdowall has looked good recently.