Article: The Original Rugby Championship - Six Nations 2016
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="556877" data-time="1454784240"><p>
In the end Eng vs Scot turned into a bit of a dirge.<br><br>
England basically ground Scotland down, who made too many unforced errors.<br><br>
TBH I saw zero difference between a Lancaster coached England and a Jones coached one.</p></blockquote>
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How surprising -
Dour game, as the Calcutta Cup, particularly at Murrayfield, so often is.<br><br>
I thought both Vunipolas & Nowell looked good for England, and Haskell, while still definitely not a real 7, did a good job of defending the gainline and securing our ruck ball in attack.<br><br>
The balance of the backrow and the inside backs is still off though, and Jones has pretty much said he will experiment against Italy. On that showing, Ford and Robshaw look to be under pressure. <br><br>
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk -
<p>I'll take that first up. Wasn't pretty, but Eddie's only had a couple of weeks with them. What could have been a tricky away fixture ended up being fairly comfortable in the end and the defence was very good throughout. Scotland never really looked like scoring a try.</p>
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<p>Obviously plenty to work on and perhaps a few changes to be made for the Italy game.</p> -
Maybe Billy V's best game for England, imho. Also liked the speed with which the ball reached the No.8's feet on England's feed; a few times neither Billy nor Care seemed to know how to use it for the best, but at least the hooking part of the equation has improved. Hartley was good all round.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="TeWaio" data-cid="557087" data-time="1454837934"><p>I have criticised Billy V loads in the past but he was bloody good. Still looks too fat, but it seems to work (Piri/Waldrom/Savea)</p></blockquote>
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Horses for courses. A slow, attritional game like the one yesterday suited Billy V down to the ground, but a fast-paced game against Australia, South Africa or New Zealand playing expansive Rugby would leave him gasping for air. <br><br>
That said, he was deservedly Man of Match yesterday and seemed genuinely enthusiastic when talking about Eddie Jones' leadership. It will be interesting to see if Eddie can work on Billy's conditioning and get him playing in the wide channels like Kieron Read. -
<p>Vunipola's conditioning is actually pretty good. He's never going to be a Kieran Read type in the wide channels as he just isn't quick enough.</p>
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<p>He played the full 80 and carried the ball 22 times (next was Brown with 12). In the 6N last year he regularly put in big 80 minute shifts, both in attack and defence. Beside carrying a lot of ball defensively his tackle count in that tournament was:</p>
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<p>Wales - 14 Made, 0 Missed</p>
<p>Italy - 17/1</p>
<p>Ireland - 13/1</p>
<p>Scotland - 14/1</p>
<p>France - 23/3</p>
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<p>And that's before you factor in the amount of ball he carried. He may have been more of a 60 minute player a few years ago, but I don't think that really holds true now. You may not see him breaking down the wing and his style may not suit every game, but he can definitely be effective.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Margin_Walker" data-cid="557097" data-time="1454841055"><p>
Vunipola's conditioning is actually pretty good. He's never going to be a Kieran Read type in the wide channels as he just isn't quick enough.</p></blockquote>You sum up perfectly to me what is wrong with English Rugby: the pigeon-holing players for what they are and failing to see what they might be. Billy Vunipola could play a wider and more effective game if his training schedule was focused on more than weights, weights and more weights.<br><br>
"Never" is a self-fulfilling prophecy. I am yet to see a player who can't get fitter or quicker through a hard-work over time. Richie McCaw, Ma'a Nonu and Dan Carter weren't the most naturally gifted players, they achieve greatness through determination, focus and sheer hard graft. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="557100" data-time="1454841602">
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<p>You sum up perfectly to me what is wrong with English Rugby: the pigeon-holing players for what they are and failing to see what they might be. Billy Vunipola could play a wider and more effective game if his training schedule was focused on more than weights, weights and more weights.<br><br>
"Never" is a self-fulfilling prophecy. I am yet to see a player who can't get fitter or quicker through a hard-work over time. Richie McCaw, Ma'a Nonu and Dan Carter weren't the most naturally gifted players, they achieve greatness through determination, focus and sheer hard graft.</p>
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<p>Billy started off playing for Wasps at 152kg. He now weighs 126kg and I'm pretty sure he will have shown a little graft and determination to get there. Personally think that he's actually at a pretty decent combination of size, power and endurance to be an effective 'tight' 8 and carry well in heavy traffic. Josh Beaumont is in the squad and is far closer in skill set to Read and will likely get an opportunity at some point.</p>
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<p>The three players you mention are all fantastic players, but I'd argue that Nonu is the only one that has gone through any profound transformation. McCaw and Carter were immensely talented from the start. Of course they improved, but I'd say that Billy has also improved since his first cap.</p> -
Carter started off as a half back, then a midfield back before switching to 10 and kept adding to his skills set.<br><br>
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Richie McCaw was far from a natural talent but had a massive hunger to learn and constantly reinvented his game to stay ahead. See what Steve Tew and Steve Hansen said on his retirement:<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="
The key thing was that they had in coaches like Robbie Deans, Graham Henry, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen, guys with a Growth Mindset who always challenged them to be the best they could possibly mean. Time will tell if Eddie Jones will get the best out of the likes of Billy Vunipola and other talents in his squad (England could win the 2019 World Cup if they have a coach able to get the maximium out of their players) or whether they will rest in contentment with narrow, dour wins away to Scotland. -
Early days with Eddie, so while not ecstatic with another dour, narrow win I'll take it. However I expect quite a few changes for a home match against Italy. <br><br>
Current centre pairing and back row doesn't work for me and if Eddie isn't prepared to take a few risks against Italy, then I can't see when he ever will. -
Well 13-10 ahead at halftime with this lineup will do me.
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Jeez. Out on their feet both teams. <br><br>
16-16<br><br><br>
Fair result. -
I know it is Round 1 and weather in the UK has been terrible in recent weeks, but that was dour, negative stuff again in the Ireland -Wales match. The British sides seem to be trying to turn the Rugby clock back to the mid-70s or early-80s with slow paced, pass and drive, pass and kick, safety first Rugby.<br><br>
Any excitement in this year's 6 nations looks like it will come from the closeness of the fixtures rather than the quality of the Rugby on offer.<br><br>
The gulf between the Hemispheres in terms of Rugby skills and attacking nous is getting wider and wider and wider. -
<p>Crap but deserved result for both Wales and Ireland.</p>
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<p>Wales have learned nothing offensively since the WC despite the return of Liam Williams and Jonathan Davies. Wtf are you doing Howley?</p>
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<p>Priestland confirmed to me why he should be nowhere near the side.</p>
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<p>Great preformance from our young front row. Destroyed the Irish scrum.</p>
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<p>A player like Matthew Morgan or Sam Davies has to come into the frame for the Scotland match.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="557120" data-time="1454870172"><p>I know it is Round 1 and weather in the UK has been terrible in recent weeks, but that was dour, negative stuff again in the Ireland -Wales match. The British sides seem to be trying to turn the Rugby clock back to the mid-70s or early-80s with slow paced, pass and drive, pass and kick, safety first Rugby.<br>
Any excitement in this year's 6 nations looks like it will come from the closeness of the fixtures rather than the quality of the Rugby.</p></blockquote>
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Where are all these dour, negative coaches coming from... -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Disgusted of TW" data-cid="557122" data-time="1454870753"><p>
Where are all these dour, negative coaches coming from...</p></blockquote>Very early days to judge Eddie Jones. I guess he is trying to make England's defence and set piece world class, then he will work on the skills and attack. The Championship and the Grand Slam this year already look potentially achievable goals for the Tasmanian.<br><br>
It's ten years since Cotter coached in New Zealand and nine years since Gatland and Schmidt coached in New Zealand. I doubt any of them will be approached by NZRFU to come home any time soon based on their side's offerings this weekend. -
Actually I'm still feeling quite optimistic about Eddie. Looking for a few debutantes against Italy - if not now, when, etc. It's just a pity he hasn't got Slade available.
