6N 2018
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Reaction in the papers seems to vary between realism and believing Eddie that it is just a little 'tough period'.
What got lost in the euphoria last year was that they could just as easily have been in a poor position in the 6N then as well with a couple of close escapes.
What looks to have happened is that the flaws were advertised last year and purchased by the opposition this year. Meanwhile England have done nothing to change either their style or mindset.
They went into that game yesterday knowing that they needed 4 tries yet (arrogantly?) decided that they would grind the French into playing like chooks instead of Roosters and reap the rewards late in the game. A risky plan that didn't come off at all.
I can't believe the debate in some quarters about the PT, with it being referred to as either a harsh call or 'unfair' (good old Kaplan again). You could show a clip of that PT in training videos as a correct call. In most games that would have been a YC if the tackle was in general play. When done against a player a metre from an open line the call is pretty simple.
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@crucial Hard to argue with any of that. Last season Ireland and to an extent Wales showed how to combat this England side and we have not addressed that issue. In some way injuries have impacted Eddie's options with Curry, Underhill, Vunipola, Simmonds and Haskell all being unavailable at one point or another. I think that this stretching of what is not particularly wide resources in the back row has seemingly forced Eddie to take a step backwards in the AIs and now in the 6N. Add on to that the fact that we have been playing with a lot less confidence since Ireland turned us over last year, leading to heads down rugby, ill discipline and general errors creeping in where they were absent previously.
It will be interesting to see how Eddie attempts to turn the ship around.
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@crucial PT was the correct call. Same thing happened in the Chiefs v Crusaders game. While I don't like the call, those are the rules right now.
My big gripe is with the deliberate pulling down of a moving maul just short of the tryline. That should at the very least be a yellow for me but if we are being consistent with what constitutes a PT, then a PT should be given for a maul collapse close to the line as well.
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Eddie's England reminds me of how Lancaster's England looked shortly before he got the boot.
They look tired, lacklustre and simply unfit. Mako Vunipola is just fat and constantly bores in. Hartley for all his faults is better than George, and is obviously the leader. England looked rudderless for most of that game. No threat on attack, France were able to confine them to the central channels, and all their attack consisted of was trucking it up the middle, or even worse running laterally across field. I would have expected something more from Eddie and the senoir players. Interesting to see how he addreses the attack structure in particular.
Having said all that, I fully expect England to come out and smack Ireland this week. -
@crucial PT was the correct call. Same thing happened in the Chiefs v Crusaders game. While I don't like the call, those are the rules right now.
My big gripe is with the deliberate pulling down of a moving maul just short of the tryline. That should at the very least be a yellow for me but if we are being consistent with what constitutes a PT, then a PT should be given for a maul collapse close to the line as well.
I agree. I guess that often the ref is only making an educated guess with the maul unless he clearly sees a transgressor. Even with scrum PTs there are a couple of chances given.
Even if you take away 'the way the law is currently ruled', what is the option in the scenario we saw yesterday? A penalty? A penalty and a YC but no PT? If you are the team that has just had a score stopped by foul play you'd think that was really unfair and it could/would also lead to deliberate infringing to get a second chance at stopping the score (especially at the end of games.
I get that it becomes very difficult to stop a player leading with the head or ducking/diving from 5 metres out. Maybe the rule could be tweaked as to not have an automatic PT unless a clear YC situation (as it would be anywhere on the field). Usually a duck is taken into consideration.
However, if a deliberate KO is considered a YC then surely any foul play stopping a try is a YC too and you still have to reward with the try.
Would like to see the try awarded at the place of the foul though and conversion still to be taken from there. At the moment you give away a player + 2 free points for the equivalent of what would be a penalty anywhere else on the field and that is what seems a bit unfair.
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@shadowtrooper said in 6N 2018:
Eddie's England reminds me of how Lancaster's England looked shortly before he got the boot.
They look tired, lacklustre and simply unfit. Mako Vunipola is just fat and constantly bores in. Hartley for all his faults is better than George, and is obviously the leader. England looked rudderless for most of that game. No threat on attack, France were able to confine them to the central channels, and all their attack consisted of was trucking it up the middle, or even worse running laterally across field. I would have expected something more from Eddie and the senoir players. Interesting to see how he addreses the attack structure in particular.
Having said all that, I fully expect England to come out and smack Ireland this week.I also think Farrell is a poor choice for captain given the style. What forwards are going to listen to a back telling them they need to step up their game?
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@shadowtrooper said in 6N 2018:
Eddie's England reminds me of how Lancaster's England looked shortly before he got the boot.
They look tired, lacklustre and simply unfit. Mako Vunipola is just fat and constantly bores in. Hartley for all his faults is better than George, and is obviously the leader. England looked rudderless for most of that game. No threat on attack, France were able to confine them to the central channels, and all their attack consisted of was trucking it up the middle, or even worse running laterally across field. I would have expected something more from Eddie and the senoir players. Interesting to see how he addreses the attack structure in particular.
Having said all that, I fully expect England to come out and smack Ireland this week.Why? Ireland are disciplined and structured. They are vulnerable out wide but not sure England have the wherewithal to « smack » Ireland.
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Interesting and exciting start to the Wales v Italy match.
Both sides trying to play positive, attractive rugby.
Wales leading 14-7 (2 tries to 1 try) with Wales having one try correctly disallowed for offside
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Italy controlling the match.
Dererved penalty to Italy but missed kick.
Wales 14 - 7 Italy
33 mins gone -
Match has gone off the boil.
Accidental offside against Italy.
Anscombe kicks the penalty.
Wales 17 - 7 Italy
38 mins gone -
Liam Williams gets yellow carded for a high hit. Reverses a Welsh penalty.
Very dubious IMHO.
Although there was no need to make the tackle.
Wales 17 - 7 Italy
Half time -
Wales score early with a man down.
Then Gareth Davies gets sin binned forca slap down.
Wales down to 13.
Wales 24 - 7 Italy
50 mins gone -
Liam Williams done for the day.
Halfpenny on
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60 mons gone
Aled Davies on for Gareth Davies, Patchell on for Anscombe.
Ken Owens and Rob Evans on in the front row
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Wales looking for the 4th try, a BP, and second place in the table.
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Parkes with his signature spin in the tackle and over.
TMO
No try.
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Great pass out of the tackle from Patchell to North for the fourth try and BP
Wales 31 - 7 Italy
67 mins goneEllis Jenkins on for James Davies, Seb Davies on for Cory Hill
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That's more like it. Letting the ball do the work and Tipuric is in at the corner
Wales 38 - 7 Italy
72 mins gone -
Good perseverance from Italy to go over in the corner
Wales 38 - 14 Italy
76 mins gone
