Article: The Original Rugby Championship - Six Nations 2016
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<p>Well i didn't expect any of that. Great first 60 by England followed by a poor last 20 and the reverse for Wales. Eddie suggested his substitutions may have been a mistake - it certainly coincided with England's defence falling apart under some decent Welsh pressure.</p>
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<p>Still. Triple Crown. :yes:</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="564295" data-time="1457805562"><p>England win 25-21. Wales left it too late.<br><br>
Mario Itoje had an absolute stormer. He looks World Class already, but I suspect his long-term future is at 6 rather than Lock. He could develop into one of England's greatest ever players.</p></blockquote>
Yep, I've probably said it 3 times on this thread already, but Itoje is a 6 for me. He can play lock very well, but his size may mean that he struggles against the biggest guys in that position (eg someone like Etzebeth).<br><br>
For now, he's shown that he must start. So if everyone is fit, it comes down to whether we prefer:<br>
4. Itoje<br>
6. Robshaw<br>
or<br>
4. Launchbury<br>
6. Itoje.<br><br>
I'd prefer the latter, and would start with that vs France.<br><br>
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Wales were woefully poor in that game, looking totally off the pace.<br>
Wales' gameplan is based on a strong defence, when so many players miss tackles the whole thing falls apart.<br>
England could & should have been 40 points up at the end, quite how they almost lost it in the last 10 minutes is shocking.<br>
Gatland really needs to leave out some of his "regulars" like Cuthbert & Baldwin. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pooler fan" data-cid="564301" data-time="1457812540"><p>
England could & should have been 40 points up at the end, quite how they almost lost it in the last 10 minutes is shocking.</p></blockquote><br>
Playing the last 10 mins with a man short, against a naturally skilful (but stifled by Warrenball) team playing Hail Mary rugby. Not that shocking. -
North definitely didn't look to be in touch when he offloaded at the death. But that's only with the benefit of slo-mo, I can see why the TJ flagged it.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Disgusted of TW" data-cid="564304" data-time="1457813287">
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<p>North definitely didn't look to be in touch when he offloaded at the death. But that's only with the benefit of slo-mo, I can see why the TJ flagged it.</p>
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<p>True, but then Cole definitely looked to have grounded it in the first half but I can see why the try wasn't given.</p>
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<p>TBH more gutted with Brown butchering the try a little earlier. Just dumb.</p> -
One of the better ones from this 6N. <br><br>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Disgusted of TW" data-cid="564303" data-time="1457813005"><p>Playing the last 10 mins with a man short, against a naturally skilful (but stifled by Warrenball) team playing Hail Mary rugby. Not that shocking.</p></blockquote>
The point I was trying to get was England should have been so far ahead the final 10 minute flurry wouldn't have mattered. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pooler fan" data-cid="564361" data-time="1457853750"><p>The point I was trying to get was England should have been so far ahead the final 10 minute flurry wouldn't have mattered.</p></blockquote>
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Oh, no debate there, pooler. Still plenty work for Eddie to do -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Disgusted of TW" data-cid="564364" data-time="1457855756"><p>Oh, no debate there, pooler. Still plenty work for Eddie to do</p></blockquote>
I just hope this gives Gatland a wake up call. Not holding my breath though.[emoji6] -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="564330" data-time="1457826953"><p>True, but then Cole definitely looked to have grounded it in the first half but I can see why the try wasn't given.<br>
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TBH more gutted with Brown butchering the try a little earlier. Just dumb.</p></blockquote>
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Yes, if either Nowell or Watson had been in the same position, I'm sure they would have sprinted straight for the corner. But I think Brown did have his best England game for a long while -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pooler fan" data-cid="564365" data-time="1457855858"><p>I just hope this gives Gatland a wake up call. Not holding my breath though.[emoji6]</p></blockquote>
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He needs to refresh his coaching team, at least. Dump Howley and McBryde. Edwards probably has time left on the clock, but those missed tackle stats from the first half were poor. -
<p>Improved Rugby all round so far this weekend. The better weather is surely a factor here. My suggestion would be to re-jig the season so that the Six Nations starts at the beginning of March and is then played over 5 out of the next 6 weekends until mid-April.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="564368" data-time="1457856743"><p>Improved Rugby all round so far this weekend. The better weather is surely a factor here. My suggestion would be to re-jig the season so that the Six Nations starts at the beginning of March and is then played over 5 out of the next 6 weekends until mid-April.</p></blockquote>
Definitely, the 6 nations should be the culmination of the N/H season. Which in turn would make our summer tours straight off the back of the tournament (more or less).<br>
You're never going to get the clubs to agree even though you'd think it'd mean less disruption for them too.<br>
Far too sensible[emoji6] -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="564338" data-time="1457829095">
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<p>One of the better ones from this 6N.<br><br>
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<p>T'was a great try alright. Some might qualify it it by saying "Well, Italy", but you still have to see the plays and make the passes stick. It was great to watch as a neutral. Best try of the championship so far and unlikely to be bested.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Disgusted of TW" data-cid="564367" data-time="1457856228"><p>He needs to refresh his coaching team, at least. Dump Howley and McBryde. Edwards probably has time left on the clock, but those missed tackle stats from the first half were poor.</p></blockquote>
Totally agree on Howley & McBryde. Things need freshening badly. We have talent coming through, the U20's stuffed England on Friday night & are on course for a grand slam. But you get the feeling these guys will get stifled at senior level. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pooler fan" data-cid="564372" data-time="1457858076">
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<p>Totally agree on Howley & McBryde. Things need freshening badly. We have talent coming through, the U20's stuffed England on Friday night & are on course for a grand slam. <strong>But you get the feeling these guys will get stifled at senior level.</strong></p>
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<p>Galling if that happens pooler. Luckily this has never occurred with England. Oh wait...</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pooler fan" data-cid="564361" data-time="1457853750"><p>The point I was trying to get was England should have been so far ahead the final 10 minute flurry wouldn't have mattered.</p></blockquote>
Its baffling that England only rack up 25 points in an uncontested training run for 70 minutes and even more baffling that they manage to concede 7 points on that same run. <br>
If Wales played like that against any of TRC teams, they would have been Down 40-0 at the time they showed up -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="564373" data-time="1457858505"><p>Galling if that happens pooler. Luckily this has never occurred with England. Oh wait...</p></blockquote>
England to a certain extent can afford to let talented youngsters slip through the net on times because of the sheer number of players.<br>
Wales (and the other Celtic nations) have a painfully shallow pool of players to choose from. <br>
We can't afford too many mistakes in player development unfortunately. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="saulityvi" data-cid="564388" data-time="1457868234"><p>Its baffling that England only rack up 25 points in an uncontested training run for 70 minutes and even more baffling that they manage to concede 7 points on that same run. <br>
If Wales played like that against any of TRC teams, they would have been Down 40-0 at the time they showed up</p></blockquote>
At the very least I'd say. If Wales play remotely near that standard on the NZ tour this summer we'll lose every test by well over 50 points.
