6N Scotland v England
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England are a bit of an enigma at the minute. They've got some really good players and do some things well, but they switch off at crucial moments in matches and they seem less than the sum of their parts. I'm not sure about Jamie George as Captain and Freddie Steward must be somewhere in that back three.
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@MiketheSnow said in 6N Scotland v England:
I feel ill writing it, but I hope England smash Scotland
I’m glad this post aged like it did
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Coulda, shoulda even maybe for England but Scotland showing the greater composure and way more clinical when it really mattered. I think England are beginning to find a team but are still somewhat shackled.
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@MN5 said in 6N Scotland v England:
@MiketheSnow said in 6N Scotland v England:
I feel ill writing it, but I hope England smash Scotland
I’m glad this post aged like it did
Huge swing when Russell’s abortion of a kick which went 30 m behind him should have been capitalised upon by England but the bounce and broken field running led to Merwe’s try from a better kick from Russell
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@Catogrande said in 6N Scotland v England:
I think England are beginning to find a team but are still somewhat shackled.
I watched it in a pub in Crawley full of English fans and there was some optimism evident but no one really seemed to think that England was capable of winning. Good crowd though (probably due to beer not rugby).
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I am so so sick of us being shit and physically unable to actually play rugby - passing and catching seems to be beyond most of them.
Saw a tweet from Healey that summed it up for me, with all the time they’ve spent together why do they play like strangers, why is the timing so off? More simply though, why do they look as though they’re concentrating too hard to remember every action of a specific script rather than see a chance and play for it? These guys were presumably the best players at their school, the best players at their clubs, why can’t they pass and catch?!
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I really think that there is a big element of a lack of expectation/belief in England fans currently and I include myself in that. However I felt that in that game, we really could have sneaked it but confusion and individual errors, the latter likely caused by the former made it very difficult. That’s not to take anything away from the Sweaties, who executed very well. I do see some encouraging elements but still have fairly low expectations. There are some elements that I get quite despondent on.. ie when Spencer came in for Care he did little else than box kick. That’s not his strength and not really how he plays for Bath. So what is the rationale? If you want a box kicking 9, then pick the best kicking 9, don’t pick “your best 9” and then make him play a different game. Square pegs in round holes.
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@Dodge said in 6N Scotland v England:
These guys were presumably the best players at their school, the best players at their clubs, why can’t they pass and catch?!
They didn't seem to be relaxed or enjoying themselves - looked a bit flat. Considering they did OK at RWC the team as a whole seemed to be lacking a bit of belief in each other - Ollie Lawrence & Slade in particular.
Hopefully things will gel as Borthwick develops his team.
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@Dodge said in 6N Scotland v England:
I am so so sick of us being shit and physically unable to actually play rugby - passing and catching seems to be beyond most of them.
Saw a tweet from Healey that summed it up for me, with all the time they’ve spent together why do they play like strangers, why is the timing so off? More simply though, why do they look as though they’re concentrating too hard to remember every action of a specific script rather than see a chance and play for it? These guys were presumably the best players at their school, the best players at their clubs, why can’t they pass and catch?!
You should look into getting a couple of South African wingers. Makes all the difference.
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@Dodge said in 6N Scotland v England:
I am so so sick of us being shit and physically unable to actually play rugby - passing and catching seems to be beyond most of them.
Saw a tweet from Healey that summed it up for me, with all the time they’ve spent together why do they play like strangers, why is the timing so off? More simply though, why do they look as though they’re concentrating too hard to remember every action of a specific script rather than see a chance and play for it? These guys were presumably the best players at their school, the best players at their clubs, why can’t they pass and catch?!
I get the frustration. I completely empathise with it.
Life as a rugby fan eh?!Depends on your timeline, but as a Bok fan I fear England in the next RWC.
Given the playing personnel, and importantly the coaching personnel which now includes Felix (bloomin genius) I believe England will be a real force. It will just take a bit of time to move on from Jones and learn new playing structures.
Patience... from fans especially, and you may well get rewards.[Disclaimer: I hope I am utterly delusional and England sucks at RWC 2027]
