But, Lydiate has certain strengths and skills that make him exceptional at what he does.
That's the point though - players can excel in the 6N with a limited skillset (good player though Lydiate is).
All Blacks can generally do it all.
Just for the record:
Post RWC 2003 Wales/Ireland vs Aus/SA/NZ
Won 10 Lost 58 Drawn 2
Wales: Won 3 Lost 38 Drawn 1
Ireland Won 7 Lost 20 Drawn 1
Ireland haven't actually done too badly with 4-4 against SA and 3-5-1 against Australia but it's still a poor return when you consider how Ireland have had a pretty decent side and both SA/Aus had periods when they were eminently beatable..
All true but it doesnt expain why you think England can win a world cup. Scotland have a better record v aus and sa than wales in recent years. It proves very little.
We only play well against good opposition a_a.
Hence why we're rubbish in the 6N.
What about in the last world cup?
Jesus, if England fans think England have played well against SH teams in recent seasons, their expectations are lower than I thought.
All true but it doesnt expain why you think England can win a world cup.
No, it doesn't but my previous post does. 😉
What those results suggest is that Ireland and Wales, even when they're pretty good, can't match up to the SH.
England have been pish against the SH since 2003 with a combined record of 9-33. However, they have greater room for improvement IMHO.
So to summarise Wales and ireland have been trying their best but england havent really so could be much better?
So to summarise Wales and ireland have been trying their best but england havent really so could be much better?
Er no.
We had a purple patch that ended with us winning the World Cup. There was however no succession planning, so when many of those key players retired and Clive's ego got bigger RC we were left in a huge hole that we're still stuck in 13 years later. Whilst we were floundering, the like of Wales and Ireland have got better and appointed some good coaches and have overtaken us. I hope there is light at the end of the tunnel but after so many false dawns I think we'll be waiting sime more. Not not that but Wakes particularly have found a style of play that suits them and has been successful whereas we've faff about between up the jumper and trying to fling it about like last 6N.
So to summarise Wales and ireland have been trying their best but england havent really so could be much better?
Exactly. 😉
Since someone was asking... How much of a bell end is Castro?
anagallis_arvensis - Member
What about in the last world cup?
Going out in a narrow loss against one of the finalists in a game that many (after the game and none before) thought we might have won?
I'll take that. We could with a following wind, have made the final and been completely humiliated by NZ. Better we went out as we did really. Still miffed by the Aussie penalty and no Scotland penalty at the ruck from the restart though.
@dd Head to head records, Ireland ditto. Never made a rwc semi final ? Argentina seem to be their bogy side.
England certainly have been trying to make another final since the last appearance in 2007, we've not been good enough. Wales should have won in 2011, that was their big chance with an outstanding side and only having to play NZ in the final
6 weeks every year. Once every four years. It's ok. I get it jamba.
Going out in a narrow loss against one of the finalists in a game that many (after the game and none before) thought we might have won?
England went out because they lost to Wales at home a game they should have at least drawn. A draw would have gotvthem through!
I dont think I have ever seen anything as comical and juvenile as that Castro stamp. A premiership wendyballer would be proud of that as his contribution to the fray 😀
Wales should have won in 2011, that was their big chance with an outstanding side and only having to play NZ in the final
What is the term? Jambafact?
We lost to SA, France and Aus in that worldcup. We neat Samoa and Ireland. Could have beaten France and played NZ in the final a team we have not beaten since 1953. We played to our level and could have made the final, theres nothing to suggest we could have won it.
Or... Started too slowly against SA and didn't finish far off, were robbed of the chance to beat France, sulked about our dear leader and didn't show up against Aus and would have given NZ a run for their money in the final as the ABs were trying their best to lose to France! Too many what ifs but it was doable with the wind in the right direction:) certainly more doable than it is likely to be for a long time to come which is what got my flippin hopes up at the time... although in reality in was never their WC to win as you say a_a so a fair result in the end. Still, I wouldn't mind if Wales could go back to playing that sort of attacking rugby with the current standard of defense...
Priestland and Shane ate the only really differences in attack. The team is much the same apart from Shane, Phillips, Adam and the Bennett. Shane is the only player we havent replaced with a similar standard.
It is also odd that players like Biggar and Roberts have been some of the form guys for Wales but equally are the style of player that hold a more fluid, attacking game plan back. I'd love to see a 2011 Priestland back again but it doesn't look like it will happen any time soon.
I'm not sure someone like Morgan is the answer to the missing Shane mojo as a lot of people seem to want but do wonder if 1/2p on the wing (assuming a decent FB alternative) could be close, getting back a smart, fast, niggly runner in the team.
Again though, what 1/2p does so well at fullback in defense pretty much eliminates all the attacking threat that got him first noticed when he broke on to the scene as he has so much work to do at the back. No idea what the solution is and if it was obvious I guess it would have already happened by now!
anagallis_arvensis - MemberEngland went out because they lost to Wales at home a game they should have at least drawn. A draw would have gotvthem through!
Indeed - but being neither Welsh nor English, I'll leave others to worry about that.
[url= http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/schools-rugby/neil-francis-bulls-medical-letter-misses-the-point-70-socalled-experts-lack-the-qualifications-necessary-34514849.html ]Neil Francis always has something to say and this article about the "doctors" who called for reduced contact in a letter last week is quite interesting reading...[/url]
There's some ummmm astonishing stuff in there, Albanach.
Aye your dead right there John
The only problem with Francis is that Copsey didnt hit him hard enough!
Neil Francis always has something to say and this article about the "doctors" who called for reduced contact in a letter last week is quite interesting reading...
Brilliant link, thanks for that Albanach.
I did question the quality of the academics on the other thread, but I didn't find the additional "colour".
I've read a lot of his pieces over the years - he generally has something of interest to say.
Cheers for the link. 🙂
Just watched saracens Northampton. Never seen a more depressing example of scrummaging. It seemed every scrum was just played for a penalty. Think the stat was 50% led to penalty. Two good teams but little expansive play as it was all about the penalty scrum.
I didn't find the additional "colour".
Indeed. Not nice.
Anyway, Lawes is out. That means Lunchboy is a shoo in for man of the match.
Tuilagi good for impact off the bench. Apparently.
All gone quiet here. You Englanders not confident? Will Tuilagi start and if so who plays 10?
Yep, not confident. I think the Welsh defence will cancel out our attack and the back row will make a mess of our breakdowns. Playing Tuilagi is too much of a gamble. He's probably currently only fit enough for a bench 'cameo' role at international level, but what if he has to come on after 5 minutes? Although I do think he'll be on the bench come Saturday. However I still think we might just edge it - ever the optimist.
Yep, not confident.
I started watching Eng v Wal in the 70's - I think it's been bred into me 😆 I used to have to answer the phone to my Dad's mate (with a 70's non-pc nickname relating to the river in Cardiff)
"No, sorry, Dad's out at the moment"
Still at least Steve Walsh has given up refereeing so it stops you Walshmen having that advantage.
You Englanders not confident? Will Tuilagi start and if so who plays 10?
No and No.
All gone quiet here. You Englanders not confident? Will Tuilagi start
Its Tuesday, what is there to say. No he'll come on as sub. Ford will start at 10. It should be a cracking game and as I posted before I expect Wales to improve massively from what we've seen so far, as such the result hangs in the balance. England to win the meaningless post RWC 6N but a Grand Slam is far from certain.
England to win the meaningless post RWC 6N but a Grand Slam is far from certain.
no 6N is meaningless, Autumn internationals are meaningless...
no 6N is meaningless, Autumn internationals are meaningless...
? 😯
it doesn't matter who/who is not confident - the only thing that matters is what happens on the pitch
I just can't decide who will give away the first daft England penalty that will make me bury my head in my hands - Farrell or Haskell?
Back row under pressure...
I don't get this six nations (pre/post rwc) are meaningless stuff! Meaningless to who? Definately not to 99.9% of the fans, definately not to the players or the coaches, so meaningless only to some sad individuals with some arbitrary yardstick on when a rugby game becomes legitimate?
Farrell or Haskell
Cole would be my pick
I expect Wales to improve massively from what we've seen so far
I don't see that they have any more to give. It's not like they are going to run in 5 tries past England all of a sudden. They have been executing their (limited) game plan almost to perfection and it'll be more of the same from them IMO
I expect Wales to improve massively from what we've seen so far
Jambafact, its not based on reality.
Wales unchanged 15. Charteris on bench. I'd have been tempted to start him, Webb replaces Lloyd Williams and Paul James replaces Gethin.
so meaningless only to some sad individuals with some arbitrary yardstick on when a rugby game becomes legitimate?
and also want to move rugby to become a summer sport, obvs not heard of 7s 😉
I can't have the 6N clashing with the TDF, it's bad enough that the end of the 6N clashes with the spring classics.
Ford will start at 10.
I'm not so sure. EJ's retained 5 centres in the Squad, including Burrell (I retract my earlier comment about him playing badly).
We know Ford is a defensive weakness, so surely EJ does too and we need to counter DD. Farrell has to be on the pitch for kicking duties. So could it be Farrell, Burrell & JJ to start with Tuliagi for impact in the last 20 - the latter is indicative of the current EJ game strategy.
