This is the prennial problem for england. They need some short term pain to build good young experienced players. Look at players like Robshaw and Brown, been around a few years but not got half the experience of 1/2p or Warburton who are a couple of years younger whereas the england pair are more like 29. Its the same throughout the teams.
Mark Cueto gets an mbe for services to whinning over disallowed tries and eye gouging.
Well here we are 4 weekends before the 6N, and England don't have a team yet. Some players are out of contention with injuries, and some so called certs have been benched at club level in favour of better players (Hartley for one), some other players seem to be weaving to Eddie Jones style (Cipriani/Itoje/Kruis/Daly/Kvesic) attacking play.
This is going to get interesting with Sarries unbeaten, Leicester going backwards and Exeter/Wasps/Quins/N'hamton all playing decent attacking rugby.
About time he made some decisions...
N'hamton all playing decent attacking rugby.
Really I must have missed that.
Yes sorry that was an error on my part.
A lot of pundits seem to be advocating a great number of Saracens players based on their totally dominant start to the season. THis is folly. Just because they're the best club side doesn't mean those players will do the same for England.
I think Ron Greenwood tried the same with Liverpool players when they were masters of Europe - it didn't work.
Eddie Jones can't possibly have time to know his best team by 6th February. It'll have to be a work in progress this season.
Kryton57 - Member
Leicester going backwards
Apart from playing the best rugby they've played for years and only having lost two games all season?
Granted we got humped at the weekend but then having rested a good chunk of the team it was kind of expected.
The EPS announcement isn't scheduled until the 13th, leaving 2 weeks for squad to train together and learn their new coaches / style. I wouldn't hope for much this 6N apart from some experimentation. England 3rd I in this tournament at best, probably 4th.
Chips tipped as the 3rd FH, which I think is something Jones would go for.
Yes a work in progress and is building for next WC there will be some losses some disasters etc, it is whether the paymasters will accept some defeats, whether the press will allow him the time to develop a team and most importantly whether england rugby fans can see the bigger picture or just turn on the team.
Anyone see Dr Jaws tweet about Brown 😆
No, enlighten us?
Jamie Roberts @Jamiehuwroberts
Dear the Welsh.This guy wants you to know he's actually an alright bloke.he's keen to improve Anglo-Welsh relations
To which Joe Marler and Mike Brown responded with the below
Joe Marler ?@JoeMarler 7h7 hours ago
.@Jamiehuwroberts nah mate, the Welsh have it right, he's a sh*thouse bloke.
mikebrown_15 7h7 hours ago
@JoeMarler @Jamiehuwroberts the Welsh only like you because you helped them win a championship in 2013 #LickedOut @adamjones3 says thanks!
Eddie Jones can't possibly have time to know his best team by 6th February. It'll have to be a work in progress this season.
I wouldn't worry. They've scraped by without the head coach picking the team for a while now by all accounts 😀
Agreed - the other thing to note is that there are only allowed something like 10 changes in the EPS - so wholesale changes simply aren't on the cards. Do expect the injured - May, Manu, Slade etc to be picked though as there's injury dispensation so you effectively get to try someone else out for free.
I genuinely think it'll be mostly the same squad, one or two notable absentees, and no real surprises. Then somehow they'll start playing better than they were and will be touted as world beaters - util they loose to Wales and Ireland in which case we'll be 'learning lessons' that somehow will let us sneak past a crap French side whereupon we'll praise Eddy Jones for being a tactical genius!
.... somehow they'll start playing better than they were and will be touted as world beaters - util they loose to Wales and Ireland in which case we'll be 'learning lessons' that somehow will let us sneak past a crap French side whereupon we'll praise Eddy Jones for being a tactical genius!
That somehow appears to be an entirely likely scenario. 😆
Lol, good luck with that chaps:
I dunno, Kryton. I think it's good that coaches from the second tier nations are progressing in the game.
I dunno, Kryton. I think it's good that coaches from the second tier nations are progressing in the game.
? Is gatland going to be eddies assistant or something?
I see why you say progress, but you have to remember he'll only be a coach under Joe rather than Number One
Always thought he was a number two.
Can't see that lasting long. Not many backs fitting the Farrell ideal in Ireland that I can think of
Has Owen got an Irish granny then?
Eoin O'Farrelly.
DanW - Member
Can't see that lasting long. Not many backs fitting the Farrell ideal in Ireland that I can think of
Given the Farrell / Burgess saga, I think Sean O'Brian fits the bill quite nicely as an inside centre.
The best and worst of Sexton tonight.
Glorious kicking cross field and for position.
Shameful play acting, feigning injury to get a penalty.
Oh, and this young 7 at the 'Spreys, Sam Underhill, he's one to watch. Class.
What a belter of an East Midlands Derby.
Really wanted saints to steal it.
Barnes had an unusually good game too 😉
Good luck with that appointment Ireland 😯
Bit gutted I can't be at Stade F v Munster tonight (£10 a ticket) as we have a friends 50th and sadly the game is a late kick off, was hoping to go to match then quick change for the party 8)
Oh, and this young 7 at the 'Spreys, Sam Underhill, he's one to watch. Class.
I think I've mentioned him here before. English thoughbthe poor kid. Looks very promising though and only 19, to look goid in that shitehouse pack the Sprays put out takes some doing.
How is North going, he's been pretty poor for a while now.
Just got back from Exeter v Gloucester, pretty average game due to weather 😯 rain rain rain
Two points, the rolling maul is rubbish, how do you legally stop it? and if I go to a game and the ref wastes 10 minutes resetting scrubs I shall walk onto the field and hoof him in the slats. If they can't stay on their feet then card someone and get some players on the field who can.
From ****er
Fantastic comment from Wayne Barnes:
Ben Youngs "can I go quick sir?"
Barnes "no Ben your brother's having a fight"
North cut some cracking angles. Although he didn't have to do much other than chase his nose for his try.
I've found myself wondering if North is out of form, or if Saints aren't playing in a way that allows him to shine. Last game I saw of theirs, it was 50/50!
Well sort of glad I missed it, 14 men (for half the game) Stade hold Munster pointless till near the end. 27-7 weather dire tonight too, Irish conditions and all that.
Concussion for Kruis, he was nailed on for the 6N. Could be an opportunity for Beaumont.
nagallis_arvensis - Member
Oh, and this young 7 at the 'Spreys, Sam Underhill, he's one to watch. Class.
I think I've mentioned him here before. English thoughbthe poor kid. Looks very promising though and only 19, to look goid in that shitehouse pack the Sprays put out takes some doing
Very good, isn't he? I wonder whether England can use him properly, though. He's a proper 7 in the Welsh style and that doesn't fit well with how England have played in years. Wonder what Eddie will think of him.
Another Ospreys player worth watching was Owen Watkins, no 12. 19 years old and he showed Ben Teo some tricks.
Interesting red card for Stade's winger. Trying to gouge in full view of everyone in the stadium. I'd give him a huge ban for that.
And finally, I'm watching Ulster being minced by Oyonnax on the TV. They look terrible.
Just watching the prem highlights.....Andy Goode.....blimey, has he done anything other than eat during his time away!!!
Hair transplant.
Ha, Andy Food, made me chuckle!!!
he was in perfectly good condition when we let him go from wuss 😀
Just a little podgy and balding...
nteresting red card for Stade's winger. Trying to gouge in full view of everyone in the stadium. I'd give him a huge ban for that.
Haven't seen it but crowd did not like the sending off at all, Owens got a lot of stick and report I read suggested if that was a red card then so would most hand offs.
You can look at the YouTube replay. There's no reason for his hand to be moving around his face like that.
And I fancy Owens, so he can do no wrong 😳
If that's a hand off, my cock's a kipper.
Awful.
CFH thanks, didn't look that much in it to me but appreciate he's given Owens a chance to red card him.