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England are just dumb. Hate to use that word, but its the only way to describe their style (or lack of). A frustrating watch.
I'm watching on pirate feeds
Same old same old from England. No vision and no plan b. A wide pass or kick would have got them the try. If they cannot bully teams upfront then they have nothing to offer bar a bit of individual brilliance from someone.
The French players are no mugs and are playing with the hunger of players with something to prove.
I get he sense England have been surprised by the energy from France.
I have a feeling the French will run out of gas after 60 minutes - I hope not though
I think AA And Dez you have a point, it’s the usual England Issue of not being able to see what’s going on and switch to plan B. <span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">. </span>
All the rugby from France. England need a plan B if smashing them up front doesnt work!
Trouble is, they also cling to the expectation that smashing them up front, even if it hasn't worked in the first half, will eventually yield results by tiring the opposition(!), so the plan B doesn't arrive until things are a bit desperate in the 70th minute.
I have a feeling the French will run out of gas after 60 minutes – I hope not though
See above.
It's on France 2 if you can access it, French comms obviously
I have a feeling the French will run out of gas after 60 minutes – I hope not though
Not this again. there is no great fitness gulf in the top teams nowadays and defending takes more out of you than attacking!
England need to be less risk averse and less predictable
Not this again. there is no great fitness gulf in the top teams nowadays and defending takes more out of you than attacking!
The point is that England will be bringing on replacements as good as those on the pitch, whereas France will be digging deeper still into their pool of players
That was never a highbtackle, ref doing his best for england
Am I watching Wimbledon or Twickenham? For gods sake, England need a try, are kicking it away and Daley’s throwing it away far too early without committing players. Centre looks toothless as well. A really poor showing.
So, Farrell isn't a centre and can't kick goals. Good job he's still on the pitch though.
Bloody hell!
That's ridiculous! Can see England getting a quite undeserved win now 😆
Oof
No way - that was a pen to France
God intervening to correct things now.
Farrell took a bit hit early on - it's put his kicking radar off. I've seen it happen before
Thought this tournament was a bit of a damp squib, bit this finals weekends made up for it.
Good games topped of with a final to remember.
This has been a shit game for a non-afficionado, just who can kick it furthest before the oppo get bored and do something different. So far hasn't happened.
And yet, all of a sudden it's compelling watching.
Kicking 50/50 balls up in the air during sudden death is bonkers! Both teams doing it too.
Farrell took a bit hit early on – it’s put his kicking radar off. I’ve seen it happen before
Not sure it excuses him going in late on the kicker just now.
Oh my. Sorry France 😆
Good grief. Well done France for making a game of that, I’m exhausted.
Yeah - that was good.
Never in doubt 😉
Even as Itoje won that penalty as he stood up again his eyes were saying 'Oh *, chance for another Farrell *-up'
Well thats Prime cancelled!!
So how did we all do. Wales still shit no structure, no clue and no hope. England still very good but no progress I dont think, backs look a bit blunt without Tuilagi. France seem to be on the up and going places, Ireland going backwards, great pack little else and half backs aging. Scotland same old same old, Wales going back shouldnt hide that they arent going forward. Italy...slightly worse than Wales.
The teams split into two groups IMO over the autumn. Scotland and France used it to try out players - Scotland used 39 players this autumn. England Ireland and Wales went first choice as much as they could. Not sure about Italys selections - would you agree?
Scotland - tried out some combos and got a few guys debuts or back into the squad but some puzzles are no nearer solution - our best centre combo and back row combo
We beat Wales in Wales for the first time in 18 years - the only highpoint much tempered by the fact they broke out players - again!
One thing is clear. Townsend is not a international coach indeed we will not get any better with him at the helm
Scotland used 39 players this autumn. England Ireland and Wales went first choice as much as they could.
Wales used 40 apparently.
For me:
France look great and are exciting to watch.
England have a lot of strength, but they are somewhat complacent and perhaps one dimensional.
Wales are adrift, some promising new players, but a few rather old and broken. To my uneducated eyes, we have great players from numbers 6 to 15, but the players 1 to 5 are not to the same standard?
Scotland continue to improve. If they can just convince 3 or 4 more South Africans to come over they could be formidable.
I’m not sure what to make of Ireland. Kinda feels that Ireland and Wales together could make a good team, but they’d need a more experienced coach than either have.
Italy are exciting to watch and are imho making progress, they just need to be able to sustain it. Why they cannot I’m not sure, lack of depth I suppose.
Wales went first choice as much as they could
Sometimes I wonder if you watch any games, Wales have capped 240 000 new players this autumn.
Sheedy
Lloyd
Hardy
Botham
SLH
JBR Williams
Off the top of my head
Wales used 40 apparently.
SLH, Botham in a few years time, JBR Williams and Zammit look decent.
Scotland continue to improve
Errmmm - nope - we continue to regress or tread water at best. think back to 2017 and the great rugby we were playing even pushing NZ close and over that period we beat everyone ranked above us bar NZ and SA I think 4th in the rankings? Its a while now since we beat anyone above us.
surprised about the number of players Wales used. I stand corrected
Another one wondering what games you've been watching tj.
42 players used by Ireland.
Loads of new caps. New captain. New coaches.
Loads of combination experimentation.
Murray at 10.
Some things worked, lots didn't.
And a weird perseverance with Stockdale at fb.
Still better than Scotland, and can't beat England and France away.
And a weird perseverance with Stockdale at fb.
I really dont get that one at all!
Well, England vs France was a lot more exiting than I gave it credit for before the game. Great performance by the French kids, they managed to prove their worth convincingly for me and England were lucky to pull the win out of the bag.
Another cracking result by the Falcons against Wasps on Saturday. We've definitely lost the element of surprise against the Premiership big boys but our awesome lineout (100% on our own throw yet again, couple of Wasps throws stolen), strong scrum and hunger to win making the difference yet again. With a good kicking performance from Toby Flood this week adding the points we've got a really strong package. Who'd have thought we'd be 3 for 3 after playing Bath, Sale and Wasps? Next game on Friday for us is against Cardiff Blues in the ECC. Our next Premiership game isn't until we play Leicester on Boxing day at 'home'. What chance of a crowd at Kingston Park? We're in tier 3 at the moment so no hope of even the limited numbers that other teams will be enjoying - reviewed on the 16th I think.
How about your teams? Good weekend? Who've you got next?
Both Edinburgh and Glasgow have been totally stuffed by playing the pro14 during the autumn cup. We always lose loads of players to the national side but usually get some guys back for pro 14 games to get them match time if they don't play for the national side. this year we cannot do that because of covid bubbles and the timings of games. Glasgow are missing 24 players due to internationals and injury.
Both are already stuggling to get into european cup places!
England were lucky to pull the win out of the bag
Really? I wouldn't call that luck, I'd call it a good game.
Farrell had an off day with the boot and missed nine points before the end of regular time that he'd normally slot. France showed that they've finally got some depth again and you can see the influence of Shaun Edwards defence. Their defence on the line was very impressive to hold out multiple driving phases and not give up penalties. The France set piece has also improved a lot and they had some discipline. England did what all good teams should do, find a way to win even if it's not your best day. They regrouped at half-time and were more savvy about territory, kept France in their half at significant points and kept the pressure on them.
Not lucky in that luck won them a game but lucky in that they got the refs decisions go their way - the knock on that wasn't and so on. England looked toothless in attack. The game plan seemed to be just to kick the ball and wait for errors / play for penalties.
Farrell had an off day with the boot and missed nine points before the end of regular time that he’d normally slot.
apart from he is only kicking at 75% or so. His kicking has dropped off but he still is a good bet for the real pressure ones
Jesus christ the video with Alix Popham here is a tough watch.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55201237
huge implications for rugby because it look like its not just the serious blows to the head that cause this but all those repeated minor impacts and whiplashes so all tackling let alone ruck clearouts
Rucks are a nightmare...
Even a conventional low tackle seems able to give the micro trauma that ends up with dementia
I have wondered for a while if all the ex rugby players with MND are also (partly) attributed to trauma. I do not know but it does seem incidence of MND in rugby players is high
Rugby players are too big now. Reducing the number of subs would make a difference & reducing contact in training but I'm not sure what else can give done.
Lowering tackle height, raising ruck entry, bring back proper rucking and stop the jackal