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    I think it's going to be a Scotland win today and not just because Hogg's seeking revenge for me 'dissing' you Buzzo

    I don't really see that Jones has solved all the issues from last week (though if England start playing from minute one rather than minute 40 it's clearly going to be an improvement).

    Youngs was awful last week and consistently took the wrong options. He's been good over the years but his time has come to move on. So I'm glad he's been dropped but I can't see that Heinz is much of an upgrade. There are far better in the Premiership, it's an absolute mystery why Jones thinks he should be the next cab off the rank.

    Although Ford did ok against France I don't much care for this '2 distributors' thing with Farrell at 12. Pretty much all the teams use a blitz defence these days so the benefit of two 10's only really accrues if play is split and it almost never was. I'd far rather see a more traditional 12 in place.

    Anthony Watson not being fit (again) is a blow and worse, means Furbank keeps his place. I'd move Daly back to FB (although his defence is a worry) and bring in Thorley. He's raw but he's a dynamic runner and provides a different dimension.

    Equally, retaining Curry at 8 is a poor call. He's far more effective on the flank and we missed a big ball carrier like Hughes or Dombrandt last week with him there. And if Jones doesn't want one of those guys then he would have been better off recalling Simmonds who doesn't have physicality but does have an X factor: not many 8's set off from the back of a scrum at the pace of a back.

    So not confident at all. If we lose it might be a good time for Jones to use the last three games to start introducing some more younger guys but I'm not sure that he would.

    Comment


      Lots of chatter on rugby sites that SA could be admitted to a 7 nations. Only source however is the Daily Mail
      Football without Origi is nothing

      Comment


        Originally posted by Cormack74 View Post
        I think it's going to be a Scotland win today and not just because Hogg's seeking revenge for me 'dissing' you Buzzo

        I don't really see that Jones has solved all the issues from last week (though if England start playing from minute one rather than minute 40 it's clearly going to be an improvement).

        Youngs was awful last week and consistently took the wrong options. He's been good over the years but his time has come to move on. So I'm glad he's been dropped but I can't see that Heinz is much of an upgrade. There are far better in the Premiership, it's an absolute mystery why Jones thinks he should be the next cab off the rank.

        Although Ford did ok against France I don't much care for this '2 distributors' thing with Farrell at 12. Pretty much all the teams use a blitz defence these days so the benefit of two 10's only really accrues if play is split and it almost never was. I'd far rather see a more traditional 12 in place.

        Anthony Watson not being fit (again) is a blow and worse, means Furbank keeps his place. I'd move Daly back to FB (although his defence is a worry) and bring in Thorley. He's raw but he's a dynamic runner and provides a different dimension.

        Equally, retaining Curry at 8 is a poor call. He's far more effective on the flank and we missed a big ball carrier like Hughes or Dombrandt last week with him there. And if Jones doesn't want one of those guys then he would have been better off recalling Simmonds who doesn't have physicality but does have an X factor: not many 8's set off from the back of a scrum at the pace of a back.

        So not confident at all. If we lose it might be a good time for Jones to use the last three games to start introducing some more younger guys but I'm not sure that he would.
        As ever with England it's the tight 5 that cause concern.

        Some strange selections elsewhere and looks a relatively lightweight back row.

        I also think Jones has as usual curled the fire this week with so
        the niggle chat. We've brought more than niggle in the last 2 Calcuttas.
        Last edited by Buzzo; 08-02-20, 12:54 PM.
        Modifying post.

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          I expect Furbank to be put under a lot of pressure.
          Modifying post.

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            Try has been coming but that kick
            Football without Origi is nothing

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              Great win - didn’t fancy us before the game and to get the bonus point was a superb effort.....away to England for a triple crown

              We’ll be big underdogs for that one

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                This is a game to be forgotten quickly
                Football without Origi is nothing

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                  Hogg a very very lucky boy
                  Football without Origi is nothing

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                    Good win in terrible conditions. Not sure I’ve ever seen so many errors in an international game.

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                      Worst conditions I’ve ever witnessed for a Rugby match.

                      Almost nothing to comment on.

                      Freezing cold. Squalling. Torrential rain. 50mph wind

                      Every time the ball went in the air was a lottery.
                      Modifying post.

                      Comment


                        Originally posted by Buzzo View Post
                        Worst conditions I’ve ever witnessed for a Rugby match.

                        Almost nothing to comment on.

                        Freezing cold. Squalling. Torrential rain. 50mph wind

                        Every time the ball went in the air was a lottery.
                        I went on a work junket to Gleneagles a couple of times - that pretty much describes the weather for all the golf I played there except windier

                        Comment


                          Originally posted by Irishnev View Post

                          We’ll be big underdogs for that one
                          The pundits on the BBC just said you would be favourites

                          Comment


                            Originally posted by Cormack74 View Post
                            The pundits on the BBC just said you would be favourites

                            Comment


                              Originally posted by ChesterDave View Post
                              Lots of chatter on rugby sites that SA could be admitted to a 7 nations. Only source however is the Daily Mail
                              A lot of talk around this, wouldn't be a fan of this at all, although I'm pretty sure it will happen sooner or later. It makes a sense administratively and because a lot of South African players are based in Europe, presumably this would extend to club rugby with the SA leaving Super Rugby. The time zones and jet lag factor of Super Rugby makes little sense for South African tours. Although when you consider the money and quality of competition it's essential. Obviously the summer/winter thing is also a bit of an issue - it's not pleasant playing rugby in a Southern Hem summer with 30+ degree temps, although the first month of Super Rugby is exactly that already, I guess.

                              On the plus it would screw up NZ because they'd need their own competition with Australia and presumably Japan. Would drastically drop the level of what their players are exposed to and the experience of a proper SA tour which are so vital for development.

                              Comment


                                Originally posted by Buzzo View Post
                                Every time the ball went in the air was a lottery.

                                Lottery was what it looked like on TV especially when Heinz, Ford and Daly were taking it in turns to kick the ball out on the full.

                                I wouldn't actually have cared if England had lost in those conditions because there seemed to be quite a lot of pot luck involved and I was just pleased that they played with a more intensity.

                                But actually you were right in your pre-match comment about England's front five. As it turned out the scrums in the last quarter were probably the difference.

                                And Stuart Hogg must be about to have an absolute blinder in the next match after what's happened in the last two. It's just a shame that FR looks increasingly unlikely to be part of this year's competition.

                                Comment

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