International Rugby

[Proposition Joe]

If England's disjointed performances are put down to rustiness, because it's early season and the squad need to get used to each other again, why do Scotland look so "on it"?

[nigel]

If England's disjointed performances are put down to rustiness, because it's early season and the squad need to get used to each other again, why do Scotland look so "on it"?

And how are Scotland getting on?
Not quite 'On it' 

[PaulWinch again]

Such a weird game, but Itoje was magnificent and when fit he should be on for as long as he possibly can be.

[PaulWinch again]

He gets a lot of stick but Care was excellent when he came on.

[nigel]

Thought Lawes and Launchbury were excellent.

I happen to like the Youngs/Care number 9 partnership, too. Yes I know they're not everyone's cup of tea, but, for me they work.

[paul_e]

Thought Lawes and Launchbury were excellent.

I happen to like the Youngs/Care number 9 partnership, too. Yes I know they're not everyone's cup of tea, but, for me they work.

I think either of them look good coming on later in the game because they're quick and like to attack around the fringes.  With a pack as mobile as ours the cover defence is usually fucked after an hour so a fresh 9 can find loads of space.  The issue for me is that whichever of them starts our game looks disjointed because they don't create quick ball for the 10 and until it breaks up that makes us a little 1 paced and predictable.

That's why I'd like to see Robson in place of one of them becaue I think he's got a more rounded game and that he will find a 10 standing flat with quick ball, which would work really well with Ford.

[taylorsworkrate]

Thought the officials had an excellent game yesterday. Got all the major decisions spot on

[Dante Lavelli]

Credit to Scotland.  I doubt NZ were expecting a game of that intensity despite what they've said afterwards. 

[PaulWinch again]

NZ are showing slight signs of weakness of late.

[paul_e]

Credit to Scotland.  I doubt NZ were expecting a game of that intensity despite what they're said afterwards. 

Yep, only watched the highlights but there's some pretty horrific decisions in that one.

Not giving the NZ wing a yellow for taking Hogg in the air was a piss poor decision.  Not only did he take him in the air but it was also a body check with no attempt to wrap the arms.
After that there's the yellow card for Cane which was clear as day but really should've been a penalty try.  By just giving the yellow it didn't change their appraoch, a penalty try would've made them compete legally.
They did it again for the Crockett yellow and then again for the Read/Gray incident (here - https://youtu.be/PI64vURdk1g?t=2h1m10s - Read lying on the floor bats the ball out of his hands when he's a step away from scoring right in front).  Between the lot of them yes NZ were punished but the time that it wasted worked in their favour because they had a big enough lead to just focus on the clock.

[nigel]

Credit to Scotland.  I doubt NZ were expecting a game of that intensity despite what they're said afterwards. 

Yep, only watched the highlights but there's some pretty horrific decisions in that one.

Not giving the NZ wing a yellow for taking Hogg in the air was a piss poor decision.  Not only did he take him in the air but it was also a body check with no attempt to wrap the arms.
After that there's the yellow card for Cane which was clear as day but really should've been a penalty try.  By just giving the yellow it didn't change their appraoch, a penalty try would've made them compete legally.
They did it again for the Crockett yellow and then again for the Read/Gray incident (here - https://youtu.be/PI64vURdk1g?t=2h1m10s - Read lying on the floor bats the ball out of his hands when he's a step away from scoring right in front).  Between the lot of them yes NZ were punished but the time that it wasted worked in their favour because they had a big enough lead to just focus on the clock.

Haven't seen highlights, but, it sounds like NZ getting punished only in poor field position for Scotland, never when NZ could be punished with points.
Read is becoming the new McCaw, gets away with anything!!

[paul_e]

Credit to Scotland.  I doubt NZ were expecting a game of that intensity despite what they're said afterwards. 

Yep, only watched the highlights but there's some pretty horrific decisions in that one.

Not giving the NZ wing a yellow for taking Hogg in the air was a piss poor decision.  Not only did he take him in the air but it was also a body check with no attempt to wrap the arms.
After that there's the yellow card for Cane which was clear as day but really should've been a penalty try.  By just giving the yellow it didn't change their appraoch, a penalty try would've made them compete legally.
They did it again for the Crockett yellow and then again for the Read/Gray incident (here - https://youtu.be/PI64vURdk1g?t=2h1m10s - Read lying on the floor bats the ball out of his hands when he's a step away from scoring right in front).  Between the lot of them yes NZ were punished but the time that it wasted worked in their favour because they had a big enough lead to just focus on the clock.

Haven't seen highlights, but, it sounds like NZ getting punished only in poor field position for Scotland, never when NZ could be punished with points.
Read is becoming the new McCaw, gets away with anything!!

Yep, there was one earlier where Read rolls into a ruck from the side and holds the ball in whilst they setup the counter-ruck and you could see him watching for the ref the entire time.  This is why I struggle to give NZ the praise that most do, for all their quality in the backs they're the dirtiest pack in the world by a long way and have been for years.

[paul_e]

So England game is looking almost over after 10 minutes.  12-0 but totally dominant and very nearly had another but for a marginal forward pass.  As I was typing that though you had a bit of desperate defence on our own loan.

[paul_e]

and there's the try back, came from some really poor play by Ewels from the restart.

[paul_e]

up to 22-7 and England are getting back into control after being a little flustered by the silly play to concede.