International Rugby

[paul_e]

This many basic errors is unacceptable and suggests a training issue to me.

We've got so much quality though that any time things click we look excellent.

Lawrence and Freeman have shown flashes of club form and should be the heart of the new backline going forward.

[paul_e]

Brilliant try, great from Freeman to get up after a big carry in midfield and get himself back on the outside.

[Pete3206]

Threw it away

[AV84]

That was a fun game to watch.

[nigel]

Great game
Maybe should have gone long with kick off after Freemans try.

England have progressed through through the tournament and shown a lot of promise

[dcdavecollett]

Intensely frustrating that two of France's tries came from our line-outs!!

[nigel]

Intensely frustrating that two of France's tries came from our line-outs!!

And if you go back to the Scotland game, two, or possibly three, of their tries came from our handling errors.
These didn’t happen vrs Ireland, and we won.

I know it doesn’t work out this way, but four errors cost us the Slam 😉

[paul_e]

England clearly improved as the tournament progressed but the basic errors never got addressed. I still have concerns at how much of the attacking was off the cuff which leads to things like Care kicking away possession with a couple of mins on the clock and England trying to protect a lead.

We havea huge amount of quality in the squad but I'm still not convinced Borthwick will be able to consistently make use of that.

It'll be interesting to see which players walk away now though because we have major problems at prop if Cole and Marler both go and there's a big decision to be made at 9 behind Mitchell.

[nigel]

The two prop positions do worry me.
Cole and Marler, as good as they have been, should be no where near starting.
Genie is hot and cold, Sinkler has disappeared and, whereas, Will Stewart is decent enough but, for me, just misses something.
To be fair I might be way off, I didn’t dabble in the dark arts when I was playing.

Hooker we’re fine. George is still excellent while Dann is more than capable.

[PaulWinch again]

Clearly the last two performances have given some reasons for optimism, but for me I need to see this sustained and built upon. I’ve been burnt by false dawns too many times!

[paul_e]

The two prop positions do worry me.
Cole and Marler, as good as they have been, should be no where near starting.
Genie is hot and cold, Sinkler has disappeared and, whereas, Will Stewart is decent enough but, for me, just misses something.
To be fair I might be way off, I didn’t dabble in the dark arts when I was playing.

Hooker we’re fine. George is still excellent while Dann is more than capable.

I disagree on Stuart, I think he's miles short of the quality you need at international level. However we have very few experienced options. Personally I'd have liked to see more of Obano and something of Heyes in this 6N because they're the obvious choices to replace the retirees. I think we'll see Baxter (from Quins) soon as well and then there's a couple of U20 lads who might end up around the squad in the next 18months.

[nigel]

The two prop positions do worry me.
Cole and Marler, as good as they have been, should be no where near starting.
Genie is hot and cold, Sinkler has disappeared and, whereas, Will Stewart is decent enough but, for me, just misses something.
To be fair I might be way off, I didn’t dabble in the dark arts when I was playing.

Hooker we’re fine. George is still excellent while Dann is more than capable.

I disagree on Stuart, I think he's miles short of the quality you need at international level. However we have very few experienced options. Personally I'd have liked to see more of Obano and something of Heyes in this 6N because they're the obvious choices to replace the retirees. I think we'll see Baxter (from Quins) soon as well and then there's a couple of U20 lads who might end up around the squad in the next 18months.

That’s what I mean, regarding Stuart.
He’s obviously a decent prop, but there’s something missing when he plays internationally.