Rugby Union Thread

[bertlambshank]

Well done Scotland!

Have they beaten the Aussies?

6-9 last kick of the game,in conditions that can only be described as 'wet and windy'.

[danlanza]

Great stuff. I love it when anybody puts one up the Aussies. Cricket soon!

[stuart r]

Unfortunate incident during the Scots celebrations:

[cheltenhamlion]

Not sure what to make of the new appointment at Glaws. Let's hope he gets them playing some decent stuff. The signings have been promising if nothing else.

[Dave Summers]

Not sure what to make of the new appointment at Glaws. Let's hope he gets them playing some decent stuff. The signings have been promising if nothing else.

Nigel Davies?.  He will be great for you CL.  Scarlets play the best rugby in Wales and the style closest to Glaws.  I would be feeling very optimistic for next year if I were you?

Seen that England have moved Foden to wing and brought in Brown at F/B.  Not sure about Foden on the wing to be honest, would like to have seen Wade.  Pleased Marler and Johnson are in though.

What price Wales and England away win double this Saturday?

[cheltenhamlion]

Don't get me wrong, the Scarlets play some decent stuff. I guess my concerns would be that he hasn't worked for anyone else.

To be truthful I have had something of a downer on everything Glaws related since they lost to Newcastle.

[PaulWinch again]

Youngs' box kicks really are poor.

[Jon Crofts]

Flood very predictable again, ball in hand, in a good position, kicks it away, that has to be cut out.

Habana looked like we gave him a good working over, they looked tired at the end but they haven't played together for 7 months, England need intensity in Jo'Burg next week.

[PaulWinch again]

I think we did alright to be honest and just lacked a bit of physicality. As I said before this tour it's more about progression than results, and they've done ok.

[richard moore]

Youngs' box kicks really are poor.

Aren't they just that, I really don't rate him at all. Physicality and intensity did for us plus a lack of creativity which is still there in the midfield but it was closer than I thought and there were some positive signs and performances. This is where you measure yourself, not in the Six Nations

[Dave Summers]

Flood very predictable again, ball in hand, in a good position, kicks it away, that has to be cut out.

Habana looked like we gave him a good working over, they looked tired at the end but they haven't played together for 7 months, England need intensity in Jo'Burg next week.

Flood?.  Are you sure?.  He didn't kick anything away from what I saw and in my view produced more in the last 5 mins when we had some decent attacking ball than Farrell did all game.   

Disappointed with the outcome as I really fancied us today.  We were just totally battered physically by the Boks though, especially in the first 20 mins of the second half.  I was at the last game at Twickenham, in the Autumn that we beat the Aussies and they did the same to us then and very similar today.

There were a few plus points though, I thought Johnson and Robshaw were outstanding.  I very much doubted whether Robshaw had it at the highest level, but he has proved me wrong.  Thought Parling was decent and Marler will have learnt a lot from his first cap.   Morgan roamed effectively until he ran out of puff.  Brown made a good return and was nice to see Tuilagi run over a few Boks.

As I have said numerous times on this thread our main problem is and remains 10/12/13.  I thought Barnes had it spot on about Farrell, he looks knackered and for his own good needs to be taken out of the firing line.  I'm not convinced by him at all to be honest, in a creative sense that is and as soon as Flood moved to 10 we were taking it to the gain line and looking more threatening.  Farrell stands 5 yds to deep for me and negates a lot of what Tuilagi could do, by standing that deep.   Barritt and Tuilagi are fine defensively but as creative and passing centres are too similar and we only need one of them.

If I can defend Youngs a little, I thought his sniping around the breakdown today was back to old and although some of his speed of delivery was slow, he was getting back to where he was.   Now his box kicking, his first two were crap no question, however if we take the kick for their second try, it was perfect it landed with Habana as Tuilagi got there.  THE PROBLEM WAS THE LACK OF A CHASE !!.  I don't think you can blame Youngs for that?.   I think our problem is we have 3/4 scrum halves of a similar standard and the ones who aren't playing always look better if the one starting has an average game.   That said, I would rather have all three than the numpty who plays for Wales.

So on to next week.   Same pack except I may bring in Corbs for Marler to shore the scrum up a bit.   I thought the pundits were a tad unfair to Morgan, considering he hasn't played for some weeks.  He will be better for the run out. 

Same back three, although not a fan of Foden on the wing and it appears we are accommodating him and Brown rather than picking the best 15?.

Now the nitty gritty.  My half backs and centres would be Youngs, Flood, Tuilagi and Joseph who was great in just 3 mins when he came on.

I wonder if Lancaster will try and sacrifice a bit of ballast for some creativity next week?.

[PaulWinch again]

I am not going to give up on Farrell yet, he's only 20 but I agree he does need to be taken out of the firing line. I'd have Youngs, Flood, Tuilagi and Joseph next week as well.

[Dave Summers]

I am not going to give up on Farrell yet, he's only 20 but I agree he does need to be taken out of the firing line. I'd have Youngs, Flood, Tuilagi and Joseph next week as well.

Neither am I Paul, but as I said for his own sake he needs a rest.   I do think though that George Ford will be our long term 10 and Farrell may well find he has to play as a 12.  I think he needs a full season of playing 10 for Sarries before he plays there for England.  At the moment he plays 12 for Sarries outside Hodgson.

[paul_e]

Not going to quote the lot but whilst I agree with most of what you say Dave I can't agree with Youngs.  For me the fundamental problem with him is he can't pass off the floor.  The 2-3 strides he takes before making a pass just takes away all the space for the 10 and 12 and make us look pedestrian.  When Dickson comes in he provides much quicker ball and we look a lot more dangerous for it.  At the moment the only thing Youngs has on Dickson is a yard of pace and a Leicester contract.  If we do change the 10/12/13 to include Flood and Joseph it will be even more obvious that Youngs just isn't a good enough distributor to play the game we need to.

As for Foden on the wing and Brown at 15 I just don't understand it, Brown is a decent backup but nothing more, Foden is one of the best fullbacks in the world.  Better to find an option on the wing that you're happy with.  Wade is regarded as being suspect under the high ball so I guess they've kept him out so he isn't targeted, but knowing SA play kick and chase if you don't think he can catch why pick him for the tour?  Johnny May looked superb under the high ball last year and actually caused teams to change their game plan later in the season to avoid giving him the chance to run it back, if you want to make a choice to give you safe hands and a threat carrying back he should be there.

[paul_e]

With Barritt out we'll see a change but I think flood 10, farrell 12 and manu 13 is what he'll go with.  It's a small improvement but still doesn't account for Farrell's poor use of the ball since he broke through. Hoping for flood straight swap for farrell and then joseph in at 13 for manu to step inside.

Brown is out so I'd replace him with Wade and move Foden back to 15, i'll be really upset is Abendanon leapfrogs wade into the squad, if one was good enough to be picked and the other not then you go with the one who was picked in the first place, particularly given he's the form attacking player in the country.

I'd leave the pack unless Corbisiero is fit, in which case I'd start him ahead of Marler to strengthen the scrum, With Marler the impact option off the bench.

I think my opinion on Youngs is clear.