Six Nations 2012

[Dave Summers]

Got back at 2am this morning having endured a tricky drive in poor conditions from Manchester southwards. 

To be honest not a great game and I think Scotland lost the game rather than England won it, they really are woeful once they get into the 22 on attack.   That said they have one or two really good players, especially Richie Gray who I think is nailed on for the Lions test team in 2 years as things stand.

Had a seat pretty low down behind the posts, just where Hodgson scored the try to be exact and it's always difficult to judge a game from that angle and being low down.   I thought Botha was excellent though, seemed to do a lot of work around the field and in the tight.   Our scrum appeared to have the upper hand, which I didn't expect and thought Corbiersero had a major impact there.   The backs need a little more work and not quite sure where the Ben Youngs that broke into the team has disappeared too.  Quietly impressed with Barritt, but don't think he will stay in when Tuilagi is fit again.   Please Mr Lancaster will you pick Sharples instead of Strettle next week?.  Thought, although the tackle was good from Hodgson's cross kick he should have off loaded to the on rushing Foden who would have gone over.

All in all, can't complain about an away win, although would have liked to have seen more quality obviously.  However, it was freezing, blowy and a bit damp yesterday, so to be a bit expected.   Great Friday and Saturday was had up there and would recommend anyone to go.  Great atmosphere in the pubs around the grassmarket on Friday night and very friendly.   I would say though, that the Scots really whipped the fervour up before kick off and if England did that at Twickenham, then we would be accused of being imperialistic and arrogant and all sorts.

Bring on Italy next week and well done Wales.

[Handsworth Wood Villa]

Richie Gray

He is a beast.

[SteveN]

Richie Gray

He is a beast.

There's some big lads in the Welsh backs. North will be a considerable unit when he stops growing, he's only 19 and already built like a semi detached outhouse.

[cheltenhamlion]

If they won't pick Johnnie May, and I get the lack of Premiership experience argument, Charlie Sharples should get a game against the Italians. His pace will murder them.

[TheSandman]

I just don't rate Gray. He's young but for me he doesn't use his strength enough for me. Was pretty disappointed with him at the World Cup and on Saturday.

Agreed that North looks like a fantastic player though. The frightening thing is that he will only get bigger and better.

[Dave Summers]

If they won't pick Johnnie May, and I get the lack of Premiership experience argument, Charlie Sharples should get a game against the Italians. His pace will murder them.

Well he has been sent back to his club, deemed surplus to requirements.   I understand that they want keep a settled team at the moment but the performance that I saw on Saturday can be improved on massively.   I don't get Farrell and Barritt in the centres with Turner Hall on the bench, no flair there whatsoever, just like for like.   Sharples or May, should at least provide an option from the bench.    I have a horrible feeling that he will pick exactly the same team again and we won't get lucky this time.   This is why, in my opinion, he shouldn't have the job full time and I am scared to death that a couple of wins against soft opposition will lead to that.

Let's see if he has the balls to play Morgan at number 8.  He did more in 15 mins than Dowson did in the previous 65.

[cheltenhamlion]

What often annoys me with England is the fact they go for safe options on the bench rather than game changers.

They would be nuts to give Lancaster the job full time.

[TheSandman]

Worrying times for Scotland. We have been shit at scoring tries for ages but have always been saved by having reliable kickers in the team. Now with Parks joining Paterson in international retirement we don't even have that. I struggle to see where the points are going to come from.

[paul_e]

Worrying times for Scotland. We have been shit at scoring tries for ages but have always been saved by having reliable kickers in the team. Now with Parks joining Paterson in international retirement we don't even have that. I struggle to see where the points are going to come from.

If Laidlaw can make the step up I think you'll see a lot more tries going forward, Parks, for all his quality from the boot, was far too comfy sitting nice and deep in the pocket and playing the game in front of the defence which has meant for years that all the fancy moves are being done to deep to hurt the good sides.  Laidlaw will stand much flatter and, if the coaches get the backs running the right lines, you should see much more positive play.  It's the same issue England have had with Wilko, good player but not suited to the game as it is now at the top level.

[paul_e]

If they won't pick Johnnie May, and I get the lack of Premiership experience argument, Charlie Sharples should get a game against the Italians. His pace will murder them.

Well he has been sent back to his club, deemed surplus to requirements.   I understand that they want keep a settled team at the moment but the performance that I saw on Saturday can be improved on massively.   I don't get Farrell and Barritt in the centres with Turner Hall on the bench, no flair there whatsoever, just like for like.   Sharples or May, should at least provide an option from the bench.    I have a horrible feeling that he will pick exactly the same team again and we won't get lucky this time.   This is why, in my opinion, he shouldn't have the job full time and I am scared to death that a couple of wins against soft opposition will lead to that.

Let's see if he has the balls to play Morgan at number 8.  He did more in 15 mins than Dowson did in the previous 65.

Farrell and Barritt will work outside a good flat 10 (Freddie Burns will be great once he's got a bit more experience) we looked a bit 1 dimensional on sat because of Hodgson.  As said regarding Parks above, old fahioned 10s who sit in the pocket are pretty much on the way out unless they're exceptional (O'Gara is the only 1 at that level in europe).  The younger 10s are all much better at carrying the ball into contact and making gains at the line (priestland and sexton are great at this), once england get a 10 who is a threat carrying, kicking and passing (again Burns is the obvious choice) we'll get a much better idea of how good the midfield options are.

[Dave Summers]

If they won't pick Johnnie May, and I get the lack of Premiership experience argument, Charlie Sharples should get a game against the Italians. His pace will murder them.

Well he has been sent back to his club, deemed surplus to requirements.   I understand that they want keep a settled team at the moment but the performance that I saw on Saturday can be improved on massively.   I don't get Farrell and Barritt in the centres with Turner Hall on the bench, no flair there whatsoever, just like for like.   Sharples or May, should at least provide an option from the bench.    I have a horrible feeling that he will pick exactly the same team again and we won't get lucky this time.   This is why, in my opinion, he shouldn't have the job full time and I am scared to death that a couple of wins against soft opposition will lead to that.

Let's see if he has the balls to play Morgan at number 8.  He did more in 15 mins than Dowson did in the previous 65.

Farrell and Barritt will work outside a good flat 10 (Freddie Burns will be great once he's got a bit more experience) we looked a bit 1 dimensional on sat because of Hodgson.  As said regarding Parks above, old fahioned 10s who sit in the pocket are pretty much on the way out unless they're exceptional (O'Gara is the only 1 at that level in europe).  The younger 10s are all much better at carrying the ball into contact and making gains at the line (priestland and sexton are great at this), once england get a 10 who is a threat carrying, kicking and passing (again Burns is the obvious choice) we'll get a much better idea of how good the midfield options are.

I hope you are right, but I think at the top level a little bit of gas is required and to me, neither of them have that.   I would have liked to have seen Freddie Burns in the Elite squad for this tournament and being brought on for the last 20 mins or so, to gain some experience.    Toby Flood stands nice and flat and it was no coincidence that England scored a bucketful of tries last year when he was given a consistent run at 10.    As you rightly said, we then went back to the old fashioned safe way with Wilko and the backline were given no real chance.

Got a lot of time for Will Greenwood as a pundit and I know that he would like to see Tuilagi at 12 and Jonathan Joseph at 13, so that's good enough for me.  Bit of pace, power and flair there, but I guess a little lacking on the kicking option outside the 10.   If we can draft George Ford in over the next year or so, dependent on bloody Cockerill picking him at Leicester instead of Staunton, then we may have something to build on.

What about a backline for 2015 of :

Youngs, Ford

Tuilagi, Joseph

Ashton, Foden, May

How does that look?

Hard fought 23-16 win for the boys tomorrow, two tries maximum

[taylorsworkrate]

If they won't pick Johnnie May, and I get the lack of Premiership experience argument, Charlie Sharples should get a game against the Italians. His pace will murder them.

Well he has been sent back to his club, deemed surplus to requirements.   I understand that they want keep a settled team at the moment but the performance that I saw on Saturday can be improved on massively.   I don't get Farrell and Barritt in the centres with Turner Hall on the bench, no flair there whatsoever, just like for like.   Sharples or May, should at least provide an option from the bench.    I have a horrible feeling that he will pick exactly the same team again and we won't get lucky this time.   This is why, in my opinion, he shouldn't have the job full time and I am scared to death that a couple of wins against soft opposition will lead to that.

Let's see if he has the balls to play Morgan at number 8.  He did more in 15 mins than Dowson did in the previous 65.

Farrell and Barritt will work outside a good flat 10 (Freddie Burns will be great once he's got a bit more experience) we looked a bit 1 dimensional on sat because of Hodgson.  As said regarding Parks above, old fahioned 10s who sit in the pocket are pretty much on the way out unless they're exceptional (O'Gara is the only 1 at that level in europe).  The younger 10s are all much better at carrying the ball into contact and making gains at the line (priestland and sexton are great at this), once england get a 10 who is a threat carrying, kicking and passing (again Burns is the obvious choice) we'll get a much better idea of how good the midfield options are.

England had that player.

Danny Cipriani.

[paul_e]

If they won't pick Johnnie May, and I get the lack of Premiership experience argument, Charlie Sharples should get a game against the Italians. His pace will murder them.

Well he has been sent back to his club, deemed surplus to requirements.   I understand that they want keep a settled team at the moment but the performance that I saw on Saturday can be improved on massively.   I don't get Farrell and Barritt in the centres with Turner Hall on the bench, no flair there whatsoever, just like for like.   Sharples or May, should at least provide an option from the bench.    I have a horrible feeling that he will pick exactly the same team again and we won't get lucky this time.   This is why, in my opinion, he shouldn't have the job full time and I am scared to death that a couple of wins against soft opposition will lead to that.

Let's see if he has the balls to play Morgan at number 8.  He did more in 15 mins than Dowson did in the previous 65.

Farrell and Barritt will work outside a good flat 10 (Freddie Burns will be great once he's got a bit more experience) we looked a bit 1 dimensional on sat because of Hodgson.  As said regarding Parks above, old fahioned 10s who sit in the pocket are pretty much on the way out unless they're exceptional (O'Gara is the only 1 at that level in europe).  The younger 10s are all much better at carrying the ball into contact and making gains at the line (priestland and sexton are great at this), once england get a 10 who is a threat carrying, kicking and passing (again Burns is the obvious choice) we'll get a much better idea of how good the midfield options are.

England had that player.

Danny Cipriani.

He could've been but he got in the squad and thought he'd made it.

What about a backline for 2015 of :

Youngs, Ford

Tuilagi, Joseph

Ashton, Foden, May

How does that look?

I prefer Trinder at 13, I think he'll be fantastic in a couple of years, reminds me of Greenwood.

I'd also expect to see Christian Wade in the side by then, he's the genuine superstar coming through in the backs, I think he'd be in there now if he hadn't got injured, he's already the best wingers in the league for me.

I'm also not totally convinced by Youngs, I think the lad at sarries is probably the future for the england 9 shirt, Youngs is a great ball carrier but I think he's nothing more than average in the rest of his game and once we have the extra quality outside him with the experience he will be a weak link.

[lovejoy]

Cough *Charlie Sharples* cough

[Dave Summers]

For what it's worth I feel that Danny Cipriani was grossly mismanaged by Johnson and co.   I was lucky enough to be at the Six nations game v Ireland when he produced THE best attacking performance I have seen from an England number 10.  If you remember he got injured just after, horrific ankle injury and in the absence of Wilko and others was almost pushed back into the team for Autumn Internationals in Johnson's first games in charge.   There was no way he was ready to play International Rugby then, but I guess they thought needs must.   He had some problems with his kicking from hand and gave away 2 tries, if memory serves me correctly and was then benched for Flood for the last match v New Zealand.

Now, I'm not trying to defend some of the things he did, although I do think he was penalised some what for being Kelly Brook's partner, but if he was say Australian, Kiwi or heaven forbid Welsh, then they would have worked with him to try and iron out some of these problems to the betterment of the player and the National team.    This, in my opinion, was the first error of Johnson's tenure and it was a crying shame that he felt he had such little chance of playing for England that he had to go 12,000 miles away to ply his trade.

If he comes back and plays as he can, then yes, he would be my first choice number 10.  Must admit, when I was writing earlier I completely dismissed him from my thoughts. 

I think he is suffering from the English trait of building players up and then joyfully knocking them down and also not trusting anyone with a bit of flair.   It's all about what he can't do, rather than what he can unfortunately.

Ben Spencer I think is the name of the Sarries scrum half and is playing for the U20's tonight.   Little bit too boot happy for me, however that maybe the way Sarries play.   I still have faith in Youngs to rediscover his form and if not him, with Care, Simpson and Dickson about, the cupboard is far from bare.

All in all when you look around the league, England have some fantastic players coming through.  It's now a case of selecting them and getting the right combination.   I also agree about Christian Wade, terrific talent and should be in and around the squad next season hopefully.