Six Nations 2012

[richard moore]

Just said that to my Dad on the phone Dave, a great sporting weekend for a change. Just recently, I have been cursing him for ever getting me interested in sport and in particular, for inheriting his family's love of the Villa!

Croft was superb as you say and I agree with you about Farrell, really need to see what he can do on the attacking front but hopefully that will come

And you are right, Mallett is the man for England, well as Lancaster has done

[paul_e]

Excellent, really enjoyed it despite the referee's attempts to spoil it completely. One of the things though that I love about rugby is that everyone just got on with it and it was quickly forgotten. Had something like that happened in the football, it would have been analysed to death, the manager would have been effing and blinding at all the officials, the players would have surrounded the ref etc etc. Still didn't think Ashton had a great game despite his hit to set up the first try and I thought Foden made some poor decisions on occasions today too. Farrell was a little bit in and out but he is young and learning and has a great future. I get the sort of buzz out of watching these young men play rugby for England which I never get these days from their footballing peers. In fact, rugby is fast becoming a far superior game for all sorts of reasons

The bold bit 100% for me.  I haven't been interested in international football for a long time and at club level I watch villa and that's about it.  Can't remember the last time I watched a random game or even Motd.  I watch at least a couple of rugby matches every weekend and for the last couple of years I've missed it a lot more than the football come the summer.

A big part of it is the finances, it's a lot easier to feel connected to the rugby players, yes they're well paid but not silly.  For example Ben Morgan is moving to Gloucs on 180k a year (a massive payrise), I bet we've got reserves at villa who earn more than that.

[andyaston]

I go to Bath on the odd occassion and its a good day out. The players are very much more grounded than what many Rugby fans call Wendyball players.

I thought that drop goal attempt was going over thankfully it didn't because it would of been criminal to let that lead 9 point lead slip in the last 9 minutes.

[richard moore]

Excellent, really enjoyed it despite the referee's attempts to spoil it completely. One of the things though that I love about rugby is that everyone just got on with it and it was quickly forgotten. Had something like that happened in the football, it would have been analysed to death, the manager would have been effing and blinding at all the officials, the players would have surrounded the ref etc etc. Still didn't think Ashton had a great game despite his hit to set up the first try and I thought Foden made some poor decisions on occasions today too. Farrell was a little bit in and out but he is young and learning and has a great future. I get the sort of buzz out of watching these young men play rugby for England which I never get these days from their footballing peers. In fact, rugby is fast becoming a far superior game for all sorts of reasons

The bold bit 100% for me.  I haven't been interested in international football for a long time and at club level I watch villa and that's about it.  Can't remember the last time I watched a random game or even Motd.  I watch at least a couple of rugby matches every weekend and for the last couple of years I've missed it a lot more than the football come the summer.

A big part of it is the finances, it's a lot easier to feel connected to the rugby players, yes they're well paid but not silly.  For example Ben Morgan is moving to Gloucs on 180k a year (a massive payrise), I bet we've got reserves at villa who earn more than that.

I agree Paul. I got rid of Sky Sports last summer and the only thing I missed was the rugby, especially the Heineken Cup. I signed back to to Sky Sports recently as they sent me a deal for sport and movies for £3.25 a week for 6 months and about the only live sport I have watched in full to date has been the rugby, including both LV matches this weekend

[paul_e]

Excellent, really enjoyed it despite the referee's attempts to spoil it completely. One of the things though that I love about rugby is that everyone just got on with it and it was quickly forgotten. Had something like that happened in the football, it would have been analysed to death, the manager would have been effing and blinding at all the officials, the players would have surrounded the ref etc etc. Still didn't think Ashton had a great game despite his hit to set up the first try and I thought Foden made some poor decisions on occasions today too. Farrell was a little bit in and out but he is young and learning and has a great future. I get the sort of buzz out of watching these young men play rugby for England which I never get these days from their footballing peers. In fact, rugby is fast becoming a far superior game for all sorts of reasons

The bold bit 100% for me.  I haven't been interested in international football for a long time and at club level I watch villa and that's about it.  Can't remember the last time I watched a random game or even Motd.  I watch at least a couple of rugby matches every weekend and for the last couple of years I've missed it a lot more than the football come the summer.

A big part of it is the finances, it's a lot easier to feel connected to the rugby players, yes they're well paid but not silly.  For example Ben Morgan is moving to Gloucs on 180k a year (a massive payrise), I bet we've got reserves at villa who earn more than that.

I agree Paul. I got rid of Sky Sports last summer and the only thing I missed was the rugby, especially the Heineken Cup. I signed back to to Sky Sports recently as they sent me a deal for sport and movies for £3.25 a week for 6 months and about the only live sport I have watched in full to date has been the rugby, including both LV matches this weekend

The saints vs scarlets match was pretty good as a warm up to england, showed that Tom Wood was clearly on the wrong side of the channel this weekend though, absolutely fantastic performance, totally dominated in the tight and carried and tackled well in the loose.  For me Robshaw has been anonymous so far so I'd give Wood the captaincy and the 7 shirt for the summer matches and let him have a shot at it, he's too good a player (and leader) to not be given a shout and he should probably be a regular, just a shame he's better at 6 where Croft is already doing a good job.

[Dave Summers]

The saints vs scarlets match was pretty good as a warm up to england, showed that Tom Wood was clearly on the wrong side of the channel this weekend though, absolutely fantastic performance, totally dominated in the tight and carried and tackled well in the loose.  For me Robshaw has been anonymous so far so I'd give Wood the captaincy and the 7 shirt for the summer matches and let him have a shot at it, he's too good a player (and leader) to not be given a shout and he should probably be a regular, just a shame he's better at 6 where Croft is already doing a good job.



I was hoping to catch this yesterday but other things came up and I missed it.  Did he play 6 or 7 yesterday Paul?.  I notice that Calum Clark was also in their back row and is another who is getting rave notices.   Yet another one from the fantastic production line that is the U20's.

With Robshaw, it's a bit like Lancaster in that it would be very harsh to drop either or both of them from their current jobs, but certainly in the case of Robshaw we are crying out for an out and out number 7.  With Croft and Morgan our back row would then have the perfect balance.   Shame that Tom Rees has retired today, because he would have been that man had his body held up.

Great time to be an England fan at the moment, there is so much talent and ability out there and if it can be harnassed in the right way, then who knows where it may lead?

[PaulWinch again]

Wood is top class and I'd like him to be back involved asap.

[richard moore]

Yes, good point about Robshaw I think, he just doesn't quite have the look of a natural leader to me and also perhaps isn't quite enough of a cool head in a pressure situation

[cheltenhamlion]

If Ben Morgan plays like that all the time he will be a cult hero at Kingsholm very quickly.

[paul_e]

Wood played 7 with Clarke at 6, both played very very well.

Wood isn't a classic 7 but he's such a good player that he does very well there regardless.  Whoever plays there for the next few years is only keeping the shirt warm anyway, Kvesic (from Worcester) is almost certainly going to be the long term solution there, great player already and only 19.  He needs a couple more seasons at club level and then he'll be ready and should be a big part of the squad for the next world cup.

[Dave Summers]

Thanks Paul.

It's going to be a tricky call for whoever is the new coach/manager (I have to say I have over the last two days since I posted after the France game, I am getting more and more swayed towards Lancaster) to decide who the new captain is.   I think, as you say, that Wood is such a good player that he has to be in.  Croft again, I don't feel can be left out.  This leaves the matter of who is going to be number 8 and again, I feel we have to go with Morgan.   Croft, Wood and Morgan has a nice balance to it for me.

It will be desperate for Robshaw, but I think he suffers a little from the Austin Healey and Mike Catt syndrome of being a jack of all trades and not quite master of any of them.    I think he has led tremendously well this past month or so, but is he one of the best three back row players in England?, probably not.

This is where the coach has to be hard nosed about this and pick the best balanced back row and not try and accomodate players.   To bring it on to Villa, I think Mcleish was guilty of this with Keane and Ireland in the same team.  One of them should have played in the hole, the other on the bench.  He accomodated them both, to the detriment of the balance of the team.   This could be a similar scenario.

Of course the new coach may think that Robshaw is the best man for number 7 and captain and that Dave Summers knows diddly squat.  Wouldn't be the first time :-)

I will look out for Kvesic in the Under 20's on Friday night.  Interestingly I see he is playing at 6 in that team with Chris Walker of Leeds captaining at 7.   Seems like we have a plethora of back rowers coming through?

[PaulWinch again]

Thanks Paul.

It's going to be a tricky call for whoever is the new coach/manager (I have to say I have over the last two days since I posted after the France game, I am getting more and more swayed towards Lancaster) to decide who the new captain is.   I think, as you say, that Wood is such a good player that he has to be in.  Croft again, I don't feel can be left out.  This leaves the matter of who is going to be number 8 and again, I feel we have to go with Morgan.   Croft, Wood and Morgan has a nice balance to it for me.

It will be desperate for Robshaw, but I think he suffers a little from the Austin Healey and Mike Catt syndrome of being a jack of all trades and not quite master of any of them.    I think he has led tremendously well this past month or so, but is he one of the best three back row players in England?, probably not.

This is where the coach has to be hard nosed about this and pick the best balanced back row and not try and accomodate players.   To bring it on to Villa, I think Mcleish was guilty of this with Keane and Ireland in the same team.  One of them should have played in the hole, the other on the bench.  He accomodated them both, to the detriment of the balance of the team.   This could be a similar scenario.

Of course the new coach may think that Robshaw is the best man for number 7 and captain and that Dave Summers knows diddly squat.  Wouldn't be the first time :-)

I will look out for Kvesic in the Under 20's on Friday night.  Interestingly I see he is playing at 6 in that team with Chris Walker of Leeds captaining at 7.   Seems like we have a plethora of back rowers coming through?

I'm curious Dave what's swaying you towards Lancaster. In my case I'm mightily impressed and they have improved with every game, that result at the weekend should not be underestimated and they are also showing more attacking ambition. As far as the back row goes, I'd definitely have Wood in there. It would be harsh on Robshaw, but he's probably a first reserve even though I do rate him.

[Dave Summers]

I'm curious Dave what's swaying you towards Lancaster. In my case I'm mightily impressed and they have improved with every game, that result at the weekend should not be underestimated and they are also showing more attacking ambition. As far as the back row goes, I'd definitely have Wood in there. It would be harsh on Robshaw, but he's probably a first reserve even though I do rate him.
[/quote]

Embarrassingly I guess it's the "Meeja" in many ways.  I have heard a lot of players/pundits past and present over the last few days saying that he should be given the job and it's hard not to be swayed by their comments.   I've read Jerry Guscott's piece on the BBC today and he has changed his mind since last week and declared that he should have the job over Mallett.

I'm a little 50/50 on it.  On the one hand he has obviously got every player playing for him and having pride in the shirt, that's a big plus point for me.  We are playing reasonably attractive rugby, when conditions allow.  We have dug out attritional wins when they don't allow.  Finally, although I don't think anything has been too radical, he has given some of the young players long overdue chances.

Against that, I worry is he hard nosed enough to make some tricky selection decisions, see post above and I can't help but feel we will have missed the boat if we don't appoint a Mallett or a an Eddie Jones or Wayne Smith.

I guess a happy half way would be both involved, but we don't know if they would want to do that.

Put it this way, I am a lot more relaxed about his appointment than I was two days ago.

I could give Trevor Brooking a run in the fence sitting stakes with this post :-)

[PaulWinch again]

Ha ha yeah fair enough. I find it very odd that the RFU say the results in the 6 Nations won't have an impact on the appointment, I think they really should. They are evidence that he can get the team performing at a top level and also they show he knows how to improve the team.

[paul_e]

I'm very undecided about Lancaster still.  I think his loyalty to players might end being a block.  I think the next england coach needs to be willing to bench players who have done nothing wrong if there's someone playing better in that position.  Keeping Hodgson in place of Flood is the thing that makes me a little uneasy.

At the moment our u20s seem to get better every year, given that we need to be willing to drop good players to bring these great players through, I know Mallett has the balls to do that, I don't know if Lancaster does.