Rugby Union 2013-14

[PaulWinch again]

I'm not sure Lancaster is out of date, quite a lot of his thinking is really innovative. He's also looked to Rugby League to improve our skills on the ball, so I don't think he's negative. Yes he's sent Wade back, but he's brought Yarde into the fold and Yarde is a great attacking talent and defensively questionable. Goode has gone, and Brown is no longer being employed as a defensive wing option. I agree I'd like to have seen one of the other centres on the bench, but in Kvesic's case it's better for him to play a full game this weekend. He plays in the same position as Robshaw so is unlikely to get on the pitch.

[paul_e]

I'm not sure Lancaster is out of date, quite a lot of his thinking is really innovative. He's also looked to Rugby League to improve our skills on the ball, so I don't think he's negative. Yes he's sent Wade back, but he's brought Yarde into the fold and Yarde is a great attacking talent and defensively questionable. Goode has gone, and Brown is no longer being employed as a defensive wing option. I agree I'd like to have seen one of the other centres on the bench, but in Kvesic's case it's better for him to play a full game this weekend. He plays in the same position as Robshaw so is unlikely to get on the pitch.

His ideas are still based on territorial dominance, which has a time and a place, but he's picking a squad to enable that at the expense of explosive breaking and finishing.  Effectively hope to push over a few tries but if not always be range so Farrell can kick us to a win.  The reason it's dated is that the fitness levels in the professional era mean that there are generally 7-8 players in any decent international squad who can breakaway and score from their own half, either alone or as a group and players like Burns, Trinder/Eastmond and Wade are our 'aces' in replicating that, as is only really Foden, Youngs and Yarde have that explosive potential, the 23 is too 'safe' for my liking.

I doubt we will get hammered by anyone, but we also probably won't do any hammering either.  In real terms I think an autumn of matches won with the boot is in the offing and I think the players we have are capable of producing something much more convincing.  I want to see us put down a marker in the next 12 months to show that we intend to win the world cup in England, I don't think this squad does that, one with the likes of Wade, Burns, Eastmond, Trinder, Kvesic, May, etc might do.

[PaulWinch again]

I am hoping that as we moved forward over the next year that Burns/Ford, Kvesic, Wade, Eastmond/Trinder and Lawes become more and more central to the team.

[PaulWinch again]

It's a pretty young side we're playing, I'm looking for to Billy playing at number 8.

[paul_e]

It's a pretty young side we're playing, I'm looking for to Billy playing at number 8.

I'm not  too upset by most of the side, the 3 key decisions were vunipola/marler, lawes/attwood and dickson/youngs; he's made the right choice for all of them (personally I'd have started Hartley as he's been exceptional this year and Tom Youngs is good as an impact sub, but it's a 50/50 so no issues there).  I still think there's a lot of pressure on twelvetrees to make things happen for the backs because of his conservative choices at 10 and 13, that's the crucial area for me, and whilst you can argue for Farrell with his kicking Tomkins getting the nod because of his defence just doesn't sit well with me, it's all a bit too similar to Brad Barritt last year for my liking.

[PaulWinch again]

I actually think Tomkins is getting a bad rap, he's actually got excellent hands and I think a pretty skillful player from what I've seen.

[paul_e]

I actually think Tomkins is getting a bad rap, he's actually got excellent hands and I think a pretty skillful player from what I've seen.

He has the potential to be a good player, as you say he offloads pretty well and ships the ball along the line ok but he has very little impact on the game.  Watch the highlights of all the sarries games from this season and you won't notice him, whereas Trinder, Eastmond and Burrell feature heavily in the the highlights for the games they play.  That's largely my point, Tomkins would be fine as the steadying influence outside 2 creative options, but with Farrell at 10 you really need 2 centres who can spark something in the game.  Fundamentally I find it incredible that half of our backs come from the most forward-centric side in the league.

[Jon Crofts]

Any predictions for tomorrow then?

I'll go with England by 6 points.

[taylorsworkrate]

England 12-9 Australia

Pretty uninspiring selection.

[paul_e]

england 15 -14

5 kicked penalties despite bossing the territory.  I can't imagine them not getting a try and a few pens of their own.

[paul_e]

Worcester vs Bath this evening, another game with flashes of brilliance from Anthony Watson, excellent covering tackle to bundle his man into touch behind the line, 3-4 bit of pace and footwork beyond anyone else in England and steady under the high ball in truly vile conditions for the backs.  If you want to see the making of a genuine world class superstar I suggest following him closely.  I really wouldn't be surprised if he's right in the mix for a world cup place in 2 years.

[cheltenhamlion]

Early days. Farrell is kicking like a drain. They cant scrummage for toffee.

[paul_e]

First half has gone almost exactly as I expected other than Farrell has failed at the 1 thing that's getting him into the side.  We have no threat with the ball in hand other than Billy V who can bash through anyone.  This is what i mean by out of date rugby.

[taylorsworkrate]

Really poor first half. When you're that dominant in the scrum, but have absolutely zero creativity behind it, then surely the penny has to drop for Lancaster.

[PaulWinch again]

Yarde showing some flair there, and a try for Robshaw.