Rugby Union 2013-14

[paul_e]

take a bow big billy, brilliant break and a fantastic support line from Burrell to score, that's the game I want to see from us.

[paul_e]

Threw it away, as soon as Nowell went off they knew we didn't have the pace to hurt them.  Goode was very poor, he's too slow and he sold himself far to easily for their winning try after putting in a shocker of a tackle for the 2nd, a better option on the bench and we could've saved those 12 points.  I have no idea why he took off Lawes who was the best player on the pitch, might be that he was tiring but I still don't think it was the right call.  I'm really disappointed, we should've had enough to win that

[Jon Crofts]

Stupid basic errors cost us dear there, that was Frances cup final, they'll get fuck all from here on, they always do.

[PaulWinch again]

I didn't see the second half, but I reckon the first 20 minutes of the game cost us really. It's very frustrating because it sounds like we should have won. I really don't ever want to see Goode in an England team again, he's slow and has the most telegrahed step in rugby. I'd just love to get our first team on the pitch for once. The bench today was a massive problem today, and we need a lot more impact available on it. If Watson had come on instead of Goode we probably would have won. We need to start winning and dominating if we are to stand a chance in the World Cup.

[villan1975]

Thought we were the better side by some distance today. The first twenty minutes aside we should have won. No idea why he took Care off who was my man of the match by some distance, even with the slow motion replays I thought he had grounded the ball on the line.

[Meanwood Villa]

Really disappointed to lose that. Undeserved. Coming off the back of the Villa capiulation a shit sporting day.

[andyaston]

With the Everton game having two late goals and our most important player going off, today sport has kicked me in the bollocks twice because France mugged us.

[Monty]

Until that conversion, the score was 16-6 - a representation of Bloomsday on this, the birthday of James Joyce. Shame it didn't finish like that.

[PaulWinch again]

My fear is that if May isn't fit then Goode will start and I don't think he should be anywhere near the squad.

[paul_e]

Goode is a fine player in club rugby as he is generally a very intelligent player who moves the team around the pitch well and really should be playing at 10 for someone (glaws could do a hell of a lot worse than to try convincing him of this).  The issue is, at international level, he's not quick enough, either flat out pace or changing direction, so his clever running lines get picked and defensively he gets caught flat-footed.  He's just one of those players who will never make it internationally.  I agree he shouldn't be in the England squad but he's not as bad as he gets made to look at international level.

[lovejoy]

May is fit for next week.

[paul_e]

excellent news, in that case my only changes would be Ford and Watson onto the bench for Goode and Barritt and I'd switch Dickson and Care, I like them both but Care against a tiring back row and half back pairing is much more dangerous.  For me the bench should always be selected for their ability to come on and add impetus, look at the effect Morgan, Vunipola and Youngs had in the loose, all 3 were making huge gains every time they carried.  We were badly let down by the lack of flair coming on in the backs, once Nowell went off we looked like we had nothing other than pick and go and first receiver crash balls, which were pretty effective but just didn't offer enough variation to get the points our domination deserved (and we did totally boss the game after the first 20).

[PaulWinch again]

excellent news, in that case my only changes would be Ford and Watson onto the bench for Goode and Barritt and I'd switch Dickson and Care, I like them both but Care against a tiring back row and half back pairing is much more dangerous.  For me the bench should always be selected for their ability to come on and add impetus, look at the effect Morgan, Vunipola and Youngs had in the loose, all 3 were making huge gains every time they carried.  We were badly let down by the lack of flair coming on in the backs, once Nowell went off we looked like we had nothing other than pick and go and first receiver crash balls, which were pretty effective but just didn't offer enough variation to get the points our domination deserved (and we did totally boss the game after the first 20).

Yeah I'd agree.

[paul_e]

Named an unchanged 23 so clearly he saw nothing wrong with ending the game with Barritt and Brown on the wings and thinks the performance from Goode was ok, I'm not sure what to say on that.

[PaulWinch again]

I'd say it's worrying.