Rugby Union (was 2014-15, now an ongoing thread)

[PaulWinch again]

Ford was fine when he came on, but our complete lack of threat from the 10-12-13 group means teams just hhold us as arms length and then punish our errors.

On top of that I'm pretty fed up of us having a 7 who is the european player of the year who doesn't get picked and then seeing opposition 7s boss the game and get man of the match, Lancaster is looking out of his depth now.

I'd like Armitage in the side, but to be honest I agree with the policy of not selecting players outside England. It would completely undermine the Premiership and it would impact our national side in the long run. If Armitage was that desperate to play he'd be back in England now.

[PaulWinch again]

I'm also not sure he's out of his depth, he got the England side playing the way they should be playing last year. But he needs to balance his loyalty with what's good for the team.

[paul_e]

Ford was fine when he came on, but our complete lack of threat from the 10-12-13 group means teams just hhold us as arms length and then punish our errors.

On top of that I'm pretty fed up of us having a 7 who is the european player of the year who doesn't get picked and then seeing opposition 7s boss the game and get man of the match, Lancaster is looking out of his depth now.

I'd like Armitage in the side, but to be honest I agree with the policy of not selecting players outside England. It would completely undermine the Premiership and it would impact our national side in the long run. If Armitage was that desperate to play he'd be back in England now.

I agree with it in principal, but when you're talking about the captain of the best side in europe who was named the best player in europe and has been key to his side winning everything for 2-3 years you have to be willing to enforce the 'exceptional circumstances' clause that is  included in the policy.

When I say out of his depth I mean more that he's hit his glass ceiling.  I think we can compete with australia/ireland/wales/france and generally come out of it well but SA and NZ are a class above us and it's not because they've got better players (in many cases that's debatable) it's because they've got a better mentality.  2 weeks running we've got to 80minutes needing a score to win and 2 weeks running we've knocked-on in our own half having looked lost for ideas of how to break through.  It's those small differences that are holding us back and it's because in those games we pick a team to not lose rather than a team to win.

[Jon Crofts]

Just home from another disappointing day at Twickenham.  What happened for the first 43 minutes? 

Farrell has to be dropped or at the very least moved to inside centre, he's a liability.

It pains me to say it but Steve Walsh did just about OK in the end, he still hates England and we and the Welsh nation all hate him right back.  If he'd been any good in the bedroom department, he wouldn't have to hate England, so the rumour goes.

[aev]

Farrell at inside centre would be even worse than Farrell at 10.

I think he needs a break from the team as he seems to have lost his way a little.

[Jon Crofts]

Farrell at inside centre would be even worse than Farrell at 10.

I think he needs a break from the team as he seems to have lost his way a little.

Having Dad on the coaching team means that's not likely to happen, that said next week is the time to try something different because it's not working.

[PaulWinch again]

Farrell needs to be dropped and we can't have Barritt at 13. I'm hoping Burrell will be back for the last two games. I hope Lancaster realises the personnel are all wrong and need to be changed. Also Billy needs to be dropped after his last two performances.

[lovejoy]

If Ben Morgan doesn't start next week, we know the old school tie network is still alive and kicking. Same with Farrell.

[Dante Lavelli]

If Ben Morgan doesn't start next week, we know the old school tie network is still alive and kicking. Same with Farrell.

I'm not sure what you mean here.  Ben Morgan plays for Gloucester probably one of the most established clubs in the country.  Is it his schooling that you're referring to?

[lovejoy]

If Ben Morgan doesn't start next week, we know the old school tie network is still alive and kicking. Same with Farrell.

I'm not sure what you mean here.  Ben Morgan plays for Gloucester probably one of the most established clubs in the country.  Is it his schooling that you're referring to?

Sorry clumsy wording. Some players see to get picked by reputation or who's dad is on the coaching staff (eg Farrell) rather than ability. The old boy network favours the establishment teams (Harlequin, Saracens etc). If. Ford and Morgan don't play next week then players are being picked on the old boy network of who you know or who you play for not ability.
Also don't get me started on Gloucester players shamefully overlooked by Engalnd for inferior players over the years, John Gadd, Richard Mogg, James Simpson Daniel, James Forrester, Andy Hazel, just off the top of my head.

[aev]

If Ben Morgan doesn't start next week, we know the old school tie network is still alive and kicking. Same with Farrell.

I'm not sure what you mean here.  Ben Morgan plays for Gloucester probably one of the most established clubs in the country.  Is it his schooling that you're referring to?

Sorry clumsy wording. Some players see to get picked by reputation or who's dad is on the coaching staff (eg Farrell) rather than ability. The old boy network favours the establishment teams (Harlequin, Saracens etc). If. Ford and Morgan don't play next week then players are being picked on the old boy network of who you know or who you play for not ability.
Also don't get me started on Gloucester players shamefully overlooked by Engalnd for inferior players over the years, John Gadd, Richard Mogg, James Simpson Daniel, James Forrester, Andy Hazel, just off the top of my head.

The important game for Ford to start is against Australia.

[paul_e]

If Ben Morgan doesn't start next week, we know the old school tie network is still alive and kicking. Same with Farrell.

I'm not sure what you mean here.  Ben Morgan plays for Gloucester probably one of the most established clubs in the country.  Is it his schooling that you're referring to?

Sorry clumsy wording. Some players see to get picked by reputation or who's dad is on the coaching staff (eg Farrell) rather than ability. The old boy network favours the establishment teams (Harlequin, Saracens etc). If. Ford and Morgan don't play next week then players are being picked on the old boy network of who you know or who you play for not ability.
Also don't get me started on Gloucester players shamefully overlooked by Engalnd for inferior players over the years, John Gadd, Richard Mogg, James Simpson Daniel, James Forrester, Andy Hazel, just off the top of my head.

I agree on most of those names but JSD really shouldn't be there.  England were desperate to include him and he was picked in almost every squad named for years, the problem was he'd always pick up a knock within days of being called up and have to withdraw.

I really think the next 2 games should see Robshaw, Farrell and Barritt taken out completely (and Billy V to the bench) they've all been poor, the biggest issue is they haven't named any cover for Robshaw so he stays regardless.

I'm happy with the front 5, aside from a pathetic decision to yellow card Hartley and a poor bit of handling by Attwood there's not really much negative to say there.  Given the number of injuries we're already covering I don't see any changes there other than maybe giving Brookes and Webber a start vs Samoa.

Backrow have been poor, Billy has struggled to get involved (Sarries have played him a 6 a few times, I wonder if that's affecting him) and Robshaw has been totally dominated, at least Wood has been his usual self and has kept us competitive.  Morgan needs to come in at the very least, I'd also be looking for an excuse to call Kvesic in to give us a proper 7.

At half backs Care probably needs to stay in at 9 despite not having the best of games but I'd bring Dickson on to the bench to try to generate quick ball later in the game.  At 10 Farrell needs to go out completely, Ford to start and then Burns or Cipriani onto the bench, As always you're looking for impact from the bench and those 2 have the quality to be game changers.

Centres need a rethink, I'd bring Burrell in at 13 and then bring Joseph on the bench, means we don't have a dedicated outside back on the bnech but Eastmond and Joseph are both capable of covering those positions, better than having to bring someone like Yarde on in the centre.

Back 3 are ok for me, they've had no ball going forward but defensively they've been ok, I'm still not entirely convinced Brown is good enough though.

[Colhint]

In the middle of a big week for Hull Ionians under 12's. Last week we got through the last qualifier for the Yorkshire cup. Then, tomorrow night we get to play a 15 minutes game at Headingly. We are the halftime entertainment for a Leeds Carnegie game. It should be good, my lad will get to play in front of a crowd of a few thousand.

Well two good weeks for my Lad, I must say he's developing into quite a good player.
We did the half time at Leeds Carnegie, It was only a friendly against Rotherham. The lads were not fazed by playing in front of a crowd of about 5000. We won 2 tries to one. He didn't score but put in a few good tackes, he even got an "oooh" from the crowd when he brought down one of their bigger lads, crunching tackle for an 11 year old.

This week we were at Market Rasen, smashing club and people. There was a bit of a slope on the pitch, but we ended up winning 27-10.
He made 2 tries one with a 30 to 40 metre run through the middle. The last 15 metres with 2 or 3 of their lads trying to bring him down, a proper forwards drive, then quick ball out from the ruck for the backs to score in the corner.

We give out 2 trophies each week for the players to keep for the next seven days. Man of the match and Iron Man. The forwards think its great to get mom , but the one they all want is Iron man. It sits today on his shelf in the bedroom.

[Jon Crofts]

Burrell is back in the squad for Saturday.

[PaulWinch again]

Good news.