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Author Topic: International Rugby  (Read 381559 times)

Offline peter w

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Re: Six Nations 2016
« Reply #825 on: February 20, 2016, 03:29:24 PM »
Tuilagi makes things happen and for that reason he would start for me in the centres until we can two that compliment each other and are both an attacking threat.

Offline paul_e

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Re: Six Nations 2016
« Reply #826 on: February 20, 2016, 06:05:44 PM »
He does, and that's why he's going to be involved, because every coach that comes in at England or Tigers is going to want to be the one that makes him world class, but I honestly think it harms the overall team to include him right now.

I watched the quins v tigers game last night and it's true that Manu was the only back Leicester had who looked a threat but that was as much because of him (and how quins targeted him) as it was a lack of quality elsewhere.  They had Jean de Villiers (one of the best centres in world rugby in the last decade or so) at 13 and he barely touched the ball, can you imagine having JJ, Watson, Nowell all outside him and them getting 2-3 touches a game each, that's what he's done for most of his career and it's effective if you want to play largely 10 man percentage based rugby and you've picked outside backs who are there for their defensive ability but with the talent we have it would be a massive waste.

I still think he has something to offer but I really don't want England to throw away all the progress I can see coming by going backwards and picking a 12 who honestly offers little more than Barritt in terms of the expansive game we should be moving towards.  I'd accept him at 13 but, on merit, JJ is well ahead of him in that position and Daly deserves a chance as well.

Offline DaveD

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Re: Six Nations 2016
« Reply #827 on: February 22, 2016, 02:48:18 PM »
Luther Burrell recalled to squad. That's good news, I think he was hard done by in the Sam Burgess debacle, has generally played well for England.

Offline paul_e

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Re: Six Nations 2016
« Reply #828 on: February 22, 2016, 06:53:52 PM »
Luther Burrell recalled to squad. That's good news, I think he was hard done by in the Sam Burgess debacle, has generally played well for England.

Yep, he's been in great form since Christmas as well.  At his best he runs fantastic lines and his offloading game is better than anyone else we have.

Online PaulWinch again

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Re: Six Nations 2016
« Reply #829 on: February 23, 2016, 07:46:31 PM »
He hasn't made the match day squad, but pleased to see Daly in there. Bit surprised to see Lawes drop out, but I guess Itoje gives us flexibility.

Offline paul_e

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Re: Six Nations 2016
« Reply #830 on: February 23, 2016, 08:49:18 PM »
He hasn't made the match day squad, but pleased to see Daly in there. Bit surprised to see Lawes drop out, but I guess Itoje gives us flexibility.

There's not much experimentation going on and I suspect the starting line up will be the same as it was against scotland.  I hope he's going to take a proper look at the negatives from the last 2 games though because I'm far from convinced that a back row with Haskell at 7 will be good enough long term and Farrell just out right isn't good enough to play centre, I don't rate him as a flyhalf but he's at least competent at the main parts of the game, at 12 he looks out of his depth, I really wish Slade had been fit.

Offline Proposition Joe

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Re: Six Nations 2016
« Reply #831 on: February 24, 2016, 01:30:53 PM »
Not Daly in for Ford and Farrell at stand off?

Offline paul_e

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Re: Six Nations 2016
« Reply #832 on: February 24, 2016, 04:36:21 PM »
Not Daly in for Ford and Farrell at stand off?

I doubt it, daly and JJ are both better at 13, giving someone their debut in a position they've barely played is risky and you wouldn't move JJ given he's showing signs of becoming a genuinely world class 13.  If he brings Daly it's a big statement of his belief in him.

Offline cheltenhamlion

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Re: Six Nations 2016
« Reply #833 on: February 24, 2016, 06:06:08 PM »
I presume Kvesic gets fucked off out of the squad again? In favour of Haskell? Mind bending stuff.

Online PaulWinch again

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Re: Six Nations 2016
« Reply #834 on: February 24, 2016, 07:47:17 PM »
Launchbury injured again, so Lawes back in.

Offline paul_e

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Re: Six Nations 2016
« Reply #835 on: February 24, 2016, 10:32:21 PM »
Launchbury injured again, so Lawes back in.

Will be interesting to see who starts now, I suspect Lawes will leapfrop Itoje into the starting 15 because as with Daly I think starting him this soon is a bit of a risk and if you're going to take risks you should be looking to take them elsewhere (such as keeping Kvesic and dropping Haskell).

Offline DaveD

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Re: Six Nations 2016
« Reply #836 on: February 25, 2016, 10:08:07 AM »
Itoje to start, Marler returns.

Offline paul_e

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Re: Six Nations 2016
« Reply #837 on: February 25, 2016, 11:56:47 AM »
I'm surprised by that, it's a massive call to start him against the champions with no previous experience (he's capped but as a backrow not a 2nd row).  His pace and power do add another dimension though.

Marler for Mako is just good sense though, Mako is poor in the scrum but fantastic in the loose, he should have his name carved on the bench and be given 25-30 minutes every match.

Persisting with Farrell out of position at 12 is getting a bit silly now and I really wish he'd done something about the scrum halves because neither of them are in particularly good form.

Online PaulWinch again

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Re: Six Nations 2016
« Reply #838 on: February 25, 2016, 12:46:31 PM »
I'm excited to see Itoje play, he's just got an aura about him and I think he's going to be a top player. I'm hoping Farrell at 12 will stop once Slade and probably Tuilagi are fit.

Offline paul_e

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Re: Six Nations 2016
« Reply #839 on: February 25, 2016, 12:53:09 PM »
I'm excited to see Itoje play, he's just got an aura about him and I think he's going to be a top player. I'm hoping Farrell at 12 will stop once Slade and probably Tuilagi are fit.

Slade I agree, Manu is never a 12.

I agree on Itoje, I just worry that this 6N is too early for him, I'd have had him with the squad from this time last year but I wouldn't have him starting yet.

 


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