International Rugby

[Jon Crofts]

Ford, Brown and Cole I can understand, but Wigglesworth defies all logic as does the dropping of Launchbury. I was reasonably confident of a reaction on Saturday from England, now less so I'm afraid.

[paul_e]

I totally get why they've dropped Cole, he's been poor for a while now, I just don't trust Sinckler in the scrum, I'd have dropped Cole out completely, started Williams and kept Sinckler on the bench.

At 9 he's made a problem for himself by ignoring the best 9 in the NH for 2 years.  Robson should've been around the squad for ages as the 3rd, even if he wanted to stick with Youngs and Care on matchday.  By not doing that he left himself with very little choice when Youngs got injured but to either admit the mistake or go for the only other option with any number of caps and he took the easy route.  Once you've got Wigglesworth in there it obvious that his game just doesn't work as the guy to come off the bench as a finisher because he has no running game, is too passive at the breakdown to generate quick ball and doesn't have a big pass to skip outside a rush defence.  despite everything I don't think he's a terrible player, in a team setup to play the right way his kicking game is superb and contributes massively to Sarries being able to dominate territory but it's a bit like signing a Gestede like striker and then playing no wingers and passing the ball to his feet with his back to goal.

[Proposition Joe]

So going on history and the "England cycle", has Jones already reached the pull names out of a hat and hope something works phase?

I think this is also the phase where online commenters start listing whole XVs of world-beaters playing in the shires that would transform the team if only the head coach took his blinkers off.

Things don't usually end well from here.

[paul_e]

So going on history and the "England cycle", has Jones already reached the pull names out of a hat and hope something works phase?

I think this is also the phase where online commenters start listing whole XVs of world-beaters playing in the shires that would transform the team if only the head coach took his blinkers off.

Things don't usually end well from here.

I don't think so, I think he's still 90% right but he's got to open his eyes about a few things.  Haskell, Cole and Brown are all on the way down, I don't think any of them fits in the matchday squad now.  Wigglesworth can be added to the list as well.  After that he's had 2 major choices to make, Ford or Farrell at 10 and Lawes or Itoje at 5.  This 6N has been poor because he's not been able to make those decisions.

[cheltenhamlion]

If you want a name from the Shires then Olly Thorley could do a job.

[PaulWinch again]

I do feel like we should be looking to get Daly into the midfield.

[PaulWinch again]

That was a knock on by Kearney.

[Proposition Joe]

This is shaping up to be a cakewalk for Ireland.  At every contact, the England players are being knocked back like skittles.

[PaulWinch again]

England have been fucking diabolical again.

[Ger Regan]

Tempting fate massively but I'm quite enjoying this

[paul_e]

Some odd decisions from the ref in the last few minutes, boring in by a tighthead being my favourite.

[Proposition Joe]

England have been fucking diabolical again.

The whole tournament it's like they'd all rather be off doing something else.

[Colhint]

Some odd decisions from the ref in the last few minutes, boring in by a tighthead being my favourite.

real strange.

[Proposition Joe]

Tempting fate massively but I'm quite enjoying this

No need to worry about tempting fate, you guys haven't even needed to actually start playing yet and have 3 tries!

[taylorsworkrate]

The difference in attitude and commitment between England today, and Ireland in a near identical situation this time last year is massive.