International Rugby

[paul_e]

20 minutes in it looked ok but still a bit off in attack but once Fiji got a grip on the conditions they played us off the park.

[Jon Crofts]

Well done the RFU and Steve Borthwick, amazing job.

[Meanwood Villa]

First ever defeat to Fiji. Was saying to a mate yesterday I thought we'd still get through group but maybe not.

[Rory]

What's wrong with England? The players aren't as poor as the results make them appear, surely?

I only watch Ireland, don't know much about how other teams fare, so a genuine question.

[paul_e]

after a good 20minutes I can't think of a worse performance from England, terrible defence that let them gain metres at ease, predictable and dull at the set piece and a Gerrard-style 'hope for some magic' attack that doesn't actually include many players capable of it.

[PaulWinch again]

Losing to Fiji, at home, good grief. Borthwick is going to start coming under pressure now.

[Jon Crofts]

Losing to Fiji, at home, good grief. Borthwick is going to start coming under pressure now.

He’ll be gone long before the 2024 6N starts.

[PaulWinch again]

If this continues he will. I’ve banged on about this plenty already, but I remain convinced that he thinks that “doing the basics” is a game plan. It’s not, it’s a non-negotiable that underpins any type of game plan. It’s compounded by the fact we’re doing the basics terrible badly.

We just look like a really poorly coached team and completely rudderless. It worried me that he’s by and large looked to bring in his coaches at Leicester. It’s indicative of a person who’s a bit closed minded and inflexible.

[paul_e]

If this continues he will. I’ve banged on about this plenty already, but I remain convinced that he thinks that “doing the basics” is a game plan. It’s not, it’s a non-negotiable that underpins any type of game plan. It’s compounded by the fact we’re doing the basics terrible badly.

We just look like a really poorly coached team and completely rudderless. It worried me that he’s by and large looked to bring in his coaches at Leicester. It’s indicative of a person who’s a bit closed minded and inflexible.

He's out of his depth. He's trying to set us up as a team that plays territory but that only works if you're dominant in the tackle and can pin a team back.

In attack we have 1up runners far too often, which is a clear sign of bad coaching. JUst watch how often there are 2-3 defenders in before the clearout, it makes everything slow and/or sees us pushed backwards in the tackle.

[PaulWinch again]

Thinking about it I can see massive parallels with when England cricket hired Chris Silverwood. Had done well in domestic cricket, been around the set up previously, and ultimately he tried to play a very conservative game with a focus on attrition. Players ended up massively confused and it was a disastrous period where they had consistently terrible results.

[paul_e]

Thinking about it I can see massive parallels with when England cricket hired Chris Silverwood. Had done well in domestic cricket, been around the set up previously, and ultimately he tried to play a very conservative game with a focus on attrition. Players ended up massively confused and it was a disastrous period where they had consistently terrible results.

Seems fair. As I said when he was appointed, my biggest concern was that he was pretty inexperienced as a head coach and I didn't know if he would be able to fix everything in such a short timespan and that's how it's turned out, he's gone about trying to fix things as if he had 2-3 years rather than effectively 6months and we look like a team that's just started trying to 'find itself'. At best it's incredible naivety from him.

[Weedy]

He's like the Steve Bruce of Rugby.

[edgysatsuma89]

He's like the Steve Bruce of Rugby.

Savage takedown, no need for that 🙂

[PaulWinch again]

Interesting selection - looks like a team that’s going to run it, which is at odds with what’s come before.

[Brazilian Villain]

World Cup prediction time.
France to beat South Africa in the final, should be close but home advantage might swing it for Les Bleus.
Ireland to go out in the quarter finals, and still not have made a World Cup semi-final.
England to go as far as (if not further than) Ireland in the tournament.