International Rugby

[Dave Summers]

So essentially a vote of confidence in the 23 who achieved England’s first defeat to Italy!!

Looking at it, another evening of box kicking for us to enjoy with wingers who maybe tall and supposedly good in the air, but on grass I suspect will be exposed against the French back 3. A bit more heft in the pack with Chessum at 6 but I just can’t get on board with either selection or more pertinently the style of rugby.

If we have to suffer a 30-40 point drubbing to elicit a change of head coach, then I’m quite happy to sit through it. That said I’ve no faith that Bill Sweeney has the first idea what’s wrong sadly

[paul_e]

If we take a beatig again I think the pressure will shift to Sweeney because he's gone all in on backing Borthwick and that's already had a lot of people question him.

[Gareth]

One change is a joke, can see 30+ point win for France , just keep kicking it to them to run at us. 

[Meanwood Villa]

If we take a beatig again I think the pressure will shift to Sweeney because he's gone all in on backing Borthwick and that's already had a lot of people question him.

I was hoping the public backing was just PR during the tournament and they'll give him the heave ho once the dust has settled.

[dcdavecollett]

Didn't Sweeney refuse to publicly back Borthwick the last time he went on a bad run?

[Brazilian Villain]

Ireland are 4/9 to win today, Scotland are 2/1. I'm not sure I'd be that confident of us winning.

[cdbearsfan]

I would.

[Proposition Joe]

No more hybrids or square pegs / round holes…there are multiple quality players in most positions (bar 9) if one’s injured you look at the next one - you only have to look at Borthwick to say ‘dont try to be clever Steve, its not your thing’

And that is the heart of my problem with him. By all accounts he considers himself to be a tactical thinker and elite level coach and the RFU apparently consider him as one of the best 'minds' in the game but either they're all wrong or something else gets in the way and makes him default to coaching and tactics that are clearly sub-par. As I've said, I think he's just terrified of conceding points and makes every decision based on defensive stability, which means when teams figure you out not only do you have no attack but you're also able to be picked apart and teams score record points totals against you. It's a lot like Steve Bruce, people will claim that it's pragmatic and is setting things up to be better later but that only works if there aren't plenty of other people just as smart as you are but who are more focused on scoring against you than stopping you score. Townsend and Farrell are clearly 2 of those, which is why both of them have regularly beaten Borthwick with squads that are pretty comparable (but with less depth).

The most common word used to describe Borthwick the player was probably "yeoman", and I have seen nothing in his tenure as England head coach to make me use any other word to describe Borthwick the coach. It's just meat and potatoes stuff.

But i wouldn't swap a win vs France for a change of coach. Beating them on their own patch and denying them the 6N would be a hoot.

[paul_e]

Scotland try was a fucking belter, that's how to play modern rugby.

[Brazilian Villain]

First time I've heard Roscommon mentioned on ITV Rugby, even if they pronounced it Douglas Moray.

This is a great game of Rugby to watch though.

[paul_e]

First time I've heard Roscommon mentioned on ITV Rugby, even if they pronounced it Douglas Moray.

This is a great game of Rugby to watch though.

Best game of the championship so far, both teams have been excellent, and there's fuck all between them in terms of quality. Ref has been very good as well.

[Proposition Joe]

It is, though rubgy is generally much more fun to watch when England aren't involved.

That said, surely everyone, even the Irish, wants Scotland to win this championship?

[Tony Daleys Shorts]

It’s not hard to see why the Irish and Scots both walloped England, they’re playing at a different skill level and intensity.

[cdbearsfan]

Stupid Tory sport, anyway.

[paul_e]

Score at the end flatters Ireland a little and doesn't really reflect the match but that's what happens when you have to throw everything at it.