The Official English Rugby Thread

[Raggs]

Faz on the bench would be a huge step. But France is a hell of a challenge to face.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

The other way to look at that is Farrell is rumoured, and I don't know anyone who could confirm who has, to be carrying a hip injury and that explains his kicking %, at least in part. But even carrying an injury preventing him doing his basics Captain Awesome commands a place on the bench, he's basically clinging on with the Black Knight defence that it is but a flesh wound

Of course we've been here before with various nonsense being reported, and maybe it's all only that. Which is fine as long as the players know where they stand and they're not getting false ideas days out from a game

[JM2K6]

Farrell's kicking has been looking pretty wobbly for a while now, it's not a new thing. He was at 75% for the league back in January. It just seems to have completely abandoned him recently. I don't doubt that he'll work his way back to being a good kicker, though I'd be surprised if he ended up being Wilko-lite like before.

Smith missed a kick against Exeter but if the stats I'm looking at are right, he's at 92.5% for the league and 80% for Europe. He's yet to have a bad day for England, though I'm sure it'll happen because it happens to everyone. Even Faz at his height had the occasional day where it all went wrong - such is the life of a rugby goalkicker.

And yes, if the hip is restricting him that much, he should've been given the Italy game off to recover. I don't see the value in making a physically compromised player with a lot of miles on the clock play that game, which suggests it's probably just nothing more than rumour.

[SaintK]

Farrell's kicking has been looking pretty wobbly for a while now, it's not a new thing. He was at 75% for the league back in January. It just seems to have completely abandoned him recently. I don't doubt that he'll work his way back to being a good kicker, though I'd be surprised if he ended up being Wilko-lite like before.

Smith missed a kick against Exeter but if the stats I'm looking at are right, he's at 92.5% for the league and 80% for Europe. He's yet to have a bad day for England, though I'm sure it'll happen because it happens to everyone. Even Faz at his height had the occasional day where it all went wrong - such is the life of a rugby goalkicker.

And yes, if the hip is restricting him that much, he should've been given the Italy game off to recover. I don't see the value in making a physically compromised player with a lot of miles on the clock play that game, which suggests it's probably just nothing more than rumour.

Farrell was 100% in the AI's against Argentina, Japan and the AB's but went to pot against SA and doesn't appear to have recovered form.since
I don't buy the hip injury theory, he would have been rested to recover at Saracens

[sockwithaticket]

What's weird is how occasional bad days cling to some players and are hand waved away for others. The classic case being that random summer test against Wales where George Ford orchestrated a 5 tries to 1 victory, but had an off day with the boot that haunted discourse around him for some time. Some out there still think he's a poorer place kicked than Farrell.

[Hal Jordan]

Released -

Dunn
Youngs (He's finally third banana)
Lawes (broken)
Freeman
Rodd
Ford
Simmonds
Murley

[SaintK]

Released -

Dunn
Youngs (He's finally third banana)
Lawes (broken)
Freeman
Rodd
Ford
Simmonds
Murley

He had another strong performance for Sale at the weekend. He should be in the match day squad ahead of Mako

[Joost]

What's weird is how occasional bad days cling to some players and are hand waved away for others. The classic case being that random summer test against Wales where George Ford orchestrated a 5 tries to 1 victory, but had an off day with the boot that haunted discourse around him for some time. Some out there still think he's a poorer place kicked than Farrell.

Brings to mind the utter ‘mare Charlie Hodgson had against South Africa (?), where Mike Tindall ended up doing the goalkicking (and being surprisingly good!).

[inactionman]

Released -

Dunn
Youngs (He's finally third banana)
Lawes (broken)
Freeman
Rodd
Ford
Simmonds
Murley

He had another strong performance for Sale at the weekend. He should be in the match day squad ahead of Mako

It's a strange one alright.

[Brazil]

Released -

Dunn
Youngs (He's finally third banana)
Lawes (broken)
Freeman
Rodd
Ford
Simmonds
Murley

He had another strong performance for Sale at the weekend. He should be in the match day squad ahead of Mako

It's a strange one alright.

Maybe Borthwick thinks the top two inches are the ones Makon occasionally manages in contact. Or perhaps how high his head is off the floor in the scrum nowadays.

[Hal Jordan]

It's the extra added to his waistline in the last year. His shorts look big enough to run up a schooner's mast as an emergency sail.

[inactionman]

Mako's playing well in the loose but I can only assume Borthwick and Cockers have a plan in place to make him less of a liability in the scrum.

Also assuming that will be more than just suggesting he pushes a bit harder.

It can't carry on as it has was, surely.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Mako's playing well in the loose but I can only assume Borthwick and Cockers have a plan in place to make him less of a liability in the scrum.

Also assuming that will be more than just suggesting he pushes a bit harder.

It can't carry on as it has was, surely.

If I was going to guess it's that Mako has decent hands, very good actually. And once Genge and Sinckler go off we're otherwise left with Dombrandt who may also go off. And whilst the rest are hardly as bad as Haskell the entire attack shape needs to change if no one can take and give the ball under pressure, so it's an accepted trade off

Ribbans not going to France might've helped. I suppose it does give a clearer route back in for Launchbury, so there's that if he can play and stay fit

[dpedin]

Mako's playing well in the loose but I can only assume Borthwick and Cockers have a plan in place to make him less of a liability in the scrum.

Also assuming that will be more than just suggesting he pushes a bit harder.

It can't carry on as it has was, surely.

If I was going to guess it's that Mako has decent hands, very good actually. And once Genge and Sinckler go off we're otherwise left with Dombrandt who may also go off. And whilst the rest are hardly as bad as Haskell the entire attack shape needs to change if no one can take and give the ball under pressure, so it's an accepted trade off

Ribbans not going to France might've helped. I suppose it does give a clearer route back in for Launchbury, so there's that if he can play and stay fit

I find this surprising! Rodd for me is an excellent modern day prop - he can hold his own in the scrum, looks technically good, had good hands, is mobile and will win a few turnovers at the breakdown. I can't understand Mako being retained and Rodd not. What is it we don't know or can't see?

[JM2K6]

The only thing I can think of is Rodd's been a bit of a discipline problem since his return from injury.

[Paddington Bear]

Telegraph saying Smith is confirmed as starting and Faz knew before the Tuesday press conference

[Random1]

Mako's playing well in the loose but I can only assume Borthwick and Cockers have a plan in place to make him less of a liability in the scrum.

Also assuming that will be more than just suggesting he pushes a bit harder.

It can't carry on as it has was, surely.

If I was going to guess it's that Mako has decent hands, very good actually. And once Genge and Sinckler go off we're otherwise left with Dombrandt who may also go off. And whilst the rest are hardly as bad as Haskell the entire attack shape needs to change if no one can take and give the ball under pressure, so it's an accepted trade off

Ribbans not going to France might've helped. I suppose it does give a clearer route back in for Launchbury, so there's that if he can play and stay fit

I find this surprising! Rodd for me is an excellent modern day prop - he can hold his own in the scrum, looks technically good, had good hands, is mobile and will win a few turnovers at the breakdown. I can't understand Mako being retained and Rodd not. What is it we don't know or can't see?

They’re still under the EQP limitations aren’t they?

They had loads of sarries players in the squad, so potentially Mako has the smallest delta between his performance and the alternative.

[Random1]

Telegraph saying Smith is confirmed as starting and Faz knew before the Tuesday press conference

Got to say, the new set up is making some good calls. I’m now very excited for the weekend. Even if we lose, we’ve given it our best crack of attack rather than curled into a ball.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Mako's playing well in the loose but I can only assume Borthwick and Cockers have a plan in place to make him less of a liability in the scrum.

Also assuming that will be more than just suggesting he pushes a bit harder.

It can't carry on as it has was, surely.

If I was going to guess it's that Mako has decent hands, very good actually. And once Genge and Sinckler go off we're otherwise left with Dombrandt who may also go off. And whilst the rest are hardly as bad as Haskell the entire attack shape needs to change if no one can take and give the ball under pressure, so it's an accepted trade off

Ribbans not going to France might've helped. I suppose it does give a clearer route back in for Launchbury, so there's that if he can play and stay fit

I find this surprising! Rodd for me is an excellent modern day prop - he can hold his own in the scrum, looks technically good, had good hands, is mobile and will win a few turnovers at the breakdown. I can't understand Mako being retained and Rodd not. What is it we don't know or can't see?

If Rodd had done more in the chances he's had that would be more of a thing. But, and it's not much of a criticism of a very young prop who in truth has barely had a go, his delivery has thus far come at a lower level.

They probably want him to add a little timber and keep what he's been otherwise good at. That can take time. And actually as young as Rodd is I don't mind them not loading up on him just yet

[Paddington Bear]

Telegraph saying Smith is confirmed as starting and Faz knew before the Tuesday press conference

Got to say, the new set up is making some good calls. I’m now very excited for the weekend. Even if we lose, we’ve given it our best crack of attack rather than curled into a ball.

You can take him at his word and his actions follow. He hired Nick Evans as his attack coach (and sounds like the position is open for him to go to the WC now as well), he gave Smith instructions as to what he wanted and he's followed through on it.

Smith now will have a proper distributing scrum half, a powerful 12 and his preferred 8, alongside pace on the wings and a ball playing 13. He has his own attack coach who he has a great relationship with at a ground he knows well. The excuses are all gone, so I hope he gets given both games now to see if he can hack it with the big boys. I have my reservations but I (genuinely) wish him the best and will be delighted if it does come off.

[Ovals]

Telegraph saying Smith is confirmed as starting and Faz knew before the Tuesday press conference

Got to say, the new set up is making some good calls. I’m now very excited for the weekend. Even if we lose, we’ve given it our best crack of attack rather than curled into a ball.

You can take him at his word and his actions follow. He hired Nick Evans as his attack coach (and sounds like the position is open for him to go to the WC now as well), he gave Smith instructions as to what he wanted and he's followed through on it.

Smith now will have a proper distributing scrum half, a powerful 12 and his preferred 8, alongside pace on the wings and a ball playing 13. He has his own attack coach who he has a great relationship with at a ground he knows well. The excuses are all gone, so I hope he gets given both games now to see if he can hack it with the big boys. I have my reservations but I (genuinely) wish him the best and will be delighted if it does come off.

Hope he also puts Marchant in at 13 - he knows how Evans wants to atack and obviously has a good working ralationship with Smith. And Slade has been very iffy in the last 2 games. Not the end of the world if he plays Slade though - he might also benefit from a more adventurous attack.

Should be really interesting - could be brilliant, could be a disaster - but it'll be fun.

[Paddington Bear]

Interesting, and a little concerning. Hopefully all resolved as he says:

Maro Itoje has revealed that he suffered from an undiagnosed medical condition over the past year which affected his performances on the field.

Itoje added that the issue had since been resolved ahead of facing France.

“I guess over the last year or so there have been things which have probably affected my conditioning, which has resulted in me being perhaps a little less energised,” Itoje told the i and the Times.

“There have been injury bits, a few niggles, a few things that I’ve had ongoing which I didn’t know were ongoing. I’m not using that as an excuse or anything. The reason I’m being coy is that it was some health things, which I know have had an impact.

“It was an underlying thing, which none of us knew was going on. That’s the reason for a lot of how I was feeling during that time. All of that stuff has now been fixed.

“I feel as if there’s definitely more growth in my game, but week on week, day by day, I’m feeling better and better. The future is definitely brighter.”

[tc27]

I cant quite believe Farrel has being dropped - well done scabnose!

On the other hand I can already see the Stephen Jones article demanding his recall 'to steady the ship' after we lose.

[sockwithaticket]

I cant quite believe Farrel has being dropped - well done scabnose!

On the other hand I can already see the Stephen Jones article demanding his recall 'to steady the ship' after we lose.

Woodward's already weighed in to say that if we want to win the world cup this year it should be Farrell at 10.

[JM2K6]

Is it official, then? It's a really big call, not least because he made Farrell captain. I'm surprised and happy that he's prepared to do this - it's right up there with not keeping Youngs as a safety net and being willing to look at alternatives to Tuilagi et al.

Big pressure on Smith to perform but that's life. Here's hoping we really tear into them.

Looking like the Telegraph is the go-to source for insider info on this England setup...

[Kawazaki]

Interesting, and a little concerning. Hopefully all resolved as he says:

Maro Itoje has revealed that he suffered from an undiagnosed medical condition over the past year which affected his performances on the field.

Itoje added that the issue had since been resolved ahead of facing France.

“I guess over the last year or so there have been things which have probably affected my conditioning, which has resulted in me being perhaps a little less energised,” Itoje told the i and the Times.

“There have been injury bits, a few niggles, a few things that I’ve had ongoing which I didn’t know were ongoing. I’m not using that as an excuse or anything. The reason I’m being coy is that it was some health things, which I know have had an impact.

“It was an underlying thing, which none of us knew was going on. That’s the reason for a lot of how I was feeling during that time. All of that stuff has now been fixed.

“I feel as if there’s definitely more growth in my game, but week on week, day by day, I’m feeling better and better. The future is definitely brighter.”

Type I Diabetes?

[sockwithaticket]

Is it official, then? It's a really big call, not least because he made Farrell captain. I'm surprised and happy that he's prepared to do this - it's right up there with not keeping Youngs as a safety net and being willing to look at alternatives to Tuilagi et al.

Big pressure on Smith to perform but that's life. Here's hoping we really tear into them.

Looking like the Telegraph is the go-to source for insider info on this England setup...

It is now

[geordie_6]

Is it official, then? It's a really big call, not least because he made Farrell captain. I'm surprised and happy that he's prepared to do this - it's right up there with not keeping Youngs as a safety net and being willing to look at alternatives to Tuilagi et al.

Big pressure on Smith to perform but that's life. Here's hoping we really tear into them.

Looking like the Telegraph is the go-to source for insider info on this England setup...

Confirmed. Smith at 10, Genge captain.

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... round-four

[ASMO]

England.jpg (206.85 KiB) Viewed 565 times

[Ovals]

Is it official, then? It's a really big call, not least because he made Farrell captain. I'm surprised and happy that he's prepared to do this - it's right up there with not keeping Youngs as a safety net and being willing to look at alternatives to Tuilagi et al.

Big pressure on Smith to perform but that's life. Here's hoping we really tear into them.

Looking like the Telegraph is the go-to source for insider info on this England setup...

It is now

Good to see Ribbans on the bench in place of Isekwe. The bench is still a bit underwhelming though.

Earl misses out again.

[JM2K6]

Slade is a very lucky boy but beyond that, a pretty good team. Fingers crossed for a cracker of a match.

[tc27]

Agree Slade aside that might be the best XV we can put out right now..lets see what happens.

[JM2K6]

Borthwick's stated that Farrell will finish the game at 10, which, barring a 14 second cameo off the bench scenario, is a weirdly inflexible approach. Why not see what the situation is first eh

[Paddington Bear]

How time has flown since that moment many moons ago when it was a FACT that Borthwick would never drop Faz and Smith would be best served buggering off to France for a bit.

I don't think anyone can grumble and it's absolutely worth a shot. Borthwick has shown absolutely no fear about dropping underperforming big guns and you'd like to think that will be lighting a fire under the whole squad as the year goes on.
I know this thread is generally doom and gloom but let's not forget we have a chance of winning the 6N and at the least laying down a fairly serious marker before the RWC. I'm feeling pretty bullish ahead of Saturday.

Interesting, and a little concerning. Hopefully all resolved as he says:

Maro Itoje has revealed that he suffered from an undiagnosed medical condition over the past year which affected his performances on the field.

Itoje added that the issue had since been resolved ahead of facing France.

“I guess over the last year or so there have been things which have probably affected my conditioning, which has resulted in me being perhaps a little less energised,” Itoje told the i and the Times.

“There have been injury bits, a few niggles, a few things that I’ve had ongoing which I didn’t know were ongoing. I’m not using that as an excuse or anything. The reason I’m being coy is that it was some health things, which I know have had an impact.

“It was an underlying thing, which none of us knew was going on. That’s the reason for a lot of how I was feeling during that time. All of that stuff has now been fixed.

“I feel as if there’s definitely more growth in my game, but week on week, day by day, I’m feeling better and better. The future is definitely brighter.”

Type I Diabetes?

Does that go away? Must say my first thought was an early cancer diagnosis but I have nothing to base that on.

[Sinkers]

Borthwick’s proving to be quite a bit braver than many expected isn’t he?

Can also include Ribbans to the bench when he hasn’t featured much so far.

Traditionally both might have been decisions made only for a lower risk game such as Italy

[Kawazaki]

Borthwick's stated that Farrell will finish the game at 10, which, barring a 14 second cameo off the bench scenario, is a weirdly inflexible approach. Why not see what the situation is first eh

No pleasing some people!

[JM2K6]

Borthwick's stated that Farrell will finish the game at 10, which, barring a 14 second cameo off the bench scenario, is a weirdly inflexible approach. Why not see what the situation is first eh

No pleasing some people!

When someone does things I like/agree with, I praise them for that - which I did in an earlier post - and then when they do things I disagree with I say so. I'm not a huge fan of prescriptive approaches to sport (and substitutions in particular). I also don't like that Slade is playing, which I'm sure is something you agree with!

[Kawazaki]

Picking Marchant at 13 instead of Slade would have been like for like with added benefits.

[JM2K6]

They're pretty different - Marchant is a strike runner with some strings to his bow that Slade doesn't have (pace, running lines, work under the high ball, for example) whereas Slade is more of a 10/12 in skillset with passing skills and a kicking game that are beyond Marchant. He's a distributor with good running skills; Marchant's more of an outside back.

[Kawazaki]

They're pretty different - Marchant is a strike runner with some strings to his bow that Slade doesn't have (pace, running lines, work under the high ball, for example) whereas Slade is more of a 10/12 in skillset with passing skills and a kicking game that are beyond Marchant. He's a distributor with good running skills; Marchant's more of an outside back.

They both play 13 don't they?