NPR

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 12:44 pm 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.

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 3:45 pm Released -

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

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 12:59 pm 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.

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 3:53 pm

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 3:45 pm 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

inactionman wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 4:10 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 3:53 pm

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 3:45 pm 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.

inactionman wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 4:27 pm 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 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 5:29 pm

inactionman wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 4:27 pm 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 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 6:16 pm

Rhubarb & Custard wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 5:29 pm

inactionman wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 4:27 pm 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?

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 7:34 pm Telegraph saying Smith is confirmed as starting and Faz knew before the Tuesday press conference

dpedin wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 6:16 pm

Rhubarb & Custard wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 5:29 pm

inactionman wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 4:27 pm 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?

Random1 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 7:35 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 7:34 pm 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.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 8:47 pm

Random1 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 7:35 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 7:34 pm 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.

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 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:03 am 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.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 9:01 am 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.”

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 12:43 pm 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...

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 12:43 pm 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...

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 1:37 pm

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 12:43 pm 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

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 1:07 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 9:01 am 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?

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 1:54 pm 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

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 2:38 pm

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 1:54 pm 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 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 3:54 pm 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.