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Not tonnes tbf, but don’t think him being a good club defender means he shouldn’t be targeted early on in his international career, particularly as Scotland have looked vulnerable up the gut so far this 6NTichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 4:14 pmHave you watched Jordan much?Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 3:00 pm. I’d like to see us run down Jordan’s channel plenty.
Smith’s (M) a very reliable kicker, if his head is all over the place again I assume the change will happen early but I don’t have any issue with him keeping the tee for nowKawazaki wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 4:01 pmPaddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 3:00 pm Scotland team out. Think we have them up front, and our back row has been excellent thus far. Huw Jones and VdM will never not give me the fear - it is very possible to get to the outside of our defensive system and I don’t think it’s any criticism of Smith to say he’s unlikely to stop a bloke 1,000 times the size in full flight if he gets through. You have to assume Russell will be better than he has been.
Got to put them under pressure down the middle and their breakdown discipline was piss poor against Italy which meant Allan could keep them in the game with 3 pointers. Useful blueprint for chipping away. I’d like to see us run down Jordan’s channel plenty.
Just got to win this one, really doesn’t matter how.
Is flakey still kicking or will Fin start as kicker?
I've just noticed his brother Jack is starting for the England U20s tomorrowKawazaki wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:04 pminactionman wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 6:50 pm I noted the replacement scrumhalf for Sarries is the offspring of Kyran Bracken.
Any good?
Yes, very good. His baby brother came on as a replacement as well and literally ran straight through a Quins defender to score the winning try.
The Brackens pictured last week.
Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 4:25 pmNot tonnes tbf, but don’t think him being a good club defender means he shouldn’t be targeted early on in his international career, particularly as Scotland have looked vulnerable up the gut so far this 6NTichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 4:14 pmHave you watched Jordan much?Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 3:00 pm. I’d like to see us run down Jordan’s channel plenty.
Been impressed with what I've seen of him though can't recall him aty 12. Be interesting to see how he gets on with Curry in his faceTichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 4:48 pmPaddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 4:25 pmNot tonnes tbf, but don’t think him being a good club defender means he shouldn’t be targeted early on in his international career, particularly as Scotland have looked vulnerable up the gut so far this 6N
It’s not really about being a good club defender or not, more that he’s extremely abrasive and physical for a guy who isn’t huge - he’s not a massive step down from Sione in that respect
Curry can’t target him and Finn and we’ve been hearing about how great he is targeting FinnSaintK wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:02 pmBeen impressed with what I've seen of him though can't recall him aty 12. Be interesting to see how he gets on with Curry in his faceTichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 4:48 pmPaddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 4:25 pm
Not tonnes tbf, but don’t think him being a good club defender means he shouldn’t be targeted early on in his international career, particularly as Scotland have looked vulnerable up the gut so far this 6N
It’s not really about being a good club defender or not, more that he’s extremely abrasive and physical for a guy who isn’t huge - he’s not a massive step down from Sione in that respect
Yes, I’d like him to spend one of his early test appearances wondering who is coming at him next rather than being able to go through the gears between Russell and JonesSaintK wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:02 pmBeen impressed with what I've seen of him though can't recall him aty 12. Be interesting to see how he gets on with Curry in his faceTichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 4:48 pmPaddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 4:25 pm
Not tonnes tbf, but don’t think him being a good club defender means he shouldn’t be targeted early on in his international career, particularly as Scotland have looked vulnerable up the gut so far this 6N
It’s not really about being a good club defender or not, more that he’s extremely abrasive and physical for a guy who isn’t huge - he’s not a massive step down from Sione in that respect
This is why we have two Currys, checkmateSlick wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:35 pmCurry can’t target him and Finn and we’ve been hearing about how great he is targeting Finn
Leave Russell to Earl!Slick wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:35 pmCurry can’t target him and Finn and we’ve been hearing about how great he is targeting Finn
Just got off the train in Amersham and noticed this chap in the distance marching like an officer towards me with what looked like white gloves. Quite an eccentric I thought.Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 4:26 pmSmith’s (M) a very reliable kicker, if his head is all over the place again I assume the change will happen early but I don’t have any issue with him keeping the tee for nowKawazaki wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 4:01 pmPaddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 3:00 pm Scotland team out. Think we have them up front, and our back row has been excellent thus far. Huw Jones and VdM will never not give me the fear - it is very possible to get to the outside of our defensive system and I don’t think it’s any criticism of Smith to say he’s unlikely to stop a bloke 1,000 times the size in full flight if he gets through. You have to assume Russell will be better than he has been.
Got to put them under pressure down the middle and their breakdown discipline was piss poor against Italy which meant Allan could keep them in the game with 3 pointers. Useful blueprint for chipping away. I’d like to see us run down Jordan’s channel plenty.
Just got to win this one, really doesn’t matter how.
Is flakey still kicking or will Fin start as kicker?
Slick wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:38 pmJust got off the train in Amersham and noticed this chap in the distance marching like an officer towards me with what looked like white gloves. Quite an eccentric I thought.Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 4:26 pmSmith’s (M) a very reliable kicker, if his head is all over the place again I assume the change will happen early but I don’t have any issue with him keeping the tee for now
Turns out it was your old man
Thankfully the white gloves were actually sleeves pulled downPaddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:40 pmSlick wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:38 pmJust got off the train in Amersham and noticed this chap in the distance marching like an officer towards me with what looked like white gloves. Quite an eccentric I thought.Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 4:26 pm
Smith’s (M) a very reliable kicker, if his head is all over the place again I assume the change will happen early but I don’t have any issue with him keeping the tee for now
Turns out it was your old man
Saw where this was coming from a mile off, glad to hear he’s not working too hard
Assume you mean the bench replacement of Martin with Hill? The balance of the bench does seem a little off, happy enough for someone to cover lock and back row, but Hill and CCS only really cover 6 in the backrow - unless CCS has some skills at 8 I'm not familiar with.sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:46 pm Our lack of second rows is really starting to get to me.
Not convinced papering over the cracks with tall back rowers will cut it.
CCS played for the U20's at 8 a few timesinactionman wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:55 pmAssume you mean the bench replacement of Martin with Hill? The balance of the bench does seem a little off, happy enough for someone to cover lock and back row, but Hill and CCS only really cover 6 in the backrow - unless CCS has some skills at 8 I'm not familiar with.sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:46 pm Our lack of second rows is really starting to get to me.
Not convinced papering over the cracks with tall back rowers will cut it.
That's the acute issue, but we do seem to be in a place where we've only got 3 that the England set up consider international class and are willing to consistently select in a matchday squad - Itoje, Chessum and Martin. Two of those seem to have had a fair few injury problems considering how young they are. I can't necessarily fault them for that conclusion.inactionman wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:55 pmAssume you mean the bench replacement of Martin with Hill? The balance of the bench does seem a little off, happy enough for someone to cover lock and back row, but Hill and CCS only really cover 6 in the backrow - unless CCS has some skills at 8 I'm not familiar with.sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:46 pm Our lack of second rows is really starting to get to me.
Not convinced papering over the cracks with tall back rowers will cut it.
It’s a shame that Joe Batley got injured just before he would have played for England Asockwithaticket wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 6:18 pmThat's the acute issue, but we do seem to be in a place where we've only got 3 that the England set up consider international class and are willing to consistently select in a matchday squad - Itoje, Chessum and Martin. Two of those seem to have had a fair few injury problems considering how young they are. I can't necessarily fault them for that conclusion.inactionman wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:55 pmAssume you mean the bench replacement of Martin with Hill? The balance of the bench does seem a little off, happy enough for someone to cover lock and back row, but Hill and CCS only really cover 6 in the backrow - unless CCS has some skills at 8 I'm not familiar with.sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:46 pm Our lack of second rows is really starting to get to me.
Not convinced papering over the cracks with tall back rowers will cut it.
Outside that our capped and not selected guys are Coles, Isiekwe, Ewels, J. Hill. Launchbury and Beaumont. Players either no longer at the top of their game or given opportunities and found wanting. The exception would be Coles.
Then there are the likes of Bamber and Tizard who're getting a look in with the A team and a host of EQP locks in the Premiership who are nowhere near the international set up. With the best will in the world guys like Freddie Clarke or George Hammond are definitely not the answer to an apparent lack of test quality at lock.
Finn Carnduff's down as lock/back row for Tigers, though I must admit I only recall him playing back row for U20s. Obviously the other Chessum is off in Japan at the moment. The current U20s pairing (Sodeke/Kpoku) looks pretty handy, but you never know how that will translate as they get out of age grade.SaintK wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 6:24 pmIt’s a shame that Joe Batley got injured just before he would have played for England Asockwithaticket wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 6:18 pmThat's the acute issue, but we do seem to be in a place where we've only got 3 that the England set up consider international class and are willing to consistently select in a matchday squad - Itoje, Chessum and Martin. Two of those seem to have had a fair few injury problems considering how young they are. I can't necessarily fault them for that conclusion.inactionman wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:55 pm
Assume you mean the bench replacement of Martin with Hill? The balance of the bench does seem a little off, happy enough for someone to cover lock and back row, but Hill and CCS only really cover 6 in the backrow - unless CCS has some skills at 8 I'm not familiar with.
Outside that our capped and not selected guys are Coles, Isiekwe, Ewels, J. Hill. Launchbury and Beaumont. Players either no longer at the top of their game or given opportunities and found wanting. The exception would be Coles.
Then there are the likes of Bamber and Tizard who're getting a look in with the A team and a host of EQP locks in the Premiership who are nowhere near the international set up. With the best will in the world guys like Freddie Clarke or George Hammond are definitely not the answer to an apparent lack of test quality at lock.
There’s another young lock at Bears, Owen’s who looks as if he could develop well
But otherwise hmmmmm!
CCS played a lot at 8 for LI. Often very effectively. Sometimes not (tits for hands games)SaintK wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 6:06 pmCCS played for the U20's at 8 a few timesinactionman wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:55 pmAssume you mean the bench replacement of Martin with Hill? The balance of the bench does seem a little off, happy enough for someone to cover lock and back row, but Hill and CCS only really cover 6 in the backrow - unless CCS has some skills at 8 I'm not familiar with.sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:46 pm Our lack of second rows is really starting to get to me.
Not convinced papering over the cracks with tall back rowers will cut it.
The only other player that may have covered 5/6 is Coles but he has only just rejoined the squad after injury
Waste of a start for someone else
Bloody Bill Sweeney!!!!Slick wrote: ↑Sun Feb 23, 2025 11:43 am As I said elsewhere, exceptional day at Twickenham yesterday.
I do have to be complaint though, who the hell are the idiots on the microphones? Some cockney geezer who clearly knows nothing about rugby just being a dick. I can’t remember exactly what it was but straight after the final whistle but something along the lines of “haha Scotland we beat you, go back home”, it was a bit bizarre, out of order and out of place
I also have a massively irrational hatred of anyone dressed as a Crusader so my mates thoroughly enjoyed a group of about 20 of them setting up camp next to us pre gameSaintK wrote: ↑Sun Feb 23, 2025 11:44 amBloody Bill Sweeney!!!!Slick wrote: ↑Sun Feb 23, 2025 11:43 am As I said elsewhere, exceptional day at Twickenham yesterday.
I do have to be complaint though, who the hell are the idiots on the microphones? Some cockney geezer who clearly knows nothing about rugby just being a dick. I can’t remember exactly what it was but straight after the final whistle but something along the lines of “haha Scotland we beat you, go back home”, it was a bit bizarre, out of order and out of place
I finally managed to get the Rugbypass one working by about the 25th minute. The less official stream I found kept hanging and making weird noises at me, like old dial up internet but worse.
The scrum was an under-appreciated factor in the win over France as well. Watched the game in a packed pub on a tiny tv so caveats apply but I felt in many ways it was a pretty classic English blueprint to win a game - win the scrum, win your lineouts and take the 3 whenever offered. We managed all three, Scotland had issues with all three and the rest is history.Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Sun Feb 23, 2025 1:37 pmI was going to post this during the match, but didn't want to jinx it.