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YepPaddington Bear wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:27 pm Italy have competed pretty well but they’re totally outclassed
Try to think about something happy.Paddington Bear wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 4:08 pm Italy’s handling is bringing back repressed teenage memories of Martin Johnson management era England
It was. Thought Pearce wasn't going to call it for a minute.
Credit to Pearce for that one. Focusing on whether the tackle is complete and after seeing the replay, changes his mind.
To be fair, they didn't have this instance have a dozen bodies in the way doing their best to hide what was happeningPaddington Bear wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 4:17 pm God it’s refreshing watching a game with a competent ref
Probably.
He’s really grown on me as a player the last couple of years, top classfishfoodie wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 4:24 pm For a bloke supposedly with a degenerative ankle? issue, Lowe has been some player for Leinster & Ireland
It kind of is tbh. Italy have hung in doggedly to keep the score down, but they've rarely looked like threatening a score of their own.fishfoodie wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 4:36 pmProbably.
Not fair, & not reflective of how they've played, but this Irish squad is very good.
Missed 2 touchline conversions. Bossed the rest of the game when he was at 10. Harry Byrne was a step down when he came on.
No need to get defensive.
Crowley is well able to kick goals, I wouldn't worry about that. It's his kicking from hand, and when he chooses to do it is the problem.
His kicking for touch seemed a bit off too tbh. And on another day the no look passes get called forward - one of them was ludicrously illegal - and then the conversation around him is significantly less positive.
He is surrounded by a lot of good players, which takes some of the pressure off him.JM2K6 wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 9:15 pmHis kicking for touch seemed a bit off too tbh. And on another day the no look passes get called forward - one of them was ludicrously illegal - and then the conversation around him is significantly less positive.
Still, he looked pretty comfortable and his decision making was good.
Have to agree, he looked a bit shit, with all the good ball he was given, he should have done a lot more.fishfoodie wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 9:23 pmHe is surrounded by a lot of good players, which takes some of the pressure off him.JM2K6 wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 9:15 pmHis kicking for touch seemed a bit off too tbh. And on another day the no look passes get called forward - one of them was ludicrously illegal - and then the conversation around him is significantly less positive.yermum wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 5:58 pm
Missed 2 touchline conversions. Bossed the rest of the game when he was at 10. Harry Byrne was a step down when he came on.
Still, he looked pretty comfortable and his decision making was good.
In the run up to one of the tries, there was a ropey pass thrown, & Henshaw just stuttered slightly before moving the ball along & that tiny stutter fixed the timing & the try was scored.
I'd also like to see Blade given another shot at being the backup SH to JGP, as I think he is better than Casey.
One of the big taking points in the build up to the 6N was the exit strategy and the need to kick more as trying to run it from everywhere was getting them into trouble. But since all our scrum halves are so bad at box kicking I'd much rather they fling the ball to Pani and let him use that massive boot of hisPaddington Bear wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:40 pmI don’t get why they keep trying it - just run the ballsturginho wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:37 pmIt's a real problem, garbisino can't kick, varney keeps getting charged down, hopefully page-relo is better?Paddington Bear wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:32 pm Varney and being charged down - an iconic duo.
Also love Pearce reffing the choke tackle properly
This isn’t unique to Italy, so many pro teams play games they aren’t capable of playing because it’s the done thing. I.e everyone’s 9 box kicks now so Italy have to. Loads of Premiership games involve teams whose scrum has gone to bits still packing down and trying to monster it rather than a quick hook and gone from the 8, seemingly because accepting that’s your game is professionally embarrassing.sturginho wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 9:23 amOne of the big taking points in the build up to the 6N was the exit strategy and the need to kick more as trying to run it from everywhere was getting them into trouble. But since all our scrum halves are so bad at box kicking I'd much rather they fling the ball to Pani and let him use that massive boot of hisPaddington Bear wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:40 pmI don’t get why they keep trying it - just run the ballsturginho wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:37 pm
It's a real problem, garbisino can't kick, varney keeps getting charged down, hopefully page-relo is better?
Totally agree with this and been having similar thoughts.Paddington Bear wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 11:44 amThis isn’t unique to Italy, so many pro teams play games they aren’t capable of playing because it’s the done thing. I.e everyone’s 9 box kicks now so Italy have to. Loads of Premiership games involve teams whose scrum has gone to bits still packing down and trying to monster it rather than a quick hook and gone from the 8, seemingly because accepting that’s your game is professionally embarrassing.sturginho wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 9:23 amOne of the big taking points in the build up to the 6N was the exit strategy and the need to kick more as trying to run it from everywhere was getting them into trouble. But since all our scrum halves are so bad at box kicking I'd much rather they fling the ball to Pani and let him use that massive boot of hisPaddington Bear wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:40 pm
I don’t get why they keep trying it - just run the ball
Prime example in the Scotland game when France were down to 14 men. Scotland called a scrum in the French 22 on a penalty and tried (and failed) to monster the French scrum rather than moving the ball quickly to the backs where they had a numerical advantage. End result, penalty to France and pressure relieved.Paddington Bear wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 11:44 amThis isn’t unique to Italy, so many pro teams play games they aren’t capable of playing because it’s the done thing. I.e everyone’s 9 box kicks now so Italy have to. Loads of Premiership games involve teams whose scrum has gone to bits still packing down and trying to monster it rather than a quick hook and gone from the 8, seemingly because accepting that’s your game is professionally embarrassing.sturginho wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 9:23 amOne of the big taking points in the build up to the 6N was the exit strategy and the need to kick more as trying to run it from everywhere was getting them into trouble. But since all our scrum halves are so bad at box kicking I'd much rather they fling the ball to Pani and let him use that massive boot of hisPaddington Bear wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:40 pm
I don’t get why they keep trying it - just run the ball
Right. I get you’ve got to have a different and less cautious mindset to play pro rugby, and particularly in the tight 5. However cool heads tend to be pretty critical to any great side.Lobby wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 11:58 amPrime example in the Scotland game when France were down to 14 men. Scotland called a scrum in the French 22 on a penalty and tried (and failed) to monster the French scrum rather than moving the ball quickly to the backs where they had a numerical advantage. End result, penalty to France and pressure relieved.Paddington Bear wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 11:44 amThis isn’t unique to Italy, so many pro teams play games they aren’t capable of playing because it’s the done thing. I.e everyone’s 9 box kicks now so Italy have to. Loads of Premiership games involve teams whose scrum has gone to bits still packing down and trying to monster it rather than a quick hook and gone from the 8, seemingly because accepting that’s your game is professionally embarrassing.sturginho wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 9:23 am
One of the big taking points in the build up to the 6N was the exit strategy and the need to kick more as trying to run it from everywhere was getting them into trouble. But since all our scrum halves are so bad at box kicking I'd much rather they fling the ball to Pani and let him use that massive boot of his