NPR

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 10:59 am The English centre conundrum deserves a thread of its own really.

Carling/Guscott
Greenwood/Tindall

Beyond those two pairs, it's difficult to really think of another pair that were both enduring and effective.

pjm1 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 12:57 pm

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 10:59 am The English centre conundrum deserves a thread of its own really.

Carling/Guscott
Greenwood/Tindall

Beyond those two pairs, it's difficult to really think of another pair that were both enduring and effective.

Noon/Tindall?

edit: beaten to the line by Crash

Crash669 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 1:35 pm

pjm1 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 12:57 pm

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 10:59 am The English centre conundrum deserves a thread of its own really.

Carling/Guscott
Greenwood/Tindall

Beyond those two pairs, it's difficult to really think of another pair that were both enduring and effective.

Noon/Tindall?

edit: beaten to the line by Crash

Obviously it was the first that came to mind...

I was watching highlights of the 03 six nations just to cheer myself up, and I'd forgotten the efforts to shoe horn Hodgson in at 12 with Greenwood outside him, even though it was an obviously terrible idea. It seemed to negate the best attributes of Hodgson, Greenwood and Wilkinson, but England carried on with the idea of having a second 10 at 12 for several years - then brought it back with Farrell. The idea that 12 is a position with its own set of skills that needs a specialist there really doesn't seem to get through to the national side.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 1:38 pm
And in his absence we seem hell bent on playing 13s there.

Crash669 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 1:43 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 1:38 pm
And in his absence we seem hell bent on playing 13s there.

And there was that time Jason Robsinon lined up at 12. I know it was only Italy, but why do so many coaches think 12 hasn't got its own skillset and needs a specialist player there?

Ovals wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 1:48 pm

Crash669 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 1:43 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 1:38 pm
And in his absence we seem hell bent on playing 13s there.

And there was that time Jason Robsinon lined up at 12. I know it was only Italy, but why do so many coaches think 12 hasn't got its own skillset and needs a specialist player there?

I'm always surprised they haven't tried to push Nowell into inside centre - he appears to have the sort of skillset that would suit - if you must play someone out of position !!

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 3:08 pm I played 12 as an adult but 10 as a youth. I remember the conversation went something like, you've filled out a bit and like tackling so we'll move you to 12 and that was that. The best player in the club was also the first team flyhalf so if I wanted to play in the first XV then 12 was the only real option.

In my humble old amateur experience, playing 12 is much more like being a 10 than being a 13. I did play at 13 a few times and it really was quite different to playing 12. Played left and right for a season with another 12 which actually worked quite well but that went out of fashion in RU even while I was still playing but it's what they still do in RL and I'm surprised it's not tried again.

Madness wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 4:28 pm Ultra cynical view is that starting Randall vs fired up Italy at home will mean that he has the hard time and then our saviour Ben comes on as game opens up, scores a jammy try and seals his place for another 2 years. Back up scrum half roulette wheel dumps Randall and moves onto Maunder junior

Ovals wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 7:26 pm England u 19s getting schooled by Italy in the scrums. Too many errors and penalties but just 3 points in it atm.

Slick wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 7:59 pm Italy very impressive. Don’t know how they didn’t get someone binned for all those penalties though

Oxbow wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 8:08 pm Saints being Saints, so frustrating at times.

ASMO wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 8:49 pm If this is the future of English rugby, we are royally fucked. Not one of the players on show tonight will make it as a full international. I dare say most of them wont make regular club starters

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 8:56 pm What's this moaning English staff doing on the pitch hassling the ref for foul play? GTFO the pitch you w*nk*r.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 8:56 pm What's this moaning English staff doing on the pitch hassling the ref for foul play? GTFO the pitch you w*nk*r.

Ovals wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 9:01 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 8:56 pm What's this moaning English staff doing on the pitch hassling the ref for foul play? GTFO the pitch you w*nk*r.

They were asking why our player was being forced off to have a HIA