RBS 6 Nations 2012

[dante6491]

England played very well but there are still a few weaknesses I think. Hartley is great around the park but his scrumaging is a little hit and miss. Likewise I don't think Cole is the long term tight head. I remember last season he was picked apart by a 37 year old Perry Freshwater when Leicester player Perpingan.

We have depth across the locks and back row which is good. I am curious as to where Tom Wood will fit in. Centres wise Manu and Barrit work fine, we need a back up or two. I would like a George North sized winger perhaps. Ashton, Strettle and Sharples are all good, very good in fact but all offer the same game. I think someone more destructive is needed.

Finally I think Owen Farrel is very good. He is like a new Wilkinson but as with Wilkinson he doesn't really set the backs on fire. He has a solid place kicking game which will chip away victories. Ciprinani probably isn't good enough to get into the squad now but as an example I think he is type of fly half we also need. Two distinct styles which would enable us to change a game if one style isn't working.

 

[Vespasian777]

For me Andy Robinson has got to go. Agreed the first 3 performances were good, but the fact is the last 2 were woeful. Wooden spoon. Time for a change. Why not appoint Mallet.

 

[sbi5ar]

Please explain????

I find that really strange. To me Lawrence is the most direct, articulate and basically correct of the pundits we see on the telly.

I couldn't disagree any more! Lawrence is so biased towards the England team it is unreal! At least some of the other pundits will give it straight when their team isn't performing.

He had England to go through to the final of the RWC, completely dismissing Wales, despite the form they were on in the group stages (nearly beating South Africa). In the RBS 6 Nations he said that the story of this six nations has really been about England (or something to that effect). How can he possibly say that when Wales won the grand slam?

Whilst Wales have not won all their games convincingly, they won all their games! Something that great teams have to do... Win no matter how you play! An ugly win is better than a pretty loss! England have done similar yet they didn't win all of their games! and for the most of it, they played very uninspiring rugby (especially in the first 2 games).

He just needs to get over the fact that Wales have done well in the RWC and this 6 nations and be a little less biased.

That is all...

Now... My predictions for next years six nations are England to win. They are young like Wales and I think they'll take it next year if Stuart is at the helm! He should get the job and solely get the job. What will go against Wales I think is the departure of Warren for the Lions tour this summer... I think it'll undo a lot of work he has put in and "reset" the team back to where they were a year or two ago.

 

[Vespasian777]

As John Inverdale pointed out last weekend, there's nothing wrong with a bit of Parochialism now and again. I wouldn't mark down Keith Wood, Andy Nichol or Jonathan Davies for focusing on their own Nations situation, as Jonathan Davies indeed was, despite commentating on the France / England game at the time.

 

[Pumpkinstew]

As someone who knows not a lot about rugby can you blame anyone else other than the replacement number 3 for Ireland? Tom Court seemed to be having terrible trouble but I'm not sure if the backrowers could be blamed too?

Not really. I've played second row and flanker behind many different props and if they get bent out of shape there really isn't much you can do to help. Trying to push harder just adds to the pressure on them. Hooker can help a bit by getting very low and solid with his tight head but Best had more than he could handle with Hartley already and Cole would just drive into the gap between Best and Healey.

Scrum wasn't the only issue for Ireland. Darcy was lost all tournament. Earls couldn't find Trimble with satnav to help and O'Callaghan, Heaslip and O'Brien didn't play a decent game between them. Ferris and Bowe carried the lot of them.

 

[Pumpkinstew]

I don't think Cole is the long term tight head. I remember last season he was picked apart by a 37 year old Perry Freshwater when Leicester player Perpingan.

Really? Cole was my English player of the tournament along with Farrell. He more than held his own against some very good looseheads and tackled about the pitch like a blindside flanker.

We have depth across the locks and back row which is good. I am curious as to where Tom Wood will fit in. Centres wise Manu and Barrit work fine, we need a back up or two. I would like a George North sized winger perhaps. Ashton, Strettle and Sharples are all good, very good in fact but all offer the same game. I think someone more destructive is needed.

Wood is pretty similar to Robshaw. I'd prefer to see an out and out openside like Warburton or Pocock play, but England don't really have one. So I'll take Robshaw's galvanic leadership please.
Careful what you wish for. Matt Banahan is still floating around the squad - like a massive floater.

Finally I think Owen Farrel is very good. He is like a new Wilkinson but as with Wilkinson he doesn't really set the backs on fire. Two distinct styles which would enable us to change a game if one style isn't working.

There's always Toby Flood. To be fair Farrell started the tournament as a centre and has mostly played there for Saracens. And he's 20. He'll probably get better once he's had a bit practice.

 

[ringo747]

Scrum wasn't the only issue for Ireland. Darcy was lost all tournament. Earls couldn't find Trimble with satnav to help and O'Callaghan, Heaslip and O'Brien didn't play a decent game between them. Ferris and Bowe carried the lot of them.

Yep and Kearney too. Darcy has been awful and I'm sure he won't be around much longer. Earls is certainly very quick but two of the best breaks he had he didn't pass at all when there were plenty of options. Tries looked certain if he had given it.

O'Callaghan never is very visible but maybe that is what a lock is supposed to be. I imagine he won't start the next games once O'Connell is back. He also has only been playing around 60 minutes so maybe he is not the player he was.

 

[Brookert]

D'arcy should have been shown the door a while ago, he hasn't performed these last two six nations at least. Can't remember the last good performance he put in for ireland.

 

[ringo747]

Can someone who understands the positions tell me if O'Brien would be better at 8 and swap Heaslip to flanker or is that a huge change to make? O'Brien apparently isn't a natural 7 so why is he there?

 

[wilber]

 

[Ben Cole]

Just noticed some more good news for England is, they retain 4th in the World Rankings (due to Wales winning margin against France being less than 15 points) so they get one of the top four spots (with ABs, bokke and Wallabies) for the group draw of the World cup

I think you've shot your bolt too early. We're all going on summer tours before the rankings decide the pool seedings.

 

[ringo747]

Hartley cited. He tends to be a bit of an idiot at times.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17440125

 

[Pookie Bear]

Hartley cited. He tends to be a bit of an idiot at times.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17440125

The video is unclear, but if they decide on the evidence available that he has bitten someone, the ban should be as long as possible. Absolutely disgusting behaviour.

 

[Pumpkinstew]

My punt at team of the tournament:

1 Dan Cole
2 Rory Best
3 Gethin Jenkins
4 Richie Gray
5 Yoann Maestri
6 Dan Lydiate
7 Thierry Dusauttoire
8 Sergio Parisse
9 Mike Phillips
10 Owen Farell
11 George North
12 Wesley Fofana
13 Jonathan Davies
14 Tommy Bowe
15 Lee Halfpenny

Feel free to shout me down