Six Nations 2016

Not a weekend of classic rugby but it was nice to see some threat from the Italian backs. France looked genuinely dangerous for the few short phases when they attacked. Scotland vs England was ok but Scotland still can't score and England looked like work in progress (which they are). Wales handling looked great at times, but after Saturday's matches I tired of it all quite quickly. Ireland were ok.

I'm not sure it told us vey much I'm really hoping we get something a bit better next week.
 
England squad for Italy game

Mike Brown
Anthony Watson
Jonathan Joseph
Owen Farrell
Jack Nowell
George Ford
Ben Youngs
Mako Vunipola
Dylan Hartley
Dan Cole
Courtney Lawes
George Kruis
Chris Robshaw
James Haskell
Billy Vunipola

Replacements:
Jamie George
Joe Marler
Paul Hill
Joe Launchbury
Maro Itoje
Jack Clifford
Danny Care
Alex Goode

Nothing too exciting really. Youngs, Mako and Lawes in for Care, Marler and Launchbury.

I understand the first two, but dropping Launchbury is a bad idea IMO, we won't miss him until he's gone, I think he will leave a hole in our pack. I suppose the argument is Launchbury and Kruis are quite alike, and Jones probably feels like he doesn't want to drop Kruis, who had a good game. I still prefer Lawes as a bench option though.

What has done my nut is Danny Care and Alex Goode being our only backs subs. Sets a pretty strong statement for what our game plan is going to be, and I don't like it :mad:

Joseph is the only true centre in our entire matchday squad, what on earth is that about. Alex Goode being our only attacking option from the bench? Seriously? What does he give that Cipriani doesn't?
 
dl8860 said:
I understand the first two, but dropping Launchbury is a bad idea IMO, we won't miss him until he's gone, I think he will leave a hole in our pack. I suppose the argument is Launchbury and Kruis are quite alike, and Jones probably feels like he doesn't want to drop Kruis, who had a good game. I still prefer Lawes as a bench option though.

What has done my nut is Danny Care and Alex Goode being our only backs subs. Sets a pretty strong statement for what our game plan is going to be, and I don't like it :mad:

Joseph is the only true centre in our entire matchday squad, what on earth is that about. Alex Goode being our only attacking option from the bench? Seriously? What does he give that Cipriani doesn't?
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Launchbury was pretty ill last week I heard. Jones has also said already that he is building 3 XVs, because that's what you need to prepare for a WC, so I'm fine with him rotating players.

Goode must be incredible in training as I have never seen him offer anything at international level. Cipriani was outstanding in his limited opportunities before the WC so you can only assume he's an unlikeable **** off the pitch, which wouldn't be a huge stretch of the imagination.
 
Yeah, I believe Launchbury isn't 100% fit at the moment, hence the Lawes replacement

Still playing with two 6.5's too. Really need to develop a proper 7..... Not sure Itoje is the one for that, despite his all around capability. Maybe Clifford?
 
Awful, awful performance.
Bad decisions in early phases of game.
Some dodgy tackling.

Second half much more even, just Ireland didn't have the ball.
Disappointed.
Very disappointed.
 
Well done to France but not a terribly good game - two wins with pretty awful performances so if they actually start playing the 6 Nations could be theirs. I wonder if Maestri will be cited after the game for his shoulder/push on Sexton.

Fairly happy with the game up to now, still lots of chances for Scotland to screw it up but good so far. I wasn't impressed by how quickly we lost a try to Wales and the replays seem to show that the player was offside but it was given so nothing to be done about it now and the finish was very good to be fair. The Scotland try was great, the patience shown and the delicate kick by Russell was very pleasing.
 
Damn. 27-23. Well done to Wales, slightly too many mistakes and missed tackles by Scotland and either the line out wasn't working or Wales were reading it very well but it feels deeply unlucky to lose that match. Too late but I was glad to see the late try by Taylor, if Scotland had lost by more than a try it would have been completely unrepresentative of the play.

It'll be interesting to see whether England live up to Jones's predictions tomorrow or if Italy can pull off a bit of a shock.
 
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