Currently in Rome this weekend. I was also here 2 weeks ago to see Ireland beat Italy. The difference in atmosphere is astonishing. 25K Irish fans here a fortnight ago and the Italians were so excited to see and to play so well against the world number one team. A fair few Welsh fans knocking around but not the same atmosphere. Italy is such a proud rugby nation. It may not be the number one sport in the country but the ones that like it, really love it. Looking forward to a good game tomorrow. Think it will be close. If we lose, it is game on next week for the Championship.
I was watching the Swans getting thrashed by Boro …. Managed to watch the first half of Italy v Wales on one of the TV screens in the concourse. Lucky bounce and some dreadful Italian tackling ‘gifted’ us 2 early tries. The Italians made so many handling errors. Anyway, a win is a win. France next up for us - a record defeat in Paris? I saw a couple of hammerings in Paris in the 1990s: Gatland May go for damage limitation. I saw the second half of the England v France match. England looked poor, but are better than we are.
He should've started by dropping the worst culprits, the morons in the pack that commit the same dopey offences over and over again ! But he's kept them in and nothing has changed, and worst of all it hasn't improved at all. It needed a seriously strong minded individual to come in and get rid of the brain dead ****ers. I remember what Woodward said to his pack before the 2003 World Cup and what he said would happen to any individual who didn't learn from their previous misdemeanours. Funnily enough, they all improved their discipline immeasurably.
Here’s how Sam Warburton described the reasoning and logic behind this approach: https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/i...teams-kick-away-hardearned-possession-so-much
Useful. So now all England need to do is learn how to counterattack and turn the ball over. They’ve got the kick bit though.
Oh a yea agreed I said that but after Jones maybe they wanted an English manager. Especially one with domestic knowledge and success.
great question. I’ve listened to so many podcasts on this topic. It seems there is a split in style regarding how rugby should be played at the moment. On one side there are coaches who believe that the best way to play rugby is by a kicking game. Kick at every opportunity, constantly turn the opposition pack, play the game in the opposition half and build pressure through territory. It’s a simple concept I suppose. Jones was in this camp as is SB. You need to have a good pack as lineout and scrum dominance is important. the second concept is to hold the ball as much as possible, build pressure through possession, draw penalties, high intensity, high ball in play time and basically run the opposition into the ground. This is the rugby that Ireland and Scotland play. Of course, I believe that it’s a mixture of both. That’s why your 10 is essential, knowing when to play and when to Kick. Traditionally, I believe England always tried to dominate the physical game, strong pack, strong lineout and strong maul. And then once dominant, release your backs. The problem is that you’re not dominating physically anymore and not getting enough primary possession. On top of this, when the pressure comes on at ruck time, discipline is poor. Your speed off the line was notably poor yesterday and your ball carriers are too playing too deep. SB knows all this. It can’t be fixed overnight. He has inherited a ****eshow. I think the RFU went for SB to bring England back to the basics above. That’s the style of coach he is. He will get them right but it may take 12-24 months until he is happy. But week by week, he will drill them to death. Not my preferred style of rugby but SA won the last WC playing this way and England weren’t a million miles away.
It's fine for long kicks into touch, but the vertical kicks often achieve nothing, and, as you day, give the ball away. I haven't been impressed by scrum half van Poortvliet, and such a key position
It’s the packs job to give a scrum half as easy a ride as possible. The English pack has been struggling and I don’t think you’ve seen the best of him yet.
He's young, so you may be right. All successful teams have something special at 9 and 10. England are lacking there at present.
Yea agreed. It’s the same with Smyth and Farrell at 10. They’re both finding it difficult at present to get decent quick go forward ball.
Excellent game at Murrayfield, Ireland look more threatening but Scotland giving them a run for their money. Both sides going for it and some excellent ball handling. Next score will be so important...
not a classic on the scoreboard but both teams giving everything and Irish defence very good so far. 3 big injuries in first 20 minutes hurting. We’ve been cursed this year with injuries. should be a great last 20 when it opens up
