NPR

Bath have been really poor in this 2nd half - haven't got their kicking right and seemed to have just let Exeter run at them. Wabosi has been a real pain in their side - always making ground after the tackle and committing extra tacklers.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sat Apr 06, 2024 2:34 pm Ted Hill is quick

Half the length of the pitch and, surprisingly, Wabosi didn't make up one inch on him. Either Hill is very quick or Wabosi isn't as quick as I thought !!!

Going to be tough for Exeter in the 2nd half, playing into a gale.

Hopefully we've finally got our giant for our u12s. Plenty of sides have a "surely he's not 12" player, now we might have one. None of the girls in our teams are on the large side - and size is a huge advantage at age group rugby. On the other hand, it does make the 'less large' teams rel...

Watched two of my Grand Daughters play today against Ringwood - at U14 and U16 - the former won failry comfortably but the latter got hammered. The eldest was really pissed off after the game - she had a decent game @6 and put in lots of strong tackles but the side was outclassed and outmuscled - sh...

It'll be interesting to see if the 'others' can make any headway against England and France. Wales (who have 12 players at the Gloucester-Hartpury club) are the most likely to close the gap a bit - but their key tussle will probably be with the Scots - 3rd place is a prize in itself, carrying automa...

Are we happy to say a corner has clearly been turned now? Gutted by the ending but a performance to be proud of. Plenty still to work on but suddenly the attack is really purring. I think so - but there's still plenty of growth to come. Give the coaches another year or two and we could be right up ...

Are we happy to say a corner has clearly been turned now? Gutted by the ending but a performance to be proud of. Plenty still to work on but suddenly the attack is really purring. I think so - but there's still plenty of growth to come. Give the coaches another year or two and we could be right up ...

I caught up with the game last last night and watched it without knowing the score. Very impressed with how England played - thought they were unlucky to lose. There was a period in the 2nd half where every bounce went France's way and we just couldn't get a hold on it. Great game though and some lo...

Apologies, everyone. After last week's performance I'm actually feeling a little twinge of excited anticipation about tonight's game, which means we're going to get bodied. Working hard on restoring my usual pessimism. I can't watch the game live - question is, do I watch the recording when I get h...

tc27 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:59 pm U21s looks like it was a good game.

Under 20s - and it was a cracker. Great comeback from 21-5 down to win 45-21. Lots of skill on show but also lots of errors - which always makes for lots of entertainment. England were just that bit smarter. Well deserved Championship title.

Right, life in my hands, I’m going to make a case for Daly. He’s not a top speed winger, but he’s quick enough. And big enough. His defence is at least adequate. And he does have a powerful boot on him for long distance pens. Yes, he missed the one against Ireland (though easily got the distance) b...

England side to face France... 15. George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 8 caps) 14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 7 caps) 13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 61 caps) 12. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 23 caps) 11. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 68 caps) 10. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 95 caps) – vice captain 9...

It happens so often in the 6N that a team that pulls out an incredible performance against the odds one week seem utterly drained for the week after. But this French side could easily implode as well. Interesting game. If we can get our kicking right - and really execute our rush defence well - I c...

Fuck me, they'd already turned the ball back and still complaining? As far as I can tell, you're the only one complaining here! Precious much? Homer added clickbait headline. According to Nige it was adjudicated correctly from the try point of view. Indeed. I mean it is annoying they missed it, but...

Bit of an acid test this one. France missing some key men and have been average at best all tour ament. Going away there is never easy, but if we really have properly turned the corner, and have any hope of a decent summer/autumn, we need to win this one. I think the performance is more important t...

I don't think we need to win, but we do need to show a continued attempt to play alongside a sensible shape. Losing Feyi-Wabso will hurt, we cannot likely replicate turning a defence and yak yards like that Interesting as what worked in large part against Ireland was the power aspect to our game, a...

Bit of an acid test this one. France missing some key men and have been average at best all tour ament. Going away there is never easy, but if we really have properly turned the corner, and have any hope of a decent summer/autumn, we need to win this one. I think the performance is more important t...

The kicking off the tee was really quite poor. I was expecting that to come back and bite us. What's Furbank like off the tee, I wonder? We should go back to 15s kicking for goal. Slade is the obvious alternative as he's kicked several pressure kicks for Exeter this season. Yep, he's already taking...

Agree with that largely. As much as they crow when we win, truth is that however much they deny it our media love to see us lose. It’s quite unique. I’m not exactly Jonny Bairstow’s strongest soldier, but him calling out the media for this was a major factor in our cricket world cup win IMO. This i...

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 9:31 am
JM2K6 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 9:30 am Maybe the coaches will let the players pass and run with the ball in training this week, as a treat.
No, keep them hungry for the ball at the weekend.

Since they never actually get the ball in the matches, perhaps the training is just designed to replicate the match situations

Scotland start as clear favourites but we're due a win over them. If we can continue the improvement in our new defence and make a couple of changes to our line up to give us a bit more go forward, I reckon we can sneak another close one. The addition of Tuilagi, even the lesser version we have now...

Not convinced either side have offered anything over the last 6 months to justify a ‘clear favourites’ tag True - but, home advantage, a settled team, and their recent track record against us, has to make them favourites. Recent track record vs us is four years of games that could have gone either ...

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 2:04 pm Not convinced either side have offered anything over the last 6 months to justify a ‘clear favourites’ tag

True - but, home advantage, a settled team, and their recent track record against us, has to make them favourites.

Scotland start as clear favourites but we're due a win over them. If we can continue the improvement in our new defence and make a couple of changes to our line up to give us a bit more go forward, I reckon we can sneak another close one. The addition of Tuilagi, even the lesser version we have now,...

And no Radwan !!

No Kelly, Mercer or Will Evans

Anyway Looks like Manu is back in line for the Scotland game. Centre Manu Tuilagi has been included in England's initial 36-man squad preparing to face Scotland in the Six Nations at Murrayfield on 24 February. Tuilagi, 32, has recovered from a groin injury and is joined by hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie ...

I'm not really seeing what some are (not necessarily here) with Roots. He looks big and workmanlike as a 6, but I honestly don't see him as the sort of player that would worry the best teams in any way. Goes without saying, but he's a big step down from Lawes in that position for England. He did ba...

All things considered - I think it's far more watchable now than it was back in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Could be improved with better management of scrums and some minor rule changes to cut down the 'kick tennis'. When a game of rugby breaks out it almost certainly is, but it's all the shit that goes...

I just don't think a Ford/Dingwall/Slade midfield has the right balance - it's just too lightweight - none of them have much of a running game or offer any penetration. and the issue is compounded by a lack of carriers elsewhere in the side - it could be compensated, to some extent if we had more r...

All things considered - I think it's far more watchable now than it was back in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Could be improved with better management of scrums and some minor rule changes to cut down the 'kick tennis'.

32 year old, just back from yet another injury Manu would be such a pointless, regressive selection. We'll almost certainly see it. I have my reservations about Dingwall - Slade as a partnerhip, but Dingwall at least is a player for the future and Slade may actually be around for the next world cup...

Lawrence I think clearly is coming in for Dingwall. For me, Underhill drops out for CCS. A back row of Roots, Earl, CCS gives us three serious and dynamic ball carriers, as well as one at 12. Otherwise much the same Yep, that's what I'd like to see. And Genge to start. Really add some carrying thre...

32 year old, just back from yet another injury Manu would be such a pointless, regressive selection. We'll almost certainly see it. I have my reservations about Dingwall - Slade as a partnerhip, but Dingwall at least is a player for the future and Slade may actually be around for the next world cup...

So, Changes for the Scotland game. Realistically I can't see Borthers dropping Daly despite the need for greater pace - but Bringing in Lawrence is a no brainer to give the backs a bit more bite. Genge could also be recalled to the starting line up to provide another carrier. That'd probably be it, ...

Anyone watch the U20s game last night? (I couldn’t see an U20s thread). England were at scrum practice and had quicker, bigger backs. Wales have footballing talent in the young players but TBH the Welsh U20s cupboard looks a bit bare. I know it’s not a great predictor but I can see a much better En...

Well, that's the thing. It's not a list of established players with long careers ahead of them. We're currently playing a has-been, and another guy whose best form is actually as a 13. There's a group of players vying to be the next generation of England back 3 options but the door is wide open Reg...

Even if an option is just ok, sometimes they're the best we have or one of the best we have and it's just a case of picking the player whose pros and cons fit most with what we're trying to do. England have very few players who look the complete package, particularly in the centres. Slade is very s...

On a brighter note - James Haskell sent my Grand Daughter an, encouraging, personalised video message. She was really made up with it.

Freeman has decent pace once he gets going, footwork and acceleration aren't great, he's okay for a test winger, but okay isn't much when it comes to test level. I've tended to think he's an interesting option at 13 far more than wing, but if he is staying wide it'd still make more sense to pick mo...

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