George Ford MOTM. Fair call.
England
Match thread
Wales
England 8-9-10 axis is world class, their lineout is second to none and they have pace to burn out wide these days.
But some of their players make strange decisions around the park.
Wales showed character and resilience in the second half.
But in terms of physicality, they are way off Tier One Test standard. They might need to find a few Saffas with Welsh grannies.
@MiketheSnow said in England v Wales:
Concede less than 76
Score more than 0Progress
Progress then Mike.
Only just 
@sparky said in England v Wales:
Wales showed character and resilience in the second half.
But in terms of physicality, they are way off Tier One Test standard. They might need to find a few Saffas with Welsh grannies.
We did
Plumtree
Penalty and YC magnet
@sparky said in England v Wales:
England 8-9-10 axis is world class, their lineout is second to none and they have pace to burn out wide these days.
But some of their players make strange decisions around the park.
I can see them losing to Ireland and France. Their current buoyancy is based on dismantling a team that was already in pieces and I'll always come back to one thing.
Borthwick is just a sane Robertson.
@MiketheSnow what's the point in us having a playmaker at 12 when we're rarely ever on the front foot?
We should be going back to basics and put someone like Harlequins centre Bryn Bradley at 12 & tell him to run down the 10/12 channel all day. At least then we may get some go forward.
That must have been awful for a Wales supporter. Just hope they show some improvement, any improvement would do, this year
@Victor-Meldrew said in England v Wales:
That must have been awful for a Wales supporter. Just hope they show some improvement, any improvement would do, this year
3rd Vs 2nd.
Let's not get carried away.
@Victor-Meldrew said in England v Wales:
That must have been awful for a Wales supporter. Just hope they show some improvement, any improvement would do, this year
Yep, I feel for Welsh supporters to Victor. Much as I cheering for them, they really seem to be missing so much. At no stage of test did they look to be doing anything but hanging on.
It even kind of showed with the crowd, there seemed quite large area of empty seats, whether it from Welsh not bothering to travel from Cardiff, just not something I noticed at 6Ns game before .
@pooler-fan said in England v Wales:
@MiketheSnow what's the point in us having a playmaker at 12 when we're rarely ever on the front foot?
We should be going back to basics and put someone like Harlequins centre Bryn Bradley at 12 & tell him to run down the 10/12 channel all day. At least then we may get some go forward.
Hawkins can do both
@MiketheSnow he can but sometimes thinks tackling is optional.
@pooler-fan said in England v Wales:
@sparky we need to go back to basics somewhat I think. Decisions have been made to not select someone like Ross Moriarty for instance who thrives on smashing people from the 6 jersey. He's only 31, if he's still your best option pick him. The RWC is only what, 18 months away.
Yep
Moriarty, Mann, Wainwright
Deaves
If Reffell is fit, get him in
@MiketheSnow a Moriarty/Reffell/Wainwright backrow would be a huge improvement on what was selected today.
What to say for Wales? Well, they showed some real spirit at times and did some decent goal line defence but lack physicality in most areas of the field. That seems weird to me as they do have some physical, committed guys but rarely seem to pick them. Back row a case in point. I really feel sorry for guys like Lake and Wainwright, who must think what the fuck am I doing here in this shit show?
In regards to England, I’m not sure how positive we should be. Sure we won by a lot but we made hard work of it at times. Gave away too much ball with non-contestable kicks and bad decisions. Centres still a worry, as is full back and in this game at least, use of the bench. Pollock should have had at least 35 minutes, the game was crying out for his energy. Spencer is not a replacement 9. By all means change the game and start him, but he is no impact player. As for M Smith, same as ollock really. Needed more time and Steward was not firing at all.
Could not understand Ford getting MOM, thought his game management and kicking was way below his normal standards.
If England play like that against Scotland they could get turned over
Against France they will get hammered
@MiketheSnow said in England v Wales:
If England play like that against Scotland they could get turned over
Against France they will get hammered
Sigh, if only.
I feel Scotlands pluck and luck against England has run out and they're due a fucken hiding.
It's going to be a France vs England slam decider in march I think.
Can't see any of the other sides getting close enough. They both have too much pace, power and most importantly depth.
@pooler-fan said in England v Wales:
It's going to be a France vs England slam decider in march I think.
Can't see any of the other sides getting close enough. They both have too much pace, power and most importantly depth.
Most probably, but Scotland have made a habit of tipping over England in recent time. Next weekend's game at Murrayfield is not a certainty.
France seem to have one dud performance away from home in every championship. Be interesting to see if Wales and Scotland can seize the situation if that happens.
@MiketheSnow said in England v Wales:
If England play like that against Scotland they could get turned over
Against France they will get hammered
Could. But unlikely I feel. Scotland seem to have regressed somewhat and the coaching and selection looks muddled to me. Has Townsend most lost the dressing room? There’s certainly a few mutterings going on. But you can never say never.
As for the tournament itself, it is France’s to lose. Ireland and England at home and playing well, with great strength in depth.
@Catogrande said in England v Wales:
@MiketheSnow said in England v Wales:
If England play like that against Scotland they could get turned over
Against France they will get hammered
Could. But unlikely I feel. Scotland seem to have regressed somewhat and the coaching and selection looks muddled to me. Has Townsend most lost the dressing room? There’s certainly a few mutterings going on. But you can never say never.
As for the tournament itself, it is France’s to lose. Ireland and England at home and playing well, with great strength in depth.
A halfback selected on the wing and Kinghorn seemingly punished for not bundling McKenzie into touch. Also Graham not being selected despite a sensation almost try against the ABs.
It's been a bit of a "generational" Scottish team in the last few years but barring some terrific victories against the Auld Enemy they still haven't won shit overall. I fear a big hiding from England.
@MN5 said in England v Wales:
@Catogrande said in England v Wales:
@MiketheSnow said in England v Wales:
If England play like that against Scotland they could get turned over
Against France they will get hammered
Could. But unlikely I feel. Scotland seem to have regressed somewhat and the coaching and selection looks muddled to me. Has Townsend most lost the dressing room? There’s certainly a few mutterings going on. But you can never say never.
As for the tournament itself, it is France’s to lose. Ireland and England at home and playing well, with great strength in depth.
A halfback selected on the wing and Kinghorn seemingly punished for not bundling McKenzie into touch. Also Graham not being selected despite a sensation almost try against the ABs.
It's been a bit of a "generational" Scottish team in the last few years but barring some terrific victories against the Auld Enemy they still haven't won shit overall. I fear a big hiding from England.
I think Kinghorn gave up another try which was far worse against us didn't he? I may be wrong, but I remember it being a pretty horrible performance.
was a weird atmosphere in the stadium, lots of people just chatting, almost no sense of jeopardy. England vs Wales has always been my most important single game of the year, it feels weird not to have worried about it before or during the match. Wales seem a very long way away from working out how to get out of this hole, personnel, coaching, playing style, development pathway, structure of the game. It could be a long decade.
As for England, not sure what to take from the game, they started well and played with power and pace at the beginning, game was done after 20 minutes, not entirely surprising that they fell off a bit. Never know what to expect from Scotland, but frankly, given the state of the two camps, England should win on Saturday. I don't know how good Ireland are, I'm tempted to think that they've totally tipped over the top of their best team ever and have replacement players that aren't as good therefore England could win at home.
I would love to get to the France game still in the running for a Grand Slam, hell of a test of the metal of a team 18 months out from a world cup. Win and people start talking about them as the most likely challengers to South Africa, lose and it will be interesting to see what they take from it and whether they kick on.
Not getting ahead of myself though, Murrayfield is huge for this team.