Italy v England - March 15th

First topic message reminder :

Thought i'd get one of these up and running and I haven't spotted another.

Firstly, congratulations to the boys for a superb performance against Wales, backing up a strong showing versus Ireland. Will the usual complacency be an issue this year? The lat two occasions we've faced Italy it's actually been both a poor performance and a lot closer.

Any changes anyone would like to see made? The full EPS squad available is listed below:

Forwards

David Attwood (Bath Rugby)  
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)  
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)  
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)  
Joe Marler (Harlequins)  
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)    
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)  
Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks)  
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)  
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby)
Matt Mulan (London Wasps)
Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)

Backs

Mike Brown (Harlequins)  
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints)  
Danny Care (Harlequins)  
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)  
Owen Farrell (Saracens)  
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Alex Goode (Saracens)  
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)  
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)  
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
Chris Ashton (Saracens)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)

Come on Italy, lets see a comeback!

nathan wrote:

Nachos Jones wrote:I like the aggression but Mike Brown does have to calm down a little or he will start to get a bad reputation and be watched by ref's...

He didn't do anything wrong though, not that i spotted?

He just seems too much involved whenever there is a bit of aggression, I have noticed it a lot.

Not what England needed there...

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Notch a famous Irish player once said fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

Grave danger you are in. Impatient you are. Always in motion is the future.

  Well, he was green I suppose.

At least we get to see what Ford can do.

I think that's done it. Let's give Ford a run. Good idea. Edit I meant the intercept try did so let's give some guys a run out.

Who made that insipid pass?

Italy have been good at scoring off mistakes all championship. But the turnovers they give away when they are in possession   

Johnny May is really out of his depth at this level

I really really REALLY haven't been impressed with May.

doctor_grey wrote:Who made that insipid pass?

I'm not sure, i think it was a forward though.

Interesting to hear Robinson discussing substitution policy with Woodward.

England's World Cup winning coach speaking to England's World Cup winning travel agent...

Both were World Cup winning coaches weren't they?

Anyone else notice this site going slow?

How the :cuss were none of our backs able to catch up with freaking Attwood to support him? And once again a massive overlap squandered

Well done Farrell you prat

Farrell again, he really does lose composure at times.

Does anyone bleach their hair now a days?

Seen the replay, very lucky boy to not see yellow there...

nathan wrote:Does anyone bleach their hair now a days?

One dude, I spose.

I was hoping it was for charity!

I like Andy Robinson, I think he's a good coach who is doing a very good job for Bristol and did a great job for Edinburgh- just not been successful at test level but a very good coach.

Italy turn over the scrum in their own 22   

This really has been stressful! I can't believe how bad the Italians have been... very good attacking play from England, but it's unbelievable how many times Italy have turned over the ball in their own half!

They can't win a lineout, they can't execute a simple pass, they've been running on fumes since the thirtieth minute- it's mad Ted!

nathan wrote:Anyone else notice this site going slow?

Me, its really bad today

If Ireland win today by 1 point then these players should hang their hands in shame. Stupid mistakes, petulance and general poor play has cost they several tries. They should have easily made the target.

T. Youngs throwing has been getting better which is good i suppose.

3 MOMs for Brown, surely a record for one tournament?

Nachos Jones wrote:

nathan wrote:Anyone else notice this site going slow?

Me, its really bad today

It's when it's loading ads from adsplat, when it loads from doubleclick its fine

Given that we all knew you don't go to Italy and score 50 these days, it's been a very good performance.

I do think all the late changes blew the chance of hitting that unlikely mark though.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:3 MOMs for Brown, surely a record for one tournament?

Gotta say, there's no doubt over who the Player of the Tournament is. No doubt at all. I'd go as far as to say if he isn't on the shortlist for World Player of the Year in 2014 there's something seriously wrong.

Italy still have time to gift wrap one last turnover to England! Story of the game.

Silly from Italy there but understandable. England get their 50 points but not enough, just need the French to do them a favour.

I'm sort of glad that bomber made the changes, it's been good to give some of the players some game time - especially Ford.

Italy have been shocking. Scotland could have scored 50 today. Brain farts all round.

amazing performance- just short. But what an effort.

Also some huge pluses..

Manu comes on and proved why he is so good.

Farrel again 100%

Ireland just have to get the win in Paris now.

Well deserved 6n for them.

I am pleased how England have gone in this campaign though, good signs.

We could of really done with another couple of tries, but at least we've made it so France wont catch us.

The way Italy played, that points target was very achievable for England. Incredibly achievable. A big relief.

I hope Farrell gets cited and banned for slamming the Italy SH on his head. He has done something dirty in every game in the 6 nations. Why does he keep getting away with it? Time for a ban.

nathan wrote:We could of really done with another couple of tries, but at least we've made it so France wont catch us.

Well if Ireland don't win it, I'm glad England will. If France won the tournament that would be sickening considering the way they're playing.

If Ireland win tonight, I think there's incredibly little between the two sides and if we don't win, well... England are worthy champions   

GunsGerms wrote:I hope Farrell gets cited and banned for slamming the Italy SH on his head. He has done something dirty in every game in the 6 nations. Why does he keep getting away with it? Time for a ban.

Was it really on his head?

Owen Farrell might be a great kicker, but he is an absolute Meat trombone soloist. Discipline really is shocking. Cost England dear towards the end there.

For all you can feel they left endless points on the field its a hell of a result and shows they are still progressing.
Ireland have to win in France, something they rarely do.

Not just because how Italy played .. The way England played had a little something to do with it.

Notch wrote:The way Italy played, that points target was very achievable for England. Incredibly achievable. A big relief.

nonsense. Italy really were giving it 100% out there. England tried and just fell short. Great effort

nathan wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:I hope Farrell gets cited and banned for slamming the Italy SH on his head. He has done something dirty in every game in the 6 nations. Why does he keep getting away with it? Time for a ban.

Was it really on his head?

Yep, right in front of Owens who bottled it. Was a yellow minimum, probably a red. Hope he gets a ban.

mystiroakey wrote:

Notch wrote:The way Italy played, that points target was very achievable for England. Incredibly achievable. A big relief.

nonsense. Italy really were giving it 100% out there. England tried and just fell short. Great effort

Giving it 100% but I think when you rewatch the game you'll see the many, many turnovers Italy gave away under almost no pressure.

Notch wrote:

nathan wrote:We could of really done with another couple of tries, but at least we've made it so France wont catch us.

Well if Ireland don't win it, I'm glad England will. If France won the tournament that would be sickening considering the way they're playing.

If Ireland win tonight, I think there's incredibly little between the two sides and if we don't win, well... England are worthy champions   

It would be even more shocking or Ireland given the huge margin theyd have to get stuffed by, even NZ cant beat your lot by 60+...oh wait   
Aint gonna happen is it.
England showed what happens when you try to force the game.

Notch wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:

Notch wrote:The way Italy played, that points target was very achievable for England. Incredibly achievable. A big relief.

nonsense. Italy really were giving it 100% out there. England tried and just fell short. Great effort

Giving it 100% but I think when you rewatch the game you'll see the many, many turnovers Italy gave away under almost no pressure.

they didn't give up- Englands defence is insaning fast out- the pressure England exerted on them leads to mistakes.

Italy made so many tackles they could have gone completely last 20 mins- they didn't and kept going, they held there heads up high and didn't let us get to our target. Lesser teams would have just melted and gifted us much more last quarter

Always a danger when trying to force the game.

Not to worry, never expected England could do it but they gave it a heck of a go.

It's Ireland's day now surely. Bod day.

I can't say well done England as it's clear by peoples posts on here that they deserve no credit for putting 50 on Italy at home.....

Strange thats its all Irish posters saying that...

Carlos having a dig at the Rabo??

Silly of the BBC team to keep obsessing over the points, and rather silly for England to be so expansive early on.

Still, it turned out to be a good win by a very comfortable margin. A fine tournament for England; another step forward from last year. All falling into place nicely.

Shame Farrell displayed another act of petulance - he does need his conduct kept in check by the staff. Hopefully he'll do a Care/Hartley in the near-future and grow the feck up.

All set up for a nice relaxing watch of France-Ireland.