[solved]England Pre 2023 6Ns and Beyond.

First topic message reminder :

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jan/06/eddie-jones-mistakes-with-england-why-i-got-the-sack-rugby-union

Interview with Jones about being sacked there. Some interesting stuff in amongst it.

Geordie wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:

Geordie wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:

Geordie wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:

Geordie wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:Much better from Italy, that's how they were playing last week.

Until England came back out the changing room

Jaysus wept man. Can ye not give a little compliment to a team playing England when they do something good?

What's Jesus got to do with it? Why is he weeping?

I guess not then, ye are just one of those fans that cannot be impartial. Enjoy

Lol you really haven't seen many of my posts then.

England have never been in any kind of trouble in this game bar the five mins after half time when they were not alert.

England have not been in any trouble no. Again, it was good play by Italy to score the try. Its not always down to England being switched off or not alert when a team scores against them. Sometimes other teams actually do something good...

And yet often it is. If a team totally switches off...then it's not great play is it?

Enjoy the game and the win that is assured. Maybe that will make you smile

Much better from Italy, they can be dangerous but not a whole lot of use if the game is long gone unfortunately

England ignored another overlap earlier there, in favour of kicking. It is really starting to boil my pi$$.

eirebilly_01 wrote:

Geordie wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:

Geordie wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:

Geordie wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:

Geordie wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:Much better from Italy, that's how they were playing last week.

Until England came back out the changing room

Jaysus wept man. Can ye not give a little compliment to a team playing England when they do something good?

What's Jesus got to do with it? Why is he weeping?

I guess not then, ye are just one of those fans that cannot be impartial. Enjoy

Lol you really haven't seen many of my posts then.

England have never been in any kind of trouble in this game bar the five mins after half time when they were not alert.

England have not been in any trouble no. Again, it was good play by Italy to score the try. Its not always down to England being switched off or not alert when a team scores against them. Sometimes other teams actually do something good...

And yet often it is. If a team totally switches off...then it's not great play is it?

Enjoy the game and the win that is assured. Maybe that will make you smile

On thw contrary...a win over a poor Italy that's expected by the other nations isn't a great win.

Ireland and France are the standard bearers....

That replacement Italian scrum half has already done more than Varney.

England have been awful this 2nd half

Great try from Italy.

Although England probably switched off so not good play at all

eirebilly_01 wrote:Great try from Italy.

Although England probably switched off so not good play at all

England's subs awful...

That was braindead from England.

How is the try good with obstruction on cole. Odd.

Shame about the missed forward pass and getting up after being tackled previously was ignored?

Italy are playing well, but I always think never beating England is somewhere in their heads. Once England get in front, the result just never feels in doubt somehow.

Why did the ref blow????

Arundel was away!

England's subs have knocked the team right out

No 7&1/2 wrote:How is the try good with obstruction on cole. Odd.

Officials have been really poor. Blatant obstruction for the second and a clear knock on before the first for Italy. Every decision is a lottery here, the ref isn't wrong but he swings between letting everything go and really picky.

That second Italy try standing after the JVP one was ruled out for the Italy 21 milking minimum contact to go down.

Is the TMO having a day off?

What a play by Mitchell and Arundal finishes.

What is his strike rate? Feels like he has scored a try in every game he has played for England.

Cumbrian wrote:Why did the ref blow????

Arundel was away!

A growing list of blunders from the officials ...

Beautiful from Mitchell....really like this lad.

eirebilly_01 wrote:What a play by Mitchell and Arundal finishes.

It was very nearly not a great play, no one in the Italian defence bites and he was getting a bit panicky then the 22 steps in, Mitchell's eyes light up and Arundell is free. He's looked quiet since he came on so good to see some of the creative Alex Mitchell break out.

STOP KICKING ATTACKING BALL AWAY!!!


AGGGGHHHHHH!

Smith not having a great few mins either.

Running behind a bit but Italian line-out must have gone a good yard forwards ...

Then they give Italy a throw when they've clearly kicked it onto the line?

Geordie wrote:Smith not having a great few mins either.

Doing nothing to suggest he needs to be recalled. Ollie Lawrence having a cracking game surely cements him into one of the two midfield slots for the next game.

Missed a clear knock on there.

Hope they have a crack from deep here.

Cumbrian wrote:Hope they have a crack from deep here.

Gah, why do I bother?

Good win. Second half drifted away but you take Willis off and you miss a real game changer.

Classic England that. Get a comfortable lead and turn into disinterested blancmanges...

A TBP and a 17 point margin but I think England left a bit out there.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Geordie wrote:Smith not having a great few mins either.

Doing nothing to suggest he needs to be recalled. Ollie Lawrence having a cracking game surely cements him into one of the two midfield slots for the next game.

Can't help thinking he may get overtaken by T'other Smith or Atkinson etc...

Cumbrian wrote:Missed a clear knock on there.

Add it to a loooongg list ... officials have been average to poor ...

Much better
Willis excellent.
Itoje back in form.
Chessum again very good and looks nailed on now
Lawrence finally the answer at 12. Yahoo!

England went off boil a bit in second half but overall that'll do.

Just need Ted Hill in now and 6n is in the bag.

eirebilly_01 wrote:A TBP and a 17 point margin but I think England left a bit out there.

You could say, they switched off.

Geordie wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Geordie wrote:Smith not having a great few mins either.

Doing nothing to suggest he needs to be recalled. Ollie Lawrence having a cracking game surely cements him into one of the two midfield slots for the next game.

Can't help thinking he may get overtaken by T'other Smith or Atkinson etc...

Not sure 10 mins is fair. Farrell played OK but didn't do that much with some good ball.

Cumbrian wrote:Classic England that.  Get a comfortable lead and turn into disinterested blancmanges...

Subs overall didn't help ...

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:A TBP and a 17 point margin but I think England left a bit out there.

You could say, they switched off.

Heaf wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:Classic England that.  Get a comfortable lead and turn into disinterested blancmanges...

Subs overall didn't help ...

I can only dream Mitchell had come on last week instead of Youngs though.

A good win for England, Italy no where near as good this week as last week. I do think Borthwic ad found his starting 15, but i so think he needs to at replacements,

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:A TBP and a 17 point margin but I think England left a bit out there.

You could say, they switched off.

Finally someone who understands

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Geordie wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Geordie wrote:Smith not having a great few mins either.

Doing nothing to suggest he needs to be recalled. Ollie Lawrence having a cracking game surely cements him into one of the two midfield slots for the next game.

Can't help thinking he may get overtaken by T'other Smith or Atkinson etc...

Not sure 10 mins is fair. Farrell played OK but didn't do that much with some good ball.

not 10 mins though...18 caps now

Geordie wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Geordie wrote:Smith not having a great few mins either.

Doing nothing to suggest he needs to be recalled. Ollie Lawrence having a cracking game surely cements him into one of the two midfield slots for the next game.

Can't help thinking he may get overtaken by T'other Smith or Atkinson etc...

Not before the world cup. George Ford's return will be watched with interest next weekend. He'll be up against Fin Smith at Franklins Gardens where he put in one of the best individual performances I've seen in the Prem last season. If Ford has a strong game and looks fit I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in the training squad. A fit and firing George Ford with a Lawrence/Slade midfield would carve up a lot of teams.

Dombrandt at 8 is still a question mark for me, didn't do much wrong and at times defended well. He made solid metres in attack but we need more quite frankly.

Cole and Vunipola look slow at this level. That's fine with Cole as we know he's a short term stop gap for the injured Stuart and will do a job in the scrum but we've got to find a better option than Vunipola at loosehead.

Backrow lacks a little impact even Dombrandt a side. Can't put my finger on it but after Willis went off we didn't look as threatening at the breakdown.

Sam is West at tigers yet. He's a cracking loosehead.

Geordie wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Geordie wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Geordie wrote:Smith not having a great few mins either.

Doing nothing to suggest he needs to be recalled. Ollie Lawrence having a cracking game surely cements him into one of the two midfield slots for the next game.

Can't help thinking he may get overtaken by T'other Smith or Atkinson etc...

Not sure 10 mins is fair. Farrell played OK but didn't do that much with some good ball.

not 10 mins though...18 caps now

Hmm. Given the switch in intensity in 1st and 2nd half's if have been surprised HD we not put more points in the board with Smith on from the start. The younger Smith is an excellent prospect. Atkinson is a good club player perhaps, nothing more for me.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Geordie wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Geordie wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Geordie wrote:Smith not having a great few mins either.

Doing nothing to suggest he needs to be recalled. Ollie Lawrence having a cracking game surely cements him into one of the two midfield slots for the next game.

Can't help thinking he may get overtaken by T'other Smith or Atkinson etc...

Not sure 10 mins is fair. Farrell played OK but didn't do that much with some good ball.

not 10 mins though...18 caps now

Hmm. Given the switch in intensity in 1st and 2nd half's if have been surprised HD we not put more points in the board with Smith on from the start. The younger Smith is an excellent prospect. Atkinson is a good club player perhaps, nothing more for me.

I said earlier Smith on at half time would have been a good move.

Yeah. Game was won so its hard on subs sometimes but more time would be beneficial. Not sure the tactic of bring on Isiekwe as a back rower particularly benefits us.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

tigertattie wrote:

lostinwales wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

Geordie wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

Geordie wrote:It's rhe Willis show at the moment

He's playing well...try was a gift, but defensively he's been strong. Would still like to see sons form of a carrying game from him.

He's been carrying hard Sgt?

I've not seen it GF.

Who is Maggie Aphonsea and why is she commenting offering "expert opinion" on this game?

I don't see myself as an old fashioned type type bloke but would like to hear from people like Neil Back, Richard Hill etc.....players that have played at this level....rant over.

An exceptional England flanker from a few years ago with an Italian surname. I am amazed you don't know who she is because she does a great deal of 'expert opinion' work these days - particularly when Italy are playing (surname again).

You really do have to wonder about some people.

Maggie would have walked into many a men’s team

Some people? I would appreciate it if you offered up a counter rather than a personal attack.

I have zero interest in women's rugby and I still don't see the relevance to her giving "expert opinions" in this game tbh. I'm all for her doing the women's games.

My apologies. I had no idea how ignorant of Maggie’s achievements you are

MBE for services to rugby
74 England caps
World cup winner
Rugby hall of fame inductee
Masters degree in sports and exercise
Member of the panel for 2019 world rugby awards

So her expert option which you insist in putting in quotes to try and cheapen is quite frankly worth far more than many of the options on here. Mine included.