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    Team of the 6N?

    Some good replies here, food for thought. I personally think the only certain inclusions would be Itoje, Kruis, North. Everyone else has serious competition, although for me Hogg shades Williams this time. Amazed anyone plumped for Farrell at 12, I'd love to know why??
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    Feeding the scrum

    I guess it has largely gone under the radar but the regulation is now for there to be a "credible" feed, not a straight feed. Name dropping I know but Wayne Barnes told me he is not looking at the feed in the scrum he is looking for illegal scrummaging and player safety issues like pulling on...
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    England Post-WC discussion

    Lots of really sensible points being made! Farrell is a superb kicker and tackler but for me not an international 10. His vision and passing doesn't produce fluidity and encourages plodding rugby. Using him at 12 seems bizarre. One of the key issues I had with Lancaster was that he tried to...
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    He's gone. He's actually bloody gone!

    I think you're being incredibly generous. He was clearly personally decent, honest, etc but as a coach he was disastrous. His flaws were many but let me list some - No genuine experience meant that instead of implementing ideas worked out and tested over time he was trying to learn...
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    England future management?

    Nice to see nobody trying to defend SL and claiming this is some sort of mistake. I was aghast when he was given the job and I'm thrilled he's gone. Not on any personal level but as a coach he was disastrous. I am heartened by Ritchie ' s claim to be looking for an experienced international...
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    Nigel Owens to referee the RWC Final

    AB will be sighing in relief that Garces has not got the gig since he actually applied the laws to the AB at the breakdown, hence the penalty count. Owens is the best ref in the world, however, and should get the job. He has the right manner, skills and gravitas for this. I guess the "he...
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    What now for NH rugby?

    Am I the only one who is really worried about the noises coming out of Twickenham about their review, or laughing if non English! I agree that neither coaches nor players should have any input as it would be counter-productive and unlikely to be the kind of balanced assessment that is required...
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    What now for NH rugby?

    Spot on! Completely agree. Let's not go mad and write off NH rugby. There are many reasons why the NH did not do well. My thoughts for what they are worth: - England did do poorly but that was no shock to those of us who have long called for a decent coaching team. Predictable if...
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    Why the shock of England exit?

    Absolutely no shock to me whatsoever. I'm on record widely with my opinions on the England coaching set up. The players are there but the coaching is rubbish. As soon as the squad was announced I predicted an exit. With Barrit an apparent certain starter it was clear we would trying to eke...
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    Predictions for the knockout stages.

    The crazy thing about this is that the choice of referee can make such a huge difference. I mean if Joubert does get Australia v Scotland that would shift the odds in Australia's favour. Likewise Barnes doing NZ v France would likely be helpful to France.
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    The Autopsy thread: Which England team members are for the chopping block?

    This is absolutely spot on! A good international quality manager would have developed a system or a series of systems which can be deployed against varying oppositions. These should be clearly communicated to the players. The All Blacks play a certain way and players brought in can slot in...
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    The Autopsy thread: Which England team members are for the chopping block?

    Blame being aimed at Farrell? In the last couple of days a host of negative stories have emerged about Farrell. If true he has to go. However, a more sinister interpretation might be that the RFU have decided to use him as the fallguy so they can absolve Lancaster. We've had Farrell...
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    The Autopsy thread: Which England team members are for the chopping block?

    With all due respect I completely disagree. I for one have argued that Lancaster is not the man for years. I never wanted him in the first place. As someone else on here rightly said he was a complacent pick. He was English and had the right 'feel' for the RFU stuffed shirts, not the...
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    The Autopsy thread: Which England team members are for the chopping block?

    I think it is quite easy to dismiss English club and youth rugby as being all bish-bosh and scrums. I see a lot of games in my alternate life in this sport, an awful lot and nowadays players don't want the set pieces, they want to run it. Kicking is discouraged at youth levels and getting the...
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    The Autopsy thread: Which England team members are for the chopping block?

    Players I would definitely ditch: Farrell (not because I don't think he has merits but because Ford is so superior as an international 10) Wood (to allow Robshaw to go to 6, if not then Robshaw has to go to make way for a competitive 7) Barrit I think there are others around who have been...
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    The Autopsy thread: Which England team members are for the chopping block?

    I agree but surely there is someone better than Barrit? I mean he is so obviously not up to the standard of international rugby. Yes he's strong and tackles well but in an attacking sense he offers zero. An axis of Farrell and Barrit is strong in defence yes, but in attack? I'll happily admit...
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    The Autopsy thread: Which England team members are for the chopping block?

    Is anyone at all prepared to defend the inclusion of Brad Barrit in the England team? Just wondered. He is a trier and gives his all but an international standard player? I know the other centres have not always performed but is Barrit actually better than any other currently available...
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    The Autopsy thread: Which England team members are for the chopping block?

    The heart of the blame lies with the RFU. Since 2003 England have won one solitary 6N when everyone played **** and we limped over the line. No Grand Slam in 12 years and almost nothing to shout about in that time. Over the same period both Wales and France have won four 6N (Wales 3 Grand...
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    [2015 Six Nations] England

    I agree to some extent, although the last England win was because everyone else was rubbish and we won by default. I think it felt unimpressive was because it was, we were playing poor rugby under a coach who had no idea. I think if we'd but the extra couple of tries on Scotland and won it...
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    Player of the Tournament?

    I think he is still suffering from injury. I think against Wales the high kicking game failed against an inspired aerial performance by the likes of Halfpenny who refused to be bullied off the ball like England had been. JS's plan seems to be to bed in the new centres by leaving the bulk of...
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