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2024 Guinness Six Nations
[2019 Six Nations] England Squad
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<blockquote data-quote="Vieux Talonneur" data-source="post: 938626" data-attributes="member: 73144"><p>I think the talent is largely fine, but in the backs I'm still not sure what Plan A is. Up front is better, but there aren't enough dominant characters to pull things round when things aren't going to plan. That's one area where Itoje does score highly. Leadership in general is a weakness.</p><p></p><p>The table is instructive. We scored 70 points and 10 tries more than anyone else in 5 games. That's remarkable. What's even more remarkable is that we contrived not to win 2 of those games. That's Kevin Keegan era Newcastle.</p><p></p><p>Wales only conceded 65 points including 7 tries. That's why they won. We conceded 101 points including 13 tries. A good defence may not win a RWC by itself, but you won't win a RWC without one. In their 14 match winning streak the maximum points Wales have conceded is 24 - against Tonga when they scored 74. The only other team to get 20 was the Saffers at home. In our last 14 the opposition have scored 20+ 8 times (2 of which have been 38 & 39), including 3 in this 6N. In the days when Ireland were good - 2018 - they only conceded 20 in 2 of their 12 games.</p><p></p><p>The most worrying thing is a coach finishing the tournament by openly saying his team have long standing mental weaknesses that he's been unable to fix. </p><p></p><p>It's not all bad obvs. But I'd rather be in Gatland's shoes with a team that seems to be totally on message, committed and more than the sum of its parts. In the way that owners come to resemble their dogs, Eng seem to mirror Jones in that you're not quite sure whether you're going to get the sublime or the ridiculous.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Vieux Talonneur, post: 938626, member: 73144"] I think the talent is largely fine, but in the backs I’m still not sure what Plan A is. Up front is better, but there aren’t enough dominant characters to pull things round when things aren’t going to plan. That’s one area where Itoje does score highly. Leadership in general is a weakness. The table is instructive. We scored 70 points and 10 tries more than anyone else in 5 games. That’s remarkable. What’s even more remarkable is that we contrived not to win 2 of those games. That’s Kevin Keegan era Newcastle. Wales only conceded 65 points including 7 tries. That’s why they won. We conceded 101 points including 13 tries. A good defence may not win a RWC by itself, but you won’t win a RWC without one. In their 14 match winning streak the maximum points Wales have conceded is 24 - against Tonga when they scored 74. The only other team to get 20 was the Saffers at home. In our last 14 the opposition have scored 20+ 8 times (2 of which have been 38 & 39), including 3 in this 6N. In the days when Ireland were good - 2018 - they only conceded 20 in 2 of their 12 games. The most worrying thing is a coach finishing the tournament by openly saying his team have long standing mental weaknesses that he’s been unable to fix. It’s not all bad obvs. But I’d rather be in Gatland’s shoes with a team that seems to be totally on message, committed and more than the sum of its parts. In the way that owners come to resemble their dogs, Eng seem to mirror Jones in that you’re not quite sure whether you’re going to get the sublime or the ridiculous. [/QUOTE]
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2024 Guinness Six Nations
[2019 Six Nations] England Squad
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