[2023 Six Nations] England vs Scotland - 4 February 2023

[Reiser99]

I still think the backline could work without Jones' micromanaging tactics.

 

[TSPopinjay]

Genuine question.

How many of the Scottish back line are Scottish?

Depends how you define Scottish.

At least 5 of the 7 have Scots blood, whilst Huw Jones was born here (no idea re his parentage). So, every single one but Duhan, potentially.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I like it. No lock at 6 like a lot suggested. I don’t love Faz at 12 but given the injuries I understand it. Malins on the wing the only one that I’d really want to change, but it depends a bit on how he gets used. If he is going to be used as an extra distributor and it works out then crack on I suppose.

Fairly optimistic about this.

 

[Grizwald]

I suppose the midfield injuries have forced theor hands a bit with Farrell at 12, and how much influence Evans has with Smith starting and how different they may play post Jones. They've surely not had the time to do anything radical coupled with injuries.

Excited for it, with all the off field stuff that's been going on the last few weeks be nice just to watch some rugby. Scotland look good too, their backs have a more settled and balanced look about them.

 

[MarkyH]

I'm not sold on Malins but I'm not sure why. He's rapid and has good hands. Has been one of the top try scorers for Saracens, and his time at Bristol. Scored some absolute wonderful solo scores. Why is he not an exciting pick...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'm not sold on Malins but I'm not sure why. He's rapid and has good hands. Has been one of the top try scorers for Saracens, and his time at Bristol. Scored some absolute wonderful solo scores. Why is he not an exciting pick...

Probably the Sarries effect - they're so dominant atm that their good players you kind of feel like "...yeah, you should be good"
Takes the shine off them a bit - i feel the same way about Earl, who is having a massive season but I'm just a bit like "....are you just a flat track bully as part of a dominant team?"

 

[MarkyH]

Probably the Sarries effect - they're so dominant atm that their good players you kind of feel like "...yeah, you should be good"
Takes the shine off them a bit - i feel the same way about Earl, who is having a massive season but I'm just a bit like "....are you just a flat track bully as part of a dominant team?"

Yeah it's probably the Sarries effect They're so good but none of their players excite me, unlike Bath who have some exciting players but they're utter dogpoop.

 

[Scotty]

Isiekwe on the bench doesnt excite me much at all, he is a good player but not going to change the game much really.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I've always been a fan of Huw so it's good to see him back. Real x-factor and a decent 10, 12, 13 for Scotland.

No idea about England but I'm expecting an immediate uptick, though possibly more conservative in playing to their strength (literally)?

England by 17

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Probably the Sarries effect - they're so dominant atm that their good players you kind of feel like "...yeah, you should be good"

For me it’s just how scrawny he is. Whenever he’s played internationally before he just gets ragdolled every time he gets caught. He gets away with it at club level but just isn’t enough of an athlete at the top level IMO. Very reminiscent of Alex Goode in that way for me.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

This is the most "English TRF poster criticising Scotland" post in the history of posting!

He's Scottish through and through, but he's well travelled so **** the SRU!

Most half English, half Scottish poster if you don’t mind! And in recent years I’ve definitely invoked the Scottish side.Then again my dad was from the Channel Islands so I’m not English at all really, just happen to have lived all my life here.

Trailed team turns out to be right. Oh how I miss the drama and misinformation of the Jones years.

 

[OllyM97]

As long as we see some innovation in attack and a higher tempo game from England I’ll be happy. We’ve got good mobility in the team, let’s use it. Go out and play and do away with the seemingly micro-managed game plan of the latter part of the Eddie era.

Prediction - England 24 Scotland 21

 

[General Melchett]

I think it might be a high scoring game. With no Chris Harris to organise the Scottish defence and plenty attacking threats in both sides it could end up something like England 34-25 Scotland

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

As long as we see some innovation in attack and a higher tempo game from England I’ll be happy. We’ve got good mobility in the team, let’s use it. Go out and play and do away with the seemingly micro-managed game plan of the latter part of the Eddie era.

Prediction - England 24 Scotland 21

It was one of my (many) pet Eddie hates. He would pick players based on playing a certain role and would then get them playing a completely different gameplan to what they were picked for. The number of times we picked a highly mobile team of distributors and just did 1 out crash ball and kicking. Either pick the best players for each position and build a gameplan to suit or pick a gameplan and then select the players to suit.

 

[duncanb]

Prediction 21 19 to whichever sides has tge balls in the end in scrappy poor game.

 

[AlRums]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/64515059

 

[Jimbo]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/64515059

Is Russell still capable of losing games with crazy intercept passes etc in equal parts as performing miracles or is that perception outdated, I’ve not seen him play a huge amount recently.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Is Russell still capable of losing games with crazy intercept passes etc in equal parts as performing miracles or is that perception outdated, I’ve not seen him play a huge amount recently.

From what I heard of him leaving France for Bath is that, if his heart isn't in it, he can be god awful and even a liability. If he is fired up, he is amazing. Less so making stupid errors in the game and more just whether he puts effort in or not.

 

[General Melchett]

Is Russell still capable of losing games with crazy intercept passes etc in equal parts as performing miracles or is that perception outdated, I’ve not seen him play a huge amount recently.

His kicking and overall game management are much better now and he generally has less shockers these days. In last year's Calcutta cup he was the difference between winning and losing. Remember the cross field kick which LCD palmed away and then got carded? He then kicked a penalty to touch knowing full well there was no English hooker on the pitch to throw into the lineout and we ended up winning the game because of his decision making.

People slate him for kicking out on the full but they don't mention the 3-4 tries he created in the same game. Yes he takes risks but that's how he is. He sees opportunities other fly halves don't see and he goes for it. Not everything comes off and he'll have the odd shocker but playing behind a Scottish pack that often goes backwards against top sides he doesn't really have the luxury of being risk averse.

 

[g6mcg]

Not everything comes off and he'll have the odd shocker but playing behind a Scottish pack that often goes backwards against top sides he doesn't really have the luxury of being risk averse.

That's the key thing. If someone like Biggar had been Scotland's 10 for the past decade we'd have been a hell of a lot worse.

 

[General Melchett]

That's the key thing. If someone like Biggar had been Scotland's 10 for the past decade we'd have been a hell of a lot worse.

And even more disliked.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Is Russell still capable of losing games with crazy intercept passes etc in equal parts as performing miracles or is that perception outdated, I’ve not seen him play a huge amount recently.

he's like blackjack. You just hope you are up when you walk away with the way he plays.

He reminds me of the way my university plays gridiron. Takes a lot of chances. Sometimes it works it out and sometimes it doesn't. The math they've done indicates with our talent disadvantage it is worth the risk.

 

[Dean Cooperfield-West]

We've definitely got this. We're putting 20+ points on the Scots. Pointless even hosting the match tbh. Scotland is finishing fifth

 

[MarkyH]

We've definitely got this. We're putting 20+ points on the Scots. Pointless even hosting the match tbh. Scotland is finishing fifth

That's the spirit.... or maybe the beer

 

[AlRums]

We've definitely got this. We're putting 20+ points on the Scots. Pointless even hosting the match tbh. Scotland is finishing fifth

England haven't won at Twickenham since 2017

 

[Rinkadink]

I'm not sold on Malins but I'm not sure why. He's rapid and has good hands. Has been one of the top try scorers for Saracens, and his time at Bristol. Scored some absolute wonderful solo scores. Why is he not an exciting pick...

Malins is a very interesting player, personally I'd put him at 23. Can legit cover any of back 3 and 10. The utility provided is nuts and if a coach was feeling brave, open up many selection avenues.

Perhaps why Malins isn't as an exciting prospect for some individuals is that his ball playing talent has not really been used by England in system yet when he is a starter and he's kinda been deployed as a regular winger - which he is good at but someone more specialised there might be a better pick in theory.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

If Rugby has xP this game would have England losing by 5 but with an xP advantage of 30 or so.

 

[Ddanno]

I hate ITV so much

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Don't really mind who wins this. Going to Edinburgh for the Ireland game and don't have a ticket yet so if Scotland have a terrible tournament I reckon they'll be easier/cheaper to come by.

 

[Rinkadink]

I hate ITV so much

Aside from the ad breaks in general I much prefer it to the BBC coverage.

With that said I have not seen today's pre-match coverage. Was it bad or something?