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<blockquote data-quote="Vieux Talonneur" data-source="post: 1013817" data-attributes="member: 73144"><p>I think the potential of this group and those coming through is extremely high, that's why I get so frustrated. If you've got players with 50 caps under their belts your expectations should be high, irrespective of age.</p><p></p><p>As I've said before all the current squad can make the next World Cup age wise but a number of them won't improve between now and then and some may already be on a downward path - notably Binny, Youngs and Farrell.</p><p></p><p>Woodward's team were past their best when they won. A key difference between that squad and this were the number of big characters who were prepared to take responsibility, problem solve on the pitch and challenge Woodward. Woodward, to his immense credit listened, and backed off training during the run up to the final and also left the players to it before extra time when Jonno told him to butt out. I doubt Jones would have done likewise and a hallmark of his Eng is that we haven't been able to change tack or problem solve with any degree of regularity. When things have gone to plan we've looked world beating at times, but when the oppo have dared to go off script all too often we haven't had answers. </p><p></p><p>The rugby doesn't have to be 'sexy', it has to be smarter - mixing it up and doing the right thing at the right time. Sometimes that will mean more kicking - totally the right thing to do when Fra didn't have a specialist FB for instance. But I just get the inescapable feeling that we too often play the game on PowerPoint not on grass.</p><p></p><p>We're never going to agree on this. I hope you're right, but think I am!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Vieux Talonneur, post: 1013817, member: 73144"] I think the potential of this group and those coming through is extremely high, that’s why I get so frustrated. If you’ve got players with 50 caps under their belts your expectations should be high, irrespective of age. As I’ve said before all the current squad can make the next World Cup age wise but a number of them won’t improve between now and then and some may already be on a downward path - notably Binny, Youngs and Farrell. Woodward’s team were past their best when they won. A key difference between that squad and this were the number of big characters who were prepared to take responsibility, problem solve on the pitch and challenge Woodward. Woodward, to his immense credit listened, and backed off training during the run up to the final and also left the players to it before extra time when Jonno told him to butt out. I doubt Jones would have done likewise and a hallmark of his Eng is that we haven’t been able to change tack or problem solve with any degree of regularity. When things have gone to plan we’ve looked world beating at times, but when the oppo have dared to go off script all too often we haven’t had answers. The rugby doesn’t have to be ‘sexy’, it has to be smarter - mixing it up and doing the right thing at the right time. Sometimes that will mean more kicking - totally the right thing to do when Fra didn’t have a specialist FB for instance. But I just get the inescapable feeling that we too often play the game on PowerPoint not on grass. We’re never going to agree on this. I hope you’re right, but think I am! [/QUOTE]
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