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2024 Guinness Six Nations
Predicted 6N table 2020
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<blockquote data-quote="Leonormous Boozer" data-source="post: 984191" data-attributes="member: 45598"><p>Well yeah, if you try to paraphrase about 5 paragraphs of text into a sentence it will sound dumb...</p><p></p><p></p><p>You're dead right, they don't, no one has a plan b. What other team's generals do that England's don't however is exactly the opposite, they keep their teams playing to their strengths and try to put them in positions where it's most effective. Take a look at both Ireland's and Wales' last games in Paris, both sides were in a bind and all they did was stick to what works for them and managed to turn it around whereas in Cardiff England lost the head a bit and tried things they'd never try in a game where they were on top. At this level in rugby neither often works to turn a game around but I can't really remember the last time the latter did.</p><p></p><p>Like last year Ireland's backrow were as soft as wet cardboard, there's no 9, 10 and 12/15 axis that can turn that around but there are ones that can keep a scoreboard ticking even when their team isn't getting over the gainline quite as much and by quite as far as they're used to. England's best option in this regard is Farrell at 10 (it's just not in Ford's wheelhouse at all) in my opinion but he's not as good on the front foot and to get England humming as Ford is from the pivot so it's rarely worth the sacrifice. (Edit to avoid Ford v Farrell) and they haven't shown they have a 9 or outside back to help the 10 enough to get around it either.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Nothing too contentious there, England should be in a very good place, I've never said otherwise. One thing though is that there's not a prayer that the young guys will make as much progress year on year, there were a lot of breakout seasons and a lot of guys who made another step up in class last year which is great of course, but diminishing returns sets in. Obviously it can still be managed to continue to succeed, but an early peaker or an injury here and there can cause problems fast, see Dan Leavy and Joey Carbery!</p><p></p><p>Again, nothing wrong here, England should be contenders for everything they enter in the next 4 years but I don't think it translates into England being in a position where its totally in their control whether or not France and Ireland* can catch up to them and beat them as has been implied by many. Both have young teams doing bits in Europe, Ireland have a lot of young players who've done just about everything other than succeed in a world cup coupled with talent breaking out in the provinces while France just has the raw talent to put anyone in the NH to shame. France need to stick with their youth and have some consistency in selection and Ireland need to manage the handover from old to young in about 7 positions in the 23 well (this should be easy at 2, 14, 15, 6 and 8 but tricky at 9 and 10) but both have the talent to match England.</p><p></p><p>*Wales too probably (they were at the same level if not slightly better last year imo) but I always think that their terrible club game will catch up with them eventually and Gatland going might just be the catalyst for it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Leonormous Boozer, post: 984191, member: 45598"] Well yeah, if you try to paraphrase about 5 paragraphs of text into a sentence it will sound dumb... You're dead right, they don't, no one has a plan b. What other team's generals do that England's don't however is exactly the opposite, they keep their teams playing to their strengths and try to put them in positions where it's most effective. Take a look at both Ireland's and Wales' last games in Paris, both sides were in a bind and all they did was stick to what works for them and managed to turn it around whereas in Cardiff England lost the head a bit and tried things they'd never try in a game where they were on top. At this level in rugby neither often works to turn a game around but I can't really remember the last time the latter did. Like last year Ireland's backrow were as soft as wet cardboard, there's no 9, 10 and 12/15 axis that can turn that around but there are ones that can keep a scoreboard ticking even when their team isn't getting over the gainline quite as much and by quite as far as they're used to. England's best option in this regard is Farrell at 10 (it's just not in Ford's wheelhouse at all) in my opinion but he's not as good on the front foot and to get England humming as Ford is from the pivot so it's rarely worth the sacrifice. (Edit to avoid Ford v Farrell) and they haven't shown they have a 9 or outside back to help the 10 enough to get around it either. Nothing too contentious there, England should be in a very good place, I've never said otherwise. One thing though is that there's not a prayer that the young guys will make as much progress year on year, there were a lot of breakout seasons and a lot of guys who made another step up in class last year which is great of course, but diminishing returns sets in. Obviously it can still be managed to continue to succeed, but an early peaker or an injury here and there can cause problems fast, see Dan Leavy and Joey Carbery! Again, nothing wrong here, England should be contenders for everything they enter in the next 4 years but I don't think it translates into England being in a position where its totally in their control whether or not France and Ireland* can catch up to them and beat them as has been implied by many. Both have young teams doing bits in Europe, Ireland have a lot of young players who've done just about everything other than succeed in a world cup coupled with talent breaking out in the provinces while France just has the raw talent to put anyone in the NH to shame. France need to stick with their youth and have some consistency in selection and Ireland need to manage the handover from old to young in about 7 positions in the 23 well (this should be easy at 2, 14, 15, 6 and 8 but tricky at 9 and 10) but both have the talent to match England. *Wales too probably (they were at the same level if not slightly better last year imo) but I always think that their terrible club game will catch up with them eventually and Gatland going might just be the catalyst for it. [/QUOTE]
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