Comments on: Best Of The Weekend: Pressure Builds On Jones

By: AlexD

AlexD — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 07:33:14 +0000

Not a bad selection at all!
Thumbs up!

By: Blub

Blub — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 18:59:35 +0000

It seems very well-intended, but sadly its become a real mess.

You have to feel for the refs.

By: jake

jake — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 12:07:08 +0000

Rescinded this morning I think.
It’s so subjective, so for that reason I don’t envy the referees or WR officials who have to try and properly judge this area of the game.
Were the laws applied correctly? (genuine question).
2 players were both in the air, going for the ball and one came off worse than the other. If Fall had jumped higher, but Barrett had still come off worse, would it still be a red card?
Fall was (slightly) impeded by ALB so wasn’t able to compete properly either.

By: Blub

Blub — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 11:50:24 +0000

I had no idea that the Red Card had been rescinded.

I have mixed feelings over this – didn’t Gardner apply the law directives correctly? This surely means that we have a real mess over how these incidents should be handled.

To me, it was not at all clear that Fall was challenging for the ball. Yes, he was looking at it, and yes he had his arms out, but I understood that the whole point of these law directives is that the players have to also consider the safety of the other players.

By: Blub

Blub — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 11:45:06 +0000

Agreed that Villian of the Week should go to Ross Moriarty – that was really quite nasty. he seemed to have lost his head.

Or, to Benjamin Fall.

On Ben Youngs interview; why does anyone care about this? I quite like the fact that he was pissed off right at the end of the game. Let’s not forget that he later apologised and provided a fuller interview to the same reporter.

Equally, Marler and Brown, good for them – it was hardly the second coming of Trevor Brennan was it?

If England had to provide a villain, I would go for either Mako Vunipola or Nathan Hughes for their ludicrous Yellow Card offences (albeit not issued in Vunipola’s case).

By: Robbo

Robbo — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 11:06:40 +0000

I think EJ should mix some experimental selections with a desire to win. As such:

1 – Marler; 2 – LCD; 3 – Williams; 4 – Itoje; 5 – Launchbury; 6 – Wilson; 7 – Curry; 8 – Shields; 9 – Youngs; 10 – Cipriani; 11 – May; 12 – Farrell; 13 – Daly; 14 – Earle; 15 – Brown

Reps: Hepburn, George; Sinkler; Hill; Simmons; Robson; Lozowski; Woodward

By: jake

jake — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 11:02:24 +0000

In answer to Joe’s question on the final test, I say England go all out. Personally I would rather see an experimental XV than the same side run out.
Defense seems to be a big issue for England. Is Gustard leaving the reason? I’m not sure, we have been found wanting in this area for a while now and maybe a new approach is needed. The set-piece was a mainstay of the English success at the start of EJs tenure, though I’m less likely to blame Hatley for the drop in form considering there are key personnel missing. Sinkler was found wanting imo, being stood up in the scrum by his opposition. Hepburn should have been included in the original tour and key injuries to Genge and Obano meant the front row was missing its in form players.
England’s attack has looked better since Wisemantel joined, but Youngs is far too pedestrian and really kills the momentum.
My villain is Angus Gardener. World Rugby has rescinded Fall’s red card, stating it should not have been brandished in the first place. Its clear Fall was challenging for the ball and the injury to Barrett was purely accidental. Once again the French have been denied a genuine chance to compete because of poor (preferential?) officiating.

By: Egg Chaser

Egg Chaser — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 10:10:31 +0000

If you go back through previous posts you will see the blog committed to being England centric a while ago.

By: Mr B

Mr B — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 09:48:39 +0000

For England its time for a change, the series is lost lets have a shot to nothing.

Bring in Cips and Robson to start, move Daly to 13 alongside Farrell, Earle at full back.

Start Simmonds at 8, drop Itoje, just do something different.

We are just too predictable ‘Give ball to Billy, bosh’, Youngs pedestrian, slow and bloody obvious, players played out of position and lack of adequate cover on the bench thie list goes on. By the sounds of it the second test was a carbon copy of the first, discipline and the breakdown is also still mindbogglingly awful.

Eddie is a good coach but his stubbornness is letting him down by trying to stick to his guns, the other reason we are loosing is that teams have realised (even in the record run) our defence sucks and they simply have to outscore us.

By: That guy

That guy — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 09:47:02 +0000

4 paragraphs relating just to England. 5 paragraphs to the other 3 home nations. Hmm

By: That guy

That guy — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 09:45:05 +0000

As a Welshman I have to say surely villain of the week goes to Moriarty? Or is the blog, as it appears only concerned with The England set up? Does not seem to be as much in the threads about the other home nations summers tours. Just my thoughts and I’m sure someone will be along to shoot me down.