Comments on: Six Nations 2018: England player ratings v Scotland

By: AlexD

AlexD — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 16:52:58 +0000

Pablito
Spot on; agreed with all that (see my comments under the ‘Can England still win the six nations?’ thread.
Ej will NOT win a wc in the modern game with a prop like Cole nor I fear a hooker like Hartley (both throwbacks to the past) Yet there are two perfect replacements – Sinkler and George!
Time to give them gametime. The captaincy issue is secondary in mho. Get the right player for the right position and then the issue of captain will sort ITSELF out!

By: Pablito

Pablito — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 12:14:17 +0000

Absolutely fair to criticise Cole for not ball-carrying when he’s doing bugger all else.

Equalled or beaten at scrum time by Scotlands 4th (or 5th?) choice loose head. Failed to pull his weight in the ruck, maul or the tackle. And despite all this he didn’t even touch the ball once!

Why is he there? Can anyone imagine NZ’s props not touching the ball once? they seem to manage carrying the ball, whilst also doing well in the scrum, ruck, maul and tackle.

This is just making excuses for Cole now. When was the last time he dominated another front row at international level?

He’s been a great servant for England but it’s time to start fading him out. Start him by all means as we don’t have anyone else with his experience. But let’s have him off at half time and let’s get someone else get some experience. Sinckler would be my choice, but i don’t mind Williams

By: TeamCam

TeamCam — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 14:14:03 +0000

At Twickers last year Raynaul literally told Barclay that Scotland weren’t allowed to compete at the breakdown.

By: Henry Ker

Henry Ker — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 09:45:27 +0000

Well for his role, he didn’t dominate his opposite number at the scrum, only made 5 tackles, while – for general forward play – England were beaten consistently at the breakdown and in the maul. He didn’t even touch the ball. I am struggling to see what he brought to the side to earn a higher score?

As a Leicester fan I have been a huge advocate of Dan Cole for years, and while he has never been the most formidable carrier I remember when we used to comment that having Cole was like having another back row player on the pitch due to his impact. As an international prop in the supposed second best side in the world, I don’t think it is unreasonable to say he needs to do more than be ‘solid’ in the scrum.

By: Jacob Bassford

Jacob Bassford — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 21:24:24 +0000

Again too harsh on Cole, you criticise him on things that aren’t his roles, for example ball-carrying

By: Rugger80

Rugger80 — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 13:04:58 +0000

I don’t think bad selection can be blamed. Bar Hughes this was same pack that more than held their own at the breakdown against Wales and delivered far quicker ball….a Welsh pack that contained Scotlands pack easily. Now whether it was tiredness, complacency, or just being overwhelmed by the whole event who knows….but for me, on the day and on the pitch you need to land a big part of this with the players

By: Staggy

Staggy — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 13:03:48 +0000

I’m another who actually thought Robshaw had a decent game in an underwhelming team performance. Having said that, all of the backs suffered through having slow ball, while Scotland had quick ball to work with making their attack harder to defend, so the backrow has to take the hit for that.

I wonder if we ought to give the coaches a mark. It would undoubtedly be EJ’s lowest of his tenure. I would suggest a 3 possibly. Can’t understand how he/England managed to completely nullify the Scottish breakdown work at Twickenham 12 months ago with total power rucking and then so completely fail at Murrayfield with total powderpuff rucking.

By: Mr B

Mr B — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 10:55:47 +0000

Not much to argue with here.

I think this point may have been raised before and I this suggestion isn’t a long term solution but with the injuries to Big Billy, Nathan Hughes (yes I know he’s back) and Sam Simmonds my thought would’ve been to pick a player for the interim that fits the Billy/Hughes model in other words Thomas Waldrom.

Yes I know the years are unwinding on Thomas the Tank Engine but he is still an effective ball carrier at Number 8 for Exeter and still destructive from 5 yards out, I personally wouldn’t of minded him coming on when Hughes ran out of gas, as I say not a long term solution (like Wigglesworth) but someone who could plug a gap in an effective England tactic rather than try and make do with Robshaw or even Haskell.

By: Robert Calhoun

Robert Calhoun — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 10:24:20 +0000

Bring in Nowell and Daly for the next game. Give Cole and Hartley a rest. Start with Underhill, and have another pacy back rower on the bench.

By: Robert Calhoun

Robert Calhoun — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 10:22:58 +0000

I said before the match that they shoudl have started with Nowell and Underhill. I stand by that. As Eddie himself said, Robshaw should only be considered as a 6. He is neither a 7 nor an 8. And why you start with 3 second rows and still have another one on the bench I will never understand.

By: stroudos

stroudos — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 10:13:44 +0000

Agree with Steve H here, particularly re Robshaw, who must be due for a random drug test, his stamina is just incredible.

I am a huge fan of Underhill and I think he should be excused for his “over-exuberance” in that tackle. Overall he made an incredible impact when he came on. Easily England’s best option for openside. Robshaw’s best position is clearly blindside, and with Underhill available there’s no reason to play Robshaw at 7.

England’s back row was humiliated by Scotland, but I really think this is easily corrected, especially if Simmonds is fit for France. Here’s a back row selection that has blokes playing in their best positions (in my opinion) and combines youth and experience:

6. Robshaw
7. Underhill
8. Simmonds

And I would honestly have Hask on the bench to cover all three. He has the experience to come on and help close a game out, and has a point to prove.

By: Steve H

Steve H — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 09:53:44 +0000

I thought Robshaw was easily our best player. Launchbury stood up pretty well as did Lawes despite playing out of position (surely that experiment will be shelved from now on) . The rest were frankly underwhelming.
The front row were particularly poor. I saw a stat showing Cole didnt touch the ball in the game. For a prop who is hardly dominating the scrum this is pitiful and unacceptable. Mako isnt playing that well, and Hartley should be given a rest. You cannot have your captain being taken off after 50 odd minutes every game. Itoje has lost his edge and Hughes was plainly short of fitness.
The backs weren’t any better. Watson had one of his worst games, May run into cul de sacs, JJ was unusually poor in defence and Brown did little to suggest his decline has been halted.
From the bench Nowell and Williams showed up well and should start next time out.