Comments on: Six Nations 2019: England v France Rate the Match

By: Don P

Don P — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:57:49 +0000

McMurphy. & he’s 18 stone. As you allude to, tackling is also about positioning, balance, for both the tackler as well as the tacklee. Lawes was positioned as you describe, Bastaureaud was too upright & so had less fwd purchase, hence his backward motion in the tackle. Still retained possession for recycling though.

By: Don P

Don P — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:47:12 +0000

Not compulsory to respond I guess.. but manners etc?

By: Don P

Don P — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:45:21 +0000

Leon. Surely England played well enough? Certainly they could have had a more imaginative game plan & showed more initiative & invention, both from off & on the field, but within their ltd plan, they did stick to it & still racked up 44! No one played badly within this context did they?

By: Don P

Don P — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:36:29 +0000

Staggy. Most comments here have surely been positive? Might be useful to pin point the negatives you mention to comment on these? FMPOV, it could be interesting to know what England have learned, or gained, from this win v Fr. For instance, with Fr basically being non competitive, why did England need to stick so rigidly to such a basic kicking game throughout? Is EJ being too much of a ltd control freak? Is Farrell simply a functionary to slavishly carry out EJ’s orders. Is there not any room for on field initiative or decision making? Could England have used it, after say 15, to test out their 3/4 line to better effect, bearing in mind that there’s a WC to win as well & not just this 6N?

By: Don P

Don P — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:15:54 +0000

McMurphy. *Exactly* what are trying to convey? That Englsnd play rugby by numbers?

By: Don P

Don P — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:11:34 +0000

Mr Bean. Sure J May appreciates yr sycophancy, or does he? Perhaps you could look him up in the Yellow Pages, then call him & see? Hope he doesn’t chunder!

By: Don P

Don P — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:01:59 +0000

Panlito. Eddie as a Fr fixer upper? Nationality on its own shouldn’t matter. It’s mainly the mind set & experience, also rugby set up, structure. The reality is that Jones has had a mixed career. Won 18, then lost 9 for England. Now that he’s had 1 shock win v Ireland (surely you don’t count Fr?), he’s this fixer upper? Also struggled v NZ, SA in Autumn.. @ home. Bit premature ain’t it? Bit short memory. With basically a ‘D’ & a kicking game, which might work in this 6N, will it work in Japan? Yet to be seen I think.

By: Don P

Don P — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 10:44:14 +0000

Apart from commentating, I hear that SCW may be living the good life in Spain Andy. Do keep yr peepers open for him.

By: Don P

Don P — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 10:35:19 +0000

Acee. I agree with that opinion.

By: Don P

Don P — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 10:29:37 +0000

Forgotten Andy. Think you mentioned Spain before. Sounds idyllic, so long as there aren’t too many fruit cakes out there! Hope life’s no too monotonous? Also, please ensure that you don’t drink too much cheap plonk. Can’t gave you falling into yr pool now!

By: Andy Lawrenson

Andy Lawrenson — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 12:17:24 +0000

I admit that is quite a lot of work Leon, but it´s not a full time job! Woodward certainly has the organisational skills to sort France out. Whether the French clubs or Union would allow him to do so is a completely different matter!

By: Lord Warwick

Lord Warwick — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 09:35:14 +0000

Totally agree Staggy.

Would have been nice to see 50 points up, but I’d still rather the result we had with no more injuries to key players, which playing at 100% for 80 mins increases that very risk. I don’t know if reducing the intensity was a deliberate decision, if it was ,I for one wouldn’t disagree with it. Not with 3 games left to play, especially after just one weeks rest from the incredible physicality of the Ireland clash. More likely though I think it was so obvious the game was over. 30 points in the first half, 14 in the second, and France pointless for 45 mins.
I think if anything, Wales remind me of England in last years championship; on a winning roll, and winning games….just.

I think it was inevitable that points were left on the pitch. It’s been a while since the team has been in possession of such dominance and options. International rugby is normally a lot more frugal.

Wales is going to be another big game, the second “game of the tournament”. And if we get by the that and Italy…..perhaps there’ll be a third game of the tournament against the old enemy. I do hope so.