Interesting selection decision for next game and the 2 Smiths. Seems today was a horses for courses selection with MS at FB given France kick long, giving him room to run (which he did well I thought).
No way will Scotland do the same and will kick to compete a lot more; and I don't fancy him 1 v 1 in the air vs the likes of McVan de Merwe. That's where Steward comes into his own. Would also be harsh in the extreme to just put him back to 10 and drop FS.
Nice problem to have I suppose!
A word for the pack today..scrum held up really well and thought we really outlasted the French and dominated collisions in that last 20. Only black mark was the line out until JG came on...was poor until he did.
For any Irish crowing after today....Edinburgh is a bloody tough place to go and tomorrow should be a tight one.
And Wales have now dropped below Georgia in world rankings
Quick word for Elliot Daly. Couldn’t be more happy to see him get the winner today. He’s had a great England career, and I hope he can get some more caps (and points) in the future.
Would be good if Scotland can contain Ireland tomorrow and keep things tight on the table. Would be brilliant if we can go into the last day with a few teams having a chance of the title.
BlueIron wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:34 pm
They were better than they have been lately but they won because France threw away 3 tries. Not the fault of England of course but a massive influence on the result.
Did France throw those chances away through carelessness or because of the pressure from England's defence?
Good win for England, I think France ran out of ideas in the end.
I think France threw that away. Two, maybe three try-scoring opportunities given away through handling errors but who cares? England found a way towin at the death, instead of dying and finding a way of losing....
Walking through Toulouse after the match, wearing my England top was interesting:99% grudging respect and one very young drunken twat giving me grief,only to be dragged away, apologetically by his mates. Swing low.......
Well done, boys!
Eggchaser wrote: ↑Sun Feb 09, 2025 2:50 am
Loving the result in Rome too
The game's moved forward, and they haven't. (Neither on nor off the pitch).
Can't be bothered to gloat, even though were that an England result in Rome ,the Senedd would be declaring a National Holiday.
Sadly though,I think it means the prospect of a two division set up in the Northern hemisphere becomes still more unlikely.
Notable for me, but I've not seen discussed, is England's scrum (perhaps I did post here when drunk last night). A couple of years ago we were getting whistled off the pitch and we were worried about life after Cole and Marler, especially against SA. Perhaps the new rule about the opposing scrum half beyond the tunnel helps the 9 in possession deal with crap ball better. But either way we've held our own this tournament. Having George Martin at 5 helps!
Sad to say, because he looked so gifted when he burst on the scene, but I'm not keen on seeing Steward back. His turning circle is so poor. I'd prefer Marcus Smith, Daly and (preferably) Furbank there.
A bench with 3 front row, Chessum, Marcus Smith and Daly seems flexible. Smith could play 9 too meaning you could have a 6-2 split with the other sub being Ben Curry.
Playing on a different level Ireland. I thought we might be starting a bit of a transition and some of the players starting to look their age but absolutely none of it.
Chicken Run Supreme wrote: ↑Sun Feb 09, 2025 3:06 pm
Watching the start of the Scotland v Ireland game and how far forward dies a forward pass have to be these days ?
Southern Hemisphere ref…would have to be NFL QB style pass for them to give anything forward!
