[exileneal]

36 player squad announced for the week as we run up to the Scotland game and seven from Sale are included:

LCD
Two portions of Curry
Asher Opoku Fordjour
Bevan Rodd
George Ford
Tom Roebuck

Congratulations to those selected!

[exileneal]

Team for the Scotland game announced - only change from the France game is Chessum and Martin swapping positions from the starting lineup (now Chessum) and the bench (now Martin).

Therefore Tom Curry and LCD start with Ben Curry a replacement.

Congratulations to the Sale boys involved!

[Olyy]

Tom limping off after 45mins

Was getting his knee looked at in the first half - sounds daft but hope it's a knee issue and not his hip

Ben on at 36mins and has looked very good, 2 key turnovers so far

[Lord Elpus]

Didn't look good - he was shaking his head.

Once again subs forced on Borthwick came to the rescue.

Had enough of Slade, Sleightholme, Earl. BC excellent.

[Olyy]

Watching Sleightholme in the first half really made me feel for Roebuck - consistently beaten in the air and outmuscled by his opposite man

[Lord Elpus]

Since Roebuck is Scottish -unlike most of the "Scotland World XV" - it really did hurt.

[SSR]

Low point of the match was definitely watching Tom limp off again.
High point was the excruciating demonstration of how weak our starting backline was compared to the Scots ( with the 2 notable exceptions of FSmith and Freeman ).
Surely the management can't hide from that now.

[Olyy]

I can't get my head around the 9 situation

Mitchell known for his creativity and sniping, told to box kick constantly
Randall comes off the bench, known for his speed/breaks, told to box kick constantly

Spencer, known for his kicking and control, nowhere to be seen (despite being one of the only players to have a half decent autumn)

It's like when we used to get every 8 or 12 to try and replicate Vunipola and Manu despite that not being their natural game - why are we trying to hammer square pegs into round holes?
Surely Wiggy, an immensely experienced 9, can see that we're neutering our players with our game plan?

[FarnhamShark]

100% agree with Olyy. The constant box kicking is thoroughly predictable, and even with the new rules gives away possession too often. If you must kick, why not use the 10 - less likely to get charged down, can see the whole pitch and judge exactly where to put it, can coordinate with chasers, and is at least as good a kicker.

[Flumpty]

(I wrote this last night, but didn't post it).

A win is a win and the points are in the bag. But it's a win by the finest of margins (again) and the better team lost (again).

Stop the slow painful delivery from the breakdown, followed by the inevitable boring box kick (it was like watching Gus in slow motion).

And for crying out loud, play a FB at FB and not Speed Bump.

[Lord Elpus]

Kicking to the "Scotland" back 3 is a really stupid idea - born out of fear of the "Scottish" back row at the breakdown.

Answer - use the backs and avoid contact. If Slade is playing use his left boot - he doesn't appear to have a right one - for territory.

Tom Curry's injury - dead leg.

[Surbiton_Shark]

Was at the match yesterday. Majority of chat similar as comments above. Our constant kicking and almost refusal to go through hands. Russell showed with his bullet passes if you're willing to through passes over the rushing defence it likes open sesame season.

At one point (very similar to Sale earlier this season with Warr) we had a good carry up the middle - then totally slowed it down and box kicked it - groans from all corners of the stand.

I naively thought we turned a corner with our victory against France and would have more confidence and really take it to Scotland. Just one thought - if the clear tactic was for 9 to kick it, or think about passing it but kick it and above all else - just kick it - why on earth don't you pick Roebuck???????????

[Lord Elpus]

Just one thought - if the clear tactic was for 9 to kick it, or think about passing it but kick it and above all else - just kick it - why on earth don't you pick Roebuck???????????

Wot 'e said

[Olyy]

Saw a stat on twitter:
https://x.com/RugbyInsideLine/status/18 ... pgd2Q&s=19

England only went above 5 phases 6% of the time
18 possessions were one phase
15 possessions were two phases

[Lord Elpus]

Apparently the match ball has reported England to the NSPCB.

[Bucks1861]

Tom update

“ Tom Curry has a dead leg,” Borthwick said. “He took it early in the game and he’s such a tough, brave competitor and eventually, shortly after half time, it became too uncomfortable and I had to take him off the pitch.

Borthwick expects Curry to be back training by the end of the week, as England prepare to take on Italy in round four in London. “We expect Tom Curry to be with a dead leg, as dead legs do, a few days, it’ll settle down and he’ll be good. “

[exileneal]

Apparently the match ball has reported England to the NSPCB.

I actually think the RSPB may have a case with all those box kicks surely taking out some of our avian friends…

[RinTin]

Post match photos showed the Currys and LCD taking photos with Asher and Ford (clearly travelling reserves). No sign of Roebuck or Bevan which makes it all the more surprising re them not being released to the A's.

[Yareet]

Slightly at a tangent but I’m finally getting round to watching the A game. Is that our pitchside physio Navdeep?

[Olyy]

England: Daly; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Willis

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Heyes, Hill, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Van Poortvliet, M Smith


Very very disapppointed for Roebuck - I rate Sleightholme highly in general, but he was poor vs Scotland: targeted all game and exposed. He just doesn't suit the kind of game England play atm, whereas it suits Roebuck's skillset to a T

[Evo]

re Roebuck, massive shame he hasn't been able to get a starting slot. 5/7 back starting spots are from Northampton......must say something about Borthwick's thought process.....communication, team interaction possibly. Agree that England's current style suits Tom so there must be a strong reason why he can't quite crack it this season...

[RinTin]

I believe Tom is the victim of SB not wanting to chop and change too much. Sleightholme is a very good winger, but only came in due to Murley's injury. I think Steve is just looking for consistency in as many positions as possible which is a shame for Tom, but I can see the logic.

The more experienced guys (Slade, LCD etc) can cope with being in and out a little bit. The newer, younger guys less so.

[poyntonshark]

We should try and see if Slade can cope with being out and then out again.

[Clutch]

Not convinced by Sleightholme but Roebcuck plays on the opposite wing. It’s Roebuck or Freeman, and hard to argue that Freeman should be drop. You can’t expect wingers to swap position and effective. Some obviously can, but generally not the case.

[Olyy]

Freeman's played 11 enough times for it to be a viable option - including at international level, as IFW plays 14

[Olyy]

The twins could stake a very strong claim to being England's best and second best players this tournament

Hope Tom's ok - looked to be repeated cramp that had him subbed, but you never know

[Lord Elpus]

England look much better when both twins are on together. Earl may be more useful at centre.

[Surbiton_Shark]

Both Smith's at 10 seem to be playing George Ford back into the England fly-half slot. Wasn't overly impressed with Finn - both/him Marcus seem to be trying too hard making magic happen of first phase.

Ben played very well (again), thought Italy scored some lovely tries

[Bucks1861]

Finn suggested he was discombobulated after the injury to Ollie Lawrence for a bit. However, I rate him as he gets the backline working more harmoniously.

Imho I just done see Marcus as a #15. Yes he’s clearly a valuable asset as a second distributor. But his positioning as a FB and his aerial prowess aren’t there, yet.

[Lord Elpus]

Imho F Smith is the most reliable goal kicker of the three tens, Ford the best passer, M Smith the best broken-field runner. In addition F Smith is the best defender in the channel. M Smith & Ford are always targetted by oppo flankers in the 10 channel.

[poyntonshark]

I thought Finn did OK, started nervously again but grew into it. He is still only 22, definitely looks a more complete option. I agree that Marcus isn't a natural fullback (And I believe the best FB's are born to it, not taught it). Marcus isn't very likely to learn it at club level as he will play 10 more often than not. He may have to be content with becoming the new Elliot Daly, the versatile bench option.

Definitely preferred England's intent to attack, but couldn't work out much by way of an attacking plan other than to run rather than kick. We have seen this movie before; Kick the leather off it for 4 games and let loose against Italy. The Italy game seems to be for enjoyment's sake rather than building to a more attacking game plan. I'm not suggesting England play exhibition rugby every game. Still, I genuinely believe that the current squad is better suited to more running Rugby than the stupor-inducing, constant box-kicking that serves as our default plan.