Rugby, the original version

65 watchers

paul the builder Mar 2019 11:27am, 19 Mar 2019 6,506 posts	0 paul the builder I can think of a funny-accented hooker who might be pleased with this current state of affairs Maybe this was the problem which resulted in the whole idea of co-captains a while ago. EJ maybe recognised the issue, and hoped to paper over the cracks that way. I don't think there's a neat solution though - changing now to someone else unproven is a hell of a risk. At least no-ones talking about Robshaw. I assume we're not talking about Robshaw, right? Please god.
SPR Mar 2019 11:38am, 19 Mar 2019 27,590 posts	0 SPR There's an obvious reason why Ford was able to change things, it's easier to think with a clear head when you're not in the heat of battle. Seeing things from the sidelines is much easier. Having a fly half as good as Ford on the bench meant that Jones could have changed things earlier. Ford also wasn't responsible for the mess that occurred beforehand. Were the England players to busy thinking about what they'd thrown away rather than what they needed to do to get back in control? TBH I think part of the issue was they lost intensity at the end of the first half and started doing stuff they wouldn't have tried if they thought the game was competitive and would have been punished if Scotland were playing well at all.
flanker Mar 2019 1:08pm, 19 Mar 2019 18,161 posts	0 flanker ptb, changing would be a hell of a risk, but given we're never going to win the world cup as it stands, I'd say not doing so is at least as bad. If the Scots can exploit it so easily, the ABs or Boks will be laughing. I'd say it is a risk that has to be taken. Might as well go down fighting (and that's not a request to bring back the ex-co-captain!). SPR - yep, agree, esp with the last paragraph, but that's what a strong skipper on the field would prevent. Who's Robshaw?
Dai Bank Mar 2019 2:55pm, 19 Mar 2019 5,055 posts	0 Dai Bank There are a few of things that I think need addressing after my viewing of many of the matches this last few weeks. 1. I think we now need 2 refs at test level, managing both offside lines at set piece, throw in, kick off is beyond the capability of one imo. The number of times the offside line was breached, the squint put-ins, the scrum offences when the ref was on one side and the assistant Ref was too far away to see detail are now too blatant. Of course, the players are going to exploit any inability to view a position but the speed of a back line now is so fast to be unmanageable by one ref, even if they do have a video ref and 2 asst Refs. They need someone closer to the action. 2. Farrell becomes a liability when the game changes adversely. He lacks control and tries to rectify any mistakes by himself or others without regard to the consequences. This occasionally materialises in the dangerous tackles where he has been lucky to avoid serious sanction. He has to have help to overcome this imo. 3. Coaching is all but the players must retain the capacity to change things themselves. I've been thinking about this aspect for a while and how to accomplish it when I read the GB Hockey "think Thursday"article in the Times today(paywall protected sadly) where the players were set challenges on Wednesday and they were then expected to work out plans to deal with the challenges and then play on Thursday, without Coach involvement. This has to be something worth copying for all teams in any sport, let alone Test Rugby teams.
Angus Clydesdale Mar 2019 3:30pm, 19 Mar 2019 14,916 posts	0 Angus Clydesdale We were talking last weekend at the Sco v Wal about how fast the backs are up on each other and reflecting that the 10-yard retreat hasn’t changed in all these years, but the athletes are way faster than they used to be.
Paul N Mar 2019 4:54pm, 31 Mar 2019 407 posts	0 Paul N Racing spoiling the sheets again
richmac Apr 2019 12:31pm, 1 Apr 2019 11,626 posts	0 richmac bbc.co.uk This is taking family loyalty a bit far now!
Albert O Balsam May 2019 12:19pm, 21 May 2019 532 posts	0 Albert O Balsam ...and Leicester's final position, goodness me !
flanker May 2019 1:48am, 22 May 2019 18,262 posts	0 flanker I’m trying to pretend it’s not that bad. At least we stayed up. We really need a rethink on many things. Finding, and sticking with, a modern-game coach would be a good starting point.
richmac May 2019 7:01am, 22 May 2019 11,743 posts	0 richmac Think Tigers will bounce back next year. All the ingredients seem to be there. Unless Murphy really is useless and not learning. I fear more for my bloody lot. DOR with no coaching quals. People keep saying he was the second longest running club captain we ever had, I point out in the least successfull period, he won naff all. I have the impression that our 'new' DOR is in post simply because he's a yes man to the owner and in 12 months I'll be here saying how we were lucky to stay up. Then in 24 months we won't be so lucky..