Comments on: 6 Things we learned from the weekend’s rugby

By: Staggy

Staggy — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 20:58:17 +0000

English clubs did well but thought the Welsh ones had a good weekend too!

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 17:22:19 +0000

Daly absolutely has to be there. There isn’t an obvious fault in his game at all. Add in the fact that he can whack pens over from 60 meters and he is even more useful.

By: Dazza

Dazza — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 16:57:55 +0000

I’m with Matt on this one. I just think that someone with his talent with ball in hand should be in the England set-up and get some coaching on the things he needs to work on. It could simply be that a different approach is all is needed?!?!
Players like him and Daly who can just wheel round people at will and score fro anywhere should be in there.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 16:12:56 +0000

I’m not sure the line out skill has to come from a 6. For example, NZ use Kieran Read as a 3rd jumper. Wales use Warburton quite a bit. However, with Morgan/Vunipola/Hughes, none of those can jump. I do feel that at test level that you need a third line out option.

On Wade, I just think if there is someone that is so exposed on his positioning at Prem level, it’ll only get worst at test level. I do agree, his ability with ball in hand is insane, and I’d love to see his ability used for England. However, it is a big risk.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 16:02:15 +0000

With Wade I would like to try and see rather than speculate on his limitations being ruthlessly exposed. It’s worth the risk. I don’t recall any other English qualified player ever (including Robinson) that can consistently produce the something from nothing tries Wade keeps delivering.

He got capped, delivered one blistering performance (albeit against limited opposition), picked up an injury and never got his chance, players with “the ability to beat the first man” got their chance ahead of “a player with the ability to put the ball down over the line”.

Not progressing on the “coachable” side of his game is frustrating and worrying, but he’s a once in a generation talent that we have to find a way of making full use of.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 15:47:04 +0000

No idea what Ewers is like in the lineout, for sure Exeter use him there occasionally.

Wanting lineout prowess from a 6 is something that is overplayed in my book. So long as they are great at their primary roles, I don’t really care if they’re merely OK come the lineout

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 15:26:05 +0000

The Wade thing confuses me, you’d certainly think that the Wasps coaches are working loads with him on positioning. Contrary to what most claim, his tackling isn’t an issue to be honest, he just gets himself is terrible positions. He’s also pretty poor under a high ball and I just think at test level, his frailties would come to light more so than his electric feet.

Ewers definitely needs to be involved. He appears to have everything you want from a 6. What are his lineout stats like? If he was a jumper as well he really would be ideal.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 15:16:09 +0000

You’d have thought they can be coached and you can only assume that the coaches at Wasps have been trying for some time now. So god only knows what’s going on

Dave Ewers has to be involved somewhere. He’s monstrous when carrying the ball, has a suprising turn of speed, can off-load and is good over the ball

By: Dazza

Dazza — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 14:48:27 +0000

In my mind I was thinking I want Ewers in the squad, but I think Jacob is right. He may actually be a better bench option than Morgan as he can cover 6 and 8. Robshaw to start and Ewers on the bench.

As for Wade, it’s a tough one, and I’ve always said his defensive frailties will stop him getting in he EPS. Surely though these are things which can be coached? Nowell is a better bench option because he could cover 13, wing and 15. Yarde is showing some form, but I don’t think any other player can create something from nothing in the way that Wade can.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 14:16:52 +0000

Yarde certainly seems to have improved his form in these first few games

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 13:27:54 +0000

Not sure about Robshaw as a sub. His asset is his work rate. The number of tackles he makes and rucks he hits in a game in phenomenal. Is work rate something that’ll make an impact in the last 20? Probably not. Either he starts at 6 or doesn’t feature for me. Maybe Ewers would be a good impact player with Robshaw starting?

Wade I’m not convinced by, and I’m a Wasps fan. He seems to be a player that just doesn’t have a rugby brain at all. His positioning defensively is awful, whether in tackling to receiving kicks. Personally I’d rather Nowell start, or see Yarde come in over Wade.

By: Dazza

Dazza — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 13:10:16 +0000

My choice for the 6 Nations:
1. M. Vunipola, 2. George, 3. Brookes, 4. Launchbury, 5. Itoje, 6. Ewers, 7. Fraser, 8. B. Vunipola, 9. Youngs, 10. Ford, 11. May, 12. Slade, 13. Daly, 14. Wade, 15. Watson

16. Hartley, 17. Marler, 18. Cole, 19. Lawes (if he finds some form, if not Kruis) 20. Robshaw, 21. Simpson, 22. Farrell, 23. Nowell