Comments on: England names team for World Cup warm-up against France

By: Fraze

Fraze — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 14:43:12 +0000

Also where is my partner in crime brighty when you need him? Clark shouldn’t be playing the game let alone pulling on a white shirt

By: Fraze

Fraze — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 14:22:43 +0000

Interesting thought stu. If you have watched rugby union all your life you know that a big man taking the ball late close to the line is much much more dangerous. But if you have watched bath playing you’ll notice that burgess isn’t that happy with that arrangement, I would guess that is due to the run up you get in league, but despite him scoring a couple of time off nice support lines, if you watch all the bath games he has played in he often knocks the ball on if he takes it close to the line. I wonder if this is because he is used to being able to look for the weaker shoulder about 2-3m away from the defence so now is doing that subconsciously whilst he should have already picked the gap and be concentrating on catching the ball.
Personally I think he is better in the back row but I want him to be awesome today because he has hands and hands and power is so good for Joseph watson, nowell and brown.
I’m not a fan of the crash ball centre but he actually does have hands rather than everyone wishing tuilagi would stop hitting women and grow some hands.

By: Liono

Liono — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 12:40:57 +0000

As a Bath supporter I ought to know more definitely, but I am pretty sure they did at the beginning, if memory serves correct, he used to come off his wing quite a lot and play as first reciever in attacking plays as well.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 11:19:02 +0000

I think those three together could be great.

Ford and JJ provide a considerable amount of gain line threat. Farrell offers the game management that Ford sometimes lacks (i.e. Prem Final). There is a lack of ballast there; which is why I would use players like Morgan/Vunipola/Haskell/Youngs in wider channels to offer that threat. You can also get Brown/Nowell involved in those channels too.

I also have a major lack of confidence in Fords goal kicking; not only is it inconsistent but he isn’t. The reason people like Farrell and Halfpenny are so invaluable is not just that they kick goals, but that opposition back rows know they have to be careful anywhere in their own half. The amount of time this buys us at the breakdown in invaluable. With Ford playing, it really needs to be within 40 meters for them to start to worry.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:56:54 +0000

Agreed Blub.

Did Bath ever try Eastmond on the wing a la Jason Robinson?

By: Blub

Blub — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:38:33 +0000

Agree on every point there Pablito.

This, in effect is Eastmond’s problem isn’t it?

Once Joseph is nailed on at 13, and there is a back three of (pick from) May/Nowell/Watson/Brown/Goode/Cipriani; there is no-one to provide the back line ballast.

In theory it doesn’t have to be a 12, BUT given the personnel elsewhere, in this England set-up, it is the only position available. Hence no Eastmond as 12 seems to be his only position. Sadly.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:18:29 +0000

I don’t see a Ford, Farrell, Joseph line up as being at all interesting.

Farrell doesn’t have the strength, speed or footwork to cause defences problems from inside centre. It would allow the opposition to focus their attention on Ford and Jospeh as the major threats.

We need someone at i/c who will cause defences problems, create holes, draw defenders in. Burrell and Burgess have the size to worry people. Slade has Farrell’s passing abilities but is faster and more elusive.

Farrell at centre wouild be like a slightly more reliable 12Trees

By: Jamie

Jamie — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 08:48:33 +0000

Looks like what we can all agree on is that all three fly-halves have made vast improvements in their respective areas of weakness! I do think Cipriani is going to have to do something pretty special off the bench this weekend (at fullback) if he is to make the final squad though.

I am also keen on seeing a Ford/Farrell/Joseph line-up – I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw it at some point during the warm-up games, although perhaps not starting.

By: Liono

Liono — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 08:32:13 +0000

Baffles me as much as it baffles me that Ford gets it for his goal kicking so much, which has also improved massively since he was first playing, his kicking stats were pretty much on a par with Farrell’s for this season.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 08:11:10 +0000

Criticism of Farrell really does baffle me. He has a tendency to sit too deep if he pack aren’t on top, but it has improved tenfold since he first emerged.

Ford can’t pick at goal and Cipriani lacks the tactical kicking game of the other two. Luckily, between the three we have a nice blend of 10s. Personally, I really want to see Ford, Farrell and Joseph have a go together as a midfield.

By: Stu

Stu — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 18:38:03 +0000

I think Farrell is a very capable committed player but wonder if this 10/12 selection suits either him or Burgess. For Burgess to impact the game he needs to receive the ball close to the line at speed and I’m not certain Farrell can create those opportunities consistently through game. I do believe Cips could and wonder whether, if plan A is to attack the line with 12, he might not be a better understudy to Ford in the final 31 than Farrell.

On another note looking forward to seeing Clark at 7, thought he was excellent last year and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him win a few turnovers.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 17:15:22 +0000

He ran the game well on the front foot. I have never been impressed by his decision making or execution. I like his commitment, character and passion, but he doesn’t have the capabilities to make things happen at test level, and as such isn’t someone I would pick. I don’t trust him to turn a game or find other plans if plan A or B fail. I trust Ford then Cipriani to deliver ahead of him.