England V Italy

Minutes silence for Phil Horrocks Taylor at the start.
He lives local, Nunthorpe I think, and was in hospital at the same time as our dad the year before last.
 
England will still win.

Italy in the Six Nations is pointless, may as well just be Five Nations.

I don't know if it's the lockdown frustration, but I've just hit the wall with them, not even watching today as it's not even entertaining playing Italy.
 
There’s something worrying about England at the moment. They don’t look comfortable on the ball which is not insulated but defence wise they look a lot worse than last year. Not good when you’ve built your game on it.
Don’t even get me started on the amount of penalties they are conceding
 
It’s tough playing Italy isn’t it? If you don’t perform like France did last week you can too easily be critical. Looking better this half but still an underwhelming performance and, if the championship goes to points differences again it’s clearly not good enough yet
 
It’s ended up being pretty routine for England in the end, but cracks once again papered over.

Re Italy, I don’t want to lose them and I’m actually pro bringing Georgia in as I think that’s the only way their standard improves. I want to see more competitive nations in world rugby and giving more teams the chance to play the tier 1 nations is the only way we will get there
 
Jostler said:
It’s ended up being pretty routine for England in the end, but cracks once again papered over.

Re Italy, I don’t want to lose them and I’m actually pro bringing Georgia in as I think that’s the only way their standard improves. I want to see more competitive nations in world rugby and giving more teams the chance to play the tier 1 nations is the only way we will get there
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I think there is enough in the “Europe” second tier to make a two level tournament with relegation worthwhile. I agree on current form Georgia could well be better than Italy but we won’t know because they don’t get the chance Italy do. I’ve nothing against Italy and yes they are doing their best but they just haven’t developed since they joined the tournament
 
TeaCider said:
They've not won a game in the completion in 6 years, it's embarrassing.
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I think a relegation to a second tier would actually help them. They’d get to compete and win games. That being said: the coach has some interesting ideas. Like playing the first choice front row in the second half rather than starting with them. I also like the idea of him calling teams like Treviso and asking them to play a certain way to help his teams development. They kind of unofficially do that in Ireland with the Provences having players with international contracts
 
SmallTown said:
I think there is enough in the “Europe” second tier to make a two level tournament with relegation worthwhile. I agree on current form Georgia could well be better than Italy but we won’t know because they don’t get the chance Italy do. I’ve nothing against Italy and yes they are doing their best but they just haven’t developed since they joined the tournament
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Yeah I think that could be a viable option, whether you continue with the current 2nd tier format or make a tier 2 6 nations that plays in Parallel with the six nations, I’m not sure but something needs to be done to encourage Italy to up their game.
 
tonybiriyani said:
Minutes silence for Phil Horrocks Taylor at the start.
He lives local, Nunthorpe I think, and was in hospital at the same time as our dad the year before last.
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Phil Horrocks Taylor was one of 3 Lions Fly halfs to play for Middlesbrough RUFC (Alan Old and Rob Andrew) and was the first plsyer to be listed on the England programme with the representing club stated to be Middlesbrough Rugby club.

RIP
 
TeaCider said:
Hopefully Scotland hold this lead against Wales as that will make things interesting for all.
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I'd rather Wales won. Before this tournament I'd have said they are less of a threat than Scotland.
Their coach is taking too long to settle. Warrenball might have stunted Wales recovery
 
Mind you Wales will always be a threat if their opponents keep getting handicapped by going a man down. 😒
 
Wales are going to win, that's a shame.

Ireland beat France tomorrow and everyone has lost already, which keeps it open.

Got no confidence in England after the Scotland performance, they stumbled over the line last year too.
 
TeaCider said:
Wales are going to win, that's a shame.

Ireland beat France tomorrow and everyone has lost already, which keeps it open.

Got no confidence in England after the Scotland performance, they stumbled over the line last year too.
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I'd be very happy if that happens, makes it a tight 3 game tournament.
 
TeaCider said:
Wales are going to win, that's a shame.

Ireland beat France tomorrow and everyone has lost already, which keeps it open.

Got no confidence in England after the Scotland performance, they stumbled over the line last year too.
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Big if, but yes if Ireland somehow beat France it's a tournament. If France win they threaten to run away with this. Hopefully they've learnt from Scotland last year
 
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