The_Citizen

Anybody watch any of the rugby over the weekend?

scrubbedexpat141

I watched the second half of the England game.

Disappointed.

The_Citizen

They were the better team in the 1st half but we just couldn't close the game out near the end.

Wales won the Six Nations after loosing the first game so you never know.

scrubbedexpat141

We've got three away games though, I think we'll come 2nd or 3rd.

Millsyisland

The England result was disappointing but overall an exciting game of rugby and all credit for coming back from 16-3 down.

Care had a great game which I know Scamp will have enjoyed and Farrell played well too (although missed a couple of kicks). Twelvetrees had a bit of a mare with very poor distribution throughout.

scrubbedexpat141

I don't understand why Care gets taken off at 60mins. Why do we change the scrum half so regularly? He looked fine?

Farrell is improving. I'm a harsh critic of his because I think he thinks he's better than he is. BUT, he's improving and in the right ways, he makes some good decisions now and as a 10 should, he seems to be able to control plays, set pieces and make good calls. Interesting player.

Twelvetrees did get caught out a bit. Agree completely.

Robshaw looked good. Mike Brown looked good, but like he does for Quins occasionally, gets run over / dodged / made to look flat footed in some tackles.

Millsyisland

Agree on the question of why Care was taken off after an hour, can't help but think it was a pre-planned tactic to make changes on the hour, but surely given the fact that he was playing so well and we were up against it, surely the plan could have been revised? Plus Farrell was suffering from cramp at the end but we had no replacements left. I'm sure Care could have carried on for a while longer.

Agree on Brown, when he makes a break he looks awesome, but sometimes he's left wanting a little.

scrubbedexpat141

It doesn't make sense to me. I can understand giving game time when we're cruising, I can understand changing the front row and other high tempo, impact positions....but the scrum half, who's playing well, match fit, in a tight game, where he's made decent decisions seems a bit strange.

Still, upsetting result but France away is never anything but difficult....should have won though

The Dean

Lancaster has a lot to answer for on the Care substitution - he was astonishing for an hour (I have been trying to remember a better performance from an England 9) but his departure cost England all their momentum and drive. Dickson is a decent scrum-half, but doesn't have Care's all round dynamism. Bad call from the coach - the lead was too narrow to dispense with your first-choice players with 20 still to go.

scrubbedexpat141

I'm glad you agree too.

jam25mack

It seems Scotland are doing their best to set themselves up for the wooden spoon by making a good case to be the 6 Nations whipping boys.

Absolutely outclassed by the Irish. I know their game against England is at Murryfield but they can't be looking forward to that.

csdf

<cough>Italy?</cough>

jam25mack

At least the Italians turned up and had a go against the Taffs.....

The Dean

You don't think Italy will beat Scotland at home?

Millsyisland

Did anyone else think O'Driscoll had already retired? I was surprised to see him yesterday.