Scotland v England Sat 24 Feb 4.45pm

[TheNomad]

Hmmm. Still a little bit uninspiring if I'm honest.

Nice to see Lawrence there. Furbank's deserved a crack, albeit not sure what the Steward situation is - injured or dropped?

But the combo of Daly on the wing and Slade at 13 won't fill teams with dread. I would make the same comment of the backrow.

SB just isn't a particularly adventurous coach IMO. Let's see.

[FKAS]

I was assuming Steward was injured, but it appears he's just been dropped. Bold call Cotton.

Puja

Not half. Dropping our best back so far this 6N for someone who's looked out of their depth at this level. Over to you Mr Furbank. Can't say Steel Balls doesn't give out opportunities.

[Mellsblue]

FKAS bingo is the easiest game in the world.

[Mellsblue]

I think I would’ve swapped Slade for Lawrence if I was swapping Steward for Furbank but it looks like we’re going to fight fire with fire.

[p/d]

FKAS bingo is the easiest game in the world.

To be fair Steward was good v Wales, but Wales were happy to give him catching practice. Scotland won't be so forthcoming and having the moustacho'ed Gorgeous George scampering around the back field is a fine shout - especially with Thomas alongside him................. and then there is Daly

[FKAS]

FKAS bingo is the easiest game in the world.

To be fair Steward was good v Wales, but Wales were happy to give him catching practice. Scotland won't be so forthcoming and having the moustacho'ed Gorgeous George scampering around the back field is a fine shout - especially with Thomas alongside him................. and then there is Daly

Scotland have kicked more than England in both 6N rounds so far, not just by one or two either. Out kicked Wales in round one 38 to 33. Don't think Furbank will be given an easy ride. Be interesting to see if he can add a spark to the attack.

[Mellsblue]

FKAS bingo is the easiest game in the world.

To be fair Steward was good v Wales, but Wales were happy to give him catching practice. Scotland won't be so forthcoming and having the moustacho'ed Gorgeous George scampering around the back field is a fine shout - especially with Thomas alongside him................. and then there is Daly

Steward always looks good against the lesser teams, it’s when the cleverer ones move him about and isolate him in d that his issues occur. Given this looked a planned move, I’d have given Furbank the two warmups or just stuck with Steward.

[p/d]

FKAS bingo is the easiest game in the world.

To be fair Steward was good v Wales, but Wales were happy to give him catching practice. Scotland won't be so forthcoming and having the moustacho'ed Gorgeous George scampering around the back field is a fine shout - especially with Thomas alongside him................. and then there is Daly

Scotland have kicked more than England in both 6N rounds so far, not just by one or two either. Out kicked Wales in round one 38 to 33. Don't think Furbank will be given an easy ride. Be interesting to see if he can add a spark to the attack.

I didn't say they hadn't FKAS, I was commenting on the placement of those kicks against the telegraphed Welsh ones. It is a brave shout, but I said earlier in this thread, I want SB & co to select a side they feel best to beat the opposition. It is a far cry from what I would like to see but that is the beauty of highlighting failures after the event, and to keep the board ticking!!

[pjm1]

Against a nimble team that loves broken field running like Scotland, Steward's lack of agility is a real problem. Scotland also kick well (although lost their way in the 2nd half in the kick duels with Fra), so kicking straight down Steward's throat is less likely than the two we've already faced.

Great to see Lawrence back, assuming he's fully fit. Even more pleased not to see Tuilagi. Shame for Dingwall, but suspect he'll get more chances in due course.

[Puja]

I was assuming Steward was injured, but it appears he's just been dropped. Bold call Cotton.

Puja

Not half. Dropping our best back so far this 6N for someone who's looked out of their depth at this level. Over to you Mr Furbank. Can't say Steel Balls doesn't give out opportunities.

I mean, he used to do this kind of shit for Leicester. Abruptly dropping someone and picking someone else seemingly (as far as the fans knew) out of nowhere, and then it always seemed to turn out to having been the right call. Hopefully he's got the same level of perspicacity at international level.

Puja

[Puja]

I think I would’ve swapped Slade for Lawrence if I was swapping Steward for Furbank but it looks like we’re going to fight fire with fire.

Agreed. Hopefully this manouevre might lead to us using Furbank as the first receiver in a lot more of our moves, cause Slade's been bang-average with ball in hand so far.

Puja

[FKAS]

I was assuming Steward was injured, but it appears he's just been dropped. Bold call Cotton.

Puja

Not half. Dropping our best back so far this 6N for someone who's looked out of their depth at this level. Over to you Mr Furbank. Can't say Steel Balls doesn't give out opportunities.

I mean, he used to do this kind of shit for Leicester. Abruptly dropping someone and picking someone else seemingly (as far as the fans knew) out of nowhere, and then it always seemed to turn out to having been the right call. Hopefully he's got the same level of perspicacity at international level.

Puja

Yeah it's a brave call but I'm interested as to where it's going with a view to our overall game plan. As you've said I hope it means we see Furbank go into first receiver a bit or do something funky like have playmakers both sides of the breakdown to play slightly wider and make the Scottish tight five work hard as there's a stark drop off in quality from the starters to the bench.

We've rotated the props to suggest we fancy Cole up against Shoeman and then Marler against Millar-Mills in the second half. Hopefully that further points to us look to take that Scottish tight five to task. The Scots bringing in Richie is going to make our pressure the good work at our attacking rucks.

[LongForgotten]

Against a nimble team that loves broken field running like Scotland, Steward's lack of agility is a real problem. Scotland also kick well (although lost their way in the 2nd half in the kick duels with Fra), so kicking straight down Steward's throat is less likely than the two we've already faced.

Agreed, Russell is more likely to move the 15 around which I don't think would particularly suit Steward. I remain unconvinced by Furbank and suspect his game won't translate well to international level, but happy to see him tried. A distributor at 15 may lessen our centre woes.

Not a front row expert, but might the prop changes be so that our stronger scrummaging LH comes up against Millar-Mills?

[twitchy]

I don't think it's "brave" really. Just using the squad he has available to him to fit different styles of play. It's not like he's dropping dan carter or something.

[TheDasher]

Very odd to drop Steward who was magnificent against Wales, not just in the air but in attack too, he was a real handful. 6,5 and running hard into gaps - it worked very well last time out, very strange indeed to make that change. If Furbank has a mare, SB is giving himself a problem.

Would love to see England A vs England with the current squads (maybe F Smith starting for the A's rather than benching for 1st XV)... wouldn't be much in it at all.

[p/d]

Yeah it's a brave call but I'm interested as to where it's going with a view to our overall game plan. As you've said I hope it means we see Furbank go into first receiver a bit or do something funky like have playmakers both sides of the breakdown to play slightly wider and make the Scottish tight five work hard as there's a stark drop off in quality from the starters to the bench.

Isn't this just what he did with M Smith. However instead of putting Steward to the wing he knows he has Steward + in Tommy the destroyer Freeman and an excellent winger on the bench.

Brave yes, but not something he didn't do in the WC

[Mikey Brown]

I'm looking forward to the first time the ref calls "captains" and seven players walk over.

[p/d]

I'm looking forward to the first time the ref calls "captains" and seven players walk over.

I was going to say our bench is bereft of leaders

[FKAS]

Yeah it's a brave call but I'm interested as to where it's going with a view to our overall game plan. As you've said I hope it means we see Furbank go into first receiver a bit or do something funky like have playmakers both sides of the breakdown to play slightly wider and make the Scottish tight five work hard as there's a stark drop off in quality from the starters to the bench.

Isn't this just what he did with M Smith. However instead of putting Steward to the wing he knows he has Steward + in Tommy the destroyer Freeman and an excellent winger on the bench.

Brave yes, but not something he didn't do in the WC

That's true and at Tigers he did like to use Freddie Burns at 15 to mix things up in terms of attack. Easier to change Steward out when he was not more than solid during the world cup to so far this 6N when he's been very good. You know the media types who talked up Furbank pre tournament as a must pick will throw their toys out of the pram and slam Borthwick publicly if Furbank doesn't perform.

I do like that Borthwick is throwing out the occasional curve ball, as Puja says he used to do it all the time at Tigers to the point the IBWT acronym just got brought out every week.

[Oakboy]

I'd have started the 6N with Furbank at 15 so I've no reservations about that change. Lawrence/Slade is our best centre pairing, IMO, so I applaud that. The prop changes seem odd but I hope there is logic that gets justified.

I am delighted that IFW and CCS have retained their bench slots. There was a fear that Tuilagi and Martin would have ousted them.

The back-row continuity makes sense - just.

That leaves Care starting instead of Spencer. I'd pick them the other way round.

Overall, good!

[Puja]

Against a nimble team that loves broken field running like Scotland, Steward's lack of agility is a real problem. Scotland also kick well (although lost their way in the 2nd half in the kick duels with Fra), so kicking straight down Steward's throat is less likely than the two we've already faced.

Agreed, Russell is more likely to move the 15 around which I don't think would particularly suit Steward. I remain unconvinced by Furbank and suspect his game won't translate well to international level, but happy to see him tried. A distributor at 15 may lessen our centre woes.

Not a front row expert, but might the prop changes be so that our stronger scrummaging LH comes up against Millar-Mills?

I mean Steward's positioning in the backfield tends to be excellent, so I'd have no concern about him being moved around by kicks as he tends to be a step ahead in his foresight and also very quick when moving in one direction. My concerns with his agility have been more around getting beaten as the last line of defence (although he has done pretty well on that this 6N so far), so may be that was the concern.

Marler against Millar-Mills could be an absolute murdering. We do have to be targetting Scotland's bench as it's such a drop-off from the starting XV.

Puja

[Oakboy]

Against a nimble team that loves broken field running like Scotland, Steward's lack of agility is a real problem. Scotland also kick well (although lost their way in the 2nd half in the kick duels with Fra), so kicking straight down Steward's throat is less likely than the two we've already faced.

Agreed, Russell is more likely to move the 15 around which I don't think would particularly suit Steward. I remain unconvinced by Furbank and suspect his game won't translate well to international level, but happy to see him tried. A distributor at 15 may lessen our centre woes.

Not a front row expert, but might the prop changes be so that our stronger scrummaging LH comes up against Millar-Mills?

I mean Steward's positioning in the backfield tends to be excellent, so I'd have no concern about him being moved around by kicks as he tends to be a step ahead in his foresight and also very quick when moving in one direction. My concerns with his agility have been more around getting beaten as the last line of defence (although he has done pretty well on that this 6N so far), so may be that was the concern.

Marler against Millar-Mills could be an absolute murdering. We do have to be targetting Scotland's bench as it's such a drop-off from the starting XV.

Puja

Presumably, Genge's performances in training have convinced SB that he is fully back on form. That must be good news though I always prefer Marler starting.

[Puja]

I'd have started the 6N with Furbank at 15 so I've no reservations about that change. Lawrence/Slade is our best centre pairing, IMO, so I applaud that. The prop changes seem odd but I hope there is logic that gets justified.

I am delighted that IFW and CCS have retained their bench slots. There was a fear that Tuilagi and Martin would have ousted them.

The back-row continuity makes sense - just.

That leaves Care starting instead of Spencer. I'd pick them the other way round.

Overall, good!

Spencer's due to get a 2 minute cameo off the bench, no doubt.

Puja

[Oakboy]

I'd have started the 6N with Furbank at 15 so I've no reservations about that change. Lawrence/Slade is our best centre pairing, IMO, so I applaud that. The prop changes seem odd but I hope there is logic that gets justified.

I am delighted that IFW and CCS have retained their bench slots. There was a fear that Tuilagi and Martin would have ousted them.

The back-row continuity makes sense - just.

That leaves Care starting instead of Spencer. I'd pick them the other way round.

Overall, good!

Spencer's due to get a 2 minute cameo off the bench, no doubt.

Puja

I'd guess that Care will be using supplementary orifices for oxygen intake if he is still there in the 77th minute. Common sense suggests Spencer in about the 50th minute.

[Puja]

I'd have started the 6N with Furbank at 15 so I've no reservations about that change. Lawrence/Slade is our best centre pairing, IMO, so I applaud that. The prop changes seem odd but I hope there is logic that gets justified.

I am delighted that IFW and CCS have retained their bench slots. There was a fear that Tuilagi and Martin would have ousted them.

The back-row continuity makes sense - just.

That leaves Care starting instead of Spencer. I'd pick them the other way round.

Overall, good!

Spencer's due to get a 2 minute cameo off the bench, no doubt.

Puja

I'd guess that Care will be using supplementary orifices for oxygen intake if he is still there in the 77th minute. Common sense suggests Spencer in about the 50th minute.

{Haskell.gif} for the turn of phrase.

You're probably right; I'm just annoyed at Slovenly Benchusing's tendency towards bringing players on for token caps or just plain not using them at all. IFW should have had more than 1 cap for 3 minutes of gametime, we have learned practically nothing about FSmith's capabilities at international level from his 15 minutes against Italy, and it's infuriating that Dan, who at least has got on the pitch in both games, has only played 16 minutes in total.

Puja