France v England

[Mellsblue]

We need to ignore that last pen decision. You win over 80mins not 2 secs. Deep, I know.

[Mellsblue]

I’m a huge fan of Kayser but those gloves are a disaster.

Looks like they've interrupted him doing the washing up.

Or pruning the roses.

[TheDasher]

I think Freeman to 13 going forward.

Why, when Freeman is looking good on the wing, and we've got a midfield that is starting to look like it works?

It is working very well but I just feel Lawrence, Freeman might work even more. I think Freeman might cause some real problems in that 13 channel, when not up against the touchline and up against intl pace wingers when defending. I can see him being a phenomenal 13.

[Banquo]

No replay of the no arms offence?

With the French TV director, that almost certainly means it was a shit call.

ETA. Just gone back and rewatched and it's definitely a no-arms tackle. Nothing malicious in it, but very tired by Earl and it's a definite penalty.

Puja

Just seen it - on social media, cos god forbid they’d show a replay. Think it was incredibly marginal, especially for a TMO interjection and for a potential match deciding decision.

poor process stuff, as was the freeman call. They also missed a deliberate knock when Freeman broke down the right and passed inside for what would have been a walk in for mitchell.

all that said, too many unforced errors from us.

[Mellsblue]

I know it means sweet fa but that was a class interview from Seriously Bentnose.

[16th man]

I think Freeman to 13 going forward.

Why, when Freeman is looking good on the wing, and we've got a midfield that is starting to look like it works?

It is working very well but I just feel Lawrence, Freeman might work even more. I think Freeman might cause some real problems in that 13 channel, when not up against the touchline and up against intl pace wingers when defending. I can see him being a phenomenal 13.

You're ignoring the fact that Slade actually had good games against Ireland and today, and that Freeman on one wing and Feyi Waboso on the other is actually a nicely balanced pairing.

[16th man]

With the French TV director, that almost certainly means it was a shit call.

ETA. Just gone back and rewatched and it's definitely a no-arms tackle. Nothing malicious in it, but very tired by Earl and it's a definite penalty.

Puja

Just seen it - on social media, cos god forbid they’d show a replay. Think it was incredibly marginal, especially for a TMO interjection and for a potential match deciding decision.

poor process stuff, as was the freeman call. They also missed a deliberate knock when Freeman broke down the right and passed inside for what would have been a walk in for mitchell.

all that said, too many unforced errors from us.

Fairly certain that the ref shouted that they'd looked at the Freeman one and it hadn't been touched. Now if you believe that they've been shown all the angles is a different question.

[Banquo]

I think Freeman to 13 going forward.

Why, when Freeman is looking good on the wing, and we've got a midfield that is starting to look like it works?

t I just feel Lawrence, Freeman might work even more.

not sure I agree, need better passing between them. Though having two runners always appeals. Slade swapping into 12 from time to time was nice. Could see dingers working well at 12 too.

[Mellsblue]

I think Freeman to 13 going forward.

Why, when Freeman is looking good on the wing, and we've got a midfield that is starting to look like it works?

It is working very well but I just feel Lawrence, Freeman might work even more. I think Freeman might cause some real problems in that 13 channel, when not up against the touchline and up against intl pace wingers when defending. I can see him being a phenomenal 13.

We need to move on from Slade, imo, as much as the long-suffering Mrs Mellsblue will disagree. Not sure that means Freeman to 13 but I’d certainly not change 10. Ford 12. Lawrence.

[Banquo]

Just seen it - on social media, cos god forbid they’d show a replay. Think it was incredibly marginal, especially for a TMO interjection and for a potential match deciding decision.

poor process stuff, as was the freeman call. They also missed a deliberate knock when Freeman broke down the right and passed inside for what would have been a walk in for mitchell.

all that said, too many unforced errors from us.

Fairly certain that the ref shouted that they'd looked at the Freeman one and it hadn't been touched. Now if you believe that they've been shown all the angles is a different question.

..as i said, they missed it, even worse missing it in review

[Mellsblue]

Why, when Freeman is looking good on the wing, and we've got a midfield that is starting to look like it works?

t I just feel Lawrence, Freeman might work even more.

not sure I agree, need better passing between them. Though having two runners always appeals. Slade swapping into 12 from time to time was nice. Could see dingers working well at 12 too.

It pains me terribly to say it but is Ford - Dingers big enough? Lawrence instead of Slade at 13 could persuade me.

[Timbo]

Just seen it - on social media, cos god forbid they’d show a replay. Think it was incredibly marginal, especially for a TMO interjection and for a potential match deciding decision.

poor process stuff, as was the freeman call. They also missed a deliberate knock when Freeman broke down the right and passed inside for what would have been a walk in for mitchell.

all that said, too many unforced errors from us.

Fairly certain that the ref shouted that they'd looked at the Freeman one and it hadn't been touched. Now if you believe that they've been shown all the angles is a different question.

I’m certain it was touched. Even Ben Kay said it was touched as a matter of certainty. Quite possibly a penalty try & yellow card. But then we all just moved on. Rugby, eh.

[Banquo]

We need to ignore that last pen decision. You win over 80mins not 2 secs. Deep, I know.

yup

[Banquo]

Why, when Freeman is looking good on the wing, and we've got a midfield that is starting to look like it works?

It is working very well but I just feel Lawrence, Freeman might work even more. I think Freeman might cause some real problems in that 13 channel, when not up against the touchline and up against intl pace wingers when defending. I can see him being a phenomenal 13.

We need to move on from Slade, imo, as much as the long-suffering Mrs Mellsblue will disagree. Not sure that means Freeman to 13 but I’d certainly not change 10. Ford 12. Lawrence.

lawrence did more damage outside Slade imo.

[Banquo]

t I just feel Lawrence, Freeman might work even more.

not sure I agree, need better passing between them. Though having two runners always appeals. Slade swapping into 12 from time to time was nice. Could see dingers working well at 12 too.

It pains me terribly to say it but is Ford - Dingers big enough? Lawrence instead of Slade at 13 could persuade me.

its a fair point, but you could run lawrence at 12 in defence.

yeah meant Ford, ding dong and syd. Though Slade was vg today.

[Mellsblue]

It is working very well but I just feel Lawrence, Freeman might work even more. I think Freeman might cause some real problems in that 13 channel, when not up against the touchline and up against intl pace wingers when defending. I can see him being a phenomenal 13.

We need to move on from Slade, imo, as much as the long-suffering Mrs Mellsblue will disagree. Not sure that means Freeman to 13 but I’d certainly not change 10. Ford 12. Lawrence.

lawrence did more damage outside Slade imo.

Possibly. As the u20 thread will attest, I had a few too many at the local Yorkshire derby but I’ll always look to give the 10 the best set-up and Ford is better with a strike runner at 12, imo. Happy for Lawrence to interchange with A.N Other at 13 as long as he’s Ford’s release valve when he needs it.

[Mellsblue]

not sure I agree, need better passing between them. Though having two runners always appeals. Slade swapping into 12 from time to time was nice. Could see dingers working well at 12 too.

It pains me terribly to say it but is Ford - Dingers big enough? Lawrence instead of Slade at 13 could persuade me.

its a fair point, but you could run lawrence at 12 in defence.

yeah meant Ford, ding dong and syd. Though Slade was vg today.

I think we’re agreeing without explicitly saying it!

[Banquo]

only other observation is that the wings seem a bit unsure/disconnected in defence.....communication mebbe?

[Mellsblue]

Being a wing in this system must be a nightmare. Ditto 13.

[TheDasher]

Why, when Freeman is looking good on the wing, and we've got a midfield that is starting to look like it works?

It is working very well but I just feel Lawrence, Freeman might work even more. I think Freeman might cause some real problems in that 13 channel, when not up against the touchline and up against intl pace wingers when defending. I can see him being a phenomenal 13.

You're ignoring the fact that Slade actually had good games against Ireland and today, and that Freeman on one wing and Feyi Waboso on the other is actually a nicely balanced pairing.

I'm not, I just said it's working well, far from ignoring it Ive acknowledged it. I'm just saying I think it'd be better still with Freeman at 13, I think he'd cause real problems in that channel - my concern would be distribution as Banquo says but actually I think Freeman passes quite well for a runner... Slade will let us down soon, not sure Freeman will. Plus he just makes good stuff happen. I'd do that and find another lethal winger in addition to IFW. Well, it would've been arundell...

[Banquo]

We need to move on from Slade, imo, as much as the long-suffering Mrs Mellsblue will disagree. Not sure that means Freeman to 13 but I’d certainly not change 10. Ford 12. Lawrence.

lawrence did more damage outside Slade imo.

d Ford is better with a strike runner

for sure, but it could be any of syd, earl, freeman, ifw...even the wingco.

btw, fair play to Smith, kept up the running threat post the 20 minuter

[Timbo]

I think that they (Felix Jones/Borthwick) see Slade as very important to the defensive system for now. He’s much more comfortable blitzing than any other available 13. If Marchant was not in France it might be different.

[Banquo]

Being a wing in this system must be a nightmare. Ditto 13.

13 has all the work and decn making (as always ) in defence. Seems the wings arent synced/being talked to.

[Banquo]

I think that they (Felix Jones/Borthwick) see Slade as very important to the defensive system for now. He’s much more comfortable blitzing than any other available 13.

exactly right.

[Mellsblue]

lawrence did more damage outside Slade imo.

d Ford is better with a strike runner

for sure, but it could be any of syd, earl, freeman, ifw...even the wingco.

Agreed. I just think Ford performs better knowing he has a top class ball carrier at 12.