England v France Saturday Feb 8th 16h45

[Mellsblue]

Student doctor and self reported concussion symptoms just after breaking into the England team. If he can’t make a reasoned decision then god help the rest of us.

[p/d]

Student doctor and self reported concussion symptoms just after breaking into the England team. If he can’t make a reasoned decision then god help the rest of us.

This

[Which Tyler]

I'm worried that he's taking a risk for the short-term benefit. He wants to get on the Lions tour and knows that's less likely if he doesn't play in the 6N, especially with Exeter out of Europe and being crap in the Prem. I worry the correct route is the surgery and he's going to damage his long-term career by forgoing that in favour of trying to make the Lions.

Yep, that's always a worry with these things.
Though generally my worry is in the opposite direction, IMO rugby players go to surgery way too quickly as the first choice to fix just about anything, and have loads of unnecessary procedures - as it's often the quicker return to play, or similar but with a better "excuse" for not being ready yet.

Student doctor and self reported concussion symptoms just after breaking into the England team. If he can’t make a reasoned decision then god help the rest of us.

Also, this was going to be my 2nd point.
3rd year med student, surrounded not just with the England and Exeter medical staffs (and talking the same pseudo-latin), but also surrounded by his teachers, colleagues, more senior students, including teachers of other professions (eg physio) etc etc.
As you say, he self-reported delayed onset concussion symptoms as he was better versed in both the symptoms and risks than any other player.
He's well placed to make his own judgement, rather than being railroaded into surgery because he consulted a surgeon, and that's kinda what they do.

[Banquo]

I'm worried that he's taking a risk for the short-term benefit. He wants to get on the Lions tour and knows that's less likely if he doesn't play in the 6N, especially with Exeter out of Europe and being crap in the Prem. I worry the correct route is the surgery and he's going to damage his long-term career by forgoing that in favour of trying to make the Lions.

Yep, that's always a worry with these things.
Though generally my worry is in the opposite direction, IMO rugby players go to surgery way too quickly as the first choice to fix just about anything, and have loads of unnecessary procedures - as it's often the quicker return to play, or similar but with a better "excuse" for not being ready yet.

Student doctor and self reported concussion symptoms just after breaking into the England team. If he can’t make a reasoned decision then god help the rest of us.

Also, this was going to be my 2nd point.
3rd year med student, surrounded not just with the England and Exeter medical staffs (and talking the same pseudo-latin), but also surrounded by his teachers, colleagues, more senior students, including teachers of other professions (eg physio) etc etc.
As you say, he self-reported delayed onset concussion symptoms as he was better versed in both the symptoms and risks than any other player.
He's well placed to make his own judgement, rather than being railroaded into surgery because he consulted a surgeon, and that's kinda what they do.

...esp as presumably it's private...

[jngf]

I'm worried that he's taking a risk for the short-term benefit. He wants to get on the Lions tour and knows that's less likely if he doesn't play in the 6N, especially with Exeter out of Europe and being crap in the Prem. I worry the correct route is the surgery and he's going to damage his long-term career by forgoing that in favour of trying to make the Lions.

Yep, that's always a worry with these things.
Though generally my worry is in the opposite direction, IMO rugby players go to surgery way too quickly as the first choice to fix just about anything, and have loads of unnecessary procedures - as it's often the quicker return to play, or similar but with a better "excuse" for not being ready yet.

Student doctor and self reported concussion symptoms just after breaking into the England team. If he can’t make a reasoned decision then god help the rest of us.

Also, this was going to be my 2nd point.
3rd year med student, surrounded not just with the England and Exeter medical staffs (and talking the same pseudo-latin), but also surrounded by his teachers, colleagues, more senior students, including teachers of other professions (eg physio) etc etc.
As you say, he self-reported delayed onset concussion symptoms as he was better versed in both the symptoms and risks than any other player.
He's well placed to make his own judgement, rather than being railroaded into surgery because he consulted a surgeon, and that's kinda what they do.

...esp as presumably it's private...

Didn’t realise he was a doctor, has he considered playing fullback?

[Puja]

Student doctor and self reported concussion symptoms just after breaking into the England team. If he can’t make a reasoned decision then god help the rest of us.

Good point; well made. He's probably earned the benefit of the doubt by having already once risked his new-gotten England starting shirt for the sake of his long-term health - unlikely he'd be making the opposite decision now.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

So, bets on how long before Ramos puts a high kick on top on Smith and goes belting into him in the air?

The media seems to be talking as if they’re incapable of adjusting their kicking strategy, regardless of whatever vendetta Ramos has against wee Marcus.

[FKAS]

So, bets on how long before Ramos puts a high kick on top on Smith and goes belting into him in the air?

The media seems to be talking as if they’re incapable of adjusting their kicking strategy, regardless of whatever vendetta Ramos has against wee Marcus.

Ramos isn't fantastic in the air, he's alright but he's not one for piling into physical contact. Penaud offers some more aerial physicality, LBB is targetable in the air. Not sure they'd take the risk in changing to a more contestable kicking strategy when they've beaten us in the last two 6N kicking long and moving up their defensive line. The Irish forced us into kicking it back to them plenty by slowing down our attack, the French will be backing themselves to do the same.

[Mikey Brown]

I was mainly talking about Ramos using it as a chance to be a prick, but point taken.

Oddly I think I saw somewhere France have the best aerial retrieval stats in the world, ahead of Ireland and SA, not that I’m attributing that to Ramos specifically. That may be affected by not actually contesting as many kick chases though.

[Which Tyler]

I was mainly talking about Ramos using it as a chance to be a prick, but point taken.

Has he ever missed such an opportunity?

[francoisfou]

I was mainly talking about Ramos using it as a chance to be a prick, but point taken.

Oddly I think I saw somewhere France have the best aerial retrieval stats in the world, ahead of Ireland and SA, not that I’m attributing that to Ramos specifically. That may be affected by not actually contesting as many kick chases though.

Ramos, a fine player he undoubtedly is, can be a bit of a tool when trying to wind up the oppo and one of these days he may live to regret it.
Borthers may well have told his players to flatten him at the earliest opportunity as Galthié will have said to his men regarding Smith M.

The first half an hour is going to be fascinating to watch but I hope that England will continue to be aggressive in the last half hour, as in most of their last matches they've fallen off a cliff and lost matches that should've been won.

[paddy no 11]

What exactly has ramos said or done? I've completely missed this whatever it is?

[Mikey Brown]

He gets a bit overzealous with very little provocation. I think he’s one of those guys like O’Mahoney that draws some sort of mystical power from pointless scuffles. Nothing outrageous, but he seems to be very high strung.

Marcus Smith seems to have been in the firing line a couple of times. I don’t know if he draws that attention because of something he’s doing or he’s just seen as a figure that should be targeted.

It was him that got James Lowe going last week and Tom Wright had a good go a while back. But again, both renowned dickheads.

[Oakboy]

I read that the bookies have France by 6 points. That seems about right but puts us in with a chance. I'll settle for that.

Normally, I'd be clamouring for a good, feisty start. However, based on our failure to close out games, might a slow, tight first half hour suit us better, even to be a few points down?

[jngf]

I read that the bookies have France by 6 points. That seems about right but puts us in with a chance. I'll settle for that.

Normally, I'd be clamouring for a good, feisty start. However, based on our failure to close out games, might a slow, tight first half hour suit us better, even to be a few points down?

Is Snow Balls presiding over managed decline?

[FKAS]

I read that the bookies have France by 6 points. That seems about right but puts us in with a chance. I'll settle for that.

Normally, I'd be clamouring for a good, feisty start. However, based on our failure to close out games, might a slow, tight first half hour suit us better, even to be a few points down?

Is Snow Balls presiding over managed decline?

Dunno Eddie towards the end was erratic and hiding behind this mythical grand plan that would be unleashed at the world cup. Simply Boring has brought us consistency but it's consistent mediocrity at the minute. Need to find a way to get out of third gear and stay there for the full 80.

[Which Tyler]

I will be supporting Wales, England and Scotland.

I'm just creating a little fort behind the sofa - like watching Dr Who when I was 8!

I'm including dog treats & toys, in the hopes of bribing them to support me.

[p/d]

Oh joy. Jones again

[Mr Mwenda]

So far, so good. Italy won and the local bandy team secured promotion with a 9-0 victory in front of a record crowd of a thousand. I hope it's a good omen.

[canta_brian]

I read that the bookies have France by 6 points. That seems about right but puts us in with a chance. I'll settle for that.

Normally, I'd be clamouring for a good, feisty start. However, based on our failure to close out games, might a slow, tight first half hour suit us better, even to be a few points down?

Is Snow Balls presiding over managed decline?

Dunno Eddie towards the end was erratic and hiding behind this mythical grand plan that would be unleashed at the world cup. Simply Boring has brought us consistency but it's consistent mediocrity at the minute. Need to find a way to get out of third gear and stay there for the full 80.

I like simply boring. I think that’s the one for me for now. It was spaghetti bolognaise.

[Stom]

That was a terrible 45 seconds for Slade.

[Stom]

Honestly, Mitchell isn’t having a great game. But we need to be less rushed with the ball.

[Which Tyler]

20 minutes, and we're still in this.
We don't deserve to be, but we are.

[Stom]

We’re doing well, but we need more control. Can we find it now? No, LCD has the yips.

[Which Tyler]

Nicely taken (eventually)
That'll settle the nerves (unfortunately)