U20 6 Nations

[FKAS]

The England pack do at least have stamina, again showing up well deep into the second half.

[Epaminondas Pules]

That’s a Scottish hand!

[Captainhaircut]

How is that disallowed? We didn’t knock it on?

[Epaminondas Pules]

If it’s a Scotrish hand then it’s not a knock on!

[Epaminondas Pules]

That’s the first time he’s pinged for not rolling away!

[FKAS]

If it’s a Scotrish hand then it’s not a knock on!

Dreadful decision.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Good score!! No knock on when Scotland blatantly knock the ball on, but it doesn’t matter!

[FKAS]

Nice break and try from the backs though.

[Epaminondas Pules]

I’ll take that. Good test and a better performance. Lots of scrappy shit. Jumping the gun in defence a bit but easily solvable problem. If we play a natural 10 the we’ll click a bit more, but Keylock was a much better foil than Davidson. Thought both scrum halves short passing was poor. Most crash ball runners were taking the ball over their shoulder, which was on the 9. Friday did it at least four times and Asa once to Pearson.

Ainsworth-Cave is a brilliant lineup forward but little else. If Sonny ever find his aggression he’ll be a menace, but he’s massively powerful and quite powderpuff at the same time.

[fivepointer]

Second week running we've turned it around after h/t. Good effort with two quality scores from the backs.

[Oakboy]

Were we really that guilty of so many technical offences? If so, discipline was awful. Yes, the ref was fussy but that was clear after about ten minutes and we did not adapt. On another day it would cost us.

Good win though and the backs showed what they could do with decent conditions. Pater looked useful.

[Which Tyler]

Shit, didn't realise this was today!
Let's hope it turns up on youtube

[Epaminondas Pules]

Shit, didn't realise this was today!
Let's hope it turns up on youtube

Can watch on iplayer mate

[Danno]

Shit, didn't realise this was today!
Let's hope it turns up on youtube

Can watch on iplayer mate

Catching up there myself.

We look really headless at times, plenty of bodies waiting to see what Lucas will do, instead of getting organised to make some metres. Totally understandable, but something to work on imo

[Epaminondas Pules]

Considering we played most of the game without the ball, made almost 200 tackles and still over 400 metres ball in hand. There are some personnel I would change. Can’t do much at tighthead with Streeter out. Hopefully he’s OK after return to play protocols for the next game. Ainsworth-Cave needs a rocket. Well, move Hogg to 6 if you desperately need a lineout presence; or pick Tate Williams, or move George Marsh to 6. That was a very good Scottish pack mind. The best they’ve had at this age group for a good while!

The backs looked better balanced with a more dynamic 10 and a more natural 12 at 12. It is difficult as we’ve got a glut of 13s, so I get why they want to play more of them, but the balance with Davidson was all wrong. Keylock is more of a versatile back who will likely end up in the centres or fullback, but even then was way better than Davidson last week. Different conditions, but he’s a threat whilst Davidson isn’t really. That’s not his game.

It is getting better, but I still think the coaching setup is not right. I’ll say it until I’m blue in the face but England rugby rewards loyalty not ability in coaching. Mappetoft, Titterall, O’Shea all yes men. None of them are bad coaches, but if I compared them to say Fletch or Walts and it’s not even a contest. At this age you need the Fletch type coach, unless you want to build more robotic / stick to the plan players. Hence the inability to adapt when shits not working!

Seems Gorleku and Linegar are wanted by the clubs and England are obliging. Hopefully Davies comes in. Though he’ll probably be wanted by Sale if there’s Prem Cup games to be played.

[fivepointer]

Thought Keylock looked a really good runner. Pater showed his quality and there were nice touches from the other backs. Friday is the key man obviously.
Up front we look competent and robust but there's no one standing out. AAC is good at the l/o and gets around but lacks power. Tonga is a big lad but technically suspect in the scrum and in the carry. Williams and Hogg look decent.

[Oakboy]

Thought Keylock looked a really good runner. Pater showed his quality and there were nice touches from the other backs. Friday is the key man obviously.
Up front we look competent and robust but there's no one standing out. AAC is good at the l/o and gets around but lacks power. Tonga is a big lad but technically suspect in the scrum and in the carry. Williams and Hogg look decent.

Your point about Tonga in the carry is apt. It ties with EP's point about the coaching. Surely, it would be fairly simple to teach a big strong lad how to present the ball at contact. He should be hitting hard and giving the SH fast presentation with his body angle. Time and again the ball was slow to emerge.

[Captainhaircut]

The pack definitely is lacking some carrying power and ability to generate quick ball.

I guess we were just with packs from the prior years.

Still no sign of Balding. Having him in the second row with Williams and Hogg at 6 would probably be useful.

[FKAS]

Thought Keylock looked a really good runner. Pater showed his quality and there were nice touches from the other backs. Friday is the key man obviously.
Up front we look competent and robust but there's no one standing out. AAC is good at the l/o and gets around but lacks power. Tonga is a big lad but technically suspect in the scrum and in the carry. Williams and Hogg look decent.

Your point about Tonga in the carry is apt. It ties with EP's point about the coaching. Surely, it would be fairly simple to teach a big strong lad how to present the ball at contact. He should be hitting hard and giving the SH fast presentation with his body angle. Time and again the ball was slow to emerge.

I don't think Sonny is the aggressive sort, that's part of the problem. As Cockers said years ago, it's easier to pull someone back who's up for the fight than it is to push someone into it who doesn't want it. Sonny looks like he's going through the motions a bit. He could be incredible if he could find a bit of well directed anger, ball placement would then probably be a couple of metres further forward so less targetable as well.

[Oakboy]

Thought Keylock looked a really good runner. Pater showed his quality and there were nice touches from the other backs. Friday is the key man obviously.
Up front we look competent and robust but there's no one standing out. AAC is good at the l/o and gets around but lacks power. Tonga is a big lad but technically suspect in the scrum and in the carry. Williams and Hogg look decent.

Your point about Tonga in the carry is apt. It ties with EP's point about the coaching. Surely, it would be fairly simple to teach a big strong lad how to present the ball at contact. He should be hitting hard and giving the SH fast presentation with his body angle. Time and again the ball was slow to emerge.

I don't think Sonny is the aggressive sort, that's part of the problem. As Cockers said years ago, it's easier to pull someone back who's up for the fight than it is to push someone into it who doesn't want it. Sonny looks like he's going through the motions a bit. He could be incredible if he could find a bit of well directed anger, ball placement would then probably be a couple of metres further forward so less targetable as well.

Good point. I know nothing about his character of course. It just looks like he has not developed technique but if the nasty streak is missing he might not develop, as you say.

[FKAS]

Your point about Tonga in the carry is apt. It ties with EP's point about the coaching. Surely, it would be fairly simple to teach a big strong lad how to present the ball at contact. He should be hitting hard and giving the SH fast presentation with his body angle. Time and again the ball was slow to emerge.

I don't think Sonny is the aggressive sort, that's part of the problem. As Cockers said years ago, it's easier to pull someone back who's up for the fight than it is to push someone into it who doesn't want it. Sonny looks like he's going through the motions a bit. He could be incredible if he could find a bit of well directed anger, ball placement would then probably be a couple of metres further forward so less targetable as well.

Good point. I know nothing about his character of course. It just looks like he has not developed technique but if the nasty streak is missing he might not develop, as you say.

Just what I'm seeing in the games. He's already senior international tighthead in size. Technique certainly needs some work but when you're big you need to be throwing your weight around a bit.

[Which Tyler]

I think he's just a big lad who coasted this far on his name and size, never really needing to exert himself further.
Currently getting found out, we'll see if he responds, or fades away

[Oakboy]

I think he's just a big lad who coasted this far on his name and size, never really needing to exert himself further.
Currently getting found out, we'll see if he responds, or fades away

Yes, that's fair comment too. The raw material is there. Is the desire?

[Which Tyler]

Linegar racking up a total of 14 minutes over two matches so far for Bath.
Would definitely have preferred him to be playing U20s

[Captainhaircut]

He’s at the right club if he is lacking a bit of fire. He can just spend 10 minutes with Pollock before a game and he’ll be ready to murder someone.