Re: France v England
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2024 9:00 pm
its the way you tell em
Page 7 of 15
Re: France v England
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2024 9:17 pm
Re: France v England
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2024 9:34 pm
The thing is, if you just spray them around, it inevitably ends in tears.p/d wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2024 9:17 pmYep. You got to hit the ground and run with it.Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2024 9:00 pmits the way you tell emWhich Tyler wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2024 7:32 pm
I feel sad that I used exactly those puns when he was called into the squad - and absolutely nobody riffed from there
Re: France v England
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:31 pm
cant be run of the millp/d wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2024 9:17 pmYep. You got to hit the ground and run with it.Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2024 9:00 pmits the way you tell emWhich Tyler wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2024 7:32 pm
I feel sad that I used exactly those puns when he was called into the squad - and absolutely nobody riffed from there
Re: France v England
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:40 pm
You're all just rubbing salt in the wound
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 7:34 am
Getting spicy now.
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 7:59 am
I’m not very good at this. Should I just do run of the mill for the fourth time?
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 8:03 am
You could try "Pepper"ing it in and see if anyone notices?Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 7:59 am I’m not very good at this. Should I just do run of the mill for the fourth time?
Did I do it right?
Puja
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 8:04 am
Corny.
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 8:41 am
I'll just mill it over, though you are a bit millitentMikey Brown wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 7:59 am I’m not very good at this. Should I just do run of the mill for the fourth time?
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:52 am
This thread is getting cracked wide open. Best we get back to p(r)eppering for the hot one tomorrow before the season comes to an endBanquo wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 8:41 amI'll just mill it over, though you are a bit millitentMikey Brown wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 7:59 am I’m not very good at this. Should I just do run of the mill for the fourth time?
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:53 am
So... is Earl a number 8 yet?
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:58 am
Don't you start
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:16 am
Taking that seriously, having totally outplayed Doris, he now faces Aldritt. If he gets the better of him, most of us that doubted his future in the shirt will be silenced. He's certainly now one of our best three back-rowers. Going forward, who the other two are is interesting. Is Chessum going to own the 6 shirt? Will Curry ever regain full fitness? What about the other number 8 contenders? Is Earl at 7 the way to go? It's a good problem for SB to have.
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:31 am
I think Earl should 100% own that 8 shirt now having not been convinced on him previously.
If you pair him with Chessum at 6 and whoever is performing best at 7 that is a great back row moving forward.
I love what Tom Curry bring so if its him, or a returning Jack Willis then great.
If one of the other Number 8s is then performing so well that they can't be ignorned then they take that bench sport in a very similar way to what Jack Conan does for Ireland.
If you pair him with Chessum at 6 and whoever is performing best at 7 that is a great back row moving forward.
I love what Tom Curry bring so if its him, or a returning Jack Willis then great.
If one of the other Number 8s is then performing so well that they can't be ignorned then they take that bench sport in a very similar way to what Jack Conan does for Ireland.
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:39 am
100% agree. There should be no more discussion of "Oh, he should be shifted onto the flank to make room for X fave big carrier at 8" - the way he's playing at 8 is the kind of thing that we should be looking to build the team around.Dhorton wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:31 am I think Earl should 100% own that 8 shirt now having not been convinced on him previously.
If you pair him with Chessum at 6 and whoever is performing best at 7 that is a great back row moving forward.
I love what Tom Curry bring so if its him, or a returning Jack Willis then great.
If one of the other Number 8s is then performing so well that they can't be ignorned then they take that bench sport in a very similar way to what Jack Conan does for Ireland.
Puja
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:49 am
Absolutely this. Genuinely bemusing how some people decided that his generally strong world cup at 8 was proof that he should be given the 7 shirt.Puja wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:39 am100% agree. There should be no more discussion of "Oh, he should be shifted onto the flank to make room for X fave big carrier at 8" - the way he's playing at 8 is the kind of thing that we should be looking to build the team around.Dhorton wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:31 am I think Earl should 100% own that 8 shirt now having not been convinced on him previously.
If you pair him with Chessum at 6 and whoever is performing best at 7 that is a great back row moving forward.
I love what Tom Curry bring so if its him, or a returning Jack Willis then great.
If one of the other Number 8s is then performing so well that they can't be ignorned then they take that bench sport in a very similar way to what Jack Conan does for Ireland.
Puja
We do now seem to have taken the radical step of looking at the available players strengths, picking based on that and playing somewhat accordingly. This has led to Earl looking increasingly effective at 8, as he's doing what he's good at, rather than being asked to try to replicate 6 years ago Billy V type running into bodies.
If we're absolutely sticking with a lock at 6, then his dynamism, coupled with a strong breakdown forward at 7, gives us a balanced back row.
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:52 am
I don't want to get too carried away but it reminds me a bit of how Ardie Savea has been "out of position" for about 10 years now, player of the year contender etc. while still apparently a 7.
I was very dubious at first but he's grabbed his chance in a way Dombrandt, Simmonds, Mercer didn't. I still can't convince myself we can rely on Underhill or Curry to be consistently fit, but I don't know if Earl could really translate what he's doing now to what the team need at openside.
I'd agree it may come down to which Willis brother makes themselves available and too hard to ignore. I suppose might come in to the equation too.
I was very dubious at first but he's grabbed his chance in a way Dombrandt, Simmonds, Mercer didn't. I still can't convince myself we can rely on Underhill or Curry to be consistently fit, but I don't know if Earl could really translate what he's doing now to what the team need at openside.
I'd agree it may come down to which Willis brother makes themselves available and too hard to ignore. I suppose
► Show Spoiler
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:01 am
I'm inclined to agree but if Curry does not get back fully fit and firing, and if J Willis is still in France our best three back-rowers might include one of the other No 8 candidates. SB picking Dombrandt on the bench may mean that he could still see Earl's best position as 7. At least, he wants to see him there for parts of games. Might the overall balance (including bench) be best served by Earl starting at 7 but covering 8? If the best available 7 is Underhill and the best other 8 is a fully fit T Willis, say, it might be worth considering (with a developing CSS the perfect bench man).Puja wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:39 am100% agree. There should be no more discussion of "Oh, he should be shifted onto the flank to make room for X fave big carrier at 8" - the way he's playing at 8 is the kind of thing that we should be looking to build the team around.Dhorton wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:31 am I think Earl should 100% own that 8 shirt now having not been convinced on him previously.
If you pair him with Chessum at 6 and whoever is performing best at 7 that is a great back row moving forward.
I love what Tom Curry bring so if its him, or a returning Jack Willis then great.
If one of the other Number 8s is then performing so well that they can't be ignorned then they take that bench sport in a very similar way to what Jack Conan does for Ireland.
Puja
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:01 am
ayeDhorton wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:31 am I think Earl should 100% own that 8 shirt now having not been convinced on him previously.
If you pair him with Chessum at 6 and whoever is performing best at 7 that is a great back row moving forward.
I love what Tom Curry bring so if its him, or a returning Jack Willis then great.
If one of the other Number 8s is then performing so well that they can't be ignorned then they take that bench sport in a very similar way to what Jack Conan does for Ireland.
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:01 am
Not until he's a more seasoned campaigner.Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:52 am
I'd agree it may come down to which Willis brother makes themselves available and too hard to ignore. I supposemight come in to the equation too.► Show Spoiler
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:02 am
Needs to be shifted to 7
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:03 am
Good work.Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:52 am I don't want to get too carried away but it reminds me a bit of how Ardie Savea has been "out of position" for about 10 years now, player of the year contender etc. while still apparently a 7.
I was very dubious at first but he's grabbed his chance in a way Dombrandt, Simmonds, Mercer didn't. I still can't convince myself we can rely on Underhill or Curry to be consistently fit, but I don't know if Earl could really translate what he's doing now to what the team need at openside.
I'd agree it may come down to which Willis brother makes themselves available and too hard to ignore. I supposemight come in to the equation too.► Show Spoiler
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:04 am
even better work.16th man wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:01 amNot until he's a more seasoned campaigner.Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:52 am
I'd agree it may come down to which Willis brother makes themselves available and too hard to ignore. I supposemight come in to the equation too.► Show Spoiler
Hope we aren't being conned, I meant to say that before.
Re: France v England
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:33 am
On Curry's fitness, you would hope that the hip surgery might be fixing some underlying problems, and that, aligned with the enforced time off fir the rest of his body, plus the hopeful loss of the extra bulk put on so that he could fulfill one of Eddie's post 2019 foibles and shift to 8, will mean he's going to be more durable going forward.
If he is then, best case scenario is we get one of our few contenders to be world class back, in his best position at 7.
If he is then, best case scenario is we get one of our few contenders to be world class back, in his best position at 7.