Italy v England, Saturday 3 Feb 2024, 2.15pm (ITV)

[Which Tyler]

Nice defence from Freeman, backs off for the cavalry to arrive, then thinks "sod it" and tackles both Italian ballcarriers

[Stom]

I dunno, apart from Itoje, it seems to me that the best players on the pitch are the ones who haven’t been long term favorites/internationals.

Freeman looks like he should have 50 caps.

The old guard are rubbish

[Stom]

Can the ref not just ban him for the rest of the 6N?

[FKAS]

Daly has been woeful today, capped off by that yellow card. Should have been replaced by IFW half an hour ago.

[Which Tyler]

TBH, Daly off is no great loss.
Had a decisive hand in 3 tries IIRC (and his own is the try he's least responsible for), and England's worst player.

[FKAS]

Why on earth did we go for the scrum? We had them in all sorts of trouble at the lineout

[FKAS]

That's really poor from Dingwall at the death, shame as he's had a good game bar that.

[Banquo]

That's really poor from Dingwall at the death, shame as he's had a good game bar that.

Agreed and really sloppy from us from 65 mins. Our defence was very hit and miss all game.

Roots was good fair play, we won and lots of new caps. But bar about 25 mins either side of half time we were bang average to poor.

[Which Tyler]

"bang average to poor" sounds about right.
Which is a definite step up over the last 24-36 months

[16th man]

Roots given Man of the match but I thought the really big moments for him.were being exposed as not very mobile in the defensive line.

[Banquo]

Why on earth did we go for the scrum? We had them in all sorts of trouble at the lineout

Yes, not sure what was going on last 10 mins, who was skipper post George?

[Banquo]

"bang average to poor" sounds about right.
Which is a definite step up over the last 24-36 months

Kinda, poor to bang average before

[Epaminondas Pules]

62% of ruck speed was sub 3 seconds and we did next to fuck all with it. Defensive structure was markedly different post half time. Kick game is just a mixed bag of compete, hit and too long. As soon as we get advantage all brain cells disappear. It’s a shame Smith didn’t get time with Mitchell. Care was markedly slower, but then we were sloppy as shit.

Good energy from CCS. Roots was industrious. Itoje busy. Freeman good. But we’re second tier by a bit of a distance.

We were industrious and erm….erm.. decision making largely non-existent!

Italy by far and away the better attack side until we switched up defence and rushed out wide.

[Banquo]

Roots given Man of the match but I thought the really big moments for him.were being exposed as not very mobile in the defensive line.

…and packing down at openside. He did carry well, good lineout and worked hard. But the back row wasn’t effective in defence 1st half, and I’m not sure wtf the defence were doing a lot of the time; they did blitz and up the line speed, but better attacks will kill us if we continue to have that system and shape.

[fivepointer]

Some good, some pretty indifferent. Very poor last 10 minutes, failing to score and then giving away a soft penalty and allowing Italy to finish with a try.
Despite my reservations Roots went well. He was our best back rower. Itoje and Chessum very good. Daly dreadful.
Some better intent. A bit more willingness to play what was in front of us.
Overall a pass, but one with several areas that require improvement.

[FKAS]

Why on earth did we go for the scrum? We had them in all sorts of trouble at the lineout

Yes, not sure what was going on last 10 mins, who was skipper post George?

Good question I'm not sure.

Whomever it was it's a poor choice and the scrum really wasn't great today. Cole and Marler were there for their scrum work and neither really added it. Marler in particular was lethargic around the field. Front row needs to be improved. Genge returning should help that but it's a shame Obano didn't get more minutes.

Danny Care's kicking was a huge step down on Mitchell and removed any chance of us taking man and ball. He added no zip which really emphasised the stodgy last quarter. Shame as the couple of chances Fin Smith got to touch the ball in attack he looked like he could have added something.

[p/d]

We really are an uncomfortable watch.

……. Apart from Theo Dan!!! Just a breath of fresh air. Ditto Freeman and Fonzi-North.

[Banquo]

62% of ruck speed was sub 3 seconds and we did next to fuck all with it. Defensive structure was markedly different post half time. Kick game is just a mixed bag of compete, hit and too long. As soon as we get advantage all brain cells disappear. It’s a shame Smith didn’t get time with Mitchell. Care was markedly slower, but then we were sloppy as shit.

Good energy from CCS. Roots was industrious. Itoje busy. Freeman good. But we’re second tier by a bit of a distance.

We were industrious and erm….erm.. decision making largely non-existent!

Italy by far and away the better attack side until we switched up defence and rushed out wide.

Box kicking was fine, but wtf Ford and Slade were doing with their kicking was mysterious. Even the rush defence was done too many times. As in beaten

But as you say…decisions with and without the ball were pretty average.
Care and Daly need pensioning off, Cole too (though the pen against him was bs imo).

George, Itoje, Roots, Mitchell, Freeman, Steward were required standard. Dan looked lively ditto CCS. Playing with two blindsides and Earl seemed unwise.

[p/d]

Oh, and I will wait until next week to see if our 12 issue has been solved. Hopefully he will do something of note v Wales.

[pompey-zebra]

Roots given Man of the match but I thought the really big moments for him.were being exposed as not very mobile in the defensive line.

So they can't pick Farrell for MOTM so they pick the next best thing.

[Banquo]

Oh, and I will wait until next week to see if our 12 issue has been solved. Hopefully he will do something of note v Wales.

Yeah definitely had plenty of opportunity to shine he’d gone well til the last minute, but that will haunt him.

[Epaminondas Pules]

In terms of entertaining the fans I’m still bored as shit watching this turgid bollocks! There is nothing pulling me back in to caring. I’ve gone from making every tackle and being a ball of stress to being utterly devoid of emotion. It’s dull as shit!

[Epaminondas Pules]

Oh, and I will wait until next week to see if our 12 issue has been solved. Hopefully he will do something of note v Wales.

Dingwall was on the pitch and did some adequate things, albeit without any opportunity to make much impact. He was largely a support runner, dummy runner or just line speed. The last play was piss poor. He’d be ok prior but that was awful. Dombrandt school of going high and getting handed off! 6/10 reduced to a 5 for that last piece of shit.

[Banquo]

Oh, and I will wait until next week to see if our 12 issue has been solved. Hopefully he will do something of note v Wales.

Dingwall was on the pitch and did some adequate things, albeit without any opportunity to make much impact. He was largely a support runner, dummy runner or just line speed. The last play was piss poor. He’d be ok prior but that was awful. Dombrandt school of going high and getting handed off! 6/10 reduced to a 5 for that last piece of shit.

Yeah the video feedback session will be grim for him. Hope he gets another chance.

[Spiffy]

Italy very frustrating. They have some good players but just can't get it together as a team. They look devoid of any real game plan and leadership. They could have nicked that game with just some organization and rugby brains.