Big ol' player review

[16th man]

Wasn’t Porter the Leinster tight head that got absolutely rinsed by, supposedly dodgy scrummager, Mako Vunipola 6 months ago in the Champions Cup qf?

Given the circumstances theres more than a chance that Mako's performance against Ireland is more indicative of him not having the match fitness to back up two weekends on the bounce, than of him suddenly being a complete liability.

[Raggs]

Mako has struck me as someone who's not going to dominate the scrum, but as long as he has an OK 2nd row pairing behind him, he'll generally get parity, which is enough considering what else he offers.

[Oakboy]

Supposing Jones were to be replaced by an overseas head coach, would the incomer have no choice but to dump all the Saracens players other than Itoje based on 6N form? How, when, could they then get back in? Even if they go on the jamboree what happens if they are not in the match day 23s? I doubt any would be.

[Banquo]

Mako has struck me as someone who's not going to dominate the scrum, but as long as he has an OK 2nd row pairing behind him, he'll generally get parity, which is enough considering what else he offers.

Having a good scrummaging hooker no doubt helps. Are you identifying Ewels as maybe a weaker link here, as Maro is almost invariably behind Mako club and country.

[Timbo]

Supposing Jones were to be replaced by an overseas head coach, would the incomer have no choice but to dump all the Saracens players other than Itoje based on 6N form? How, when, could they then get back in? Even if they go on the jamboree what happens if they are not in the match day 23s? I doubt any would be.

I doubt many/any will be scheduled to go on the summer tour with England anyway if they don’t make the Lions. By the autumn they’ll all be back playing regular Prem rugby with Sarries or different clubs (if no promotion).

[Banquo]

Supposing Jones were to be replaced by an overseas head coach, would the incomer have no choice but to dump all the Saracens players other than Itoje based on 6N form? How, when, could they then get back in? Even if they go on the jamboree what happens if they are not in the match day 23s? I doubt any would be.

Immediately before the Ireland game, the Sarries players were lauded for their efforts v France. Bar the on-loan ones . All were then being inked in for Lions place. Fickle thing, sport.

[Timbo]

Mako has been a part of plenty of dominant England and Saracens scrums, against many of the best packs in the world. He’s not an elite scrummager, but can certainly hold his own in an international scrum.

Definitely feel he is in need of a long injury free stretch now though. He’s really not played a huge amount of rugby since the 2019 Champions Cup final through a series of soft tissue injuries- bad hamstring tear and calf mainly.

[Oakboy]

Supposing Jones were to be replaced by an overseas head coach, would the incomer have no choice but to dump all the Saracens players other than Itoje based on 6N form? How, when, could they then get back in? Even if they go on the jamboree what happens if they are not in the match day 23s? I doubt any would be.

Immediately before the Ireland game, the Sarries players were lauded for their efforts v France. Bar the on-loan ones . All were then being inked in for Lions place. Fickle thing, sport.

Agreed. I think iit will be a factor in the RFU retaining Jones, though (unfortunately).

[FKAS]

Mako has been a part of plenty of dominant England and Saracens scrums, against many of the best packs in the world. He’s not an elite scrummager, but can certainly hold his own in an international scrum.

Definitely feel he is in need of a long injury free stretch now though. He’s really not played a huge amount of rugby since the 2019 Champions Cup final through a series of soft tissue injuries- bad hamstring tear and calf mainly.

Mako has always been the weak link in the England scrum, he's by no means a bad scrummager but it's not his big strength and why he's selected. I remember Dan Cole turning him inside out at Welford Road and Mako getting sin binned. Big Dan got the blame in the world cup final but Mako was being done up like a kipper on the other side and the scrums stabilised when we had Marler and Cole on. Mako getting benched at half time because Furlong had him on toast won't help his hopes of continued selection.

Mako needs to start strengthening the set piece area of his game. When he took the shirt initially he was out there on his own a bit as a loosehead that played like an 8 with the hands of a centre but others are starting to close that gap. He's still the most skilful prop England have but the gap isn't as wide as it was before with Obano and Genge adding pressure. They have a better set piece and can carry hard, just needs one to find their feet at international level.

[Digby]

But bloody saintly compared to Spain, so there's that.

You'll know this is right because I've quoted myself, but if you're still feeling bad about our discipline you can now check out the Spain game from yesterday too. Two weekends on the bounce Spain have well and truly lost the plot