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Re: England v Wales; Saturday, 4.45. ITV / S4C
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:55 am
by Banquo
Puja wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:51 am
Oakboy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:26 am
I know Roots is not flavour of the month but I think he has been more effective than the other two in the back row. I'd cheerfully dump all three but I can't see how Roots is the main problem.
We've been getting a lot of very quick ball. We've lost three attacking rucks across 145 minutes of games so far. How are the back row the position where we need to "dump all three"?
I was looking at the Opta stats the other day and Roots is doing a very impressive job on the stats alone. He has made 13 carries, committing 2+ tacklers for 12 of them, and 69% have made it over the gainline (especially impressive when you consider some of the hard yards he's been asked to make). In attacking rucks, he's hit 37 with an 89% effectiveness. I can definitely see why Statistics Bastard likes him.
https://theanalyst.com/eu/2024/02/six-n ... stats-hub/
Puja
probably quite similar to Brad Shields, but without the knock ons
. He's a good player, and one who looks better with better players around him- and hands up, much better than my perception based on Exeter games.
Re: England v Wales; Saturday, 4.45. ITV / S4C
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:55 am
by Oakboy
Puja wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:51 am
Oakboy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:26 am
I know Roots is not flavour of the month but I think he has been more effective than the other two in the back row. I'd cheerfully dump all three but I can't see how Roots is the main problem.
We've been getting a lot of very quick ball. We've lost three attacking rucks across 145 minutes of games so far. How are the back row the position where we need to "dump all three"?
I was looking at the Opta stats the other day and Roots is doing a very impressive job on the stats alone. He has made 13 carries, committing 2+ tacklers for 12 of them, and 69% have made it over the gainline (especially impressive when you consider some of the hard yards he's been asked to make). In attacking rucks, he's hit 37 with an 89% effectiveness. I can definitely see why Statistics Bastard likes him.
https://theanalyst.com/eu/2024/02/six-n ... stats-hub/
Puja
I think we have three better players, basically. So, developing the work currently being achieved, there is a lot of scope for improvement - whatever the stats say against two poor teams.
Re: England v Wales; Saturday, 4.45. ITV / S4C
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 12:03 pm
by Stom
Puja wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:51 am
Oakboy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:26 am
I know Roots is not flavour of the month but I think he has been more effective than the other two in the back row. I'd cheerfully dump all three but I can't see how Roots is the main problem.
We've been getting a lot of very quick ball. We've lost three attacking rucks across 145 minutes of games so far. How are the back row the position where we need to "dump all three"?
I was looking at the Opta stats the other day and Roots is doing a very impressive job on the stats alone. He has made 13 carries, committing 2+ tacklers for 12 of them, and 69% have made it over the gainline (especially impressive when you consider some of the hard yards he's been asked to make). In attacking rucks, he's hit 37 with an 89% effectiveness. I can definitely see why Statistics Bastard likes him.
https://theanalyst.com/eu/2024/02/six-n ... stats-hub/
Puja
Yeah, Roots is being fine. It's the other two that aren't really showing it, for me, especially Underhill. He's made the same number of tackles as Roots, with fewer rucks hit, fewer carries, fewer metres made...I just don't get him right now.
You'd think, if we're picking him to tackle, his tackle stats would be through the roof, but they're the same as Roots and only one more than Earl. So maybe he's meant to be hitting rucks, but he hits fewer, less effectively, than either Roots or Earl. So maybe he's carrying? And sure, he actually gets go forward well, but less often by far than the other two.
Our backrow effectiveness is being taken as a whole, while it may be exaggerated by the form and skill of the other two.
Re: England v Wales; Saturday, 4.45. ITV / S4C
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 12:12 pm
by Which Tyler
I'm just not convinced that Underhill (or Ford) are actually over their injuries - I think they're managing them.
Which means that they're not as effective as they should be, and shouldn't be selected. But it also means, that "just one more week" might make all the difference.
Ford has a history of playing below-par whilst trying to play through an injury that really needs attention, whilst Underhill was a week away from return for about a month ahead of the 6N, and wearing a surgical boot for much of that - suspicion of a stress fracture, which are always buggers to judge healing times.
Re: England v Wales; Saturday, 4.45. ITV / S4C
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 12:28 pm
by Epaminondas Pules
Which Tyler wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 12:12 pm
I'm just not convinced that Underhill (or Ford) are actually over their injuries - I think they're managing them.
Which means that they're not as effective as they should be, and shouldn't be selected. But it also means, that "just one more week" might make all the difference.
Ford has a history of playing below-par whilst trying to play through an injury that really needs attention, whilst Underhill was a week away from return for about a month ahead of the 6N, and wearing a surgical boot for much of that - suspicion of a stress fracture, which are always buggers to judge healing times.
This. And gaining match fitness in internationals, which is......interesting
Re: England v Wales; Saturday, 4.45. ITV / S4C
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 12:29 pm
by Which Tyler
Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 12:28 pmThis. And gaining match fitness in internationals, which is......interesting
Yes but... Silly Bollocks is far from the first coach to try it.
Re: England v Wales; Saturday, 4.45. ITV / S4C
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 12:33 pm
by Epaminondas Pules
Stom wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 12:03 pm
Puja wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:51 am
Oakboy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:26 am
I know Roots is not flavour of the month but I think he has been more effective than the other two in the back row. I'd cheerfully dump all three but I can't see how Roots is the main problem.
We've been getting a lot of very quick ball. We've lost three attacking rucks across 145 minutes of games so far. How are the back row the position where we need to "dump all three"?
I was looking at the Opta stats the other day and Roots is doing a very impressive job on the stats alone. He has made 13 carries, committing 2+ tacklers for 12 of them, and 69% have made it over the gainline (especially impressive when you consider some of the hard yards he's been asked to make). In attacking rucks, he's hit 37 with an 89% effectiveness. I can definitely see why Statistics Bastard likes him.
https://theanalyst.com/eu/2024/02/six-n ... stats-hub/
Puja
Yeah, Roots is being fine. It's the other two that aren't really showing it, for me, especially Underhill. He's made the same number of tackles as Roots, with fewer rucks hit, fewer carries, fewer metres made...I just don't get him right now.
You'd think, if we're picking him to tackle, his tackle stats would be through the roof, but they're the same as Roots and only one more than Earl. So maybe he's meant to be hitting rucks, but he hits fewer, less effectively, than either Roots or Earl. So maybe he's carrying? And sure, he actually gets go forward well, but less often by far than the other two.
Our backrow effectiveness is being taken as a whole, while it may be exaggerated by the form and skill of the other two.
Earl's been very good. There's pros and cons to the unit, which hasn't bedded in yet, whilst one is only just back from injury and another is new to test rugby. And an eye on IF other player were available we probably wouldn't be having this chat.
Re: England v Wales; Saturday, 4.45. ITV / S4C
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 12:39 pm
by Mellsblue
Selectorially Backwardslooking has stated that Ford is only playing as M. Smith is injured. If no Ford then it’s starting F. Smith who, and I’m hoping this inarguable, is pretty raw still and having Furbank/Slade as replacement 10 or bringing in someone who isn’t up to test rugby (though my preferred option would obvs be the magician that is Fredrick Burns Esq). I offer no defence for selecting Underhill.
Re: England v Wales; Saturday, 4.45. ITV / S4C
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 12:42 pm
by Mellsblue
p/d wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:59 am
Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:55 am
Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:46 am
Personally, I'd want CCS at 6 with George and Chessum at lock (start and bench either way round).
this
Yep
Fourthed. I do think Roots is playing pretty well but CCS’s ceiling is Grand Central Station like.