Bath v Harlequins

[Oakboy]

SB was forced into playing a No 8 who moves quickly. So, might pace at 8 and 12, replace the kick, trundle and bash that was his first intent with Farrell, BV and Tuilagi at the RWC? If so, Smith could complement that as the fastest FH available. It would be a first step down the positivity route.

I'd applaud t'other Smith being the 2nd FH in the squad and if he carries on improving they could well vie for the starting shirt usefully.

Injuries and Lawes's retirement have made back row selection interesting in terms of being a statement for the future direction.

[Banquo]

SB was forced into playing a No 8 who moves quickly. So, might pace at 8 and 12, replace the kick, trundle and bash that was his first intent with Farrell, BV and Tuilagi at the RWC? If so, Smith could complement that as the fastest FH available. It would be a first step down the positivity route.

I'd applaud t'other Smith being the 2nd FH in the squad and if he carries on improving they could well vie for the starting shirt usefully.

Injuries and Lawes's retirement have made back row selection interesting in terms of being a statement for the future direction.

Thing is, you have to have a whole team who can not only move quickly, but read the game quickly, make decisions quickly and execute well at speed to play that way at intl level; I'm not averse to that IF you have the players, the conditioning and the right prep, including playing that way week in week out under pressure. There's a way to go imo to get there...but in the absence of players who can compete playing physical trundle rugby v say SA, Ireland, France, its got to be worth a shot. We have a plethora of mobile back five players (if all fit), front rows more suited to running than scrummaging (:)) and some backs who could look the business in quicker games (though not that many)......but it'll take some really intensive coaching at especially the breakdown, and they'd have to get fitter.

[Mellsblue]

SB was forced into playing a No 8 who moves quickly. So, might pace at 8 and 12, replace the kick, trundle and bash that was his first intent with Farrell, BV and Tuilagi at the RWC? If so, Smith could complement that as the fastest FH available. It would be a first step down the positivity route.

I'd applaud t'other Smith being the 2nd FH in the squad and if he carries on improving they could well vie for the starting shirt usefully.

Injuries and Lawes's retirement have made back row selection interesting in terms of being a statement for the future direction.

but in the absence of players who can compete playing physical trundle rugby v say SA, Ireland, France, its got to be worth a shot. We have a plethora of mobile back five players (if all fit), front rows more suited to running than scrummaging (:)) and some backs who could look the business in quicker games (though not that many)......but it'll take some really intensive coaching at especially the breakdown, and they'd have to get fitter.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. Jones always annoyed me with his repeated statements the England have always had big, powerful packs so he would recreate this when the player pool could not provide this. I doubt Stinky Backside thinks any differently to Jones, sadly, but if you look at some of the form players in the backs and the core of the forwards then a more expansive gamplan seems the sensible option. Do we have the coaching set-up to achieve this, though…

[Banquo]

SB was forced into playing a No 8 who moves quickly. So, might pace at 8 and 12, replace the kick, trundle and bash that was his first intent with Farrell, BV and Tuilagi at the RWC? If so, Smith could complement that as the fastest FH available. It would be a first step down the positivity route.

I'd applaud t'other Smith being the 2nd FH in the squad and if he carries on improving they could well vie for the starting shirt usefully.

Injuries and Lawes's retirement have made back row selection interesting in terms of being a statement for the future direction.

but in the absence of players who can compete playing physical trundle rugby v say SA, Ireland, France, its got to be worth a shot. We have a plethora of mobile back five players (if all fit), front rows more suited to running than scrummaging (:)) and some backs who could look the business in quicker games (though not that many)......but it'll take some really intensive coaching at especially the breakdown, and they'd have to get fitter.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. Jones always annoyed me with his repeated statements the England have always had big, powerful packs so he would recreate this when the player pool could not provide this. I doubt Stinky Backside thinks any differently to Jones, sadly, but if you look at some of the form players in the backs and the core of the forwards then a more expansive gamplan seems the sensible option. Do we have the coaching set-up to achieve this, though…

...and even then, the players have to deliver (skills, decision making) in a much more challenging environment than club rugby and be fit enough when they turn up to England camps (unless its a pre RWC one where you can improve conditioning to some extent)...

[Mellsblue]

but in the absence of players who can compete playing physical trundle rugby v say SA, Ireland, France, its got to be worth a shot. We have a plethora of mobile back five players (if all fit), front rows more suited to running than scrummaging (:)) and some backs who could look the business in quicker games (though not that many)......but it'll take some really intensive coaching at especially the breakdown, and they'd have to get fitter.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. Jones always annoyed me with his repeated statements the England have always had big, powerful packs so he would recreate this when the player pool could not provide this. I doubt Stinky Backside thinks any differently to Jones, sadly, but if you look at some of the form players in the backs and the core of the forwards then a more expansive gamplan seems the sensible option. Do we have the coaching set-up to achieve this, though…

...and even then, the players have to deliver (skills, decision making) in a much more challenging environment than club rugby and be fit enough when they turn up to England camps (unless its a pre RWC one where you can improve conditioning to some extent)...

All true. Hybrid contracts should help with the fitness, in theory…

[Oakboy]

SB was forced into playing a No 8 who moves quickly. So, might pace at 8 and 12, replace the kick, trundle and bash that was his first intent with Farrell, BV and Tuilagi at the RWC? If so, Smith could complement that as the fastest FH available. It would be a first step down the positivity route.

I'd applaud t'other Smith being the 2nd FH in the squad and if he carries on improving they could well vie for the starting shirt usefully.

Injuries and Lawes's retirement have made back row selection interesting in terms of being a statement for the future direction.

Thing is, you have to have a whole team who can not only move quickly, but read the game quickly, make decisions quickly and execute well at speed to play that way at intl level; I'm not averse to that IF you have the players, the conditioning and the right prep, including playing that way week in week out under pressure. There's a way to go imo to get there...but in the absence of players who can compete playing physical trundle rugby v say SA, Ireland, France, its got to be worth a shot. We have a plethora of mobile back five players (if all fit), front rows more suited to running than scrummaging (:)) and some backs who could look the business in quicker games (though not that many)......but it'll take some really intensive coaching at especially the breakdown, and they'd have to get fitter.

Maybe, picking the most skilful players is common sense, then - in that you can make a skilful player fitter but you can't make a fit player more skilful?

[Banquo]

SB was forced into playing a No 8 who moves quickly. So, might pace at 8 and 12, replace the kick, trundle and bash that was his first intent with Farrell, BV and Tuilagi at the RWC? If so, Smith could complement that as the fastest FH available. It would be a first step down the positivity route.

I'd applaud t'other Smith being the 2nd FH in the squad and if he carries on improving they could well vie for the starting shirt usefully.

Injuries and Lawes's retirement have made back row selection interesting in terms of being a statement for the future direction.

Thing is, you have to have a whole team who can not only move quickly, but read the game quickly, make decisions quickly and execute well at speed to play that way at intl level; I'm not averse to that IF you have the players, the conditioning and the right prep, including playing that way week in week out under pressure. There's a way to go imo to get there...but in the absence of players who can compete playing physical trundle rugby v say SA, Ireland, France, its got to be worth a shot. We have a plethora of mobile back five players (if all fit), front rows more suited to running than scrummaging (:)) and some backs who could look the business in quicker games (though not that many)......but it'll take some really intensive coaching at especially the breakdown, and they'd have to get fitter.

Maybe, picking the most skilful players is common sense, then - in that you can make a skilful player fitter but you can't make a fit player more skilful?

.........er, skills can always be improved, indeed that's a key aim for any coach. If you had said talented players....

Plus players have got to intrinsically want to improve their skills and fitness- you can take a horse to water etc..