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Big blow for the Azzurri, he's a game changer.francoisfou wrote: ↑Fri Feb 02, 2024 6:30 pm A shame, but Ange Capuozzo has withdrawn from the side due to a stomach bug (a dodgy pizza con fungi?) and is replaced by Lorenzo Pani (Zebre 5 caps)
I think we saw in the WC that Borthwick doesn't necessarily see the bench (o squad) as 2nd cab off the rank when it comes. I think he has a clear picture of 'if this player goes down, this is who I replace him with', whether they are in the squad or not. Our greatest strength is our breadth of players, I like that he uses that and has a purpose in mind for each playerOakboy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 02, 2024 8:25 am In the DT this morning it is reported that Fin Smith WAS lined up for bench duty had Marcus been fit to start. With Ford's fitness a bit suspect as well, might NOT starting Fin against Italy be a mistake? It risks him having to make his first start against Ireland or France should both other FHs be unavailable.
As a principle, I do not like a player being declared 2nd choice only to then be relegated to 3rd choice without having had a chance to play.
If Ford was 'rested' originally how can he be fit (or in form) to start? He should be on the bench at best, IMO.
IF Ford is fully fit and has somehow found form in the training camp, I accept that the viewpoint makes sense. Otherwise, protecting him for this game seems more sensible to me. Maybe, SB is simply satisfied that he has only been off his best because he has not been fully fit in club games and now he is 100%. We will see.Skalyba wrote: ↑Sat Feb 03, 2024 8:54 amI think we saw in the WC that Borthwick doesn't necessarily see the bench (o squad) as 2nd cab off the rank when it comes. I think he has a clear picture of 'if this player goes down, this is who I replace him with', whether they are in the squad or not. Our greatest strength is our breadth of players, I like that he uses that and has a purpose in mind for each playerOakboy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 02, 2024 8:25 am In the DT this morning it is reported that Fin Smith WAS lined up for bench duty had Marcus been fit to start. With Ford's fitness a bit suspect as well, might NOT starting Fin against Italy be a mistake? It risks him having to make his first start against Ireland or France should both other FHs be unavailable.
As a principle, I do not like a player being declared 2nd choice only to then be relegated to 3rd choice without having had a chance to play.
If Ford was 'rested' originally how can he be fit (or in form) to start? He should be on the bench at best, IMO.
Borthwick did used to talk about the best make up of the team over 80 mins when he was at Tigers. As you say didn't necessarily mean the best players started or the second best would be on the bench. They'd be stuff like loading the bench so we'd endure the first half and then unload the bench to target the tiring opposition or start with the second choice props and bring first choice on at half time and target the scrums.Skalyba wrote: ↑Sat Feb 03, 2024 8:54 amI think we saw in the WC that Borthwick doesn't necessarily see the bench (o squad) as 2nd cab off the rank when it comes. I think he has a clear picture of 'if this player goes down, this is who I replace him with', whether they are in the squad or not. Our greatest strength is our breadth of players, I like that he uses that and has a purpose in mind for each playerOakboy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 02, 2024 8:25 am In the DT this morning it is reported that Fin Smith WAS lined up for bench duty had Marcus been fit to start. With Ford's fitness a bit suspect as well, might NOT starting Fin against Italy be a mistake? It risks him having to make his first start against Ireland or France should both other FHs be unavailable.
As a principle, I do not like a player being declared 2nd choice only to then be relegated to 3rd choice without having had a chance to play.
If Ford was 'rested' originally how can he be fit (or in form) to start? He should be on the bench at best, IMO.
Definitely. Chessum shoots out the line and then Marler walks towards the contact making a soft tackle it's easy to offload from. Steward makes a good covering tackle but whomever is there with him seems to fall over as opposed to either stopping the offload or lining up a tackle on the support player. I suspect that one will be pulled apart at the debrief with some harsh words.