We need to talk about Eddie...

[Digby]

It's almost like Eddie has been learning from previous mistakes. And some of the mistakes Eddie makes are more relevant at a club, you can be more like Eddie in a national setup

[Lizard]

It's almost like Eddie has been learning from previous mistakes. And some of the mistakes Eddie makes are more relevant at a club, you can be more like Eddie in a national setup

Probably some truth there.

[Mr Mwenda]

And Eddie when you call me, you can call me Al...

[Digby]

As if everybody would know exactly what he(sic) was talking about

[Stom]

I haven't read much of this fred, so sorry if this has been said, but the current state of affairs should surprise nobody familiar with Eddie's previous work. In fact, the most unexpected aspect of this is that it's taken so long to get this bad.

I'm not actually sure it is all that bad, tbh. It's not like our play is universally bad, everything seems to stem from 1 or 2 things. Correct those and I'd say we're in a pretty good place.

Better us than a team who are papering over the cracks...

[Which Tyler]

Sack every coach ever.

Selection by plebiscite and tactics by pin the tail on the kick, run, pass based options?

Pin the tail on the donkey would lead to far too predictable results. A selection of tactics should be painted on to a barn door at Pennyhill. On the morning of a match Ben Youngs should be asked to throw a ball at the door, on second thoughts make it the evening before the match to allow sufficient time for the barn door to be hit, and whichever tactic the ball hits are the tactics for that weekend.

What makes you think he'd hit the door?
Better to put the tactics all around the door (and on the floor before the door) - that way he'd actually hit one of them - whilst aiming for the door

[Raggs]

As a slight aside, and whilst still being disappointed at the results and our discipline, did anyone else feel that this has been one of the highest quality 6N there's been in ages? Only Italy were out of the running. Genuinely couldn't call any single game ahead of time, and especially having now seen each team play, couldn't call them if they were to re-run the 6N again next month.

[Digby]

Lots of close games, but also lots of slow games, and plenty of 'backs' play that had more than an element of look ma' no hands

[Puja]

I haven't read much of this fred, so sorry if this has been said, but the current state of affairs should surprise nobody familiar with Eddie's previous work. In fact, the most unexpected aspect of this is that it's taken so long to get this bad.

I think it's still a bit early to be writing his obituary, considering we had Kiwis in here saying, "We did warn you, the only surprise was that it took this long," back when we had that run in 2018 and they were shockingly quiet by the end of 2019.

My POV is that, if we can get Robertson, bin him. If we can't get Robertson, Eddie has rebuilt before and I don't see any other names that I'd swap him for. Although ask me again the next time he picks Farrell at 10 and Lawes at 6.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Selection by plebiscite and tactics by pin the tail on the kick, run, pass based options?

Pin the tail on the donkey would lead to far too predictable results. A selection of tactics should be painted on to a barn door at Pennyhill. On the morning of a match Ben Youngs should be asked to throw a ball at the door, on second thoughts make it the evening before the match to allow sufficient time for the barn door to be hit, and whichever tactic the ball hits are the tactics for that weekend.

What makes you think he'd hit the door?
Better to put the tactics all around the door (and on the floor before the door) - that way he'd actually hit one of them - whilst aiming for the door

I also doubt he’d hit the door.... when this happens they default to ‘get the ball to Ford and let him play what’s in front of him’.

[Oakboy]

As a slight aside, and whilst still being disappointed at the results and our discipline, did anyone else feel that this has been one of the highest quality 6N there's been in ages? Only Italy were out of the running. Genuinely couldn't call any single game ahead of time, and especially having now seen each team play, couldn't call them if they were to re-run the 6N again next month.

In terms of closeness of results, there were some good games. There were a few with spells of quality rugby. There was also some rubbish. The crazy irony is that England v Scotland was horrendous yet England v France was pretty special. If all the games were played again, I doubt there would be the same results. Unfortunately, in professional sport, turning it on when it matters is the most important attribute of all. With that in mind, Wales deserve huge credit.

[Banquo]

As a slight aside, and whilst still being disappointed at the results and our discipline, did anyone else feel that this has been one of the highest quality 6N there's been in ages? Only Italy were out of the running. Genuinely couldn't call any single game ahead of time, and especially having now seen each team play, couldn't call them if they were to re-run the 6N again next month.

Not sure about 'quality', but certainly entertaining matches in terms of unpredictability. Stephen Jones agrees with you though

[p/d]

The only real quality was Joy Neville as TMO.

As for the level of rugby. It was the usual 6n, but without a crowd (yet strangely still the anthems)

Don’t think any dressing up will eradicate how shit Jones and his merry men were

[Scrumhead]

Wales Online reporting that Gatland has been sounded out for the England job.

Please no.

[fivepointer]

Warren Gatland anyone?

Never in doubt.....

[Digby]

It would just about sum up the RFU that we finally try to keep the ball in hand and run it, cock it up somewhat, and sound out Gats as a response

[Mr Mwenda]

Wales Online reporting that Gatland has been sounded out for the England job.

Please no.

I will blame Oakboy.

[Scrumhead]

As will I ...

[morepork]

Wawwen is such a whore.

[Puja]

Oh good. Let's not talk to the Super Rugby coach who can't stop winning the thing, let's talk to the one who's struggled to win a game so far.

Puja

[Oakboy]

Don't blame me. I'd have had a new guy in years ago. It was you lot arguing for the status quo.

I do not want Gatland but we would be more consistent with him and I'd guess that the back-up coaching crew will be better. I'd say Jones is a '5 out of 10' head coach and Gatland is '6 out of 10'. We deserve better than either.

[Digby]

There's lots I don't like about Eddie, and there's lots I don't like about what he's mainly done with England. But he's never a 5/10 coach unless the bar for 6/10 is stupidly high, and you've just noted Gats is a 6/10 is that isn't the case.

Eddie is an excellent coach, probably the best England head coach I can think of, certainly among those I've paid attention to, and even if there's quite a bit I don't like.

[p/d]

Bloody hell!!! The year that just keeps on giving

[Digby]

As a slight aside, and whilst still being disappointed at the results and our discipline, did anyone else feel that this has been one of the highest quality 6N there's been in ages? Only Italy were out of the running. Genuinely couldn't call any single game ahead of time, and especially having now seen each team play, couldn't call them if they were to re-run the 6N again next month.

Not sure about 'quality', but certainly entertaining matches in terms of unpredictability. Stephen Jones agrees with you though

It would be interesting to try and strip out the impact of not having the AIs. Normally the big three teams come over and take the piss out of our various setups but now we've gone back to back to back same opposition formats

How you'd strip out the impact of new players, Covid, where teams are in a WC cycle I don't know. But it's possible without getting ripped by NZ some people have found some more continuity

[morepork]

You absolute snowflake.

#SafePlace