England - Italy Match thread

[nathan]

First topic message reminder :

Looking forward to the game, had no idea they had that much snow. Pitch doesn't look too good!

EDIT: Got to comment on Guscutt's scarf, it's soooo bad!!

[phildange]

ChequeredJersey you're right, nobody can tell what would have happened if the Italians had scored their penalties . For sure England turned up in second half, but then again Italy turned up by the end and were a real threat .
I'm not saying kicking is not a part of the game, although for me only tries show the quality of a team . I just say this victory appears to be due to the difference in kicking ability .

[eirebilly]

ChequeredJersey you're right, nobody can tell what would have happened if the Italians had scored their penalties . For sure England turned up in second half, but then again Italy turned up by the end and were a real threat .
I'm not saying kicking is not a part of the game, although for me only tries show the quality of a team . I just say this victory appears to be due to the difference in kicking ability .

you must think that Scotland is a terrible team then

[phildange]

ChequeredJersey you're right, nobody can tell what would have happened if the Italians had scored their penalties . For sure England turned up in second half, but then again Italy turned up by the end and were a real threat .
I'm not saying kicking is not a part of the game, although for me only tries show the quality of a team . I just say this victory appears to be due to the difference in kicking ability .

you must think that Scotland is a terrible team then

Well, I'm from the south-west, precisely from Mont-de-Marsan, the Boniface brothers club ( only for old rugby fans ), and I love rugby when it gets unexpected inspiration . I don't even like modern French rugby and I hated the 1977 French Grand Slam for the way the French played . So well, for now Scotland has not much to please me, but it was not always the case, and I hope it won't be forever .

[lostinwales]

I was also a little suprised when Parisse got MoTM. He had a great game as usual but i thought that Farrell deserved it. That boy was extremely cool under pressure yesterday.

That was from the Italian media. I guess Parisse is a very visible player and is always involved in whats happening - and if Italy managed to find a few more like him we'd all be in trouble - but then I dont think he managed much by his standards.. Thought Farrell would be a good choice - his tackling was pretty damn good as well as the kicking. I would have thought you could have made a case for Dan Cole too - he was very busy.

[yappysnap]

oddle england now have two wins and zero MoM awards, and I can see North getting it next game too...

[Geordie]

How on earth can you drop Barritt??? He's been class!

Farrell offers nothing but kicking and a reasonable defence at the moment. Barritt has more...

Flood can do the kicking. Barrit at 12 and Tuilagi at 13

[eirebilly]

I think that Stuart Lancaster has some difficult thinking to do over the next two weeks. Do you want to change a winning side?

[Geordie]

Not Massively...but i think Morgan needs to start...and Dickson improved it as Youngs has been poor.

I do think We need a little more creativity in the midfield aswell....but not sure what changes to make there yet...but if one of the centres has to go its got to be Farrell not Barritt...

[eirebilly]

Agreed Geordie. Dickson and Morgan made huge impacts when coming on.

It would be very silly to drop Barritt but equally to drop Farrell as i thought that Farrell was Englands best player yesterday. Flood and Tuilagi have to earn their positions now.

[Geordie]

Agreed...that they have to earn their positions...im just a little concerned where the creativity is coming from.

But hey, we'll take the wins.

Although the next 3 games are a big step up....and i actually dont see us winning any of them.

[eirebilly]

To be fair, they havent had much chance to be creative. Scotland and Italy are not really the teams that allow for expansive attractive rugby.

I think that you will get a better guage of just where England is after the Wales match.

[trebellbobaggins]

Agreed it it reminds me of 97, I can see these guys learning and winning a lot more in future and maybe shocking someone.

Nice to be written off to be honest.

[eirebilly]

I am certainly not writing off England trebs, in fact, i think that Stuart Lancaster is doing a great job. A good young team that have come away with two wins from some pretty hard places to get a win.

[trebellbobaggins]

No but most of the others are and it's great, much easier to enjoy it when they all expect to trample over your side. Might just surprise one of them.

[eirebilly]

As i said trebs, i think that the Welsh in two weeks will give the English fans an idea of where they are as a team.

[trebellbobaggins]

And themselves a bit more too.

[eirebilly]

Yep, i have a feeling that they will be pleasently suprised

[majesticimperialman]

I wrote on another thread do you think that players that have been injured should simply walk straight back into the team squad?

I do think that Lancaster will have to have a very hard look at the team sheet for the next game, Would you change a winning team for the sake of it? Or would you simply tweak it a little bit, Morgan, Dickson, to start. But, what about the likes of Flood, Tualagi, Lawes.

I think the Wales game will be a harder game then Italy was, So tough choices to be made.

[trebellbobaggins]

Yep, i have a feeling that they will be pleasently suprised

You think Wales will thrash England then?

We shall see. Maybe eng are grittier than you think billy.

Call me a fool but it think eng might surprise you. They've been away from hme and toughed it out. They might just be an ok side,

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