The Calcutta Cup Saturday 5 Feb 2022

First topic message reminder :

Scotland vs England

BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Saturday 5th of February 2022
Kick Off 4:45pm

What the Coaches are saying

Gregor Townsend - "The players have been in outstanding form for their respective clubs.. and that is outstanding!" *tongue click*

Eddie Jones - "There are some young players getting an opportunity. They just need to make sure they don't get distracted or else they might not do so well."

Scotland Team

1. Sutherland 2. Turner 3. Z Fagerson
4. J Gray 5. Gilchrist
6. Ritchie 7. Watson 8. M Fagerson.
9. Price 10. Russell
12. Johnson 13. Harris
11. Van der Merwe 14. Graham
15. Hogg

Replacements: McInally, Schoeman, Nel, Skinner, M Bradbury, White, Kinghorn, Tuipulotu.

England Team

1. Genge 2. Cowan-Dickie 3. Sinckler
4. Itoje 5. Isiekwe
6. Ludlam 7. Curry (c) 8. Simmonds.
9. Youngs 10. Smith
12. Slade 13. Daly
11. Marchant 14. Malins
15. Steward

Replacements: George, Marler, Stuart, Ewels, Dombrandt, Randall, Ford, Nowell.

England's attack looking pretty toothless so far. Some of the basics just not happening. The ball presentation is really poor and the players static when taking the ball. Little tweaks could make a big difference here.

It's been OK so far. Just think we'd look miles better if Nowell was on the pitch today. And the midfield looks.....mediocre.

formerly known as Sam wrote:England's attack looking pretty toothless so far. Some of the basics just not happening. The ball presentation is really poor and the players static when taking the ball. Little tweaks could make a big difference here.

Randall? Little kicking going on.

Heaf wrote:Interesting having Mr O commentating though

I'm umming and ahing over it. Surely all commentators should know the laws anyway?

Another harsh pen Ritchie pulls out.

Should versus do though ...

No 7&1/2 wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:England's attack looking pretty toothless so far. Some of the basics just not happening. The ball presentation is really poor and the players static when taking the ball. Little tweaks could make a big difference here.

Randall? Little kicking going on.

I don't see how that will help anything. He isn't going to get quick ball from bad ball presentation and find holes in a set defence.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:England's attack looking pretty toothless so far. Some of the basics just not happening. The ball presentation is really poor and the players static when taking the ball. Little tweaks could make a big difference here.

Randall? Little kicking going on.

I don't see how that will help anything. He isn't going to get quick ball from bad ball presentation and find holes in a set defence.

He may just pass the ball quicker and better though? Just a thought. The balls there to use.

Eng play is too slow and proscriptive. Too much kicking ball away hoping to pressure a line out and jeezus the carrying and ball presentation is just so awful.

Heaf wrote:Interesting having Mr O commentating though

He’s no longer bound by world rugby to defend the refs. He may still be nice to his old colleagues and pals

Well given how much possession England have had 6 points isn't enough. Conversely one clean break and one try is pretty good.
If England don't take the lead in the nextc15 minutes then the pressure on them will multiply.

Maybe being a bit pedantic but I don't think the ball went 5m from the line-out that Scotland scored from ... the catcher has his foot on the line and looks like he catches the ball in front of his head ... just saying, maybe a miss by the officials although very close ...

Jones has never been scared to make changes when he sees things as not working. That backline hasn't clicked so how long will he give them?

Or does he just ask them to keep it tighter?

No 7&1/2 wrote:Jones has never been scared to make changes when he sees things as not working. That backline hasn't clicked so how long will he give them?

Or does he just ask them to keep it tighter?

Jones has always been bold at making changes at half time, fair play to him

Ah. The pressure building. Change things now for me. We've seen 2 rucks there straight away where youngs is writing his will.

Scotland 4 point lead at half time. The game is closer than i thought itr would be.

I thought with Scotland having the most settled side would be further in front.

Dirtydave wrote:

Jones has always been bold

Should get some of that fake hair Austin Healy used to advertise

We need to adapt to O’Keefe’s breakdown interpretation or we could be struggling

The pack is showing up today. Lot of positives. And hence he comes the Scotland subs.

Id like a quick in and out here.

Hang on here come the SA bomb squad...

Sorry I meant Scottish bench players lol

If this game goes into the last 10 still tight Im sure Beshocked will be the first to congratulate Jones on his brilliance for grooming George as a specialist replacement

Dirtydave wrote:Hang on here come the SA bomb squad...

Sorry I meant Scottish bench players lol

Think it was a dud

Phew.

Time to deploy Magnus?

Daly does well to call the overlap. Youngs and Smith execute well.

Scotland had three or four goes at sacking that maul.

Curry taken well beyond the ruck there.

No comment.

FFs Youngs

miltonkeynesengland wrote:FFs Youngs

Oh well.
I'd like to say we don't have the same IP address.

Ah. Bad for Ritchie. Class player. Not nice to see.

Daly has been really below par, but in attack rather than defence as I thought. The caveat there is the midfield partnership is not a good balance.

Thank jeebus for Simmonds pace

That's disappointing to see Smith come off. I mean great replacement but not really needed.

So much experience on for England, time for calm heads

Well. We may need the razzle dazzle again as its all even now and a guy down.

No 7&1/2 wrote:That's disappointing to see Smith come off. I mean great replacement but not really needed.

Smiths barely been in the game. Very quiet by his standards.

Absolute brain fade by LCD.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:That's disappointing to see Smith come off. I mean great replacement but not really needed.

Smiths barely been in the game. Very quiet by his standards.

Yeah that will happen with a sh that doesn't like to pass. And now we've thrown it all away.

Who was it who got goosed on the far wing before LCD thought he was Kobe Bryant? Disappointing all round from England there

Just abysmal from LCD.

Awful awful awful.

One of the dumbest things I've ever seen on a rugby field. Completely undone England's commanding second half.

Can't argue with thatr decision, has to be a pen try and yellow....

TBF you gotta ask how he ended up covering the wide!

Woeful

Great try by marcus smith.

Mistake after mistake.

majesticimperialman wrote:Great try by marcus smith.

Are you on delay?

Guess they do miss Farrells stability and captaincy