RugbyRebels

Insouciant wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 3:31 pm The one thing that does occur to me if Smith is 15 and Farrell is 10 is that Farrell may have been picked for his defensive abilities. Yes this might where we tbh. If you have Ford and Smith starting 10/15 respectively, then Fiji would have two weak targets to run at. Whilst Ford doesn't miss so many tackles, Fiji would likely break the gain-line often if they are both there. It also means whoever is next to them in defence might have an eye on them, and leave gaps elsewhere. If Smith is at 15 as someone who might spark the attack, then maybe he's more hide-able defensively.

Whilst I'd rather see Ford at 10 and Smith on the bench, maybe Stygian Binmen thinks that against a side with such a powerful running threat that Farrell is the best placed of the three to 'shoulder' (boom boom) a defensive burden .

Insouciant wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 3:31 pm The one thing that does occur to me if Smith is 15 and Farrell is 10 is that Farrell may have been picked for his defensive abilities. Yes this might where we tbh. If you have Ford and Smith starting 10/15 respectively, then Fiji would have two weak targets to run at. Whilst Ford doesn't miss so many tackles, Fiji would likely break the gain-line often if they are both there. It also means whoever is next to them in defence might have an eye on them, and leave gaps elsewhere. If Smith is at 15 as someone who might spark the attack, then maybe he's more hide-able defensively.

Whilst I'd rather see Ford at 10 and Smith on the bench, maybe Stygian Binmen thinks that against a side with such a powerful running threat that Farrell is the best placed of the three to 'shoulder' (boom boom) a defensive burden .

Spiffy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:09 pm This is just another example on the on-going rugby myth that smallish blokes can't tackle (tell that to Faff deKlerk).

In any case, a 10 (or any other player) should be selected on the basis of his overall game (running, passing, kicking, etc..), not a single aspect (especially defending, if we are talking about a fly half).

morepork wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:25 pm England should wear black arm bands because everyone on here is in mourning.

morepork wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:25 pm England should wear black arm bands because everyone on here is in mourning.

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:46 pm

morepork wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:25 pm England should wear black arm bands because everyone on here is in mourning.

Good mourning to you!

Spiffy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:09 pm

Insouciant wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 3:31 pm The one thing that does occur to me if Smith is 15 and Farrell is 10 is that Farrell may have been picked for his defensive abilities. Yes this might where we tbh. If you have Ford and Smith starting 10/15 respectively, then Fiji would have two weak targets to run at. Whilst Ford doesn't miss so many tackles, Fiji would likely break the gain-line often if they are both there. It also means whoever is next to them in defence might have an eye on them, and leave gaps elsewhere. If Smith is at 15 as someone who might spark the attack, then maybe he's more hide-able defensively.

Whilst I'd rather see Ford at 10 and Smith on the bench, maybe Stygian Binmen thinks that against a side with such a powerful running threat that Farrell is the best placed of the three to 'shoulder' (boom boom) a defensive burden .

Why is Smith regarded as a defensive weakness? Like any other player (including Owen Farrell) he will miss some tackles, but I've seen him put in many strong hits. Likewise (as you say) Ford, though unspectacular, usually manages to get his man. This is just another example on the on-going rugby myth that smallish blokes can't tackle (tell that to Faff deKlerk). It's all the more annoying because Farrell himself is nothing special as a defender, missing quite a high percentage and showing poor technique. In any case, a 10 (or any other player) should be selected on the basis of his overall game (running, passing, kicking, etc..), not a single aspect (especially defending, if we are talking about a fly half). I'd say that both Ford and Smith are much better rounded footballers than Faz and more likely to engineer tries for the team.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:47 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:46 pm

morepork wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:25 pm England should wear black arm bands because everyone on here is in mourning.

Good mourning to you!

Hearse to the future!

Insouciant wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 3:31 pm The one thing that does occur to me if Smith is 15 and Farrell is 10 is that Farrell may have been picked for his defensive abilities. Yes this might where we tbh. If you have Ford and Smith starting 10/15 respectively, then Fiji would have two weak targets to run at. Whilst Ford doesn't miss so many tackles, Fiji would likely break the gain-line often if they are both there. It also means whoever is next to them in defence might have an eye on them, and leave gaps elsewhere. If Smith is at 15 as someone who might spark the attack, then maybe he's more hide-able defensively.

Whilst I'd rather see Ford at 10 and Smith on the bench, maybe Stygian Binmen thinks that against a side with such a powerful running threat that Farrell is the best placed of the three to 'shoulder' (boom boom) a defensive burden .

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:51 pm 10.Ford/Smith (bench)
15. Steward/Arundell (bench)

At a loss why this game has become so bloody complicated.

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:55 pm

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:51 pm 10.Ford/Smith (bench)
15. Steward/Arundell (bench)

At a loss why this game has become so bloody complicated.

fickle, what happened to Freddie412?

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:46 pm

morepork wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:25 pm England should wear black arm bands because everyone on here is in mourning.

Good mourning to you!

Spiffy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 8:46 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:46 pm

morepork wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:25 pm England should wear black arm bands because everyone on here is in mourning.

Good mourning to you!

This game is a real wake up call for England.

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 10:25 pm

Spiffy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 8:46 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:46 pm

Good mourning to you!

This game is a real wake up call for England.

team selection still shrouded in mystery

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 10:25 pm

Spiffy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 8:46 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:46 pm

Good mourning to you!

This game is a real wake up call for England.

team selection still shrouded in mystery

Insouciant wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 3:10 pm

jngf wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 2:33 pm
It’s a bit like wondering how could anyone still defend bojo after stinking out 10 Downing Street during a national crisis

Turns out the England set up is populated by Nadine Dorries impersonators. That may explain the performances.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 8:38 am I've said it several times - we will see no real progress/development till BOTH Farrell and Ford are off the international scene.

On the one hand, apparently/reportedly, the more skilful FH, Ford, does not get enough out of the other players.

On the other hand, apparently/reportedly, Farrell, the less skilful FH, gets wonderful response from the other players - even though we cannot understand that and match performances/results rarely (if ever) reflect it.

Smith did not set the world alight when he had a few games at FH but he looks to me to be capable of more than he ever showed given the right selection around him, the right match strategy and the total, permanent absence from consideration of Farrell and Ford.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 10:43 am So, are we predicting all-NH SFs?

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 10:48 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 10:25 pm

Spiffy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 8:46 pm
This game is a real wake up call for England.

team selection still shrouded in mystery

Has that just dawned on you?

Oakboy wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 10:43 am So, are we predicting all-NH SFs?