6N 2016 - build-up thread

English Lurker wrote: »

Saxons capped already I'm afraid molloyjh

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/12125075/Eddie-Jones-admits-decision-not-to-pick-Elliot-Daly-and-Maro-Itoje-down-to-fear-of-how-theyd-handle-pressure.html

Find it a little odd that Devoto has been deemed ready but Daly (and Itoje) haven't... or any of the others really, Itoje was the lead candidate to get a cap as far as I could see.

Form has not been the key for Eddie Jones in his first England selection. The 23 players he named this week for the match against Scotland at Murrayfield included Dylan Hartley, the side’s captain, who has not been at his best since being sent off against Leicester last season, and Jonathan Joseph will be at outside-centre rather than Elliot Daly.

Jones explained the absence of Daly, and the Saracens’ forward Maro Itoje, by saying players needed the skills to cope with the hostile atmosphere England will encounter at Murrayfield and the pressure that will build but the uncapped Ollie Devoto on the bench could find himself involved after a minute if injury strikes.

Four years ago, in Stuart Lancaster’s first game in charge, he blooded Brad Barritt and Owen Farrell in the centre, and England won, admittedly without indulging themselves in an open approach. Joseph was one of England’s standout players in last season‘s Six Nations but he has scored one try for struggling Bath this season in eight matches.

George Ford, another player who is looking to get back to where he was last season, is likely to start at outside-half, with Owen Farrell at inside-centre. It would mean England lacking gainline thrust in midfield. That does not matter so much in phase play, when forwards occupy the backline, but it suggests that from set pieces England will look to get the ball wide quickly.

Yet if James Haskell starts at open-side flanker, England will not have the quickest of back rows against a team who may pack down with two specialist 7s. The presence of Ford and Farrell, and Devoto on the bench, suggests England will play a territory game, looking to boss the set pieces and strike in their opponents’ 22. Scotland will have to win the battle at the breakdown.

aimee1 wrote: »

http://www.punditarena.com/rugby/adrumm/frances-new-kit-is-really-awful/

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Wasn't there a Friday night match last year, or the year before, in Cardiff? The one where George North got knocked out twice.

aimee1 wrote: »

http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/14670759/six-nations-twickenham-set-friday-night-matches-rfu-pressure

PTH2009 wrote: »

Will we ever have a Friday night game ?. It works for the soccer lads