Will any of the six nations be able to compete with England in the next two years?

dtpc191991

After watching that game at the weekend I'm beginning to wonder if anyone will be able to beat them once they mature even if they are playing their best rugby. Most importantly if we were playing at our best with the best starting 15 available could we beat them?

Jesus Shaves

yes

Digifriendly

Teams with great potential often fail to deliver. What England's present set up shows above all is that they have a decent coach (which Martin Johnson patently wasn't, great player though he was) and a group of players who are showing potential. Paris in a couple of weeks will give us a few clues to how far they have really come.

WeeBushy

Laws, tactics, form, injuries, new players, to name but a few factors, all effect how teams and their competitors develop. Impossible to say. However if the history of the respective teams is anything to go by, then almost certainly yes. Teams will be able to compete with them.

They have the potential to be world beaters, but so do most top tier teams.

sock puppet

England have a lot of talented young players but it depends on how well they can bring those players through. Weak enough in the backrow as well it has to be said.

spank_inferno

Absolutely yes!

Its still largely brawn and rather little brain for the men in white.... though that is changing somewhat.

They are the 3rd best team in the 6 nations.
(if we have our act together, they are 4th)

Conas

England play a brand of puke rugby that I never liked. There a rugby country on the decline. They are awful to watch.

thomond2006

If they find a true creative 12 (although Barritt works his arse off) to work with Tuilagi they'll be a big attacking threat.

I'm glad they are playing well, it's good for the tournament and justifies Lancaster's decision to go for youth.

CatFromHue

While they are 2 from 3 they could very easily be 0 from 3 (it should also be said they could be 3 from 3 too).

The Scots did everything to not score a try against them (9 clean breaks, 11 offloads, 14 defenders beaten).

The Italians outscored them try wise but only got 2 from 5 kicks.

They did play well against the Welsh but it's interesting when you look at the stats. The English team beat 12 defenders but Tuilagi beat 6 of them alone! They also had 6 offloads in total but again Tuilagi was responsible for 3 of them. I think as a team they still have a long way to go and wouldn't agree fully with Lancaster getting rid of some of their older players. Neither Morgan or Dowson to me have played better than Easter could have been.

cgpg5

I'd like to see them emerge as a force again can only be good for the game and, in particular, the 6 nations competition. I reckon they'll get bet in Paris but will (unfortunately) finish the tournament off with a win against us. For the first time in a long time they're beginning to find their best 15. Back-row won't be weak with Wood's return and remember Haskell (one of their better players from the RWC) has to come back too, maybe for next year. I hope that Cipriani can find form too at Sale, incredible talent on his day.

Phonehead

Of course, Wales will always poduce teams capable of beating anybody. France will always continue to be Superb & Inconsistent. Ireland, well if we are judging based on the past then we will always be the bridesmaids finising in the top 3, so we will have a good share of victories over England. Scotland & Italy will always be struggling due to playing numbers but with the right coach will be hard to beat.

Fight_Night

France will always have a competitive team, we'll have a decent team ourselves with plenty of youngsters coming through the ranks, Wales will be the same as us most likely. England weren't THAT good, I mean yeah it's an improvement to the Johnson era but there was still plenty of flaws in their team and not all of those young players will fulfill their potential, whether that be through injury or other circumstances.

leonard7

the game is progressing and england are not the only team progressing...that welsh backline is on average 23 years old...when they are 25 they will not be any less intimidating

leonard7

i think priestland is at fault for the line not clicking and that if he had been on his game it wouldve been a sad site for english rugby...dont forget the welsh didnt play well

irishbucsfan

I think the English have a lot of holes in that team that won't be filled in 2 years. Not worried about them nearly as much as France or Wales. We have a considerably better group of players... Whether they are able to put it on the field is another question.

shuffol

2 tries in 3 games and both of them off charged down kicks, getting a bit ahead of ourselves arent we.

ray jay

shuffol wrote: »

2 tries in 3 games and both of them off charged down kicks, getting a bit ahead of ourselves arent we.

Yeah it seems a little early to be talking them up at this point considering their first two matches were god awful and when they eventually started to play well, they still lost.

profitius

I think England and France will have to break away from the other teams because they're too good!

England will improve. Ireland will improve too. Look at all the young players coming through. We're thin in certain areas but theres plenty of players in the 1, 3, 9, 10, 12 and 13 positions coming through in the next few seasons that will not only boost the team but make the overall squad much stronger.

Rugby is about more than the quality of players you have. Coaching plays a massive role too. Its partly a tactical battle. You also need time to get teams to gel. The southern hemisphere have a big advantage here (which never gets a mention in the media) but even Ireland have an advantage over England and France. Also players game time need to be managed correctly.

.ak

I'm really glad Lancaster has risked his rep by putting out young lads. It's a great direction for both English rugby and the sport in general.

Having said that they'll still be one dimensional and struggle against teams like Tonga, Italy and Scotland away.

CatFromHue

O'Shea and Geech added to selection panel

Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea and Bath chief Sir Ian McGeechan have been called upon by the Rugby Football Union to help determine who should be the next full-time coach of England, according to reports.

http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/story/160318.html

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daveharnett

dtpc191991 wrote: »

After watching that game at the weekend I'm beginning to wonder if anyone will be able to beat them once they mature even if they are playing their best rugby.

Given the state of the premiership, a couple of years will see most of them lobotomized and useless at international level. I don't think that any international coaching setup will have enough time with them to undo the damage that is being done at club level.

Tox56

dtpc191991 wrote: »

After watching that game at the weekend I'm beginning to wonder if anyone will be able to beat them once they mature even if they are playing their best rugby. Most importantly if we were playing at our best with the best starting 15 available could we beat them?