England vs Italy

[drc_007]

Care is not having a good game

Unfortunately he has been made to think and his brain has over heated.

[strawclearer]

Singular lack of leadership on the field. The next 40 will show how dynamic and flexible the leadership off it is.

[mightymouse]

Hartley just hasn't a clue.

[tigerburnie]

Bonus point, now finish the job

[tigerburnie]

Batter 'em.

[tigerburnie]

Oh the irony Italy offside

[ellis9]

Yes because there's a ruck!

Seems like you're as clueless on the law as Haskell and Hartley!

[strawclearer]

Well - a BP win; great ingenuity from Conor but ruined it as a spectacle; bit like watching Rugby League.

[ellis9]

Ruined a spectacle?! Absolute rubbish!

I enjoyed the whole match. The whole match was a spectacle!

[Mark62]

Ruined a spectacle?! Absolute rubbish!

I enjoyed the whole match. The whole match was a spectacle!

Was very different and enjoyable because of that.
Surely that is what top class sport is about different challenges

[strawclearer]

Ruined a spectacle?! Absolute rubbish!

I enjoyed the whole match. The whole match was a spectacle!

Dayglo: "They [Italy] are not here to entertain...it doesn't make for a great spectacle."

James Haskell "...I imagine not that enjoyable for the fans"

Matt Dawson: " Well done Italy on ruining this international. Now World Rugby have to change the laws because of your inability to compete at this level."

and apparently...

Extraordinary interview with Eddie Jones. "That wasn't rugby." Compares tactics to Trevor Chapple underarm ball. "They parked the bus. I don't want to be involved in games like that. I don't think it's smart. I'd rather go home. If you've paid for a ticket then ask for your money back. I'll have to give my money back to Ian Ritchie."

Jonny Wilkinson: "It's almost going to become a game of netball."

[WhitecapTiger]

It was legal.

I wouldn't call it 'innovative' as Flatman did, as I said earlier, Glaws did that against us 2 weeks ago - Jeremy Thrush was the irritant doing it then

It was effective - to a point, until England finally worked out how to deal with it.

It created a talking point and even a few laughs.

It was akin to the 'choke tackle' for me - legal, but stifling, rugby.

Thought it was a negative tactic for damage limitation initially but reaped further rewards and gave more confidence to those in Blue.

It meant fewer clear-outs / collisions and less graft at the breakdown so our boys should be fresher

There was a hint of Venter-ism about it IMO.

It was legal.

[tigerburnie]

Thankfully having seen it, everyone knows what to do about it, it will only work once and Launch and the rest of the forwards took up the gauntlet and responded with a perfect riposte. Used to love those kind of needle games as a player, physical response is the answer, rattle them, then take them apart and finish with style, nice to see the smiles vanish from Venter , Catt and O'Connors smug faces.

[ellis9]

Well if you want to see the ball being flung around and "exciting", "entertaining" rugby then maybe so but for those of us who understand the laws and like to see all aspects then it was an entertaining spectacle!

[jgriffin]

Nothing new - there's stuff on YouTube about that tactic from about 2 seasons ago in the SH, let alone Glaws 2 weeks ago. England carping about something you should at least know about.
Thought it showed that Dimmon not up to thinking, Care had a total brainfart,some like Dan got the hang of it eventually, BY way above Care in the thinking department, Nowell way in front of May likewise.
For me England MOTM was Daly. Read the game throughout, great defence, great attack, real heads up rugby. After him, Launchbury and Itoje.