Comments on: Bind and grind at its best? England v Scotland http://www.whatisrugby.com/2008/03/10/bind-and-grind-at-its-best-england-v-scotland/ Straightforward rugby commentary from a North American perspective Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:42:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Tom http://www.whatisrugby.com/2008/03/10/bind-and-grind-at-its-best-england-v-scotland/#comment-5233 Tom Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:11:25 +0000 http://www.whatisrugby.com/2008/03/10/bind-and-grind-at-its-best-england-v-scotland/#comment-5233 I see nothing wrong with Cipriani starting infact I sww this as a positive move bringing in the youngsters and changung style, if the Stellenboch proposals go through we will all have to adopt a more attacking style. On the other hand Scotland are not bleeding young players at vital positions such as stand-off and this comes back to bit them every time they have to play Dan Parks, or is it Dean Park, in this role. Let young men have their chance and allow them to grow into the role. I see nothing wrong with Cipriani starting infact I sww this as a positive move bringing in the youngsters and changung style, if the Stellenboch proposals go through we will all have to adopt a more attacking style. On the other hand Scotland are not bleeding young players at vital positions such as stand-off and this comes back to bit them every time they have to play Dan Parks, or is it Dean Park, in this role.
Let young men have their chance and allow them to grow into the role.

]]> By: Vic http://www.whatisrugby.com/2008/03/10/bind-and-grind-at-its-best-england-v-scotland/#comment-5172 Vic Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:56:16 +0000 http://www.whatisrugby.com/2008/03/10/bind-and-grind-at-its-best-england-v-scotland/#comment-5172 I was wrong, Ashton apparently <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7292415.stm" target="blank" rel="nofollow">has no job security</a>. However, that article talks about new coaches, perhaps Jake White, which would undoubtedly affect the team style. I was wrong, Ashton apparently has no job security. However, that article talks about new coaches, perhaps Jake White, which would undoubtedly affect the team style.

]]> By: Vic http://www.whatisrugby.com/2008/03/10/bind-and-grind-at-its-best-england-v-scotland/#comment-5160 Vic Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:48:41 +0000 http://www.whatisrugby.com/2008/03/10/bind-and-grind-at-its-best-england-v-scotland/#comment-5160 I think it further shows that Ashton has lost it. Certainly he is desperate. Isn't his contract good until 2011? I think it further shows that Ashton has lost it. Certainly he is desperate. Isn’t his contract good until 2011?

]]> By: Yue-Houng Hu http://www.whatisrugby.com/2008/03/10/bind-and-grind-at-its-best-england-v-scotland/#comment-5159 Yue-Houng Hu Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:42:25 +0000 http://www.whatisrugby.com/2008/03/10/bind-and-grind-at-its-best-england-v-scotland/#comment-5159 i don't see anything wrong with the move. england is officially out of contention, so they might as well see what they have in cipriani. and who knows, maybe he ignites an otherwise unimpressive backline against a potentially defensively frail irish team (sans starting midfielders). furthermore, ashton is rumored to have effectively lost his job due to his inability to produce any kind of attack beyond his forwards. maybe in the off chance that cipriani leads them to score a crap-load of points, he saves his job? i don’t see anything wrong with the move. england is officially out of contention, so they might as well see what they have in cipriani. and who knows, maybe he ignites an otherwise unimpressive backline against a potentially defensively frail irish team (sans starting midfielders).

furthermore, ashton is rumored to have effectively lost his job due to his inability to produce any kind of attack beyond his forwards. maybe in the off chance that cipriani leads them to score a crap-load of points, he saves his job?

]]> By: Josh Houston http://www.whatisrugby.com/2008/03/10/bind-and-grind-at-its-best-england-v-scotland/#comment-5143 Josh Houston Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:35:57 +0000 http://www.whatisrugby.com/2008/03/10/bind-and-grind-at-its-best-england-v-scotland/#comment-5143 Cipriani starting in place of Wilkinson officially marks England "giving up" in the tournament. NFL teams routinely start rookies when they know there season is over so as to get them experience for next season. Kind of shame because at the very least England owes it to their fans to out their best XV out there. But Ireland is banged up and not exactly at their best so who knows, it could be a good match. Or a real sh*t show... Cipriani starting in place of Wilkinson officially marks England “giving up” in the tournament. NFL teams routinely start rookies when they know there season is over so as to get them experience for next season. Kind of shame because at the very least England owes it to their fans to out their best XV out there.

But Ireland is banged up and not exactly at their best so who knows, it could be a good match.

Or a real sh*t show…

]]> By: Vic http://www.whatisrugby.com/2008/03/10/bind-and-grind-at-its-best-england-v-scotland/#comment-5141 Vic Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:56:51 +0000 http://www.whatisrugby.com/2008/03/10/bind-and-grind-at-its-best-england-v-scotland/#comment-5141 And <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby/article3530027.ece" rel="nofollow">so the insanity begins</a>. Untested Cipriani coming in for Wilco. Unless that boy has a boot of gold, Ireland will have a field day. And so the insanity begins. Untested Cipriani coming in for Wilco. Unless that boy has a boot of gold, Ireland will have a field day.

]]> By: Yue-Houng Hu http://www.whatisrugby.com/2008/03/10/bind-and-grind-at-its-best-england-v-scotland/#comment-5123 Yue-Houng Hu Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:10:34 +0000 http://www.whatisrugby.com/2008/03/10/bind-and-grind-at-its-best-england-v-scotland/#comment-5123 seriously, how crap was that match. i guess none of us should be surprised, though. a matchup between scotland (who have scored 1 try in the tournament thus far) vs. england would never be the most compelling match in the world (especially with wilkinson kicking away possession at every opportunity). i felt that scotland with all the ball they were getting, were at least attempting to run it a bit, especially in the opening moments before rory lamont went out and dan parks came on, sending paterson to the wing. what is somewhat perplexing is how they are so unsuccessful in creating anything at all. the best i can come up with is a) the ball isn't quick enough; b) blair (who is otherwise scotland's 6n player of the tournament) is not getting the ball out fast enough; c) the skills just aren't good enough, i.e. passes behind players, players not receiving the ball at pace, etc. maybe they need a [different] backs coach? a lot could be made of the english performance, which could pretty accurately be described as passionless. but i'm sure a lot of people will write on this issue, so i won't go into too much depth. but what i will say, is that they could probably use a good amount of shuffling, if for no other purpose than to breathe a little life into the squad. seriously, how crap was that match. i guess none of us should be surprised, though. a matchup between scotland (who have scored 1 try in the tournament thus far) vs. england would never be the most compelling match in the world (especially with wilkinson kicking away possession at every opportunity).

i felt that scotland with all the ball they were getting, were at least attempting to run it a bit, especially in the opening moments before rory lamont went out and dan parks came on, sending paterson to the wing. what is somewhat perplexing is how they are so unsuccessful in creating anything at all. the best i can come up with is a) the ball isn’t quick enough; b) blair (who is otherwise scotland’s 6n player of the tournament) is not getting the ball out fast enough; c) the skills just aren’t good enough, i.e. passes behind players, players not receiving the ball at pace, etc. maybe they need a [different] backs coach?

a lot could be made of the english performance, which could pretty accurately be described as passionless. but i’m sure a lot of people will write on this issue, so i won’t go into too much depth. but what i will say, is that they could probably use a good amount of shuffling, if for no other purpose than to breathe a little life into the squad.

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