A really bad look to play Farrell after concussion
THere’S no bigger fan of owen Farrell than me but I would not have considered him for tomorrow’s game against argentina. He’s been suffering from a concussion and no doubt he has ticked all the medical protocols, but I think it’s wrong to play him.
I’ve been championing Farrell to be both No 10 and captain but if he comes off concussed then rugby, and especially english rugby, will be left looking really poor.
talking about concussion and player welfare is one thing. taking tangible actions to show you are serious is another — and this was a highprofile opportunity to do just that.
as a coach, I would have taken this into my own hands. the final decision is not down to the player nor doctor. No one would have any qualms if Farrell had been given another week’s rest.
I think england can win the World Cup with Farrell or Marcus Smith in the No 10 position and this was the perfect opportunity to allow Smith to run the team from start to finish.
I would have had Smith at 10, Manu tuilagi at 12 and Henry Slade at 13, playing everyone in their best positions, because that combination is as good as it gets.
Smith is a superb talent but for me when Farrell is at his best — which he absolutely is right now — Smith is still the understudy.
For me it is either Farrell or Smith, but not both, and this was a missed chance to see exactly how good Smith is at this level without causing a stir.
It’s not the team I would have picked. I have a huge amount of respect for Ben youngs but Jack van Poortvliet was a star out in australia and earned the right to start.
When you look at France, Ireland, South africa or New Zealand there’s little debate around who they pick. Does anyone really know what is england best starting team?
Joe Cokanasiga and Jack Nowell are powerful wingers, but do they currently offer the X-factor you need? I’d like to see Henry arundell come in
when he’s fit because england need players who are going to fill the opposition with fear.
this team should set a target of a five-try haul against argentina. you need to be ruthless if you are going to win a World Cup. I think Jones is spot- on with his pack. Personally I would like a bit more speed in the back row, with Maro Itoje back at second row, but Jones’ strategy of picking three locks works for him.
alex Coles in the No 6 jersey is an unknown quantity at international level, but the rest of the pack will back themselves against anyone, especially at the set piece.
I love the front row — three tough, abrasive guys who are also extremely talented — and it is a forward pack that is undoubtedly good enough to win the World Cup.
Do not be surprised if one or two argentina players lose their cool in the face of these guys and find themselves in the sin-bin or worse. But it comes down to what happens next — and this is still the big question mark hanging over this team.
In four weeks’ time, the rugby world needs to be thinking, ‘Wow, they will take some beating’.
they should treat the next four weeks like a World Cup. Beat argentina to win the pool, beat Japan in the quarter- final, beat New Zealand in the semi-final and South africa in the final.
they should not use excuses like being a young team. Instead, they should start building themselves up.
england should get in the habit of raiding the 22m and never leaving without points. I would like to see drop goals in the first 20 minutes; many underestimate the uncertainty that causes defence. Build the score at every opportunity.
england have a good draw at the World Cup so why should they not be aiming to go there as favourites? Start setting the tone now.
It is also time to lay down a marker around discipline. It was fascinating to hear Shaun edwards talk about the fact that France did not concede one red or yellow card during the Six Nations.
england should be looking at that as a minimum and of equal importance to trying to keep their penalty count below 10 a game.
Coaching england is very simple. Win and get a deserved pat on the back, lose — especially with this back division — and there will be a lot of feedback coming your way!
tHe team I’m most looking forward to seeing is the all Blacks. they bounced back after a poor start to the year. they are right to select the three Barrett brothers. you can almost predict their backline every week. It’s a strong team and this will really give Wales an opportunity to see where they are.
IF Ireland are serious about winning the World Cup then they have to roll South africa. you know what’s coming with the Springboks. If Ireland play a genuine 15-man game then there’s no reason they shouldn’t win. after an historic summer, they need to back it up. and with andy Farrell at the helm I believe they will.
I love Gregor townsend but I would have played Finn russell. Scotland should beat Fiji, but in the big games you need someone like russell. you need a No 10 who can go head to head with players like Marcus Smith and romain Ntamack. If Scotland don’t win, Gregor’s going to cop it.