All 10 team selections for Gallagher Premiership round six

I agree England’s world rankings were inflated by their easy WC draw.

Win ratios don’t seem to matter, when it suits our friends from the North. We’ve have had to endure a lot of chest thumping because of win ratios up to now. So I’m glad you’ve at least seen the light. Trophies matter. Of which England has none of those either.

Although I’m surprised just how satisfied you are with mediocrity between World Cups. Something you’ve been quite outspoken about re: the Boks and their supporters.

I don’t think England will do much better than 60% wins for the year. Which would make it 42%, 56% and 60% in 2022, 2023 and 2024 if my maths stacks up. Eddie at least achieved 71%, 89% and 70% in the 3 years before he left.

So I can’t agree that England has “a clearly defined style of play for the first time in a long time”. You’ve regressed since Eddie. Even razor who has less time than Borthwick under his belt, outwitted you and achieved 70% for the year with a less settled squad. You tried copying the Bok rush defence over the last year and the guy who brought it in is leaving. Already.

Too many ifs, buts and maybes. But I hope I’m wrong. Because 1. I can’t bear the idea of Ireland and France running completely rampant without some resistance from England. And 2. You’re only going to get more salty about the boks to make up for your misery (envy).

England's attack was poor against New Zealand. It was good against Japan, because they gave Smith space to run, but the next most recent test started by Smith at 10 was the absolutely dire 1st test against Wales last summer. Before that was the terrible loss against France in the 2023 six nations.

Lets compare the points scored by England in the most recent tests started by Ford and Smith at 10 against each tier 1 side:

Ireland:

Smith 15, Ford 23

South Africa:

Smith 13, Ford 12

New Zealand:

Smith 17, Ford 19

France:

Smith 10, Ford 31

Argentina:

Smith 29, Ford 27

Scotland:

Smith 23, Ford 21

Italy:

Smith 33, Ford 27

Australia:

Smith 21, Ford 40

Wales:

Smith 9, Ford 16

Thats 5 matchups where Ford comes on top, and 4 where Smith does. The points average is 18.9 for Smith and 24 for Ford.

Looking just at matches against other top 5 sides, its 3 to 1 for Ford, and points averages of 13.8 for Smith and 21.3 for Ford.

Win rate doesn't tell you a huge amount, world rankings offer much better insight. 2023 was a year of improvement for england, owing to the good world cup run. Things haven't progressed in 2024 so far, but given England have a settled starting XV and a clearly defined style of play for the first time in a long time, we'll see the number rise again pretty soon.

I think the campaign went nuclear on and off the field after that.

But Australia/SA/NZ all established teams and playing each other regularly.

There can't be a high level of animosity. It's not sustainable, you're playing them twice a year and seeing the players regularly.

All that arrogance stuff from Rassie before the SA series V Ireland is stone dead. The SA players knew it was BS and I am pretty sure Rassie could see by the Irish aggression in match 2 that it backfired and wasn't sustainable.

The Global rugby world is too small now for this nonsense. Better to have respect.

If Ireland stick around then this level of animosity is hardly sustainable and some level of acceptance may be required on NZs part.

Not strictly in 2007: Ireland lost to France and Argentina and were eliminated in Pool stage. France also lost to Argentina and went on to meet NZ in the QF, presumably they got absolutely hammered........NZ were world no.1, a staggering 6.5 points clear of the second ranked team...can you recall??

1999 a year we lost a Knock out match to Argentina. This time France beat them but as luck would have it they were then drawn against Jonah Lomu and New Zealand!!!!! I have a vague memory of a lot of tries....a cricket score for NZ I guess....help me out here my memory is failing...????