It Wasn't Eddie's Fault

[DGP Wasp]

RFU have concluded their review...

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/rugby-football-union-concludes-six-nations-debrief

The panel concluded that while there were a number of contributing factors that led to England’s disappointing fifth place ranking in the Guinness Six Nations and the focus will be on addressing these systemic challenges, there were some specific factors that had an influence on the 2021 Guinness Six Nations tournament as follows:

•    Coaching – the absence of Jason Ryles and Neil Craig were a significant loss in coaching expertise and team support, this had a significant impact on the wider coaching team. The initial unavailability of Matt Proudfoot and isolation of Eddie Jones also had an affect on the effectiveness of the coaching team.

•    Player preparation and availability – several players did not have enough game time going into the Guinness Six Nations. Conversely a wider group were fatigued as a result of being the only country to have back-to-back seasons; resulting in players having no mental break from one season to the next. In addition, a handful of notable players were unavailable. 

•    Breakdown indiscipline – improvements required including lower body strength and appropriate skill modifications. 

•    Covid – the necessary stringent protocols, in some cases greater than other Unions, had a significant impact on coaching and support staff as well as the playing squad cohesion. 

•    Squad transition – the agreed protocols, which the RFU and Eddie were fully supportive of due to Covid challenges, meant fixed squads prevented players coming in and out during the campaign as they would normally.

So it was mostly down to COVID as England's measures were so very different from anyone else's.
And the Premiership clubs who played their own players too much while not letting Sarries join in.
That and the fact that players lacked the skills and physical attributes required to compete at the breakdown.
Oh, and they couldn't rotate players in and out of the squad.  Except Joe Marchant.  And George Martin.
Nothing at all to do with misguided selection based on misplaced loyalty then?

[NellyWellyWaspy]

 

[westwaleswasp]

So, they privately asked a bunch of players hoping to be selected again, and they did not say 'blame the coach who picked me'. I am shocked, shocked.

[MarleyWasp]

More like the RFU didn't have the cash or the bottle to give Eddie the push.

[JonnyD]

Wow, now blaming the fixed nature of the squad as an issue after Eddie insisted on it at the start.

Surely the issue that a number of players did not have enough gametime leading up to the 6 nations is exactly an Eddie issue as he chose to pick them all!!!

[WonkyWasp]

... but at least they all know what they have to do, which is ..... ?

[hookender]

Picking players who are not match fit (either little/no game, or too much ) is not the responsibility of the head coach? And the recommendations to be implemented are not already done?

[Shugs]

Well this just amounts to complete drivel. Several of the "factors" were common across all the teams. The whole thing is a total waste of time. Ask a sample of 100 varied fans and you will get two common and fundamental themes 1) Poor selection 2) Poor game plan.

[Neils]

Well this just amounts to complete drivel. Several of the "factors" were common across all the teams. The whole thing is a total waste of time. Ask a sample of 100 varied fans and you will get two common and fundamental themes 1) Poor selection 2) Poor game plan.

Did you expect anything else?

[Shugs]

Well this just amounts to complete drivel. Several of the "factors" were common across all the teams. The whole thing is a total waste of time. Ask a sample of 100 varied fans and you will get two common and fundamental themes 1) Poor selection 2) Poor game plan.

Did you expect anything else?

No. That expectation at least has been met!

[mike909]

Picking players who are not match fit (either little/no game, or too much ) is not the responsibility of the head coach? And the recommendations to be implemented are not already done?

My thoughts were similar. The problem in 2021, was a combination of picking out of form and unfit players in a team could still play well, if and only if, they were organised/playing well up front. Showed that vs France second half and part of the Wales game. But I don't see what benefit there is in playing out of form/unfit players. Does nothing for them nor the team who even when obviously fitter, were made to look a little dull by what's a decent but not extraordinary Ireland side.

That's all down to the coach. The same coach who if complaining about player pool was the one who made bizarre selections to the shadow squad, picked a flanker who has started 4 Prem games ever, and then selected players like Lawrence, who never got a pass, and were then dropped...for - who knows, eh?

And given who was asked......whitewash hardly covers it......

[Neils]

Well this just amounts to complete drivel. Several of the "factors" were common across all the teams. The whole thing is a total waste of time. Ask a sample of 100 varied fans and you will get two common and fundamental themes 1) Poor selection 2) Poor game plan.

Did you expect anything else?

No. That expectation at least has been met!

 

[JF]

...and in other news there is strong evidence of ursine defacation in forested areas.

[bigad82]

The RFU don't seem to know a lot about rubgy at any level.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

I was painting canal side stonework for the CRT with whitewash on Sunday (I volunteer at Knowle Locks), but we ran out as two of the big tubs of whitewash were missing from our order. Now I know where they went.