England Rugby Union Captain

[martint235]

In which case it would be interesting who made the calls at the end of the England / Wales RWC game ... kick to the corner - good if a little risky, throw to front jumper - crazy !

I still don't think it was crazy. What was crazy was then setting up to combat the Welsh pushing us backwards rather anticipating that they'd try to push us sideways.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

As a Saints fan I've seen the best and worse from our Dylan over the years. He would bring an edge to the pack that was sadly missing at the World Cup, but as any game against Tigers or Sarries has shown over the last few seasons he would be targeted for a cheap yellow

You mean he is a compulsive cheat with anger management issues? The ref won't ping it if he doesn't see him do it.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Does it matter who is captain?

Sure, in cricket the captain is central to on-field (and to some extent off-field) decision making. Choice of cricket captain really matters.

In football it doesn't matter at all. Just a title

Rugby captains are a lot more like football captains than they are like cricket captains. All the serious decision making is done by the coaches

Rugby skips, and if outside the pack, pack leaders have far more influence on the game, and the choice and execution of the game plan, once the whistle is blown, than you realise.

 

[Wafer]

Would've been looking forward to the squad announcement but the telegraph seem to have already reported it...
Apparently Jones won't need to name captain till 27th Jan and Hartley might be captain pending performances in the next couples of weeks of European rugby.
Else, as Robshaw is apparently being included as a 6, he might retain it I guess and just put the captaincy debate off a bit longer.

 

[rugby bloke]

I still don't think it was crazy. What was crazy was then setting up to combat the Welsh pushing us backwards rather anticipating that they'd try to push us sideways.

If the forwards had backed themselves and thrown middle then the push towards the touch line would have been less of an issue. It does not take a line out genius to anticipate that they would counter the maul by pushing towards touch ... I would expect my U15s to pick that one up !

 

[martint235]

If the forwards had backed themselves and thrown middle then the push towards the touch line would have been less of an issue. It does not take a line out genius to anticipate that they would counter the maul by pushing towards touch ... I would expect my U15s to pick that one up !

Well the England Elite team didn't. They set themselves completely for being pushed back rather than driving at an angle towards the posts.

 

[Vidor06]

Rugby skips, and if outside the pack, pack leaders have far more influence on the game, and the choice and execution of the game plan, once the whistle is blown, than you realise.

I manage/coach our clubs 3rd XV and earlier this season was required to tog out for a game at the tender age of 40. I named myself as skipper (as you do). I gave away 3 penalties for 3 different offences in the space of the first 20 minutes, all of which could be deemed as cynical. I had built up a rapport with the ref before the game and in the early stages, he told me he didnt yellow card me because I was the skipper but that the next offence was definitely a yellow whether it was me or not.
I would say that a rugby captain is more influential at lower levels than at international level, simply because referees are closely scrutinised at international level and cant be seen as showing bias. Whereas at lower levels, while not showing bias, a ref can be swayed by a cordial/jovial word in his ear.
A cricket captain is more like an onfield coach than a captain but a rugby captain definitely has a lot more influence than a football captain who is merely there as a coin tosser.

 

[rugby bloke]

I'll be turning out for the Vets on Saturday .. our captain's main responsibility will be on reaching 70 mins to persuade Sir that we have all had long enough out in the cold and maybe we could retire to the bar !

 

[Onyer]

As a complete outside bet - Maro Itoje for captain. He's young and doing an outstanding job for Sarries.

 

[rugby bloke]

As a complete outside bet - Maro Itoje for captain. He's young and doing an outstanding job for Sarries.

Some time in the future for sure ... he is a massive star in the making, not sure if this the right time. I'll be gobsmacked if he is not in the squad though.

 

[Wafer]

I'll eat my hat, seems the Telegraph reporting missed a few points.

 

[Onyer]

Some time in the future for sure ... he is a massive star in the making, not sure if this the right time. I'll be gobsmacked if he is not in the squad though.

He would have four years to grow into the role. Don't forget Carling was chosen at a young age. As you say he has to get picked first, but he would be in my team.

 

[Wafer]

If Itoje is a potential captain I'd expect Jack Clifford to be in with a shout too.
You got a number of the guys who won the U20 world cup in 2013 in that squad now (Nowell, Slade, Hill, Cowan-Dickie, Clifford, Watson, Devoto) and Clifford captained.

 

[Wafer]

From Twitter

@EnglandRugby
Jones on captain: "When we have 15 players then we'll think about the captain...anyone could be captain."

@EnglandRugby
Jones: Captain has to be in the team, set standards for the team, be one of your best players, a conduit between coaches and players.

 

[subaqua]

I want Hartley as he will give so many easy points to the opposition when he loses his rag. note not IF , but WHEN !!

and yes I know Wales are good at leaking penalties too