Mike Cooper (RuckedOver)

48 Tonnes. 80 Minutes. 1 Dad Bod. Just before the 3rd Test, I’ll be trying to lift the combined weight of every match day squad of the whole Lions Tour (48,000kg) in the time it takes to complete a rugby match (80 minutes) for two amazing causes. justgiving.com/team/liftingth…

@robkitson @CharlieFelix I thought of that too but I guess the counter is: a) you’d have to set up a ruck going backwards which always leads to an increased risk of turnover and b) you give France an attacking lineout from which they can execute a launch play, which we’d struggled with all game.

@CharlieFelix Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Hindsight's a wonderful thing, obvs.

Spencer was superb, but Van Poortvliet came on with France leading 38-32 and was integral to England's (excellent) seventh try. On his kick at the end, England weren't keeping possession for two minutes just outside their own 22. Right decision, let down by chase.

@casrugbyshirts @CharlieFelix Ten years ago, I’d agree with you. Refs were not alive to sealing off offences and you’d see teams burn through 5 minutes with very little issue. But that hasn’t been the case for some time and refs have been out to penalise what they see as ‘negative play’ for many years.

@casrugbyshirts @CharlieFelix I’m 100% convinced that, in modern elite rugby, defending from halfway & applying pressure is a better option than trying to burn through 12 phases on your own 22, with a French pack fighting for everything, a ref looking for a sealing off offence and a baying home crowd.

@casrugbyshirts @CharlieFelix That was much more contentious because Leicester were behind, and there was 30 seconds left on the clock. Big difference to defending a lead with more than 2 minutes left. Could maybe have found another 5 metres in distance but it was decent enough. Right call 100%.

@CharlieFelix Leicester gave the ball back to Bath with less than two minutes to go when they needed points to win a final last season. Maybe it’s a club thing.

@WibbleRugby It’s not this one. I think it’s Davison a phase or two before. At the time I thought nothing of it but afterwards both players are holding their heads.

@BenBradford5 @blandsteve Yep. After letting Jalibert ghost through I really thought that was it after we won it back!

@RuckedOver @blandsteve Why was Pollock trying an offload? Just protect the ball!

We had the ball with seconds to go. That one hurts. If Murley dives on it rather than tries to kick it, England win.

@joycey505 You didn’t read it, did you? England needed a second distributor to get past Ireland’s rush. Bringing Smith on for Ford just keeps the same problem. If there was a playmaking 12, then fine, but that’s not Dingwall either.

@RuckedOver If Steward was having the game you’re imagining then Smith would have replaced Ford. Thats not what happened though is it.

Agree with Smith on at 15. Steward has been tidy IMO, one of the better attackers & 2 try-savers - don’t blame him for a yellow brought about by desperation covering for others’ mistakes - but Ford’s struggles & England’s failing kicking game means Smith offers far more balance.

@mjgclutch @joycey505 I think he should be starting if you’re playing the right game for him, but our kicking game was appalling. Otherwise agree.

@RuckedOver @joycey505 He was hauled off cause we were 15 points behind so you don’t want a passenger in the backline. I agree Steward had a decent game, but he shouldn’t be starting. Has to be the end now.

@slowpurrrr The scrum went well in all 3 games, was my point, and first choice THs were still available for Ireland. Made no difference though as they outplayed England in every other facet.

@RuckedOver Ireland were searching around the back of the sofa for props, of course we struggled.

One of the most damaging defeats in memory for England. Lack of basic skill execution, lapses of concentration, an inability to adapt when plan A fails. Scrum about the only thing gone well. Real risk they will go 1 win in this 6N. Then there will be some decisions to make.

@joycey505 He was hauled off because a) Ford’s ineffectual decision making meant we needed a distributor in the second wave; and b) with the kicking plan going to shit, Smith offers more balance. He was hauled off because of Ford’s deficiencies more than anything.

@RuckedOver Course he did, that’s why Borthwick hauled him off! Your next take will be George Ford for man of the match

@joycey505 Beat more defenders than anyone else in the England back line and made two try savers. Those are just facts 🤷🏻‍♂️

@RuckedOver Steward has been tidy? How many pints you had? He offers absolutely nothing in attack got a yellow and can’t catch a high ball. That’s tidy is it?

I love the bloke but what the hell was that attempted tackle from Genge. Really worrying to see experienced players switching off like that.

@Richard32475343 @alexsimpson99 @CharlieFelix Aside from the yellow, Steward offered more defenders beaten and made two try savers. Smith coming on offers much more balance in phase play though, with Ford struggling and kicking game gone to shit. Ford and LCD very poor sadly.

Psst Jack van Poortvliet has been very good.

@statto190379 @RugbyInsideLine Examples? Was it the two missed tackles or the three defender’s beaten (joint most with Lawrence) that really wound you up?

@RuckedOver @RugbyInsideLine Take the leicester glasses off hes been shocking

Steward the latest sacrificial lamb for Borthwick. The fullback only gets 29 minutes in the first half. Might be the last we see from him for a while... Marcus Smith onto the field.

@trombiker @RugbyInsideLine No absolutely not Borthwick’s fault. But I don’t blame steward for pushing the line out of desperation after his side have let through yet another line break which he’s had to clear up. It was a marginal call that would probably have been fine under the new ref’s eyes!

@RuckedOver @RugbyInsideLine Whether you disagree with the ref or not, (and tbh I don't, I think he was on his feet and the ball was lifted) it wasn't Borthwick's fault he didn't get the full 40

@trombiker @RugbyInsideLine Yeah, after making a try saving tackle to cover for his teammates’ errors he should have let JGP walk in. It was arguable that he was on his feet when he tackled JGP and call could have gone either way. Saw Beirne get away with it under the new ref just before half time.

@RugbyInsideLine 39*, the 10 minutes he had off where of his own doing