Rugby Pass Podcast: A Dip In The Champions Cup Pools

Also Marcus Smith missed a couple of gettable kicks late which would have made the win more comfortable for Eng, so arguments both ways....

My next piece on Aussie and the Lions will feature the scrums where Eng did very well indeed. Atonio struggled at the start and Colombe struggled even more at the end. Lots of work for Servat to do there.

England did everything that they hadn't been able to do hitherto - they never quit, won the final quarter and they had the last word in a tight game. Kudos to them👍

The part England did better was fielding the kick and securing teh ball after they scored a try late on. And good on em, it will do them a power of good. Another four tries and a BP in the basket!

And France spilled a lot of lot points in that first half, undoubtedly. At the same time Galthie will be disappointed at the reaction he got when a few balls went down.

I was surprised Eng didn't use Willis at the front more, he's a good option for Sarries there... And good to know about the windshield rep co. They could rechristen as 'the playmakers'!

Something of a trivia fact. I believe Slade is a Type 1 diabetic. Not an easy condition to live with(our son is also Type 1). He has done well to have such a stellar career.

As a first five, Dmac has no threat on the carry, he's too small to bust through, that's why you don't see him try it like Mo'unga does. Dmac can still try to carry (when he should just give it to someone else) as his bailout option when under pressure, but thankfully with the forward dominance it's not so much an occurrence/issue.

Somehow Spew, but we haven't seen that because of the Dmac issue I outlined. It's generally the 10 that doubles around. I don't trust Jordies instincts at doing it either, even in his role of laying it back I don't think he's the one. So while I agree it's a powerful attacking play I don't think it's an option for the All Blacks either. Rieko just hasn't been able to catch the ball, it's pretty much his only problem. You can't see that changing though. I'd imagine they just can that play as something theyre not capable of too rather than change people in and out.

I perhaps go for something more simple, like runners from deep coming into the line at different angles. No so much about width like they were last year, just simple inside or out passes to Clarke/Jordan/Telea straitening the line. We want to see something different happen this year because if its the same I think we'll all be calling for heads again.

You comment on Ireland being without a strong backup at 3. I have liked the look of Thomas Clarkson so far. To me he looks better than Bealham as a scrummager. At 1.83 m and 124 kgs, and only 24, he would still have a lot of upside, I would hope. The Welsh game next up would be a chance to give Clarkson another run, resting Bealham.