Six Nations 2014: Ask Jeremy Guscott

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments167

Billy Twelvetrees watches on as France celebrate

Among the topics making the headlines this week are:

- France beating England in an epic encounter in Paris

- Champions Wales coming out of the blocks slowly with a workmanlike win over Italy

- Ireland opening up in the second half to thrash Scotland

- Brian O'Driscoll breaking the Ireland Test caps recordexternal-link

If you have a question for Jerry, on any rugby-related topic, post it in the comments section at the bottom of the page. He will answer as many as possible in the next day or two but not every question submitted can be used.

You can also follow Jerry on Twitter.external-link

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167 comments

  • Comment posted by brucyboy, at 22:59 2 Feb 2014

    Hi Jeremy

    Stuart Lancaster does not seem to know his best 15, with everyone fit what would be your best 15. Also do you think he also makes needless substitutions of players playing well, Hartley and Care were taken off far too early for me.

  • Comment posted by JJ, at 09:41 3 Feb 2014

    Hello Jerry. I know countries alternate home and away every year, but how is the order of fixtures decided in the 6 Nations? In a competition where point’s difference can win or lose the Championship, playing the last game at home is a tremendous advantage. In the last 10 years, including this one, Wales have been at home for the last game 9 times! Surely this is not equitable.

  • Comment posted by Suftum1, at 08:14 3 Feb 2014

    Jerry

    Based on the weekends rugby do you think Ireland should easily beat what is a very overrated Wales team.

  • Comment posted by Brian Gallagher, at 22:54 2 Feb 2014

    Why was Danny Care taken off when he was having such a positive influence on the game. I know we have to give the guys on the bench a run out but that was a crucial stage of the game?

  • Comment posted by Jengibre, at 10:07 3 Feb 2014

    @80 I don't think you'll get your wish. I expect 36 will stay. Burrell had a more than decent first cap. Nowell had a real mixed bag of a day. I would like to see Eastmond on the bench for BB.

  • Comment posted by The Academy, at 09:12 3 Feb 2014

    No new hooker has been brought into the squad so Youngs will be on the bench again barring injury. The next wave of hookers are all a little green beyond Webber. George would be the next one for me, strong in the set piece and good in the loose.

  • Comment posted by Younger Z, at 08:37 3 Feb 2014

    Hey Jerry, is there any chance that you and the guys could actualy take the time to teach John Inverdale the rules of the game?

    And remind him that smugness looks stupid when your team has lost?

  • Comment posted by U9635940, at 22:51 2 Feb 2014

    From one Jez to another. Why when a player is playing well, controlling the game, making the opposition fret every time he has the ball, does a coach replace him at the 60 minute mark? I am referring to Danny Care and to this modern fascination with pre-determined substitutions?

  • Comment posted by nel, at 09:59 3 Feb 2014

    hands up i was wrong about care. he was very good. why take him off?
    i knew ireland would win but easy in the end. scots have got to take a long hard look at themselves. they are possibly the worst team in the 6N and yet fans still talk of titles and GS. Wales were methodical and boring. have to improve or irish eyes will be shining. England unlucky. france poor but flair in last minutes only

  • Comment posted by U15647195, at 08:00 3 Feb 2014

    Got to agree about SL's subs Care had the French running scared,and why when you have 4 players capable of playing centre in the starting 15 ( Farrell May 36 and Burrell) do you need another Barrett on the bench,and why take your only winger off and replace him with a centre.Also do you think it's about time Tom Youngs was told to improve his line out throwing or face being dropped.

  • Comment posted by mikej, at 07:47 3 Feb 2014

    Whilst generally i like SLs approach his one blind spot seems to be pre-programmed substitutions. Lawes seemed injured so no issue there, but it was on the tighthead that the Eng scrum was having trouble, swapping Marler to MV made matters worse, Care and Hartley were playing very well and Youngs still cant hit a barn door so... An early wing injury emphasised the poor choice of 3/4 subs.

  • Comment posted by glittergreenandred, at 00:08 3 Feb 2014

    Jeremy
    Nigel Owens seems to be on a different plane from other referees. He really understands the needs of players and spectators. How can others be brought up to his standard?

  • Comment posted by simonr, at 11:30 3 Feb 2014

    Hi Jerry, why do England seem to concede early points, 13-0 down against France, 17-3 against NZ and 16-6 against Australia. England won one of these but came back in all three. Surely it is a worry to a team that can score points and defernsivley are very good for large parts of the game to be so poor in the first 15-20

  • Comment posted by Original Tim, at 09:42 3 Feb 2014

    @74 Jengs

    I think Nowell did enough to keep it...
    Watson must be in with a shout.
    36 looking like bench material?

    Eastmond at 12 or Burrell with Daly outside?

  • Comment posted by beeryswine, at 09:40 3 Feb 2014

    Hi Jerry, I cant understand why coaches make pre-planned substitutions regardless of what is happening in the game. The substitution particularly of Care and Lawes disturbed the momentum of the team.

  • Comment posted by U15996762, at 09:37 3 Feb 2014

    64 - It was both, Italy were very good and a couple of years ago they would have beaten Wales. Wales were poor and lacked speed and intensity. But they will improve, its encouraging that you can play badly and still win. Contrast that with England who were very good but still lost.

  • Comment posted by Wilburforceful, at 09:23 3 Feb 2014

    Jerry, what do you think of Lancasters use of the bench?

  • Comment posted by U15996762, at 09:06 3 Feb 2014

    44 - I don't think so, don't forget that Scotland did not have any cutting edge and were very poor and made it easy for Ireland. Wales were poor but still won against a very good Italian team. Its a bit premature to suggest any humiliations. It is tough to call but if Wales play to their strengths and keep it simple then they will win.

  • Comment posted by U14239106, at 09:04 3 Feb 2014

    SL is becoming a man of excuses & so are the English media. All I have heard so far is Eng played great but only lost cos of maybe inexperience. While Wales struggled. Didnt Wales win and Eng lose?
    I think Eng are hugely overrated & are nothing better than an average team. I think 3rd place would be an achievement for this Eng side.

  • Comment posted by octaviopaz, at 09:01 3 Feb 2014

    Jerry
    Before another tournament loss Stuart Lancaster said that "there would be no excuses" after. Yet yesterday he was at pains to point out the youth & low number of caps of the players he selected.
    Do you think it was lost on him that the French 10 won his 1st cap yesterday and a 19 year old centre scored the winning try .... or was he making excuses?

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