In these games, you've got to give yourself a chance and crunching allowed us to do that. Thinking back to the U21's, I regret not crunching as I didn't give us a chance of realistically winning, so I'm definitely supportive of your decision. Home advantage is hard to overcome.
Alternatively: the bar for an NT starter is just very high, and we're 1-3 players short (and not getting closer next season, which makes me wonder what to do next...)
I agree. It's clear to see the decline and availability of young talent we have coming through for both the National and U21 side. Makes our jobs harder as expectations won't change hugely.