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anagallis_arvensis - MemberCouple nice breaks though!!
Isn't this always the problem with Welsh rugby - we're suckers for a 10 than can make a break. We'll overlook all sorts of failings if they can make a break or two.
Anyway, I agree - a couple of nice breaks. Unfortunately he also wrecked a couple of good breaks that others made by throwing the ball directly into touch on one and completely missing the intended player on another. So he needed to make those breaks to cancel out his errors. 😆
I think Sam Davies shows promise though. The drop goal was the right choice he just missed.
I disagree - the Os were looking strong with ball in hand. If he wanted to go for a DG then it needed a better set up, not the rush job that he went for.
New French rugby mag. A little lost in translation, perhaps.
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(Translation - Tampon can be loosely translated as "big tackle". As in a rugby tackle, you pervs!)
Tips and Hovis both getting a start! Two open sides, which is two more than England have in their entire squad!
😉
Obvious one CFH......but the worst part is how painfully true it is 🙁
No offense,but why are the Engerland players who were so very,very shite at the WC,going to be any better now? That probable team has a very familiar look.You spend all this time talking up the need for a no 7 and then pick the Wererabbit,who seems to qualify because he gets changed next to George Smith.
No offense taken Duckie!!!! I'm thinking exactly the same thing!!!!! All it needs is for Farrell to start at 10 and we're back in 2015!!!!
Trouble is, Farrell [i]should[/i] be starting at 10. He's in far, far better form than Ford is, and has been all season. With Slade injured, and Hill so far uncapped putting Farrell at 12 is the best option as Ford can't play there.
why are the Engerland players who were so very,very shite at the WC
That very, very shite team only lost to wales by 3 points.........
Wales team: Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues); George North (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Davies (ASM Clermont), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Tom James (Cardiff Blues); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing 92), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, Capt), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues).
No Liams Williams! Pressure on Anscombe and James. Big game for Rob Evans also. Some strong forwards on the bench.
We never claimed that a team with a scrum half on the wing and the rest in pieces were world beaters but england were rubbish 😆 lets not go over old ground though.
Not a bad Welsh team.How has Bradley been going this year?
We never claimed that a team with a scrum half on the wing and the rest in pieces were world beaters but england were rubbish
They were indeed, it's the worst I've seen them play in decades but they were still only 3 points from going through.
Cling onto that for all your worth 😆
I'm not clinging onto anything, it's an indisputable fact!
No offense,but why are the Engerland players who were so very,very shite at the WC,going to be any better now? That probable team has a very familiar look.You spend all this time talking up the need for a no 7 and then pick the Wererabbit,who seems to qualify because he gets changed next to George Smith.
Less expectation, decisive management, players in position (mostly) form over family/contract, no lost-£100k-in-shares-scandal, no arguing coaches, coaches that actually proven in what they are doing, more experienced and decisive Captain, in-form subs.
I don't think anyone is expecting miracle from this team based on history, but Eddie has to start somewhere, phases the newbies in slowly and get them experienced by RWC19, whilst meanwhile fielding the in-form club players as Internationals and mentors.
Fortunately or unfortunately despite similarities to the RWC15 squad, the players selected were selected for their personal merit not off the back of that particular tournament.
Like it or not, Robshaw's an excellent 6, Bill V the class 8, Launchbury, Kruis, & Itoje in good form, Farrell very good, JJ good, Watson good, Mako V very good...
What else could you do, field all new players and play to lose by as little margin as possible?
players in position (mostly)
Whats Hask's position?
Who is playing 12?
Kruis and Itoje aren't playing....Farrell is playing well at 10,not 12 and both Joseph and certainly Watson aren't in the best form of their lives. But I suppose the off-field stuff has improved,after all,no dwarves were harmed in the four-yearly crushing of their supporters expectations.
With our team in a mess, amazing that other nations' supporters spend so much time commenting on us!! Especially Sat's favourites!!
BTW - isn't it time for a proper 6N thread and should come from one of the [s]argumentative[/s] regulars, Shirley 😉
Perhaps each of the home nations should have their own thread to avoid the inevitable catty-ness?
teamhurtmore - MemberWith our team in a mess, amazing that other nations' supporters spend so much time commenting on us!! Especially Sat's favourites!!
Says the man who cannot stay away from any thread that even has a passing relation to Scotland's politics.
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SOH, ducks, SOH 😀
Now go and start the thread... 😉
Play nicely now!
England don't have great players, but I don't see what is supposed to be done differently.
Haskel is a great big lump who should (by shear physicality) do better than he does but he's not a 7. We don't have any 7's. EB is on record as saying he'll have to make do until he can manufacture one.
With Slade and Manu out, centre again looks difficult t fill but maybe Nowell who's played a lot at centre for Exeter will play in there somewhere. Anyone who thinks Farrell shouldn't be anywhere near the England team simply hasn't watched him play post world cup.
We're rubbish, there's no doubt about it but somehow, I still have a level of expectation. Maybe, just maybe.....
I can't wait!
Oh, and what is North doing slating his club? Rather odd given his contract extension in November. Is he after a transfer in the summer?
On a positive note, you're playing Scotland this weekend, who no doubt will try really hard but somehow manage to throw it away.
Trouble is, Farrell should be starting at 10. He's in far, far better form than Ford is, and has been all season.
Is this the same Ford who was replaced by Priestland in the Bath game last week? Godod luck. 😆
OK, little game for you all....
Who is fielding the following this weekend?
364 caps
3 Lions
2 national captains
Is this the same Ford who was replaced by Priestland in the Bath game last week? Godod luck.
Erm....it was the same ford who was not released back to his club by England.
Welsh Ladies, flashy?
Nope.
damn - thought that was lateral enough but still scarlet!!
364 caps
3 Lions
2 national captains
Gethin?
😆 but no!
Toulon?
Colder.....
Boo hiss...
Bunch of bench warmers? 😉
Yep! The Welsh bench.
The Welsh bench against Ireland?
[i]Damn. too slow[/i]
Strength in depth, strength in depth...
We don't know if Haskell is playing, let alone which position.
We dont but if he isnt 7 then its Robshaw isnt it?
No necessarily. Clifford is a very capable 7, better than the hask(tm) and Robshaw. Haskell will be starting for sure.
Why does everyone think Haskell will start? Is it a case of start with th experience and defence, then bring Clifford on when the occasion has died down a bit?
I just don't think he'll start Clifford (no caps) vs scotland at murrayfield
We will be playing two 7's in Hardie and Cowan/Barclay,excellent chance for Clifford to learn the ropes there.
Fair enough. I have no idea who Clifford is. As for Scotland I have no idea why Barclay doesnt play. Cowan has always looked a bit shit to me.
Who is the other captain on thecwelsh bench. I presume its Owens but could recall the game. Must have been one of those Friday night Autumn games?
wrecker -
Is this the same Ford who was replaced by Priestland in the Bath game last week? Godod luck.Erm....it was the same ford who was not released back to his club by England.
For the Euro Cup, wrecker. I know it's been more than three sleeps now. 🙂
I just bet a guy at work £10 that Scotland would win against England by at least 5 points. So 'mon the Kiwis With Scottish Grannies !
(p.s be very afraid, pretty much every Kiwi on the south island has a Scottish granny somewhere)
with Scotland being favourites, I hope you still got decent odds...
I wish that the SRU would dispense with a lot of the pre-match bllx - the big Gray brothers can do their stuff on the pitch without all the "marketing guff" that has invaded rugby in the last few years
Scotland XV to face England: Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland, Mark Bennett, Matt Scott, Tommy Seymour, Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (capt), Al Dickinson, Ross Ford, WP Nel, Richie Gray, Jonny Gray, John Barclay, John Hardie, Dave Denton.
bbc
Thats a strong team,Taylor has been flying for Sarries and isn't starting. I am suprised Denton is starting in front of Strauss,but hey-ho. Weakest link in there is Dickinson,he has a gearbox failure that means he can only reverse.
every Kiwi on the south island has a Scottish granny somewhere
In the basement for when the sheep is too tired?
Is Kryton on suicide watch after Farrel put at 12 and The Hask at 7?
Haskall is a big unit but I can't see how he is fast enough around the park.Can't work out why Clifford isn't being played. Not that I am complaining of course...(Well I would rather Burgess was still in and Marler,but I didn't get to pick the side)
For the Euro Cup, wrecker. I know it's been more than three sleeps now.
You said last week? Bath played sarries last week, and ford wasn't available. Priestland has not started ahead of Ford. He's played 370 odd minutes across 8 games the whole season, and most of those were off the bench and not at fly half. To say he is being selected ahead of Ford is just incorrect, however a very relevant fact is that the sarries game was one of Baths best performances this season, and priestland was a fly half, so there is an argument to say that perhaps he should be starting.....
From @thepaulwilliams on the twit;
Eddie Jones names 3 vice captains.Not sure why you'd do that unless you were worried about your captain being sent o......
Ah, I see.
Very good!
Pretty much exactly the team I expected sadly there just isn't the wonder player game changers that were being overlooked before.
I suspect a different style of play however, just not sure what! Very interested to see if with the same props and supposedly a weaker scrummager in Hartley (as in push, not hook) against a decent Scottish scrum, weather the fair better. I guess they will.
Pretty much exactly the team I expected gladly Jones isn't persuaded by the press over-hype and is taking a sensible approach to developing players
there just isn't the wonder player game changers that were being overlooked before
There is no silver bullet, even for the Were-Rabbit.
Obvs' I think Kvesic and Morgan should be in the team but then again Glaws are playing Bath tomorrow...
Hartley is twice the scrummager that Youngs is.
There won't be anything special about England for this entire 6 nations.
Without making excuses, EJ has had 2 weeks with the players and he was limited in how much he could change the squad anyway. If I were him, I wouldn't be trying to change too much, there just isn't the time. So a few tweaks is the best we can hope for. I expect losses to wales and ireland, perhaps scotland. It's no biggie.
supposedly a weaker scrummager in Hartley
Set piece is Hartleys strength.
Wrecker you have Wales at Twickers, should expect to win that. Where have you got ireland?
Tuilagi if ever fit would make a massive difference.
wrecker - MemberFor the Euro Cup, wrecker. I know it's been more than three sleeps now.
You said last week? Bath played sarries last week, and ford wasn't available. Priestland has not started ahead of Ford. He's played 370 odd minutes across 8 games the whole season, and most of those were off the bench and not at fly half. To say he is being selected ahead of Ford is just incorrect, however a very relevant fact is that the sarries game was one of Baths best performances this season, and priestland was a fly half, so there is an argument to say that perhaps he should be starting.....
Umm, ok, I made a throw-away comment, didn't expect an argument, especially over time-frames.
The Euro Cup game against Toulon was, what, 10 days ago, so maybe I should have been more specific.
My throwaway comment, which again should maybe have been a little more explicit, was based on the fact that I think Priestland is a pretty dreadful OH*. I thought it was funny that Ford was playing so, so badly that Bath thought it necessary to replace him with Priestland. I'm sure Ford will play better for England. Sorry to be so cryptic.
*Yes Priestland can occasionally play well, but he's not good enough for Wales IMO, far too nervous, far too inconsistent and he is selected purely because of internal Welsh politics.
anagallis_arvensis - Member
Is Kryton on suicide watch after Farrel put at 12 and The Hask at 7?
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I wasn't arguing with you idlejon. You thought that Bath had selected Priestland ahead of ford, and that was well, wrong. Ford started vs Toulon and priestland came on in the 76th minute for Agulla. Ford remained on the pitch. Like I said, no argument, just pointing out that Priestland has not been unseating ford for bath. Ford has mainly remained at 10 when Priestland has come on (who then played in the centre or wherever).
Cool. 🙂
Lord Eddie J is now saying that they have a
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12.
Rather enjoyed Probyn's dig here, though!
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Owen Farrel was all over the place in defence at 12 v wales in the world cup.
They've misquoted EJ there. He actually said - I watched the video - "Owen Farrell has all the attributes to be an international 12" Maybe he sees him as Giteau Jnr. It'd be interesting to see Tuilagi/Devoto outside him/Slade in the next few years.
Lets see/hope if Dad's argument with Mike Catt influenced that and this time around its a different story.Owen Farrel was all over the place in defence at 12 v wales in the world cup
Probyn's being a bit of a tit there, Robshaw isn't trying to imitate Pocock or Hooper. Not this year anyway.
"Owen Farrell has all the attributes to be an international 12"
Such as his epic handling and finishing skillz?
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🙂
Owen Farrell has all the attributes to be an international 12" Maybe he sees him as Giteau Jnr
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Rather enjoyed Probyn's dig here, though!
Nice to have former players slagging the team eh?
What a class act.....
You need to read the words more literally. For example I had all the attributes to be an international 13 once, except I also wasn't quite good enough 😀
So straight to embra tonight for meet up with friends/old team mates.Went to the cash machine for beer/curry tokens,as I put the money in my wallet,I realised I better get some more out "just in case"
Be still my beating liver.Supposed to be playing against an Edinburgh vets team tomorrow at 10.30..Aye; so I will.
England don't have great players, but I don't see what is supposed to be done differently.
Haskel is a great big lump who should (by shear physicality) do better than he does but he's not a 7. We don't have any 7's
We do have a seven who is not too bad - Kvesic. He did well when England toured Argentina and from what I have seen this season is in pretty good form. Haskell seems to be in pretty good form since the WC, but a seven he isn't. My main issue with him is that he'll give you one great game and then do naff all (see last 6N - great against Wales, poo for the rest of the games).
I think Clifford is destined to be a sub because he covers all three back positions - he's not a natural seven either. His own team mate (Easter) has said that he's a six / eight, not a seven.
Ford worries me because his form has been dire since the WC; Bath can't buy a win and he is trying way too hard. I'm not a Farrell fan, but he should be playing 10. Who will kick? I hope it's Farrell.
Lawes is a lucky boy to be in the squad on his current form - Itoje should have been on the bench based on form, but I guess I can understand why Eddie isn't chucking in too many youngsters. There are a lot of 'fans and pundits unhappy we have a foreign coach so can't wait for him to fail.
Scotland will fancy themselves - they're at home, with a settled squad coming off an OK WC.
Ireland team. SOB out as well
15. Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster) 21
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 58
13. Jared Payne (Ulster) 10
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht) 15
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 46
10. Jonathan Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster) 56
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 42
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 25
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 89 Captain
3. Nathan White (Connacht) 8
4. Mike McCarthy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 17
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 31
6. CJ Stander (Munster)*
7. Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 9
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 80 Vice-Captain
Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 48
17. James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster) 2
18. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 3
19. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster) 34
20. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College/Leinster) 6
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 4
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster) 25
23. David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 14
Wales back row will have a field day
You would imagine Wales are a bit stronger up front so expect Ireland to kick tovthe corners and maul us to death!!! Wales are always shit first time out. Our backs worry me if Tom James is the answer then the question can only be who is slightly less of a donkey than Cuthbert!
How much rugby has James played? Hasn't he been injured for a while (much the same as any Welsh back!)?
I agree with you on Ireland's approach a_a. A lot depends on Sexton/ Murray having good days.
Tom James has played a lot this season I think had injury problems when at Exeter. He is Forrest Gump though fine when just running but if he has to time to think he's screwed!
Not watching live today so will check back on the bickering later!
I know the 6N is about to kick off and this is a different tack but I've been watching the World 7s the last few weeks and it's been excellent.
Interesting how the top sides have been trying to integrate some XVs players like SBW, Savea, Speight and Cooper (though he's not made the latest tournament) and they're building for Rio.
Team GB? Nothing.
I've heard statements about "negotiations with the clubs over release" and "looking to integrate some fifteen a side players" and "some Welsh/Scottish players are under consideration" but there's nothing concrete and, in case they haven't noticed, IT'S FAR TOO LATE!
It looks like a cluster***k along the lines of team GB wendyball from London 2012.