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Irish press reporting a strong selection likely;
15 Rob Kearney (Leinster)
14 Keith Earls (Munsterr)
13 Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster)
12 Robbie Henshaw (Connacht)
11 Dave Kearney (Leinster)
10 Jonathan Sexton (Leinster)
9 Conor Murray (Munster)
1 Jack McGrath (Leinster)
2 Richardt Strauss (Leinster)
3 Nathan White (Connacht)
4 Iain Henderson (Ulster)
5 Paul O’Connell (Toulon)
6 Peter O’Mahony (Munster)
7 Jordi Murphy (Leinster)
8 Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)
Replacements: D Kilcoyne (Munster) or M Bent (Leinster), S Cronin (Leinster), T Furlong (Leinster), D Ryan (Munster), S O’Brien (Leinster), E Reddan (Leinster) or I Boss (Leinster), P Jackson (Ulster), F Jones (Munster) or S Zebo (Munster).
This is where we are lucky up in Scotland. We have to find a couple of
Kilted Kiwis just to have enough qualified professional players to fill up thE required squad size. You can wedge your "which centre pairing?" malarky right up your soft southern bums.
The drink driving thing was a massive own goal tbf.
He has also never really done anything at the top level. That leg break at the wrong time really did for him.
@aa agreed totally. Also as above the drink/driving arrest couldn't have come at a worse time and the night after an Engkand game. Just go home early Danny and get a taxi, no shortage of them in London, the irony is he ran into an Uber ! Perhaps I am a bit harsh on him but like the Orange One ( 🙂 ) he has so much talent, talent that any of us would love to have at something, anything and they just can't keep their heads down and focus for 10-15 years ? If you want to behave like Cirpiani join a boy band.
Please God I hope Farrell remains the back up to Ford.
This is where we are lucky up in Scotland. We have to find a couple of
Kilted Kiwis just to have enough qualified professional players to fill up thE required squad size. You can wedge your "which centre pairing?" malarky right up your soft southern bums.
Wales are much the same!
That Ireland line up looks strong. See what Wales do.
I think tbf fair to Cips and Gav, they both had hard times with injuries. But still Gav has his Grand Slams and Lions caps to tell the grand kids about and Cips banged Kelly Brook so its not all bad!
I still think we might find Barritt is injured.
..which would make more sense thatbsky sports are reporting a Burgess is in, rather than a decision to leave Burrell out.
This is where we are lucky up in Scotland. We have to find a couple of Kilted Kiwis just to have enough qualified professional players to fill up thE required squad size. You can wedge your "which centre pairing?" malarky right up your soft southern bums.
Ireland got there first with Jared Payne. There's Boss and Bent too. And Vern's mate Joe in charge.
But long gave up hope of finding a - how do you say it? - "centre pairings". Even with kilted kiwis.
New "Total Rugby" - based on the Dutch football side from the '70s - has no centres and at least 3 full backs.
Working towards a full complement of 5 or 6 Full backs soon, no wings or fly half next.
15 Kearney
14 Felix Jones
13 Payne
12 Henshaw
11 Zebo
10 Madigan
Prepare to see that unleashed against the English next week.
they might even try a bit of kicking the ball in the air and see what happens.
BM - that's a strong side and suggests to me that Chris Henry has got nothing left to prove, he's in or Joe would give him another run.
Cips banged Kelly Brook so its not all bad!
And Jordan and a pre-op transexual,so the Lord giveth,the Lord taketh away.
On that England theme,
Loads of media reporting yesterday that Cipriani's out of the squad as fact, not rumour. none of them that I saw mentioned their source, just his media page.
With an official announcement not coming till today, it now looks like Lancaster's made a right call based on who he can trust in the squad.
Cipriani is good to watch, but he is basically 3rd/4th choice in a few positions. The cover for 10/12/13/15 is going to be slade/Goode/Watson instead of him.
I think the inclusion and performance of Slade took him out of the thinking.
WALES TEAM TO PLAY IRELANDLeigh Halfpenny (Toulon); Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), George North (Northampton Saints), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, capt), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Paul James (Ospreys), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), James King (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Going for it then! Suprised Bradley is over Charteris and where is Sam?
Fly-half Gareth Anscombe is the latest fitness worry, having picked up an ankle injury in training and is not included.Prop Samson Lee (Achilles tendon) and wing or full-back Liam Williams (foot) are unlikely to be fit before the World Cup starts.
Pray for Samson!!
Should never have got that hair cut
Burgess, Slade and Barritt all in the squad
http://www.englandrugby.com/news/lancaster-names-man-rugby-world-cup-squad/
Can I ask a dumb question? Surely Cips, Burrell etc are likely to get a game given the usual attrition?
Ireland team confirmed as predicted
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
13. Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10. Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
2. Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
3. Nathan White (Connacht)
4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) (capt)
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)
Replacements:
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) *
19. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
20. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)
22. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
23. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)
Surely Cips, Burrell etc are likely to get a game given the usual attrition?
England would have to make it past Wales and Australia first
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. Can't see the point in taking JG or LCD either when they so obviously wouldn't want to play them - and there's a creative way to get the man they want back after Fiji.
I was surprised England have selected 3 hookers, I thought you were onto something there!
For me it was no shock with Burgess going, it looked like Lancaster has always had him pencilled in for whatever reasons. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Slade at the top level.
Interesting seeing Morgan selected after so long out, I can't see why he wasn't given more game time last week if that was going to be the case.
Edit: beaten to it ^. Not happy with Farrell seniors comments about "selecting from the training ground". This is as big as it gets, experience is required in big matches.
You need 3 hookers because if one breaks in the warm up and cant play and a hooker goes down in the hame you lose the world cup when the scrums are depowered.
In that extremely unlikely scenario, Just stick a prop in there.
If you're strong enoughh to play tighthead then you can cover the middle and put a decent drive in.
Easier than asking a loose to cover tight as you suggested earlier.
Anyway,
Usain Bolt
The Greatest
Unless you are Australia when you hope that happens.
Easier than asking a loose to cover tight as you suggested earlier.
Bollocks it is.
If its such an unlikely scenario why are they taking 3 hookers then? What if one takes a knock in one match and cant cover the bench in the next?
Unless you are Australia when you hope that happens.
No because the points are lost.
# carrythemhome 😆 😆 😆 😆
which genius came up with that, hysterical.
Sorry? If we end up with non-pushing scrums you lose the points? Is that a new one?
As some wag posted on Gwlad, why have they printed the squad on a with deepest sympathy card?
36's lack of form and Tuilagi's idiocy have left the door open for Burgess and Slade's forced his way in. This is a team to get the job done and qualify in first from the group. Thereafter who knows. IMO Farrell's comments are just designed to keep people motivated and physiological games for the opposition, I think the sides for Wales and Austraila are known based on the work to date, experience and the game plans. We're at home and well win both those big games. 😀
That carry them home logo/tag is going to be very dull by the end of England's involvement.
I've just spent a while looking at the groups and fixtures and cone up with this. (Apologies if already done!)
QF1 RSA v Aus/Eng/Wal
QF2. NZ v Ire/Fra
QF3. Ire/Fra v Arg
QF4. Aus/Eng/Wal v Sam/Sco
That gives semis..
SF1. (Aus/Eng/Wal) or RSA v NZ
SF2. Ire/Fra v Aus/Eng/Wal.
All assuming no upsets and based on my own bias. 🙂
The only possible way that Wales can win the overall RWC is to win their group, then beat Ire/Fra in the semis and hope that Aus or England dispose of NZ in that semi, having beaten RSA in the quarters. Based on the fact that Wales haven't beaten NZ since 1563 or whenever.
# carrythemhomewhich genius came up with that, hysterical.
That's what most front rows do to Hartley isn't it? 😆
anagallis_arvensis - Member
As some wag posted on Gwlad, why have they printed the squad on a with deepest sympathy card?
I would have thought that was obvious, even to a fan parody like me. I need to think about who I'll be supporting after the group stages.
The only possible way Wales can win the world cup is if every team they face come down with food poisoning the night before.
1.7 Compliance with Law 3.5
Compliance with the relevant World Rugby Laws and Regulations is critical in the conduct of the Tournament. Should Teams be found to be in breach of Law 3.5 (suitably trained and experienced players in the front row), the matter will be forwarded to the Tournament Disputes Committee for consideration.
In the absence of any mitigating circumstances this will result in:
* forfeiture of all Match points for that fixture (including bonus points)
* possible financial penalties
In terms of the provision of front row players to comply with Law 3.5, the necessary number of reserve front row players must be included in the Tournament Team to cover last minute injuries to front row players selected in the Match Team within the 48 hour replacement timeframe set out in Section 4.5 on page
Suggests to me if scrums go depowered because you only had one in your match day you lose the points
Bollocks it is.
If its such an unlikely scenario why are they taking 3 hookers then?
Like you, he missed a trick.
Although, he's not stupid and would probably put it down to "principles".
Like you, he missed a trick.
Yeah, an international team of coaches cannot spot this cunning ploy like you can.
Cheers AA - just been reading the tournament rules.
Idlejohn
Ireland have the best chance of the home nations ino. Can top their group beat Arg, beat Eng/Aus and boom in the final. Thats doable on current form.
I think whoever wins England's group will get to the final.
Eng, Aus, Wales would all be underdogs to ireland I reckon. Englands home adv would help them greatly.
Once more I agree with AA's post above, Ireland or wild card France have the best shot of the home nations. England / Wales / Austraila will be beaten up qualifying from the group, the winner should get the easy QF but then have a tough semi. I think like last world cups everyone will be hoping someone else can beat NZ before they have to face them ! England need a few things to go their way (ie a big slice of good routine) and home advantage to really count to make it past the semi. England's record against RSA is pretty good at Twickenham.
Looking forward to France v Ireland in Cardiff as I think that game could determine a semi final place at least.
Well it doesn't really look too strong on paper that England squad to me. Serious lack of caps......36 caps between the 4 centres, 37 between the 3 hookers, less than a 100 for all 4 locks, ditto all 5 of the back 3. 760 caps between the entire 31 man squad....so less than 25 caps per man.
Hard to believe that Slammin Sam is going and Burrell isn't. Real shame for Cipriani....he couldn't have done much more (other than not drink drive!)I'd have preferred him to Goode......Watson could have covered 15 and Cips would have been much more useful as cover in the centre and at 10. Cannot believe that Kruis is going either.....he's just not tough enough for international second row rugby imo.....Attwood is far harder hitting.
As a carrier,I am rather surprised they didn't take Attwood.
#carrythemhome has been plastered all over the stadium for a year or so, quite dull I have to admit
Cheika didn't.
We'll all have a giggle when Gatland cuts Dacey. 😉
It's quite surprising, not in the final selection, but that England appear to be in the position that the best centres have 1 cap, 1 cap and 11 caps, the third best hooker, 1 cap, the wingers 11 caps, 8 caps and 8 caps.....
Experience will tell, and while I don't think there are many better, or even more experienced players who are playing better, how the hell have we built to this!
All this 'does the right thing in training' is bollocks. Does the right thing to win international matches is what counts!
Look at England in the last World Cup, and where we have gone since then under Lancaster. This WC was always a year or 2 early for a young England team.
Whilst Armitage is one of the best England flankers, leaving out players not playing in England protects our game in the long run, and is the correct decision in the long run. Lancaster has taken his time, rebuilt team ethic from the ground up, gradually expanding England's game plan as we go.
I like the way we play, I think we are a decent team with an outside chance. The squad is pretty much as we expected - the hardest done-by is Burrell IMHO. Cipriani wouldn't have played anyway.
Apart from NZ, I think this WC is genuinely wide open. With the rub of the green, Ire, Aus, Fra, SA, Wal, Eng could make the final and then anything can happen.
On the other side, if Eng don't make the QF, I still think we keep going down the same path.
Yep good points Dan.....we've definitely moved on from last WC and as I've said previously, this WC has just come around too soon.....that said, it's really disappointing to be heading into this world cup with two centres with one cap a piece and 3 wingers with a handful each...my expectationsare low, and I'm just going to try and enjoy as many games aspossible-should be a good opportunity to spend a fair bit of time with my dad which will be nice.
The WC hasn't come around too soon at all for England. Lancaster has woken up too late IMO.
Giving a handful of new form players half a chance right at the end of the lead up to a major tournament having stuck with a steady team of old hands up until then isn't the way to go I don't think, not from the WC point of view at least.
They've tried to shore up decent results through the years rather than bring in form players while they are in form and get them the valuable experience required. Now we are all surprised about the best players in England potentially not having enough caps 🙄 😀
Might be too soon for this team (pretty sure many were saying that 2 years ago!) but that is largely the managements fault. Usually Burrell would be in a position to not have too many complaints as his form has been patchy, but to loose out to HIM?!
Apparently it's all to do with he Aura and personality, says Greenwood. Let's hope his aura is impenetrable and about 50m wide.
Let's not forget our no1 centre has been Tuilagi for the last 2 years but he's been unavailable by either injury or idiocy. Barritt has also not featured due injury.
Is Barritt the WC centre of England's dreams? Solid but... ? Tuilagi has also spent a fair time out with various injuries and yet there still isn't a settled replacement in his absence.
I think Lancaster is on record as saying a wc winning team needs 43 cap average or something - what is it, 30 at best? There again on that stat Wales should walk this tournament.
24.5 per squad member average.
I reckon that Lancasters first choice 15 will be:
Marler
Youngs
Cole
Lawes
Launchbury
Hask
Robshaw
Billy V
B Youngs
Ford
Watson
Joseph
Barritt
May
Brown
That's 441 in total 29.4 per man. To be honest you'd hope that the forwards would have around 440 caps between them, let alone the entire team!!!
Shame that burrell got sent home, however burgess was going to be in before he even touched a ball for bath. More annoyed that Cips didn't make it TBH. Pleased that slade is in and I hope he gets a good run.
burgess was going to be in before he even touched a ball for bath.
Yep. For his sake, I hope he does well. If not, it might ruin his potential career as a rugby player. If he doesn't do well, the same hype-mongers who have raised him on this pedestal will whip it out from underneath his feet.
It's not just hype mongers and the media circus driving it.... there has been a significant financial investment to bring him to Union don't forget
Yes, but from his club only, AFAIK. (Might be wrong, but I thought it was a Bath deal to buy him in, not involving the Blazers at the Cabbage Patch)
Yep. For his sake, I hope he does well. If not, it might ruin his potential career as a rugby player. If he doesn't do well, the same hype-mongers who have raised him on this pedestal will whip it out from underneath his feet.
Yep. Despite being unconvinced by his game at centre so far, he seems like a really nice bloke as well as a tremendous athlete. I'd be very happy if he gets a shot at 6 (where he's actually been very good) and kills it.
Yes, but from his club only, AFAIK. (Might be wrong, but I thought it was a Bath deal to buy him in, not involving the Blazers at the Cabbage Patch)
Officially. RFU might not have chucked money in directly but they may well have made promises regarding the RWC (and IMHO, they did).
Still feel for Burrell. He played a good 6N and fully deserves a spot. I bet he's crushed.
I don't know what the actual deal is (who does?) but it was always reported that the RFU subsidized the cost of bringing him to Union which of course upset the other clubs. Bath alone don't really have the motivation to drop a ton of cash plus time and energy on a risky prospect who either ends up a) struggling to adapt and is an expensive, rubbish player or b) does well and ends up up missing most of the contracted time with them on international duty. Kind of makes sense the move was helped along by the RFU, much like other league players before
The official line was that the RFU didn't contribute(financially) to the deal. Bruce Craig is quite rich and Burgess was their marquee player and so out of the salary cap.
As I understand it, the RFU don't pay his wages (at Bath) but contributed towards buying him out from the previous club which is supposed to be a significant amount. So they are not directly helping Bath as such, more paying the big fee to release him to Union and then anyone *cough Bath* can sign him up for club rugby
Lancaster has taken his time, rebuilt team ethic from the ground up, gradually expanding England's game plan as we go.
41 matches. 71 players used. 60% win record.
No 6N titles and a dismal record against the SH.
If you're happy with that - great!
SL said that come the RWC he wanted a starting XV with 600 caps - well he's nowhere near that. His only decent selector has been injury - otherwise Ford and JJ would never have got a look in.
Carrythemhome? What a load of bollox - unless it's carry Lancaster and Farrell home and keep them away from the RWC.
DanW - MemberAs I understand it, the RFU don't pay his wages (at Bath) but contributed towards buying him out from the previous club which is supposed to be a significant amount.
I think the follow on from that was that the RFU don't have any say where Bath play him whereas if they were paying his wages (or a portion) then they could tell Bath to play him at centre.
What beggars belief is that when Bath agreed a loan deal with Toulon to bring Armitage for the season they would have paid his (considerable) wages and asked the RFU to include him in the EPS squad which would net them a £100k payment - the RFU refused.
Will Carling sums it up well:
'I'm in awe of Sam as a rugby league player, but there is no one that I have spoken to who I respect - ex-players, coaches - who thinks he's ready,''I don't understand what the rush is and it's unfair on him. I feel sorry for him. If he wants to make it in union, there's plenty of time.
'If you watched Burgess carefully he was out of position a huge amount in defence and England can't afford that against sides who will focus on him.
'He hasn't had time in the game. He doesn't understand where the ball is coming from and you can see that in the way his feet are when he lines up.
'The southern hemisphere boys will focus on him if he's playing. If Matt Giteau plays against him, he'll sucker him on for the big hit and opponents will be coming from angles he doesn't understand.'
Namastebuzz - no team has a divine right to win. Compared to where we were headed under the last regime I'm extremely happy with where we are going.
no team has a divine right to win.
No you're right and I'm glad that the dwarf-tossing era has passed too.
However, England have the players and the resources to win things so why haven't they?
Going into a home RWC they are only an outside bet. If the RWC was somewhere else they'd have no chance at all.
After 4 years of planning how can you give first caps to two centres in a half-baked warm up game and then parachute them into the RWC squad?
But, I'm glad someone is happier than me - because I'm not happy 😡
41 matches. 71 players used. 60% win record.
No 6N titles and a dismal record against the SH.
If you're happy with that - great!
These sort of comments do sum up why Lancaster is so risk a averse though dont they.
Look on the bright side the saviour of the welsh scrum is a ft bloke from Exeter with no caps at all!!
Look on the bright side the saviour of the welsh scrum is a ft bloke from Exeter with no caps at all!!
Indeed but as a Welsh fan you surely have to be more satisfied that your team gets reasonably close to its potential. Especially having a few Grand Slams/6N Titles in the locker.
I've often thought Wales are a few players away from being a bad team and England are a few players away from being a good team.
England are going to struggle. As some have pointed out above, the issue is the risk-averse nature of the England set-up, along with a lack of talent compared to the South Hemisphere sides.
Dropping Cips and picking Burgess is simply an odd decision. You can't switch codes overnight. Cips offered some creative spark in a side which lacks any creativity whatsoever.
The off-the-pitch antics also indicate a lack of respect from the players to the management. This is a worrying sign.
I agree the tournament is going to be very open. The South Hemisphere sides are still ahead of the rest although I'd take a gamble on Ireland at least reaching the semis, and potentially winning it as they have the best captain and coach.
I can't work out what they will do with Burgess. If he is an impact sub,they will be bringing him on after 50-60 mins when players are tiring and the concentration is slipping. That is surely a mistake as the players inside and outside him will have extra work to do to look after him. Any bets on at least one try in the group stages alone where he gets dog-legged?
England are going to struggle.
We're ****ed. I think Toms got the right starting XV;
Marler
Youngs
Cole
Lawes
Launchbury
Hask
Robshaw
Billy V
B Youngs
Ford
Watson
Joseph
Barritt
May
Brown
Well, sir Ian Mcgeechan believes Burgess justifies his selection, and should start against Fiji. Writing in today's telegraph.
I love a good set of rose tinted glasses. England have never had a glittering back division to rival the SH teams. The 2003 team was good, fit and well drilled, but not the All Blacks by a margin. Johnny Wilkinson - points machine, great tackler, but no Dan Carter. His stuttering feet made it really hard for those outside him to time a run, and his distance from hand was poor compared to his peers. Mike Tindall? A poor mans Sam Burgess!!!
So who is going to be inline to take Lancasters job when England bomb out of the WC. ??
If you go into the WC ranked 5th, and don't win it, why should you lose your job??? Let's not start a football merry go round.
England are not going to bomb out Lancaster is a good coach and home adv a very good pack and some decent backs. Quit worrying.
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Arrogant English cock. Shoild have cried in public and been a complete moaner like Adam Jones.
I thought Mallinder should have got it in the first place. Baxter has to be in with a shot too.
They won't jettison bomber though, he's just signed another contract. He needs a new backs/attack coach (cough greenwood cough). Let Farrell snr go back to sarries.
Quit worrying.
This. I sincerely believe England will have a better RWC than the rest of the home nations (France included).