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Can only play the teams they put in fron of you - I bet the Aussies will be pro next WC!
I thought we looked great this morning - us and the Kiwis for the title...? 🙂
South Africa: Kolbe; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Mapimpi; Willemse, Hendrikse; Kitshoff, Marx; Malherbe, Etzebeth, De Jager, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Wiese.
Replacements: Mbonambi, Nche, Koch, Mostert, Fourie, Smith, De Klerk, Le Roux
Colby at 15 in Dublin is interesting!!
This thread is far too quiet 🙁
Some great games coming up this weekend.
Sadly, Leigh Halfpenny a doubt for Wales. [Such a shame, he seems like a very nice bloke.] Goodness knows who Wales will field. I can’t see us beating New Zealand. Again.
I hope Hastings has a good game for Scotland. He’s looked good in the recent highlights I’ve seen of Gloucester. Does anyone know how strong the Fiji team is? They always have difficulty getting their best players altogether at the same time - however, if they play their strongest team it could be an exciting game. (I worry they might be really good, come the World Cup!).
Ireland v South Africa should be good too.
Can’t wait 😀
It is quiet. I have my son "Parents Club dinner" tonight so will undoubtedly be watching the games with hangover. Anyway, England to face Argentina:
15. Freddie Steward
14. Jack Nowell (VC)
13. Manu Tuilagi
12. Owen Farrell (C)
11. Joe Cokanasiga
10. Marcus Smith
9. Ben Youngs
1. Ellis Genge (VC)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Alex Coles
5. Jonny Hill
6. Maro Itoje
7. Tom Curry
8. Billy Vunipola
Finishers
16. Jack Singleton
17. Mako Vunipola
18. Joe Heyes
19. David Ribbans
20. Sam Simmonds
21. Jack Willis
22. Jack van Poortlviet
23. Henry Slade
Very strong side for us, and Manu gets to play this years international game vs Argentina before he goes off with injury. Youngs and Farrell debatable as always. I'm looking forward to seeing Jack Willis back in action, I hope he gets some decent game time.
Finishers
Does it not make you want to vomit reading this?
Sadly, Leigh Halfpenny a doubt for Wales
Pivac19's decision to only have 1 old 15 recently back from a long term injury in the squad looks more and more daft all the time. If Priestland starts at 15 I don't think I'll bother watching, he was unbelievably bad at 15 for Cardiff a few weeks back. Can't even shift say Zammit to 15 as the two other wingers in the squad are already injured....****ing moron that **** is.
Anscombe to 15 and Priestland to 10 is the least worst option...and that's shit
Off to murrayfield tomorrow. Slight worry as our scratch autumn team pushes the big boys then we bring in the stars and........fall flat on our arses.
and that’s shit
agreed, it does all appear somewhat shambolic. You’d think that you cannot predict injuries, but here I’m confident that you likely could. Priestland at 10 and Anscombe at 15 looks the best bet from where we are; but I’d just as soon play Costelow at 10 and … actually I haven’t a clue : (
Wales could quite well be the only home team to lose tomorrow.
but I’d just as soon play Costelow at 10 and … actually I haven’t a clue : (
God help us, I'd prefer McNicol at 15, he's not really international class but he is the best option we have
God help us
😂 hee hee, I said I didn’t have a clue 😏 Not ready, or not of international standard do you reckon? (Although a_a you can be a tad harsh on Wales players at times )
My "God help us" comment wasn't meant to suggest your option was awful more just that all available options are awful given the lack of balance in the squad selected. I mean Cuthbert has been picked ahead of say Keeelan Giles and Cuthbert isn't fit yet and hasn't played all season!
Costelow is a bang average club 10, he may improve as he is still young but giving a young 10 his first taste of the international game v NZ? I'd rather we lose with Priestland at 10, even if he is no better than Costelow.
As for Tipuric at 6!!!
Cheers a_a. I had heard that Costelow was the future. I guess I’ve near given up hope of us winning today, so thought just **** it - try something leftfield. I’m worried can Owens, Tips, North, Anscombe even make it through the game?
I just saw Ireland A get destroyed by New Zealand xv on YouTube - I’m even less confident about this afternoon now : (
Well, I attended a Club fundraiser dinner for next years U14 tour, with special guest speaker - Neil Back MBE. What a great night. This kids did the waiting and serving of food & drink. Neil gave them an excellent pep talk and of course us an after dinner speech with many Leicester, England and Lions quips.
Neil signed some memorabilia for jnr and we got a great photo of the three of us. He's a surprisingly soft spoken chap but does carry a presence.
So, he was asked - when does he think England's next WC will come. The answer came in 2 parts - a) within the next couple of weeks time and b) the men have a very long wait. He went of to reveal that Cluve's plan went on very much further than the England team we saw, he had them learning about each other in league games and outside of Rugby. The imnpact of this was that the 2003 team instinctively knew every play, every nuance and every move of their team members without having to discuss it. His view, Eddie has failed to field a consistent team for long enough to achieve that, and we don't have the tools to overcome that as a major factor in our play.
Anyway, I'm somewhat obviously nursing a hangover so need to put the screen down, what what a pleasure to meet the guy.
Second women's semi-final was quite the match! 🙂
Second women’s semi-final was quite the match! 🙂
Yes. The England v Canada game was pretty close too.
I just finish watching the England game. What a match!
Dear Lord Scotland 🙄🙄🙄
Look at how far Jack Dempsey has fallen!
😂
Bit of a dull game. Darcy Graham man of the match 🤷♂️
Priestland at 10, Anscombe at 15. All my fingers crossed 🤞, but I fear it will not be enough. Again 😭
1:0 home win for the singing, let's leave it there shall we!!
😩
😭😭
Good job they’re not at their best
Pleased to see Dyer score, kids rapid
Tipuric off at half time, Christ on please. Won't happen though.
Pleased to see Dyer score, kids rapid
Indeed, he’s had a great first half debut.
Tipuric off at half time, Christ on please. Won’t happen though.
I wouldn’t be too surprised to see him come on quite soon.
I wouldn’t be too surprised to see him come on quite soon.
Bet they keep Tipuric on and take Reffel off, making Tipuric captain is another Pivac error...blokes not match fit and isn't a 6
In other news...England's teams in men's, women's and wheelchair rugby league world cup all going well.
a_a call for someone else to be taken off 😏😂 (agree with you by the way)
Better than I expected tbh. Anscombe at 15 was an empty shirt, no pace since his bust knee. I would have shifted Zammit to 15 for last 20, North to wing and Watkin to 13...would have maybe lost by more by at least Zammit can run
Better than I expected tbh.
Thoroughly miserable, but some Wales players played well imho. Falateau, Tomos W, Tompkins, Tipuric to be fair to him, good debut from Dyer, Christ good whilst on.
I reckon I could live to a hundred and still not see Wales beat NZ : (
Scotland will be confident after their win against Fiji, so their game against NZ next week will be interesting.
Ireland v SA: can Ireland maintain their consistency?
Ireland holding on, doing well to keep SA out so far
I wish he'd stop talking about the "Argies"
Fair play Ireland, great result.
Ireland v SA: can Ireland maintain their consistency?
They can, yeah.
Tbh, I’d have been disappointed with anything other than a win given SA were playing without a recognised 10. Although losing McCloskey, Murray and Furlong at half time didn’t bode well. Impressed that they won scrum penalties in the 2nd half against possibly the cheatingest scrum in international rugby.
2022’s been good fun so far.
All Blacks ✅
World Champions ✅
All setting up nicely for a crash and burn at RWC2023 😂
Just back from Murrayfield. Think we have a bit of a problem brewing in the team. Hogg looks generally grumpy and it feels like there’s something missing in terms of team spirit. Then they all come out saying things like they’re happy with how things went. That’s not what anyone in the stands were saying…
Hogg was trying to captain but he's been found wanting........ wanting to keep the ball and any glory for himself. Our part of the west stand reckoned Darcy got mom for player folded in half by the opposition the most and staying on the pitch.
We ran pretty shapes but behind the gain line.
Darcy got folded up right in front of us! Think they lacked patience to just hold onto the ball and work through the phases.
Great win from Ireland, I fear Ireland, England or France (or all 3) could put 50 on Wales...
England… ….could put 50 on Wales…
ROFL
Scotland were predictably mince. We will remain so why Townsend is in charge. Selection is inconsistent and confused, they players do not agree with the gameplan, there is obvious poor man management and no one on earth believes Finn was dropped on form.
When the team play consistently below their potential then the coach carries the can
Ive never been a Gatland fan but if he was Scotland coach do you think the team would look so ill at ease? He knew how to get the best out of Wales and had them playing better than the sum of the parts. Townsend cannot do this
They saved the best game to last.
If you not seen it yet, go watch France vs Australia, awesome game
Ireland v SA: can Ireland maintain their consistency?
They can, yeah.
Congratulations to Ireland. I am seriously envious.
I only saw the highlights of France v Australia, it did look like a good game. The World Cup is going to be on us very quickly, methinks. Whether there is enough time now for Scotland and Wales to close the gap is doubtful. Where England stand is unclear, today’s game will be interesting.
Hopefully a thrilling game to come. Best luck to both teams.
Whether there is enough time now for Scotland and Wales to close the gap is doubtful.
for Scotland there is no doubt. We are deservedly heading down the rankings. We have a difficult group and will not get out of the group stages. Perhaps then we can get rid of Townsend.
Atmosphere at Twickenham seems really flat
No doubt the media, if not England fans, will be totally confident of them topping their World Cup group. However, both Argentina and Japan could cause them problems if they don’t play cohesively. Whilst England had good games against Australia and New Zealand in the last World Cup, they failed to impress in the group stage.
Very dull and rugby played to todays EJ formula. There’s no spark, not many teams will be worried about our tenacity to have one out runners running into people, and conceding pens.
It’s a tale of individual performances, yet it’s a 15 person game.
Even considering the weather its unambitious. Argentina are a good side tho and need to be respected
Very dull and rugby played to todays EJ formula.
We keep being told that England are keeping their ‘new moves’ secret, ready for the World Cup- sounds like bull shit to me. I can understand why Wales and Scotland fans are keen for a new coach, but if I was an England fan I’d be desperate to be shod of Jones.
Game on now mind! ( currently 23:24)
Wow!!
Just saw the last 15 of that, not sure I'll bother with the rest! Well played Argentina.
England are so unimaginative. Argentina similar.
Well done Argentina!
desperate to be shod of Jones
Should have taken that chance a year ago, surely English performance can’t get worse than this.
.... Congratulations to Argentina. England pretty poor .. again....
I’d be desperate to be shod of Jones.
Swap for Toonie?
Not looking forward to Wales playing them next week!
Fair play Farrell speaks honestly
Swap for Toonie?
Nah. I have no idea who they could or should choose. Stuart Lancaster?
Go on - please make Toonie an offer he can't refuse
England dire, Jones has dirt on someone at Twickenham otherwise he would have been out months ago…..
England need more creative players to support Smith. Should drop either Farrell or Tuilagi, prob swap Billy V out for a more pacey 8.
I think Jones' plan is to use big straight running players to soften up the position with the idea to switch to a more flair he later - but it's too much of a gear shift after 50 minutes.
TBH it's so turgid if I was an England fan and paid the Hughes sums for a Twickenham ticket I'd feel pretty short changed
It was a wierdly boring game, Argies better though.
England were dire, but I don't want to undermine Argentine performance, they did a great job.
England seem to be able to make something less than the sum of its parts. A group of incredibly tlaneted palyers making talentless perfomances.
Should drop either Farrell or Tuilagi
Can we have them?
Argentina were pretty dire too. I think we have a bit of NH bias and don't notice when Argentina beat Aus and NZ. They will be competitive with NH sides and performance judged on that
Kinda weird how Argentina’s standard of rugby has risen so much in, I dunno, is it nine or ten years (?) competing with AUS/SA/NZ in the championship. Contrast that with Italy still being, let’s face it, a bit dire* after more than 20 years in the 6N.
Anybody else have an opinion on this one?
*that’s probably a bit unfair but they’re pretty much last all the time unless one of the other 5 have a complete wobbly of a tournament.
EDIT: Admittedly, I think maybe Argentina were perhaps starting from a slightly higher plane.
So the marmite Mr Russell. Apparently "out of form" I mean he has only had one man of the match award this last month, missed a couple of goal kicks and only played a half of the last match only scoring one try and all his kicks. He needs to do more!
bad highlights of the last racing match
I wouldn't mind so much the Russell situation if we had another 10 of a decent standard. I remember when we had steady old Chalmers and mercurial Townsend as our choice at 10. If the coach decided Townsend was not the man he wanted we had Chalmers to take over. currently we have Russell and no other international standard 10. Ross Thompson may come good but neither Hastings nor Kinghorn is good enough. If we had a Chalmers available then its a decent choice. We don't
England v Samoa in the RL world cup semis should be a cracking match.
TBH it’s so turgid if I was an England fan and paid the Hughes sums for a Twickenham ticket I’d feel pretty short changed
I resemble that statement. Argentina tries were worth watching. Although the atmosphere was pretty flat in the stadium. Nice post-match pizza and train home now. Son1 wants to watch the league semifinal- he plays semi-pro.
Aus NZ semi is local to me. Would normally be a cracker but NZ have been struggling. Might chance my arm if there are still tickets
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/nov/06/levi-davis-missing-spain-barcelona-bath-rugby-union
Worrying news, hope for a positive outcome.
More on Finn from the racing coach
anagallis_arvensis
Full Member
Not looking forward to Wales playing them next week!Posted 19 hours ago
Swap you?
Finns back!
Every reason we should have got rid of Eddie while we had the chance right here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63554585
TLDR, so busy naval gazing about the style of Rugby England should play the RWC just 11 months before they do, he forgot to coach them how to beat Argentina
Holy **** we are screwed.
What gets me about that nonsense in particular is look at Ireland - top of the rankings and playing very well. Are they not preparing for the WC?
Well thats a team that knows how it plays. England don't know how to play. Thats Eddie Jones and his Gazillion selections / positional movement / reliance on POWER!!! and Owen Farrell, and 1 injury prone Centre.
A good point I think.
Ive argued this for years. There is no substitute for pace.
These embedded videos never ever work for me.
Anyway I agree, Nowell has lots of qualities, but he is not a speedster.
I argue Steward isn't the slowest but the others is fair.
Eddie thinks we are going to out power everybody, doesn't he remember South Africa, or that we didn't play like that to beat the AB's? I guess thats what he means by rethinking our strategies, but he's left too late. IIRC they spent 4 years developing the vs NZ game, so he's going to change them into.. ahem... world beaters in 11 months?
Delusional, I think we'll beat Japan and Eddie will go "See, told you so..." but we need to remember they are not the Argentinian team that has been playing so well.
Thats the issue though, every time we win the press say we are world beaters. No matter the circumstances.
Like beating Italy is always promoted as a great display of brilliance...
Never mind, we can just support one of our neighbours in WC instead. I like seeing decent rugby, maybe Ireland will make a decent perfomance this time.
The funny thing is, look at the womens game, England just squeaked past Canada last weekend, and Canada are all amateurs. Eng play a similar game to the men and Canada at times were running rings round us. Whilst we did beat the Black Ferns earlier, they are a new team and I think we are going to get walloped by them on Sat. (0630 on ITV)
Ooof no. The Roses have a power game, but they also have some incredibly skilled and pacey backs, so I can't agree on that point. Also, Canada are the top ranked Amateur side, have several players playing unpaid in top teams, and have pretty much the same game as England, not all is what it seems there - very much the unstoppable force against an immovable object in both directions.