Welsh teams have lots of previous form in putting the worst choice player on the pitch. Politics normally but I’m not sure why in the case of Priestland.

(Going back years Aled Williams, Swansea no 10, was extremely talented but never picked by Wales in position – he was played on the wing in one game iirc. The rumour was that he’d shagged Bob Norster’s sister, wife, dog, whatever. It was such a widespread rumour that he was even asked about it on TV after he’d retired, to much amusement because he was aware if it. He denied it. 😆 )

Brian Moore tells it like it is:

It must rankle with Cipriani and others, whatever they say in public, that the selection parameters of experience, promise, performance in training, opportunity to state a case, loyalty and so on are highlighted or downplayed according to each player.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the case of recent union convert, Sam Burgess. His experience and achievements in League are outstanding and are evidence of character and talent. They have limited relevance to union until they are backed by solid performances at all levels in his new code.

Burgess’s case remains one of hope and promise on the field; none of it is public.
To those who say he brings something different or special, you have to ask what is it and when will we see it? Presently there is not one game to which you can refer that supports any of the claims made. There is no Burgess performance which strongly hints, let alone proves, that he is egregiously better than many other players available.

Perhaps the most contentious of all the claims made for Burgess is his presence and its effect on the squad. If you have not played at Test level and, more importantly, not had tournament experience, you cannot appreciate how much difference one player can make, positively or negatively.

Even if you have, you cannot definitively know what Burgess brings to this squad because you haven’t seen and experienced it. If it is as important as made out then it might justify selection but if he is not a starting Test player then the case for his direct affect on the team is weakened.

What nobody should pretend is that his selection is not a gamble, the extent and wisdom of which can only be decided later.
This leads to the legitimate question of why the gamble had to be made now, without waiting for Burgess to furnish proof of his union credentials?

Well it helped when you thrashed us 30-3 at the Millenium.

Yeah all good points but Tips seems too good to be on the bench and England seem better equipped to deal with Lydiate/Warburton than they would be to deal with Tipuric/Warburton.

I think that is one of those cases where what looks easy to deal with on TV is far from easy if you are in the thick of the action. It’s a bit like saying Roberts doesn’t do alot, just runs in to contact and is easy to tackle. I sure as heck wouldn’t want to have to deal with him and you can guarantee the fatigue of tackling him and the other big runners non-stop and the subsequent gaps that might appear in the next phases is worth something more than first meets the eye.

Who Burgess? Is he? He puts the odd big hit in yeah, but you expect that of a bloke that is bigger than almost everyone else. Good organiser though……he really isn’t…..he’s out of position frequently in the centres in defence for starters.

Is Lancasters theory perhaps, not yet realised.

Given that Dion Dublin managed to break his neck running into someones chest in a footy match, I’m not overly hopeful of his surviving a rugby match!

Loving that Martin Offiah is included as a celeb too 😆

Louie Spence? My wife wants to get BT Sport now.

possible confirmed squad

As another light distraction, this funny rugby film clip popped up on Rugbydump 😆

Since he seems to divide opinion here, you may enjoy the analysis on Tipuric v Ireland on Rugby World

Indeed, that wasn’t great. Very late

Yup. Expect Billy V on for impact and – if we are winning – Burgess later with f’real to kick. Really good to see Barrit play in his club position with JJ outside and neither positioned stupidly. The Welsh shoved the Irish around a fair bit last week and it looks as though well do the same.

Let’s pray we win is and can make a positive statement….

Controversial Scottish squad selection. Barclay and Harley very unlucky to miss out imo.

Hookers: Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby). Props: Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors), Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby), Jon Welsh (Newcastle Falcons). Locks: Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors). Back-rowers: David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby), John Hardie (Unattached), Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors).

Backs (14):

Back three: Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (London Irish), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Tim Visser (Harlequins). Centres: Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors). Fly-halves: Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors). Scrum-halves: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby), Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors).

Cotter must really rate Hardie. Very surprised both Barclay and Cowan missed out. Still, they have one more genuine openside than England do.

I’d have had Big Jim Hamilton in for Swinson – for the comedy value he provides if nothing else….. 😉

That was late, I agree. Is AWJ arse ok though? Henderson fairly set him back on it 😀

Reasonably happy with the Ire squad but gutted for Trimble, I suppose they must have thought he hadn’t had enough game time. I still think he offers a different dimension and greater physicality than Earls or Fitzg.

Hopefully the Wales game was our poor performance. The backrow esp Murphy were really poor, made Tips look good IMO. The pack against Eng is likely to be much stronger with Best, Toner, Ross and SOB back.

Can’t believe Scotland aren’t taking Cowan, he’s a great player

How good/bad is Kolisi in your opinion?