[Closed] 2015-16 rugby, world cup year

WALES TEAM TO PLAY IRELAND:

Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons); Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Scott Williams (Scarlets, capt), Eli Walker (Ospreys); James Hook (Gloucester Rugby), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro); Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Dominic Day (Bath Rugby), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys, vice-capt), Dan Baker (Ospreys).

Replacements: Rob Evans (Scarlets), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), James King (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Morgan (Bristol Rugby).

Amos at fullback and Moriarty and Smith upfront will be interesting. Please God dont let Scott Williams get broken. Some dross though especially Day and Jarvis.

What's the story with North?

Not available for this one but possibly available for Dublin game (I think).

Northas far as I can tell was just not picked. Its very much a second 15 apart from S Williams.

Apparently he hasn't started to return to play protocols!

Is that because he hasnt been playing or because he's not able to its hard to know.

Hope Moriarty goes well, he is a bit abrasive for Gloucester 😆

I guess it runs in the family

I reckon there's more to the burgess thing than meets the eye. Did the rfu make some promises to bring him from league I wonder.

I suspect so. I also suspect that the "more..than meets the eye" in this case is simply money, sadly.

I can't think of too many occasions when you wouldn't select george North, and he does need the game time. Kudos to club and country for considering his well being.

Likewise England and Mike Brown. Good to see it being taken seriously.

can't think of too many occasions when you wouldn't select george North

But when a reserve team is picked it would be one of them so lets not jump to conclusions just yet. Williams is the only current first team player in that team apart from Not Toby on the bench.

Haha not Toby. Like it.
I fancy ireland for the semis, losing to the ABs. They just don't have the game to beat them. Shame as I reckon they'd give SA a damn good go.

Ireland are going to pump that Wales team senseless even if they pick their reserves, they have much more strength in depth.

They just don't have the game to beat them.

Hmm, not sure. Samoa gave NZ a good game a few weeks ago (16 -25) by concentrating on the basics.

Northampton Scum doing well on community engagement visit 😆

Yes I know its a non story but any excuse to slate them 😉

George North ampton scum?

Hmm, not sure.

If they have a solid game plan after the hoofing then, no problem. If it's 'hoof and let's see what happens' then problem. 😆

Samoa's gameplan was very simple. Tackle the @#$& out of them, make them hurt. It almost worked.

loum I admit it's a dilemma.

Pigface, I assume you meant this;
[img] [/img]

Nice.

Didn't even have the decency to nick a golf cart.

North wasnt there he was in a cryogenic chamber in poland or something!

Ire 2nd XV, apart from Heaslip and Ross.

15. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster) 11
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 57
13. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 39
12. Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 8
11. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 28
10. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 9
9. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster) 60

8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) capt 72
7. Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 8
6. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 9
5. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster) 28
4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 17
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 49
2. Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster) 6
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 17

Replacements
16. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 83
17. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 12
18. Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster) 2
19. Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster) 9
20. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 16
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 3
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster) 18
23. Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster) 15

Much stronger irish side then the Wales team.

decent look to that side.
Would add Jack McGrath to the list of 1st teamers, man in possession and his big rival's recovering from neck surgery. so he's guaranteed "31", and 1st choice starter till something changes.
Same but opposite for Trimble, if that makes any sense. Player of the year a season ago then injured. In my eyes he just needs a bit of game time and prove his fitness and he's in for sure. Fitz and Zebo did alright - another 6N championship 😉 , but neither really absolutely nailed down the start.
Of the rest, I'd say Henderson's putting most pressure on a starting spot, be it 5 or 6.
The rest are mostly playing for squad spots, with most of that pack going to WC (Murphy, Henry and TOD battling for two places ?), and 3 of them backs most at risk - can't see Cave, Earls and Mcfadden all making it but one might.

Interesting that Bent's covering tighthead after playing more at loose lately - possible option for only taking 5 props but that's a massive risk with Healy's neck and every game needing 4 now. More likely that 6 will go, poss these 4 plus Healy and Marty Moore, with Bent just adding a bit of extra versatility.

Edit: Wales, Wales, Wales, Wales, Wales

The irish pack will be too strong for the welsh team picked. The irish do have good depth to their squad.

Irish depth is in front row, back row and wings - there'll be some good players left out in all those positions.
Second row is 4 good players - POC, Toner, Henderson, Ryan all good enough and likely to go IMO, but not too much after that - Tuohy's got a chance but not if Ryan comes back to the form he had before injury.

Half backs is the big one - Murray and Sexton need wrapping in cotton wool. The rest are ok but not in the same bracket. That team of "abrasive" "welsh" "thugs" looks like it was picked with one intention only 😉 Glad they're not gonna get the chance to spoil the party before it starts.

And centres is anyones's guess - Joe's first choice is obvious, but have fewer caps than any other pairing in world rugby. Back-up's gonna be a mix of 3rd choice fly halves, converted wingers, and Darcy's beard.

And FB is hardly "strength in depth" - Kearney and Felix Jones. If Jones was any good he'd have put a lot more Pressure on RK's place by now, with his recent form.

Must admit you've got it right about that pack though. Should be the right blend of proven international quality, and players with points to prove, to make them strong enough to take it. Welsh backs could snatc enough points to make it interesting though, especially at home.

Fair point. The welsh halfbacks are experienced and the rest are potentially pretty good. Second row invthat welsh team is rubbish Day is a journey man pro at best and the welsh backrow untested.

wrecker - Member
...
I fancy ireland for the semis, losing to the ABs. They just don't have the game to beat them. Shame as I reckon they'd give SA a damn good go.

POSTED 2 DAYS AGO # REPORT-POST

This needs clearing up, it won't happen.

Ireland are in pool D and NZ in pool C.
The top two from these 2 play each other in the QF's. 1st v 2nd.
They then can't meet until the final.
If, IF, Ireland's plan was to work out in their favour, they beat France (and Italy) to top spot in D and get to play the runners up in C - likely Argentina. France get NZ.
Then they'd face a Semi against the winner of the group A 1st v group B 2nd match- England or Samoa on current world rankings.

And the NZ/France winner plays the winner of the group B 1st ( South Africa??) v group A 2nd (Australia??) QF match in the other Semi.

Basically- Ireland can't meet NZ in the semi's.
It's either the quarters, avoiding them by topping the group above France, or the final.

For refference:

Sat Oct 17 41 QF1: W Pool B v RU Pool A Twickenham Stadium 16:00 -
Sat Oct 17 42 QF2: W Pool C v RU Pool D Millennium Stadium 20:00 -
Sun Oct 18 43 QF3: W Pool D v RU Pool C Millennium Stadium 13:00 -
Sun Oct 18 44 QF4: W Pool A v RU Pool B Twickenham Stadium 16:00 -
Sat Oct 24 45 SF1: W QF1 v W QF2 Twickenham Stadium 16:00 -
Sun Oct 25 46 SF2: W QF3 v W QF4 Twickenham Stadium 16:00 -
Fri Oct 30 47 Bronze Final The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Park 20:00 -
Sat Oct 31 48 Final Twickenham Stadium 16:00

So if Engerland come second they get SA in the quarter?

Yup

and if Wales come first, they would avoid South Africa until the final by which time SA would likely have met NZ

(assuming SA finish above Samoa and Scotland in group B)

It's designed so you don't play your groupmate again until the final if you were to both make it

If Wales come first in the group I will be too drunk to care who they play!!!

(assuming SA finish above Samoa and Scotland in group B)

Pfft,no chance of that.

I know it's International Beer Day, but it's not even 8am yet duckman...

This needs clearing up, it won't happen.

I know it's International Beer Day,

Omg, nobody told me. Back in 10...

Winger Chris Ashton is one of seven players who have been cut from England's pre-World Cup training squad.

Fellow wings Marland Yarde and Semesa Rokoduguni also miss out, along with scrum-half Lee Dickson and centre Kyle Eastmond.

Prop Matt Mullan and flanker Matt Kvesic are the two forwards dropped as England cut their squad to 39 players.

Damn I was hoping Gashton would make the first 15

"Both Nick Easter and Ben Morgan are now fit" said Lancaster

That must be a first

Exeter silly hair boy and I run everywhere but forward but did you see my try against the AB's the only wings left.

Clue to Lancaster playing a forward dominated game?

Damn I was hoping Gashton would make the first 15

That was the last chance for him.

I've always thought Morgan & Vinipola are the perfect RWC pairing. Morgan carries much better, Billy V is a monster to stop, both need to be sub'd after 60, but both will make a good impact from the bench if used the right way around.

I think Mako needs to go though, as does '36. So centre we have Burrell & JJ with Burgess as impact / sub - not too shabby.

BUT For'real or Cips?

I'd look up who is left but it would worry me. I take it Brown, Goode are the fullbacks and that Bath lad whose name I forget is still in?

Much like the 2003 RWC where England had to beat SA to avoid the AB's in the QF this time round winning the "group of death" is as important not least as the team finishing second will be beat up from qualifying.

I feel for Eastmond, he's played well enough but I imagine Lancaster wants the bulk (defensive and offensive) that 36 brings, that's all I can think of anyway. Have to admit I've zero interest in these warm up games.

Top 14 starts in a couple of weeks and Toulon (who generally sign players who opt out of their international careers) are without 17 players 😯

36 really does hit and carry below his weight though.

You mean Anthony Watson? Friend and player with JJ also plays full back. He's playing all the games IMO, the choice is May or Nowell now, neither inspire my confidence over the physical sides.

36 really does hit and carry below his weight though.

Exeter silly hair boy and I run everywhere but forward but did you see my try against the AB's the only wings left.

You think. Watson looks like a full back learning his trade on the wing. Doesnt look too exciting, solid. Yarde seemed the most likely to score a try.