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Oh, and this is what a NZ second team looks like 😯
Colin Slade; Nehe Milner-Skudder, Malakai Fekitoa, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea; Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara; Ben Franks, Codie Taylor, Charlie Faumuina, Luke Romano, Sam Whitelock, Liam Messam, Sam Cane (capt), Victor Vito.
deadlydarcy - Member
Oh I dunno...really can't wait for this game.POSTED 42 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
I agree,somebody is getting dogs abuse on Sat,because it didn't matter to me who wins...As long as we beat Japan.
Yeah, can't wait for that game either duckie. 😛
One bad game doesn't make a player shit. He's had plenty more good games. I'd sooner have burrell in the squad, but I'd choose Barritt over KE and SB. He's a better rugby player.
One bad game doesn't make a player shit. He's had plenty more good games.
Well he had the game against Australia where he stood out for getting blood on his shirt. I can't recall much else worth writing home about.
On a lighter note the DT are reporting:
In the single most radical upheaval of Stuart Lancaster’s time in charge, England have ripped up their midfield for the crucial World Cup pool game against Wales by dropping George Ford for Owen Farrell, starting Sam Burgess at inside centre for the first time in a high-profile test match and switching Brad Barritt to outside centre in place of the injured Jonathan Joseph.
Well forwards generally win matches but we all prefer talking about who plays in the backs. It looks like AF will finally get his dream midfield. Standing next to SL for the last 3 months and whispering "pick my lad" in his ear 15,237,874 times has finally paid off.
So the plan is to try and play like a traditional England side by the sound of those changes? Pressure on the pack to perform and I don't doubt thy will
From the Welsh side, injuries to 15's and in the centres and still no sign of Hook 😉
Allen was this morning released from the Wales squad and has been replaced by Newport Gwent Dragons centre Tyler Morgan.
Ford hasnt controlled games well recently. Running around like headless chickens v Fini was very daft.
I think Farrell has looked pretty good the last 2 times I've seen him. I'd still rather have Slade at 13 than Barrett
Ford hasnt controlled games well recently
True but some of that has been down to the pack failing to provide decent ball and putting Ford on to the back foot.
The pack had good ball v Fiji and Ford tried to spend all game running round them in the backs rather than kick to the corners and pressure them.
It's a bit of both. The set piece was ok(ish) but none of the forwards seemed to want to take the ball in to contact (and who can blame them against Fiji!). The forwards were more often than not stood flat and static and then just shipped the ball on to the next in line, rather than go forwards. Not putting and phases together and getting turned over every two seconds made the game open and loose. So Ford perhaps didn't control things well but I think a lot of it was to do with how the pack played too.
Ford is a bit hot and cold. He was poor vs France (to be fair most were) and poor against Fiji. Doesn't make him a shit player though 😛 When he finds his flow, he's exemplary but when he's cold, he's not great at all. Farrell has earned a start through merit.
Bb and SB though. Please let it be untrue. Watson and may might need to play in their track suits!!
Australia licking their lips now. How many broken after this game? 🙂
I think Ford is a better player and could take England further than Farrel. This world cup is maybe a year too soon for Ford though. I dont think either would mean losing to Wales. It will be won and lost ip front. If Wales win their lineouts and dont implode in the scrum and can defend the mauls they have a chance. Burgess and Barritt would mean you could have Carter at 10 and your backs wont create much. Still have pace in the back 3 to do damage if the pack dominates though.
I expect Joseph will play though.
DD indeed. The game will be brutally physical.
The set piece was ok(ish) but none of the forwards seemed to want to take the ball in to contact (and who can blame them against Fiji!).
Me! You are confusing Fiji with Samoa and esp Tonga. Fiji have the rep for trying to play rugby.
Is there maybe a case of England looking to cancel out the Welsh midfield there? Barrett is a defensive player and along with Burgess is probably there to slow down Dr Chin. Hope it isn't raining on Sat as the England wingers will be very cold.
BBC reporting JJ is out with SB in, BB at 13 and OF in for GF.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34324696
Don't know whether it's a mahoosive bluff or not, but it does seem strange for Lancaster to be trying something newish for such a big game.
I swear if they knew their best side, they really would be world beaters,
Yeah you're right. It'll be won and lost up front. If England get turned over as much as they did against Fiji then Wales will have a great chance.
SL doesn't know who his first choice FH is and it does nothing for the confidence of Ford to earn his spot throughout the 6N and then have it taken away on the back of an average performance by the whole side against Fiji.
Me! You are confusing Fiji with Samoa and esp Tonga.
No doubt taking the ball straight in to Fiji and building the phases is the best tactic but there are some big dudes in that team 😆 That was more what I meant
but it does seem strange for Lancaster to be trying something newish for such a big game.
Have you not been following English selection policies (or lack of them) for the last 4 years then??? 😯
not been following English selection policies (or lack of them) for the last 4 years then???
Well, yes, obvs. Hence my following comment. But this centre partnership is untried isn't it?
I am suprised that they didn't recall the Wererabbit,Wood was gash on Friday and they are seriously out-speed and brained in the back row. Horsing the ball up the pitch is all well and good if you can force turnovers,but if England don't completly mash the Welsh in the set piece then the Welsh back row will force turnovers themselves.At least they have abandoned the attempt to suggest that there is a plan b. Pity it took Lancaster till a vital group game to admit it.
T minus 4.5ish Hours duckie. 🙂
I'm sure in the last thread I said I'd bet anything on a Burgess start in the world cup. I thought he'd be next to Tuilagi but I'm not at all surprised by this.
If Ford's not playing, there's no point in JJ anyway, so lets not worry about that. Backrow is going to get a shoeing, and due to that (and the terrible scrum / dodgy lineout) I'd predict a Wales win.
At least Lancaster may have to do one after the world cup...
ue to that (and the terrible scrum / dodgy lineout) I'd predict a Wales win.
But then you are playing wales. The team who invented the not competing on own throw tactic!!!
Looking foward to seeing Pocock play 8 tonight. Fascinated to see how it goes.
STV Player installed on school computer DD...S2 class watching an educational DVD DD...S3 class doing timed past paper questions DD.
do you have to install a player, can you not just watch through the website?
So predictions for today?
Free fondle for closest! (Counting on you here duckers) 😉
Scotland by 10
Australia by 30
France by 45+
Re the player, think it's better to have the player if on a phone or tablet. Webshite works fine for through a pc/laptop.
Hooper and Pocock together with the back line Aus have 😯 if those two can't get turnovers and quick ball then no one can
I have no idea how Scotland are going to do. Actually getting quite nervous about it. Supposedly been promising so much for such a long time would be nice if they actually delivered.
Scotland by 15,Japan leading with 30 to go then tire.
Oz by 25.
France by 25.
I would like to donate the prize to charity.
Japan by 5, Scotland to lead at 1/2 time, but the crowd to bring Japan into it with 10 to go.
Aus by 30, their backline looks awesome, and if the forwards are firing on all cylinders they'll have a decent base to work from.
France by a Cricket scoreline.
No need for a prize, I can fondle myself.
Non transferable I'm afraid. 🙂
Scotland by 20, Oz by 35 and France by 20.
Bloody standing room only on train to Cardiff. Back ache already 🙁
Trains all round the South West were a joke on Saturday with the midday kick off in Glos and then a 2.30 in Cardiff. Have a good time at the StagnHennium!
Butchered that right on half time,should have kept it tight and got another 3 points,but I will take that.The Japanese look tired; I guess we are going to find out of they really are the fittest team in the WC.
That chance could come back and haunt Scotland. I hope not though. Japan are great to watch.
Thats more like it! Lamont for being an "old man" is fair covering the ground.
EDIT; line out,kick off...
Tiredness showing IMHO
Bonus point would be a "bonus"
Goromaru making early bid for player of the tournament.
Well done Scotland. Good performance.
England need some bulk in the second row, Parling and Lawes are too lightweight and I suspect are part of the reason Cole was struggling in the scrum. Bring in Launchbury for Parling and you'll find the scrum is better and he does more round the park. With Wood, Morgan and Robshaw in the back row you've still got plenty of lineout options
Burgess was a given as soon as JJ was out, Farrell is a bigger call but he has been playing very well of late and Ford seems a tad off song.
Oh, and Hooper and Pocock in the back row has potential to be a brilliant combo, that'll be very interesting to see.
Hang on, whop is the Japanese scrum half? The sub, wearing 22, he's got one of the best passes I've seen in a long time, fast, flat, it's like a fly half's dream.
Probably the most complete performance by any of the tier 1 teams so far. Looking forward to Fiji/Aus, but I suspect the quick turnaround will hurt Fiji, as it will Wales after England.