Beaumont isnt very like for like. Vunipola, Hughes and Morgan are very much power ball carriers. Beaumont isnt and would require a re think of the backrow imo as Robshaw and Wood are not big carriers either.
Duckman - thanks for the clarification on that (aren't you a ref, seem to remember?). I'm married to a lawyer and we have heated arguments over whether people should be punished for their actions, or the outcome off their actions. It's my opinion that the only way to change behaviour is to make the intent to commit an offence punishable, not react to the outcome. Ban all drivers on mobile phones, not just the ones that kill someone.
For Italy, I think they need to attract more of their players to their domestic sides, making them more competitive in Euro competitions, which will feed through. It's good to see Georgia getting matches against the 6N teams. If they start winning then the clamour for inclusion will increase.
We're back to thinking that Farrell is shit now are we? Can't believe the criticism of some of the England players here......averaging nearly 4 tries per game under EJ.....I'm no huge Ford fan either, but with ball in hand, the backs do look really dangerous. Him and Farrell are doing more than enough to keep their places currently. I'd say Anthony Watson is the long term option at 15 rather than Daly.
First ever time watching England at Twickenham yesterday......bloody loved every second of it 😀
We're back to thinking that Farrell is shit now are we? Can't believe the criticism of some of the England players here......averaging nearly 4 tries per game under EJ.....I'm no huge Ford fan either, but with ball in hand, the backs do look really dangerous. Him and Farrell are doing more than enough to keep their places currently. I'd say Anthony Watson is the long term option at 15 rather than Daly.
Well I've never liked Farrell. Competent though he is. He's not a centre and isn't really much of a threat ball in hand although he has learned to do a lot more than just kick the ball up in the air - which used to be his default setting.
I think England have developed brilliantly under EJ but it's still a work in progress. If Farrell wasn't such a great kicker would he be in the side? Maybe not. Ford is potentially a great fly-half and I'd like to see a proper centre outside him. Farrell would be a good "closer" off the bench.
Watson should be at 15 - you're right - but so far EJ has shown no inclination to play him there. Maybe he's been too effective on the wing for his own good. We'll never reach our full potential with either Brown or Goode at fullback. That's for sure.
I thought that Farrell was a centre and not a FH? (Not pointing the finger at you for that btw...thought it was the stw consensus) Be interesting to see if Slade can get back to form after his injury.....I wonder where he fits into the equation? Personally I think that Manu's England days are over.....when you miss so much international rugby, times move on. It happened with Tom Croft too.
For [s]Italy[/s] Wales, I think they need to attract more of their players to their domestic sides, making them more competitive in Euro competitions, which will feed through.
FIFY.
To be honest though the welsh regions have no chance unless they can match the English clubs budgets and attract top SH talent to fill a few gaps. We could follow the Scots plan and reduce to two regiobs and kill the domestic pro game but that wont work long term.
I'm married to a lawyer and we have heated arguments over whether people should be punished for their actions, or the outcome off their actions.
Just proof reading son's essay on outcomes based regulation in law!! full of paradoxes....as yesterday showed in the case of high tackles. 😉
Tom - because they play for England, simple.
The dozy Argentinian didnt tackle the player though he just ran into him. Daly properly grabbed his legs.
England's Billy Vunipola is likely to miss the Six Nations with a knee injury which will keep him out of action for up to four months.The Saracens number eight picked up the injury during England's win over Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday.
He underwent surgery on Sunday and is not expected to recover in time for the Six Nations, which begin on 4 February.
Bugger.
Thats shit news.
Yep, feel for him for that. Looked like a nothing injury as well.
Daily has had lots and lots of high ball practice at Wasps. He's normally bloody good under it as well. I still don't think it was malicious, it was an utter brain fart moment. He won't figure next weekend as he'll be serving a ban but he'll be back in the mix for the six nations, along with Watson, Manu the Exeter winger and the great lock from Saracens. Can't wait already!
Reminds me of...
[img] 
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AA - are you looking at the crooked feed in that scrum? If so, there wasn't a straight one from either side all game.
I believe he's focussing more on Jonny May's emergence as the answer the Englands openside woes. You can't see it in that gif but he originally tried binding on the prop as well and wood has to pull him back haha
Didn't spot that!!
All home nations squads looking a bit stretched for next w/e. Aus will be out for revenge at Twickers.
Dan, every scrum in the last year has been fed in to the second row! (ATL on one of yours today, BTW)
All home nations squads looking a bit stretched for next w/e.
Its only England playing isnt it.
The gif was for the comedy value of May trying to stick his head up Vunipolas arse!
🙂 I think it was a case of "be gentle it's my first time"
Obvious outcome when you send a boy to do a mans job. (every offence intended to backs.)
Obvious outcome when you send a boy to do a mans job. (every offence intended to backs.)
Burrell seemed to enjoy his time at flanker on Friday night when Saints were down a player.
I admit I haven't looked at the fixtures yet for next week, so maybe it is. Are we expecting many of the sickies to be fit again for next weekend?
TBH the fact that England ended up with May playing back row in the scrum, and we still held on for a 14/13 man win is impressive. We were never going to play an open game in that situation.
CFH - one day the stars will align and you'll have to suffer one of my landings 😯
😀
Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing!
Daly banned for three weeks.
Blow for Wasps that with the return to Europe on the way.
Robert Kitson in today's Guardian with his pointless but fun Lions Test selection,
Lions 2017 Test XV?
S Hogg (Scotland); L Williams (Wales), E Daly (England), R Henshaw (Ireland), G North (Wales); O Farrell (England), C Murray (Ireland); M Vunipola (England), D Hartley (England), T Furlong (Ireland), AW Jones (Wales), M Itoje (England), CJ Stander (Ireland), S O’Brien (Ireland), B Vunipola (England).
Replacements: R Best (Ireland), J McGrath (Ireland), W Nel (Scotland), I Henderson (Ireland), T Faletau (Wales), B Youngs (England), J Sexton (Ireland), J Nowell (England).
One of two Grays at Second row and Best at Hooker. Nel was injured for the whole series so I don't know how he makes the bench. Mind you so was Itoje and he is starting.
Lions:
15. L Williams
14. May
13. Henshaw
12. Farrell
11. North
10. Sexton
9. Murray
8. Billy V
7. SOB
6. Stander
5. Itoje
4. AWJ/Grey
3. Nel
2. Hartley
1. Marler
Hartley in? Surely he's the second best hooker in his own team...!?
I agree....still a long way ahead of anyone from Scotland and Wales, and ahead of Best based on his lineout throwing. Think George will struggle to get a game if he's not first choice for England....plus Hartley is a much better thrower than him too.....I think that set piece will be very important given how well NZ control territory.
Hogg
North
Dont know
Gavin Henson
Watson
Russel
Murray
B Vunipola
Tipuric
Robshaw
Itoje
Kruis
Furlong
Best
M Vunipola
Sinkler
Hartley
McGrath
J Gray
Faletau
Webb
Farrel
Loopy Liam
I see Kitson has picked Noth on the left wing as most of his games for Wales have been but he always seems to play better on the right.
L Williams
Watson
Joseph
Henshaw
North
Ford
Murray
Faletau
O'Brien
Stander
Itoje
Kruis
Nel
Hartley (c)
M Vunipola
Surprised that people favour Mako it loosehead, for me, he is still a relatively weak scrummager. England scrum is far stronger with Marler at 1.
yes, although I never used to rate Marler in the scrum either.
I do think our scrum gets better when Hartley goes off, that may be something.
Anyway, the Lions are going to be smashed as it'll be year end, a mass of games and broken bodies everywhere against a team that'd very likely win no matter what time of year and how fit the best players were! I'll still watch it though.
Surprised that people favour Mako it loosehead, for me, he is still a relatively weak scrummager.
Mako brings much more and isnt a massive ****. He's also Welsh 😉
NZ are "relatively" weak in the scrum and rarely look to exploit it anyway other than to attack from.
Joseph Henshaw and Ford looks good but we need to see if Ford can kick under pressure and if he needs his hand held by another 10 at 12. If Ford starts without Faz then 1/2p might be needed. Sexton is just too fragile IMO.
Joseph Henshaw and Ford looks good but we need to see if Ford can kick under pressure
That won't matter - with my XV we'll outscore them with tries...... 😉
that won't matter - with my XV we'll outscore them with tries......
Of course, silly me!
15. L Williams
14. Watson
13. Henshaw
12. Farrell
11. North
10. Sexton
9. Murray
8. Billy V
7. Tipuric
6. Robshaw
5. Itoje
4. Grey/Kruis
3. Nel
2. Best(c)
1. Mako V
Bench; Furlong, Marler, Hartley, AWJ, SOB, Daly, Webb, Slade.
Starting 15 is just a part of it, it's a 23 man game now more than it ever has been.
Agreed that if Ford is at 10 and Farrell isn't 12 then 1/2p has to start.....I'd argue that it's the case with Sexton too. Do we think Farrell will tour as a 10?
Surprised that people favour Mako it loosehead, for me, he is still a relatively weak scrummager. England scrum is far stronger with Marler at 1.
But Mako isn't a walking penalty / yellow card. Marler always seems to get involved in something stupid.
Looks like Yarde and Roko are fighting for the vacant wing spot as both have been retained.
Mako does a LOT more around the park. Overall I think his contribution to a game is greater so long as the scrum isn't going backwards, and with the kind of pack the lions could put out I very much doubt it would.
Agreed that if Ford is at 10 and Farrell isn't 12 then 1/2p has to start...
1/2p will be lucky to tour at the moment.
Bonus points for next year's 6 Nations it appears. Wonder how much difference it will make
