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I may be out of line but a release for Joost, an amazing player and an even more special human being. RIP 😥
RIP Joost, thanks for some great memories.
He was great to watch wasn't he? Awful disease, hopefully his foundation can make a difference. RIP.
What danstw says, J9 joost.co.za
Tragic to hear of anyone passing so young but especially tough to think of those of such physical prowess such as Joost or Jonah being struck down in such a way
Had the great pleasure of seeing him play many times, exceptional. RIP.
Joost was one of the, if not the best player I've ever watched. Always enjoyed seeing him play. Sad to see him go so early. 😥
RIP. 🙁
I see Jones has gone with the typical "small country" mind games. He will need better bait than that I hope.
Meanwhile Howley says Joost was the best he ever played against...so he is capable of getting something right.
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Not really a spiritual person but it would be nice to think those two are having fun knocking lumps out of each other somewhere!
Van der Westhuizen was an out standing player. I'll remember the 95 rwc final for many years. RIP Joost
+1 AA and after they can shot some pool with Nevin and Jerry Collins
Looks like Tom Wood is out of Saturday's game having not trained this week.
That's a callow back row up against a very experienced Welsh one.
Although Wood looks busy getting involved he's been giving away pens a lot. Clifford although always looking small to me is 6'4 and 18 stone and pretty quick with it, he will add a dynamic.
Experience is the issue. Eddies stating that Haskell isn't ready for 60 mins yet, so we are likely to start with Itoje, Hughes and Clifford unless he risks the Hask on fitness.
Backrow wont matter if Wales get muched in the front 5. Wales unlikely to have Faletau start either.
Seems Faletau is fit. Big ask to start him and who do we drop? Could go Faletau, Tip, Moriarty or Faletau, Warbs, Moriarty or Faletau, Tip, Warbs...
Wing spot going to if North is broken. Could be Steff Evans or most likely the hoplessly out of form Cuthbert or even Scott Williams and put Roberts at 12 which could work if Biggar is broken and we start Davies.
Englands flank problem solved
Wood back in.
FNARRR
All the guff about the roof is boring! Unless it's pissing it down or snowing, I think it should be open.
Another had game to call. Wales certainly have the edge in the back row.
Ireland will beat Italy. I think Scotland may struggle against France, but I think the speed of their play will see them home.
All the guff about the roof is boring!
Not for Eddie he gets to decide and says he doesnt care but wont decide!
Not sure its a hard game to call. England big favourites.
Big favourites?? Like your man Sam, who flattered Ebg by comparing them to the AB, you ae being very generous AA. Unlike EJ at least neither of you are playing mind games! 😉
How close will the choir be breathing skull attack breath down the necks of our poor fragile roses during the anthems*? Or different tactics this time?
EJ has been practicing the anthems with 50 pissed up blokes from Frinley singing a foot behind the England team before this weeks training sessions at Pennyhill Parl. Check out the youtube clip its hilarious. Attention to detail is quite something.
* my highlight of the 6N is hearing Land of my Fathers sung at Cardiff when against England. Bsst anthem of the lot'
I would say england are huge favourites, if we lose by less than 10 I would be amazed.
We will be playing a dwarf at 10 and the front row is going to be under huge pressure even if Cole if playing.
I don't think that England are huge favourites - they were shite last week and have some pretty key injuries resulting in a back row that doesn't look up to international rugby.
Wales weren't great last week but are at home against a team that they love to beat. I can't help but feel that all of their experience will see them through.
Well the bookies dont agree
Even being English I wouldnt put England as huge favorites. I do think Italy flattered Wales last week, but the occasion and the fact England had a terrible game plus injuries means Wales will be all over them in the first 20. England need to avoid relinquishing tries in that period.
If they do avoid that, the game will come to them. We do have the attack now to exploit Wales, I think our pack will wear down the Welsh in attack although not as well as if we had Billy V, and then the last 15 will see Wales finished off.
But I predict smaller margins, a scoreline of say 15-21.
Wales need Biggar - if hes on the pitch - & 1/2p to kick well to keep England pinned back.
Whatever happens, I think its going to be a classic game.
Wood dropped for Clifford. No other changes in the XV.
Agree with Kryton, if we can weather the inevitable storm for the first 50 minutes, I think that our replacements will see us home.....if Wales get a couple of unanswered converted tries in that time though, then I think that the game will be gone. Backrow of Itoje Clifford Hughes really isn't what you want facing Hovis Tips and Not Toby!
Whatever happens, I think its going to be a classic game.
Lets hope so.
Wood dropped for Clifford. No other changes in the XV.
This has Itoje at 5, Wood & Haskell finishing. Actually a stronger finish than a start. With the finishing backline rumoured to be Ford off for Farrell, Teo, Daly, Nowell it could be very hard on Wales in the last 20.
Nowell also in for May - better all round player but not the same pace.
Back row looks a worry, but England still favourites although I predict a very close game - no more than 5 in it and I'm going for Wales
Oops didn't notice the Nowell switch for May.
Yeah hoping for a classic game, has the potential certainly.
Backrow of Itoje Clifford Hughes really isn't what you want facing Hovis Tips and Not Toby!
Talupe has played what 3 games all season? I doubt he will start and Warburton has been hoplessly out of form. Tips is the only one currently playing well. Biggar looks broken and Priestland and Hook are not in the squad along with Anscombe and Patchel who are broken. This leaves us with either Sammy Davies junior at 10 who is not ready or Owen Williams who never will be. Added to that our biggest attacking threat North also looks to be injured. I think England are strong favs and should win handily which is what the bookies think.
Nice to see Nowel picked he's a proper player not like that numpty May
Oh shit, missed the Joost van der Westhuizen news until now. That's sad.
He was the best scrum half I've ever seen.
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon); George North (Northampton), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Liam Williams (Scarlets); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, capt), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester).Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Cory Hill (Newport Gwent Dragons), Taulupe Faletau (Bath), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Sam Davies (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins).
Biggar and North picked which is good. Starting props switched and Talupe on bench. Best we could hope for really. I shall be watching more in hope than expectation. Bring it on.
It's a strong starting XV. I'd say England have the edge in the tight 5 (although our tight 5 can be anonymous on occasion).....Wales much stronger backrow. Backs.....Godzilla aside I'd give the edge slightly to England.
England stronger overall bench, but Samson Lee, Not Toby and Roberts are all top notch players to bring on for Wales....and I quite rate Scott Baldwin too!
Should be a fascinating game.....England have to manage that Welsh backrow....and hopefully Dan Cole won't be the one asked to help!!!
Biggar will be targeted, Brown will be on guard under the high balls. I'm wondering how much more of a bettering North can take for his own sake.
Roberts is clearly there to stop Teo.
Should be a fascinating game
Quite!
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I'm wondering how much more of a bettering North can take for his own sake.
Roberts is clearly there to stop Teo.
North only bruised his thigh for christ sake. He wasnt knocked out again. Stop being such a drama queen!!
Roberts is clearly there as we have no other centres!! Williams and Davies are capable of looking after Teo they have both played against far better players. Teo may score a hatful of tries given front foot ball but he will scare no one at this level.
Not sure where this idea that a wales backrow with two 7's and a six is better than the English one. It will be a moot point anyway if the English front 5 play to their potential or close to it. Welsh scrum should be okish but the lineout looks like a potential horror show.
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Oh dear.
Could we assume that the mercenary didn't want to play for England at that point?
Ooh, the mercenary. Bet he'd be bawling his eyes out if he saw that.
I'm sure he wouldn't be. I suspect he's very happy with his pay packet.
Yawn - does any 6N team not have imports?
Yawn - does any 6N team not have imports
Wales
Im in Wales now.
Luckily I'm returning home tomorrow before it gets loud here, but the banter has already started.
Dan, imports are one thing. He played rugby for another country. That should rule him out.
His Irish phase is just an additional embarrassment.
I wonder if our import will better Shane Howarth's 19 caps? (no one mention his [s]welsh[/s] NZ grandfather)
Right, so every player in the wales team was born in wales? You sure?
The rules are the rules. Every team uses them. Get over it and stop the petty insults and sniping.
C'mon, even I can see that it's just banter from the Welshies!! That Te'o stuff is brilliant!!!
God I hate the Welsh rugby team.....like really really hate the lot of them 😆
Oh, the pics above are funny, but any England player with overseas links gets a snide belittling nickname. Like I said - yawn. Looking forward to the weekend matches though. I think France is Scotlands biggest hurdle this year. If they win this, I can see them as champions this year. Confidence is everything. When Ireland came back at them last week I thought they would fade to another famous plucky defeat, but that finish will really bolster them.
Mods, TJ has clearly hacked dan's account 😯
England player with overseas links
Don't care two hoots about where he was born. He played international rugby for Samoa. Quite the link.
The Robshaw picture is amusing - nothing more
As for the import jibe, leave it. Just enjoy the blatant hypocrisy - 15 caps to go to beat Howarth
Howarth shouldn't have been allowed to switch shirts either. Or Vainokolo. Etc.
Careful C'pn too close to the big match to be balanced there!!! 😉
😀
Ooh, the mercenary. Bet he'd be bawling his eyes out if he saw that.
It's not far off the mark though, that pic of him in the irish shirt is pretty damning even if he does have an english parent.
Wales
HTF is Anscombe not a ringer?!? All blacks u-20!
Yes but his mother was born in Cardiff. Gatts targeting him is a totally different thing......he likes eating leeks too.
[i]He played rugby for another country. That should rule him out.[/i]
I actually agree with that, but it doesn't matter. We don't make the rules.
(and for a different code! If anything I'm jealous that the bastard is so bloody talented 😆 )
HTF is Anscombe not a ringer?!? All blacks u-20!
Anscombe not in the squad!
He's shit anyway. My problem is the welsh poaches areshit as we lack the cash..!!!
Moriarty played for England U20's
Not all of the welsh squad were born in wales but they all have come up in the welsh system or have a welsh parent.
Te'o is a blatent merc and isnt even that good no idea why he's making the England bench although I suppose he adds biff to otherwise a bunch of smaller more creative players. If Manu could stay fit Te'o would be gone.
Edited to add that to be fair I hated Te'o and his magic armband when I thought he was Irish!!
God I hate the Welsh rugby team.....like really really hate the lot of them
How dare you I'm outraged 😆
"British Caps for Brtish Players"
Repeat 100 times...Nige* is right behind you
* the boozer not the ref tbc
You mean when [b][i]HE[/i][/b] thought he was Irish?
😉
Yes but his mother was born in Cardiff.
Te'o's mum is english!!!
The scandals get worse 😉
English players will be cheating in the scrum/ruck next....
The roof!
The roof!
Te'o's mum is english!!!
I'm starting to feel sorry for him! Maybe I shouldnt be so mean.
You're just a big softy really!
Sounds like there's still a fair bit of doubt about North and Biggar; the Telegraph says that they may be swapped two hours before kick off! Howley has already spoken to Tigers about Williams being called up at super short notice. Cuthbert is apparently favourite to replace North if he's not fit enough.
Cuthbert is apparently favourite to replace North if he's not fit enough.
Only with Rob Howley!!
AA - ha ha! He's a frigging donkey isn't he?
So - roof open, Eddie suspects they are playing games with the team announcement becuase he said he'd define his strategy depending on Biggar playing, and is now isolating England from outside influences such as removing potentially all night ringing telephones from hotel rooms the minute they cross the bridge
Its all fun and games isnt it!
The team announcement is games for sure....
But a bit Laurel and Hardy compared to when Gatts does it!!!
Bring the game on - all the pre match BS detracts from the occasion including having the goat crap on the area where England line up. We need an MJ-type who would deliberately line up in the wrong place to avoid the goat crap and the bad-breath band singing twin inches behind their collars. Don't think Hartley has balls as big as Jonners!!
So I presume that the roof is open at Eddies request despite him saying he doesnt mind. He does seem to be playing mind games with himself. Shame Gats has ****ed off they would both have wound each other up into a frothing frenzy by now.
Makes sense for England to want the roof open as their tight five is stronger. Dont know why they dont feel able to say that.
As for North and Biggar well I will velieve when they step on the pitch but it makes sense for Wales to try and keep the hype about Sammy Davies junior under wraps.
Bring the game on - all the pre match BS detracts from the occasion including having the goat crap on the area where England line up.
You dont half talk rubbish
bad-breath band singing
How about adding another stereotype...you are getting sheep and garlic confused in your xenophobia I think.
^give it a rest a_a, Jesus, if you're going to dish a load of banter out, then at least take some in return rather than pulling out the racism card at any given opportunity....... You big sheep loving Jessie 😆
Dish out a load of banter? I stick to rugby and rugby players....
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.gives me more time with my flock!!
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and I dont like THM much to be honest.
Back on topic...
Seem to be rumours that North is really struggling with his dead leg and it looking more and more like Cuthbert starting.
I've never understood the roof thing... but why is a stronger tight five better having the roof open?
With the rof open, it's more likely to be wet or at least damp, so it turns more into a forwards dominated wrestling match with the backs getting lass of the ball so the better back row aren't there to steal the ball / make smashing great runs / tackles.
It's a very small push one way or the other, but tiny gains will win test matches.
Personally I like the roof shut (when I'm there) as the crowd noise reflects back from the roof at a great volume (maybe that's another reason visitors like it open?)