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Thats an odd one.
Very strange! Although it'd be hilarious if he nicked Sam Burgess' place at the next league world cup.
I don't follow Union much (even though I've started coaching U9's) is he a starter at Northampton? He did start with Leeds Rhinos I believe.
I doubt anyone would take Burgess' place, unless he got injured.
Although it’d be hilarious if he nicked Sam Burgess’ place at the next league world cup.
😀😀😀😀😀
The good thing this week is there is as much pressure on Wales with their “best ever run”
Sounds like we will see them then😎🤩.
The good thing this week is there is as much pressure on Wales with their “best ever run”
Do you really think that? England are rightly firm favourites. I reckon its a 7/10 game for England. If Wales lose by a small margin but play well I'll be happy enough. I am worried we could get beaten by a lot though. The pressure is all on England IMO, thats why the only person talking them up is Eddie Jones.
dantsw13
Sounds like we will see them then😎🤩.
Yep 😉
England are rightly firm favourites.
I'm not so sure. Yes the Ireland game was awesome, however France were there for the taking and any decent side would have done. I thought we looked flat, lost even in the 2nd half.
Wales have shown a consistent mature performance. They are going to be tough to unpick and we will have to defend remorselessly.
Although it’d be hilarious if he nicked Sam Burgess’ place at the next league world cup.
😂 Post of the Week!
we will have to defend remorselessly.
I doubt it, England will be stronger in the set piece and with more ball carriers should dominate posession. Wales will be the ones defending a lot
I’m not so sure. Yes the Ireland game was awesome, however France were there for the taking and any decent side would have done. I thought we looked flat, lost even in the 2nd half.
Wales have shown a consistent mature performance. They are going to be tough to unpick and we will have to defend remorselessly.
I feel much the same. Wales will deal with the kicks better; especially having had two weeks to work on a way to counter. I doubt we’ll be scoring a super quick try either.
Our shape went big time in the last quarter and I thought it was disappointing that we didn’t score 50 or 60 points against such shit opposition. The AB’s would have taken them to the cleaners.
I doubt we’ll be scoring a super quick try either.
Yeah Gatland won't be falling for any of Eddies tricks.
The AB’s would have taken them to the cleaners.
Yup, this showed the gulf between us and them.
anagallis_arvensis
Member
Thats an odd one.
Maybe not that odd. He's from Huddersfield and grew up playing League. Says he always fancied the idea of Super League at some point.
My nephew grew up playing both and, although he eventually plumped for Union, always says his favourite was League.
The AB’s would have taken them to the cleaners.
44-8 wasn't clean enough?
When the ABs played FRance they did it the other way. France were in two of the games well into the 2nd half until they got blown away in a rush of points.
We annihilated them well before halftime. Game over. It's hard to maintain that total dominance for 80 minutes.
@dontdropthesoap yeah he's a regular at Saints....had a couple of years where he was first choice for England too....seems he was massively affected by getting dropped for the 2015 world cup. Not sure he's played for Rhinos though....think he was at Leeds Carnegie, then us for a bit (Sale) then Saints.
44-8 wasn’t clean enough?
No, not really. The foot should have been kept on the throat and a proper cricket score racked up. No mercy! 😂
Just seen that Strauss may not be able to travel with Scotland and therefore miss the game because he’s apparently lost his passport. Could be another blow for them.
Is anyone keeping an eye on TJ? He’s been pretty quiet recently.
Yeah 44-8 was awesome, but I don't think we scored anything after 55mins? That last 25 was a bit dire. I feel like the ABs would have run in two or three more in that time.
Wales will deal with the kicks better; especially having had two weeks to work on a way to counter
Pick a fullback at fullback and have him stand in roughly the right place shouldnt take 2 weeks!
He’s from Huddersfield
The birthplace of the game, no less.
The good thing this week is there is as much pressure on Wales with their “best ever run”
They’re going to lose that winning run sometime soon, so when would it be best to lose it? Against a strong England or Ireland? An injury-strewn Scotland? I can’t see them carrying on that winning run through a grand slam and into the WC quarters or semis. (The final is too much to think about for a Welsh person!)
Have they got any pre-WC warm up games?
Think they have a pre warm up game against England among others. Wales winning run remains me a bit of England's record equalling one, flatters to deceive.
Tuilagi has signed for Racing 92.
Scotland team
Dell McInally Berghan
Gilcrest Gray
Bradbury Ritchie Strauss
Laidlaw
Horne
Johnson Grigg
Seymour, Kinghorn, Maitland
About as good as we could get given the injuries. good to see Bradbury back - played last week for Edinburgh and was immense. Fagerson on the bench as well coming back from injury
Nick Grigg AKA the pocket battleship is 5'7 and 14 stone IIRC Bastaraud will be licking his lips
Look out for Darcy Graham off the bench as well - another midget but absolutely on fire right now. Mind you - what sort of a name is that for a scots rugby player
Full on private Frazer mode now! doomed!
Bummer about Manu moving to France but given his injuries over the last few years I’d be cashing in too; £2.5m over three years is a hell of a contract.
God knows why Shields is on the bench for Saturday. Big Joe in the bench too. Moon starts at LH which makes sense to me.
Tuilagi has signed for Racing 92.
Thats a big blow to English rugby!
I don’t expect Manu to make it unbroken through to the RWC. Certainly not the next one, so cash in whilst you can.
I'd love a fit Manu to be playing for Tigers and England, but he's only just coming back to form from 5 years ago! He's not showing the explosive power and pace that he had yet either, so a massive loss? Not so sure.
Oh, and his agent (His brother) is saying it hasn't happened...
Anyhow, Lots of posts on here saying that both teams are the underdogs. On the last 2 games, England ought to walk this one, bonus point win time.... There's no way that's going to happen. Squeaky bum time from me but I'm going for a just sneak a win for England, holding out at the end to win by 4.
Speaking with D'Arcy Graham's dad last night, pretty confident he'll get a run against a tiring french side deep in the second half.
Freddie Tuilagi (agent) on social media ref Manu move to France:
Its more like Rugby****s.com not Rugby Pass
It’s only Feb it’s not April’s fool yet
I reckon it's a done deal then!
so a massive loss? Not so sure.
I was thinking more about losing box office stars to France rather than just in rugby terms. If the top trams start losing their top players straight after that big cash injection from whoever it was, things dont look good.
Anyhow, Lots of posts on here saying that both teams are the underdogs. On the last 2 games, England ought to walk this one, bonus point win time….
Indeed if the roles were reversed I'd be expecting to win, as it is I have little hope. England should win with something to spare, but then worse Welsh teams have beaten as good England teams. What worries me is England usually make loads of chances but blow them to keep us in the game, currently they are scoring freely. Still we live in hope. Teams must be out soon...runs off to check!
Wales: Liam Williams (Saracens); George North (Ospreys), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Josh Adams (Worcester); Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter), Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, captain), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Dragons).
Replacements: Elliot Dee (Dragons), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Aled Davies (Ospreys), Dan Biggar (Northampton), Owen Watkin (Ospreys).
England team to face Wales: Daly; Nowell, Slade, Tuilagi, May; Farrell, Youngs; Moon, George, Sinckler, Lawes, Kruis, Wilson, Curry, B Vunipola.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Williams, Launchbury, Shields, Robson, Ford, Cokanasiga.
I met Fred Tuilagi..... he's bizarre/insane/a total weapon in equal measure, and is also mates with a few of the rugby pass guys too. On paper it is a big loss to English rugby, in practice, he's played what 30 games at a guess for England and made his debut about 8 years ago!
yep, 31 games now I think. He was awsome when he burst onto the scene, and playing alongside his brother in the Tigers team I loved (especially the day they nearly destroyed Bendy, the Bath full back) but he costs a bloody fortune and there's little return...
Bizarrely my missus isn’t bothered at all by being surrounded by rugby beefcakes! George Ford really is tiny though...
And from the horses mouth... Itoje fit for the next game in 2 weeks time.
Bizarrely my missus isn’t bothered at all by being surrounded by rugby beefcakes! George Ford really is tiny though…
And from the horses mouth… Itoje fit for the next game in 2 weeks time.
danstw13: are you playing tomorrow?
Sorry, but the excitement is getting too much now.
Sorry, but the excitement is getting too much now.
Yeah - I'm actually as nervous as 2003!
I’m getting excited too which worries me! Normally when that happens we play badly and it’s back to square one...
If we lose I’m doing a Darcy and might venture back in a week or two.
Gaus - I was a little out - “gunned” in the jacuzzi, although my dodgy beard would have fitted right in!!
Cockanasinga is a brute of a wing some size as Billy V - who I think he has a bit of a man-crush on!
I am not excited, just hoping Wales dont get hammered!
All this talk of Wales having 2 weeks to prepare the fullback for all the kicks...it wouldn’t surprise me if England don’t kick at all and have spent 2 weeks planning something completely different. Seems to be the Eddie way.
I shall be supporting all 3 underdogs this weekend IMHO Scotland, Wales and Italy.
Unfortunately Italy have no chance as far as I can see.
France v Scotland could go either way, but I fancy France for the win. I cannot tell what score to expect though. Should be a nice aperitif for the second game.
Initially I thought Wales had about a 1 in 4 chance, but I’m swaying to a 1 in 3 now; really can’t see it being any more than this. Everywhere I look there are people talking about the game, videos of previous games etc... I really hope it’s as eventful as some of the great games before.
England are favourites, but they’ll have managed something impressive to beat Ireland and Wales away from home - I feel it would make them and NZ clear favourites for the World Cup. If however, Wales beat England and then Ireland beat Wales, then that would open everything up much more.
Apologies for my wittering but this is getting all too much. I’m interested in others predictions, what d’ya think?
I am not excited, just hoping Wales dont get hammered!
Indeed, I could cope with them losing. But, I don’t want to see them totally outclassed.
Wales won’t get pumped if we do win. It’ll be a tense, tight affair. Wales U20’s won tonight; I hope that’s not a precursor for tomorrow!
Gloucester playing well tonight with a healthy lead over Sarries. An they hold on? McCall must have been cheesed off given how quickly he emptied the bench.
Morgan has had a cracking game for Gloucester; carries well, tackled well and scored two tries. He looks a bit fat and unfit still but gets through a hell of a lot of work.
I feel like one does before an exam or the birth of a child. How to fill the time?
I really wish Halfpenny was playing; Liam Williams is so good, but I have a horrible feeling England will win by less than the number of points
lost to missed kicks : (
Hate this day of the year, nerves anxiety living in the wrong country
Many years ago I was the sole English occupant at Bryn Meadows during an England/Wales game. We lost and I think Carling got pummelled in a tackle much to my 150 new Welsh friends raucos delight. That was a heavy afternoon and and evening heavier morning...
Bryn Meadows 😂😂😂😂😂
I really wish Halfpenny was playing; Liam Williams is so good, but I have a horrible feeling England will win by less than the number of points
lost to missed kicks : (
I think Biggar is the better kicker these days. Surprised he isnt starting.
Going to be a long afternoon I think......😕
That French try was lovely!!!
The chip through was also lovely but for the knock on....
This was posted about half an hour in to the game...
https://twitter.com/diddragonslose/status/1099302290123558913?s=19
Only one score at half time so Scotland should win, but the French may have a 10 who is not completely insane. Will the coach get Ntamack on the laughing gas over the break ?
Oh oh, the French are enjoying themselves!
Not going to plan for Scotland. Looks like it could well be a very long 6N for them with their injuries.
Sheesh, Benneton absolutely hosed the Dragons today. Surely the Italian national team will start to benefit from the better performances of the domestic teams.
Well, if you really really want that bonus point...
Sheesh, Benneton absolutely hosed the Dragons today.
Meanwhile The Ospreys are pleased to announce that they will still exist next season, thats how broken welsh rugby is!!
That’s piss poor from Scotland. Looks like a bad tournament for them due to injuries. Losing to that french team is bad.
Meanwhile, I’m fully prepared for the wheels to come off English rugby this afternoon.
French team was much better today but Scotland were not that good at all 🤨
Here we go. Got my cushion ready to hide behind! May the best team win (unless it is England of course 🙂 )
Anyone else almost overcome with nausea?
Good luck everyone!
Thats an awful decision
Good luck everyone!
Indeed. Let’s have a game of fantastic rugby!
Peyper been awful so far - both ways!
Anyone else almost overcome with nausea?
Yes... but better now!
Jeez I need a rest!!
Any refs tell me why that Vunipola turnover was a pen? The ball was well behind the back feet of the ruck - it’s out surely?
What was the Welsh 10 thinking 3 mins from the end. Scrum against the head and booted it away! 🙄
Jeez I need a rest!!
Ha, I was just thinking the same 😁
England have been too strong so far, but the score could be worse. Time for Warren to do his halftime thing!
Still in cause the ref said so, also welsh player still had his hand over it.
When I grow up I want to be Tom Curry
dantsw13
Member
Any refs tell me why that Vunipola turnover was a pen? The ball was well behind the back feet of the ruck – it’s out surely?
Ruck had formed and ball was still in hand as a_a says.
Number of borderline decisions both ways, players on both sides have to learn from the ref's interpretations.