If you win the World Cup, nobody will care that you only beat Italy by 5 Pts
1. We wont win the world cup.
2. We are more than capable of losing to Italy.
I think this applies to all six nations.
All teams (apart from NZ) will be hoping someone else does them a favour and knocks out the ABs. If that happens, it’s suddenly wide open!
Might win the world cup if this fella setting up the try goes!! He slices thru the Saracens defence with a rapier like break 😁
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2yxSwFiu5SQ
England retained squad.
Forwards
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Jamie George (Saracens), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons).
Backs
Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Owen Farrell (Saracens) captain, George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Dan Robson (Wasps) *, Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
I am no expert but it looks like, other then Maro, the starters will be the same as last week, and he is mixing up the finishers. With the emphasis on meat.
Be interesting to see the team sheet. Is that due tomorrow? Or will it be Friday as its a Sunday game?
Starters/finishers....EFF OFF!
Starting team, reserves.
Starters/finishers….EFF OFF!
Starting team, reserves.
The key to making it in the world is adaptability.
I reckon Cole will start (I’m not sure he’s really an impact player). He’s been pretty good for Tigers since getting dropped and is good in the scrum (he just does sweet FA else these days). Sinkler will have a fair old impact off the bench, carrying against what appears to be a pretty unfit French team. Guessing that Shields might replace Hughes on the bench given that he covers more positions but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him start because Eddie loves him for some reason.
Re the French, Ben Ryan has written a piece for the Guardian banging on about how they are getting their act together and most stuff is cliche, but.... they do look like a bloody shambles. Calling up a hooker on holiday, not telling the vice captain that he’ll be taking over when the captain is subbed off etc. This is all backed up by stories from the likes of Goode and Hamilton when they talk about their time in France. Maybe it’s all a big rues and they’re going to surprise us all.
Eddie loves him for some reason.
Hes not English.
The key to making it in the world is adaptability.
😀
Point proven.
Wales: L Williams; Holmes, J Davies (capt), Watkin, Adams; Biggar, A Davies; N Smith, Dee, Lee, Ball, Beard Wainwright, Young, Navidi.
Replacements: Elias, W Jones, D Lewis, Alun Wyn Jones, Moriarty, G Davies, Anscombe, Amos.
I will be watching from behind the sofa!
Ha ha. That’s a lot of changes to the team. They’re in a good mood though haveing has a nice week in Nice.
I’m pretty sure they’ll have enough to beat Italy with that team.
Mindmap - are you going to the wuss Cup semi tomorrow night?
Stoner - I’m not no, I’d like to though.
You heading down?
Stoner always enjoys a semi.
Just seen the team put out by Worcester; looks bobbins in the backs. Looks like they’re prioritising the Quine game.
fighting off manflu but I have a ticket on the fridge to go, so will try and make it down. Will see how I feel tomorrow pm.
squad pick definitely from the resting bench. Sarries squad not exactly chocker with A listers either though.
Nice to see Will Butler start though (lad from my club, Ledbury RFC, he's actually coming to train with us U12s in a week or so)
Ted Hill picked to captain the Eng U20 side this weekend too.
Scotland team out
Dell McInally Berghan
J. Gray Gilchrist
Wilson Ritchie Strauss
Laidlaw Russell
Johnson Jones
Maitland Hogg Seymour
Bhatti Brown Rae Toolis Harley Price Horne Kinghorn
Tough call on Kinghorn and Gary Graham. Big Bad Bob on the bench for a bit more physicality. Every team needs a ginger tackle monster
Got to be a good team to take on the Irish - about as strong a pack as we could put out tho losing Nel weakens the scrum. Fine set of backs who will score tries if the forwards give them some decent ball.
Tough call on Kinghorn
Its is, although Maitland maybe better in the air which will be important v Ireland.
France have naked a pretty strong looking team. Bamba in the front front row and he was immense at U20 level. Fat boy is back in the centres; the collisions with Manu are going to be monstrous.
I’m hoping that we’ll take a different approach to Ireland and avoid trying to batter them physically. If we play with pace, I don’t think the limos they’ve picked will cope particularly well. If we get dragged into a slog fest, they’ll fancy their chances.
Ashton replaces Nowell who drops to the bench, Lawes starts with Launchbury, Cole and Moon on the bench. Other than that, it’s as per last week.
so again, Wuss lose two players to the call up 35, that again dont get a cap 🙁
Anyone would think he was just grabbing some canon fodder for the lads to practice running into.
15 Elliot Daly (Wasps, 26 caps), 14 Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks, 43 caps), 13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 18 caps), 12 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 28 caps), 11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 41 caps), 10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 66 caps) (c), 9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 81 caps), 1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 52 caps), 2 Jamie George (Saracens, 33 caps), 3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 18 caps), 4 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 69 caps), 5 George Kruis (Saracens, 28 caps), 6 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons, 9 caps), 7 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 6 caps), 8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 37 caps).
Finishers (249 caps)
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 8 caps), 17 Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs, 4 caps), 18 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 82 caps), 19 Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 54 caps), 20 Nathan Hughes (Wasps, 19 caps), 21 Dan Robson (Wasps, uncapped), 22 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps), 23 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 30 caps).
Gashton returns ahead of Nowell, didnt see that coming!
thats cos nowell will come on for Curry as soon as he has his yellow card.
I’m guessing that they want to see what Ashton can do with more game time. Maybe it hints at a less attritional approach?
Interesting to see that they’ve chosen some proper scrummaging props on the bench. I think there is some concern re the French front row. If Mako and Sinkler get pinged off the park there are alternatives.
One thing I did notice about Nowell in the Ireland game, and in others, was that when it is on, he has the tendency to come out of position and look for stuff. Which is kinda good, but defensively terrifying. I am no expert so perhaps you guys can tell me why coming out of position is a good thing, maybe it is a strategy, or if perhaps EJ has clipped his wings slightly because of it? He is a serious asset, but there were a few times when he had me thinking "wtf are you doing there?".
Glad to see Manu kept his spot.
"Anyone would think he was just grabbing some canon fodder for the lads to practice running into."
Stoner , he can have that tosser O'Teo all day long for that . I do feel sorry for the other chap . Hopefully his chance will come .
Mind you Gashton used to be a defensive liability so I think I am probably talking shite here.
I am no expert so perhaps you guys can tell me why coming out of position is a good thing
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">I can think of two/three reasons, other may have more:</span>
a) He can inject pace/ elusiveness / different style of play than might be expected if the ball was just fed down the line predictably from player to player
b) By moving around in attack, he drags his opposite number around with him, potentially opening holes for other people to exploit.
c) He lends his energy to the team more often, rather than standing out on the wing letting everyone else do the work which lets them have a little % more respite.
Yes that all makes sense. Also I have just read the guardian article on Gashton selection and they said
"Nowell excelled in his roaming role against Ireland and can consider himself unfortunate to be relegated to the bench but Ashton’s try-scoring threat has ultimately won him the nod. "
So I have learned something there, I'll just pop back into my box then.
Huget at 15.
Mange tout!
Huget at 15.
Mange tout!
Good to have a safe pair of hands. Oh, wait...
I though Nowell was the stand out back last week he was excellent in the role he was given. Surprised that its not being tried again with the big French forwards especially after Adam's break for Williams try showed the way last week.
I guess we will see how many tackles Gashton misses and then perhaps Nowell will come on..
I though Nowell was the stand out back last week he was excellent in the role he was given. Surprised that its not being tried again with the big French forwards especially after Adam’s break for Williams try showed the way last week.
Making sure he’s fresh / fit for our trip to Cardiff?
We havent beaten you for yonks, not sure Jones is too worried about that!
Ha ha. If both teams won this weekend, you boys will be well up for ruining the party, especially at home. EJ would be a total mug not to be worried about a trip to Cardiff.
I seem to remember you upset a little party a few years back.
you boys will be well up for ruining the party
Always up for it just not always able!
2013, Dan? Still my favourite photo of Mike Brown.
Jesus that 2013 game still makes me feel sick.....was it that match that the Welsh fan ran up and headbutted the England team coach as it was arriving? 😂😂
