watching Olly Barclay play for Scarlets is a bit odd, useful player though. J Davies looking very very rusty and missing tackles cant see him playing at Twickenham next week.

Stop trying to cheer us up AA.
As usual I am V pessimisitic.
If you ask me Care and the missed distribution opportunities were part of the England of old, the trundlemuppets. He was channelling Mike Tindall and looking for personal glory instead of making the best decisions for the good of the team win. Disappointed and not at all convinced by the “new england”. The media piss me off with all there vaunting of us, when in fact it was luck and and fag papers difference between us and Ireland. TBH we had trouble putting those twenty points on Scotland, and it wouldn’t surprise me if we get beaten by Wales and Italy.
Next year when Vern Cotter get his hands on Scotland it will be Eng and Italy vying for the wooden spoon. 🙁

Vern Cotter could live to 300,and coach us the entire time and we would still be pish. Nae players.

Nice to see tigers starting to look decent again – what a difference a Tuilagi makes! In this case, it was a lot to do with the space left for the other backs as Manu had 2 players on him every time he got near the ball. Nice to see the lad back. Great quote from Richard Cockerel as well

“We have been crap all season and we are joint third, whereas Bath have been awesome and they are joint third. That’s how it works sometimes. We’ve been crap all year but look where we are. Just think where we could be if we played half-decent.”

I’ve always liked Cockers, you get what it says on the tin. He’s no worse than the rest of the DoR’s and the constant stream of ‘advice’ to the match officials.
I hope manu won’t be back into the England team, he could do with getting back into playing at Tiggers first, however England do have a habit of taking a half fit player and destroying them, so I sadly wouldn’t be surprised.
Luther should be big enough to take on Jamie, although I don’t think he’s at the same level, he should be able to do a job, and to be honest, we need a second centre who can fight for the position!

Strictly speaking is wasn’t abusive towards the official at Northampton, he said to the linesman that if the ref didn’t start looking after the Leicester players, he’d tell the Leicester pack to smash the **** in the Northampton team. Seems fair to me, and nothing other DoR’s haven’t said. Oddly, one of the blokes who reported him has previous for telling Cockers to meet him in the car park after the game for a fight!!
Newport ban was different though I admit.

@tinybits – agree re Cockerill, he’s not complicated and you know what youre going to get. As an aside he provided one of the best comedy moments I’ve ever seen live. A wet and windy day and the Aussie hooker had just lovingly wiped the ball clean prior to a line out throw in, Cockerill was stood watching intently and just as he finished drying the ball Cockerill took the drinks bottle he’d been holding behind his back and sprayed the ball !

He doesn’t like yours either, it makes you a target

Speaking of hair, the IRFU website has a BOD career gallery up at the moment.

Were there no barbers open in Dublin in 2005?

I hate his hair

How very insightful of young Nowell.
EVERY team in the World hates England! It’s always been the way, in every sport!
In the league of hatred of England I reckon Wales come below Scotland and France though, surely.

yet its always the english saying “they hate us”, says more about the english players imo.
Anyway fingers crossed twatgland keeps his gob shut this week!

Myself and Flashy have played in as many full international games between england and wales as Nowel. Scored as many international tries as him too!

Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Sam Warburton (Blues, capt), Taulupe Faletau (Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Paul James (Bath Rugby), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Scarlets).

He’s back….!

🙂

There you have it flashy! best team in the championships. No excuses now for your boys this weekend.

Wales might have the nudge in the scrums, england at advantage in lineout and maul, backrow look evenly matched, half backs adv england, centres depend on how Davies goes, wales wings stronger and Brown on better frm than 1/2p. Should be close england favourites with home advantage.

Pretty good summary there, AA.

Who’s the ref, BTW?

Roman Poite with the whistle. Tends to favour the dominant scrum, as it should be IMHO. Will be intriguing…..

On 6N form so far, who would be the lions 15 now – 1/2p, brown or Kearney? Very close call. Brown and Kearney have both upped their games and form but 1/2 still as solid as ever.

Lineouts will be interesting, Please Lancaster! there is NO RULE saying that you HAVE to replace hookers after 60 mins. Do it at 81 mins if you must!!!!! 😉

I’d still go with 1/2p as Sexton and Farrel are both prone to the odd wobble with kicking at goal. If Dan Carter was the ten I’d pick Brown.

If Dan Carter was the ten I’d pick Brown.

Is Dan eligible? Yay!