I see the saes are still banging the Nonu drum…. do all these polynesians look the same to you lot.
If you bothered to compare the Fekitoa pen to the Yarde pen you would see they were very different incidence one was a cast iron yellow the other wasnt.

oh and I dont care how you think it sounds. I dont think it is as bad as being critical of a ref without bothering to say why.

oh and I dont care how you think it sounds. I dont think it is as bad as being critical of a ref without bothering to say why.

Give it a rest taffy. There’s no ongoing attack of the ref or drum banging about Nonu. Bloody welshies, they’re all the same.

Getting back to the rugby,

Manu on the wing? That’ll be lack of good wingers then. Almost an admission that May isn’t up to it. Manu has played wing for Leicester and can do a job Although he won’t be scoring over 70 yards, he’s great when allowed to come in and hit the ball at pace. I haven’t watched Burrell much, I’m assuming he’s not a good kicker and Lancaster does seem to want that in his 12 slot, hence 12T.
Players in the wrong position is not unusual to Lacanster, remember the Brown on the wing with I seem to recall a winger at fullback?). I think the reasoning was that you have to have your best players on the pitch, so you find them positions. If that were the case, England ought to play 13 forwards!

Just watched the last 15 mins, we lacked a little composure 12-9 up and handling error which lead to 3 points and the yellow card. Even then we had chances to kick for position when under pressure which we passed up and which lead to the AB’s having a pen and field position to score. A few errors in a tight match but from what I saw many positives although it is hard to imagine we’ll not face a materially improved AB side next weekend.

EPK 12 Wales B midget allstars 34. Listened on radio whilst marking sounded dull. Anyone see it?

😯 oh my sweet good God, humped by those forwards 😥 no lube and no reacharound

Gav is staying at Bath which is a bit of a shame. But I suppose thats just a short golf cart ride up the M4!!!
Pigface Beast Brits and Oosthuizen on the bench along with Burger and Pienar… shiiiìt

No they’ll have to “make do” with Matfield and Botha!!!!

**** me when did Ashton get recalled! It speaks volumes that we’d rather play Tuilagi on the wing than him. That bench luck ridiculously strong. Can’t say that I like the idea of Many on the wing.

Hmmm. The kick over / above Manu might expose him over and he’ll perhaps get drawn to the centre expose the wing to Savea – Brown needs to be on his toes for sure.

That’s a hell of a bench. I’m pretty sure a different team will come on for the second half to give Lawes etc some game time in prep for the third test – but also what an impact sub for him and Vunipola to come on and carry. That tells me Lancaster expects to take it to the AB’s in the 2nd half at least – good on him.

I’m glad Burrels back in though, he’s a better ball handler than Manu with most of the physical attributes, more rounded. But agree – we need to put a stand out winger on the team and rotate Manu / Burrell depending on the adversary. If it wasn’t the AB’s/ Jonny Mays limitations I don’t think they’d both be starting.

I’ve got to say this England team is shaping up to be quite formidable assuming no big injuries or dramatic loss of form, we should win the 2015 6N and do well in RWC15 -certainly thrashing a creaking Welsh team on the way if we have to is my prediction principally for AA’s benefit.

Only just spotted that Haskel is out. Apart from Tuilagi I thought he was one of Englands best players last week….big calls from Lancaster, strange he hasnt picked on reputation before preferring to go with an incumbent who is playing well than bring in a star…do you trust him?
Bench does look strong but who goes to 15 if Brown breaks?

Kryton, I dont see why Burrell and Tuilagi wouldnt work in midfield.

I wouldnt discount Wales yet. The backs are better than Englands. If we can replace Phillips, Gethin and Lee keeps up his progress we have the basis of a team that can push you if all/most are fit.

I’m not too surprised and Mau on the wing, I just don’t think that Lancaster rates any wingers, certainly not to actually score tries so is using the position purely to get another hard carrying centre on the pitch.
Manu was devastating in the last match up I saw him against Burrell, to say that he has nearly the same physical attributes is simply untrue. I’m not sure there are many players in the world that have, and certainly not in the England team! I also think that his handling is underated. If he had a good poacher on the outside of him instead of bunny in the headlights May, I think we’d see more. (OK, I’m a Tuilagi fan, I’ve got a bit of man love for all the brothers)
However, if Burrell is a good handling 12, I see no reason why not to play Manu alongside. Oh well, maybe in the Autumn internationals!
I’m simply not rating Farrell at the moment, however he’s still a better bet than Burns who has been pretty rubbish this year – last weeks games aside. I do think he’ll come good at Tigers though, he’s got the talent for sure. Maybe he thrives on a pack that doesn’t allow him to be smashed every time he gets the ball!
AA – I think England’s backs are catching up fast. 12 months ago I would have agreed without hesitation, but If we can get a decent winger, I think we’ll be more than a match…

@Kryton – I think we have to say George North is one of the best two wingers in the world full stop.

Manu’s handling is good in that he can take a pass 🙂

1/2p v Brown even
Cuthbert v any english winger even at worst
Davies v Tuilagi/Burrel even
Roberts v whoever Adv Wales
North v Whoever adv wales
Biggar v Farrel even
phillips v care adv england

Seems fair to me

What evidence do you want. Its all just opinion however the wales backline is packed full of hugely experienced test lions the english one isnt. The welsh backline is a settled unit the english one isnt.

Brown wasnt great last week by his standards.

@tinybits – May has talent he just needs to focus on running forwards instead of sideways.

agreed, and some of the tries he’s scored for Gloucester have been great. I’ve not seen it on the international stage yet though. He reminds me of Dan Luger!

Looking forward to seeing if england can turn over the all blacks this am.

Wiziwig is your friend