This is where we are lucky up in Scotland. We have to find a couple of
Kilted Kiwis just to have enough qualified professional players to fill up thE required squad size. You can wedge your “which centre pairing?” malarky right up your soft southern bums.

I still think we might find Barritt is injured.

Ireland got there first with Jared Payne. There’s Boss and Bent too. And Vern’s mate Joe in charge.
But long gave up hope of finding a – how do you say it? – “centre pairings”. Even with kilted kiwis.
New “Total Rugby” – based on the Dutch football side from the ’70s – has no centres and at least 3 full backs.
Working towards a full complement of 5 or 6 Full backs soon, no wings or fly half next.

15 Kearney
14 Felix Jones
13 Payne
12 Henshaw
11 Zebo
10 Madigan

Prepare to see that unleashed against the English next week.
they might even try a bit of kicking the ball in the air and see what happens.

BM – that’s a strong side and suggests to me that Chris Henry has got nothing left to prove, he’s in or Joe would give him another run.

On that England theme,

Loads of media reporting yesterday that Cipriani’s out of the squad as fact, not rumour. none of them that I saw mentioned their source, just his media page.
With an official announcement not coming till today, it now looks like Lancaster’s made a right call based on who he can trust in the squad.

Should never have got that hair cut

Can I ask a dumb question? Surely Cips, Burrell etc are likely to get a game given the usual attrition?

England would have to make it past Wales and Australia first

I was surprised England have selected 3 hookers, I thought you were onto something there!

For me it was no shock with Burgess going, it looked like Lancaster has always had him pencilled in for whatever reasons. I’m looking forward to seeing more of Slade at the top level.
Interesting seeing Morgan selected after so long out, I can’t see why he wasn’t given more game time last week if that was going to be the case.

Unless you are Australia when you hope that happens.

Sorry? If we end up with non-pushing scrums you lose the points? Is that a new one?

36’s lack of form and Tuilagi’s idiocy have left the door open for Burgess and Slade’s forced his way in. This is a team to get the job done and qualify in first from the group. Thereafter who knows. IMO Farrell’s comments are just designed to keep people motivated and physiological games for the opposition, I think the sides for Wales and Austraila are known based on the work to date, experience and the game plans. We’re at home and well win both those big games. 😀

I’ve just spent a while looking at the groups and fixtures and cone up with this. (Apologies if already done!)

QF1 RSA v Aus/Eng/Wal
QF2. NZ v Ire/Fra
QF3. Ire/Fra v Arg
QF4. Aus/Eng/Wal v Sam/Sco

That gives semis..

SF1. (Aus/Eng/Wal) or RSA v NZ
SF2. Ire/Fra v Aus/Eng/Wal.

All assuming no upsets and based on my own bias. 🙂

The only possible way that Wales can win the overall RWC is to win their group, then beat Ire/Fra in the semis and hope that Aus or England dispose of NZ in that semi, having beaten RSA in the quarters. Based on the fact that Wales haven’t beaten NZ since 1563 or whenever.

I would have thought that was obvious, even to a fan parody like me. I need to think about who I’ll be supporting after the group stages.

Like you, he missed a trick.
Although, he’s not stupid and would probably put it down to “principles”.

Cheers AA – just been reading the tournament rules.

I think whoever wins England’s group will get to the final.