It’s a bit of both. The set piece was ok(ish) but none of the forwards seemed to want to take the ball in to contact (and who can blame them against Fiji!). The forwards were more often than not stood flat and static and then just shipped the ball on to the next in line, rather than go forwards. Not putting and phases together and getting turned over every two seconds made the game open and loose. So Ford perhaps didn’t control things well but I think a lot of it was to do with how the pack played too.

Australia licking their lips now. How many broken after this game? 🙂

BBC reporting JJ is out with SB in, BB at 13 and OF in for GF.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34324696

Yeah you’re right. It’ll be won and lost up front. If England get turned over as much as they did against Fiji then Wales will have a great chance.

SL doesn’t know who his first choice FH is and it does nothing for the confidence of Ford to earn his spot throughout the 6N and then have it taken away on the back of an average performance by the whole side against Fiji.

Have you not been following English selection policies (or lack of them) for the last 4 years then??? 😯

I am suprised that they didn’t recall the Wererabbit,Wood was gash on Friday and they are seriously out-speed and brained in the back row. Horsing the ball up the pitch is all well and good if you can force turnovers,but if England don’t completly mash the Welsh in the set piece then the Welsh back row will force turnovers themselves.At least they have abandoned the attempt to suggest that there is a plan b. Pity it took Lancaster till a vital group game to admit it.

I’m sure in the last thread I said I’d bet anything on a Burgess start in the world cup. I thought he’d be next to Tuilagi but I’m not at all surprised by this.
If Ford’s not playing, there’s no point in JJ anyway, so lets not worry about that. Backrow is going to get a shoeing, and due to that (and the terrible scrum / dodgy lineout) I’d predict a Wales win.
At least Lancaster may have to do one after the world cup…

STV Player installed on school computer DD…S2 class watching an educational DVD DD…S3 class doing timed past paper questions DD.

So predictions for today?

Free fondle for closest! (Counting on you here duckers) 😉

Scotland by 10
Australia by 30
France by 45+

Re the player, think it’s better to have the player if on a phone or tablet. Webshite works fine for through a pc/laptop.

I have no idea how Scotland are going to do. Actually getting quite nervous about it. Supposedly been promising so much for such a long time would be nice if they actually delivered.

Japan by 5, Scotland to lead at 1/2 time, but the crowd to bring Japan into it with 10 to go.
Aus by 30, their backline looks awesome, and if the forwards are firing on all cylinders they’ll have a decent base to work from.
France by a Cricket scoreline.
No need for a prize, I can fondle myself.

Scotland by 20, Oz by 35 and France by 20.

Trains all round the South West were a joke on Saturday with the midday kick off in Glos and then a 2.30 in Cardiff. Have a good time at the StagnHennium!

That chance could come back and haunt Scotland. I hope not though. Japan are great to watch.

Tiredness showing IMHO

Bonus point would be a “bonus”

Well done Scotland. Good performance.

Probably the most complete performance by any of the tier 1 teams so far. Looking forward to Fiji/Aus, but I suspect the quick turnaround will hurt Fiji, as it will Wales after England.

Well played Scotland.
Backs, and back row, looked pretty useful.
(Japan too, tbh, good match)

Why is it that all teams seem to now think that they have to win a penalty at each scrum, rather then just re start, tie in the fatties and get the damn ball out.

Missed the Ireland Canada game?

Ball came out clean from every scrum.
For Canada, it was a case of very quick strike/feed and straight out the back.
For Ireland, there was a little squeeze to commit the opponents back row, then ease the pressure and let the ball out for the backs to use.

12 scrums, no penalties.

Even the two where the ref signaled penalty “advantage”, they still used the ball and ran it instead.
Bit of a difference in class, but both sides committted to using the scrum as a platform for the backs to run the ball.

So, about the Aussie weakness in the pack ……….they are looking very good.