I thought he had another minor injury since the concussions, that took him out almost straight away?

It’s fine though… Parkes will ably step in at 10… right? 😂

How long would it take Cips to learn the Welsh anthem? 😀 😉

When a nation calls, a hero will answer…

Gav 😛😛😍

I thought he had another minor injury since the concussions,

He may have done but he’s struggled to make a miss firing Scarlets side.

I am surprised by Jones’s selection of Francis and omission of Spencer. I used to love it when Francis played for Embra, but thats cos I am a Glasgow fan. AA: what’s happened to Priestland then?

Priestland and Webb are ineligible. Less than 60 caps and play abroad.

Sam Davies? Whats happened to him?

Three game ban for Barrett. Bakkies Botha has already pointed out it would have been three months if he’d done it!

Sam Davies? Whats happened to him

Found his level, moved to The Dregs.

England RWC squad announced, no real suprises:

I think there is –

Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
Jack Singleton (Saracens, 1 cap)
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 5 caps)
Piers Francis (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)
Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby, uncapped)

3 players with 1 cap, a couple with 5 and one with no international caps – that’s put Eddies planning for the last few years into perspective!

Bloody shambles.

Yes and no. Scrum half situation is a shambles. Francis is a bizarre pick as is McChonnchie.

Singleton…. Well I guess Hartley was expected to be there.

Cokanasiga is picked on form.

Ludlam…. Only the one cap, but again picked on form and the other options with loads of Caps would’ve been Robshaw or Haskell. He’s there in place of Shields, whom has looked bang average whenever he’s played.

But it does show that the lack of planning from EJ has created a situation where the 3rd place hooker has 1 cap, the 2nd scrum half has one cap, a big winger with the defensive reactions of a telegraph pole is in and only on the eve of a World Cup, has he started picking on form!

Never really understood players like Cokanasiga, yes they can devastate going forward but people quickly figure out how to shackle them and invariably a ball over their head shows they have the turning circle of a tanker so 15 has to cover the area behind them more. Although it invariably means you either stick 6/7 out to cover them or play an equally big winger.

Is this squad fixed? Can they call on non-squad players say you get two tighthead injuries can you pull in another player at short notice?

Cokanasiga weighs 17 stone and runs the 100 in 10.6 apparently, so is likely to create holes in defences no matter who is first up tackling, he can improve his defence and a 15 can cover him.

I believe you can call in another player if there is an injury but you can’t then swap them back again. Once you’re out, the tournaments done for you. I suspect a Doc has to sign off on the injury as well to swap currently injured players into squads later in the tournament.

Cokanasiga weighs 17 stone and runs the 100 in 10.6 apparently, so is likely to create holes in defences no matter who is first up tackling, he can improve his defence and a 15 can cover him.

Everybody has big, quick wingers these days. The only difference with Cokanasinga is that it looks like a prop could side-step him. 😂

(100m time is completely irrelevant in rugby these days.)

I cannot wait to see Darcy Graham come up against Cokanasiga. David V goliath. I suspect Cokanasiga will try to run thru him but Graham is a very brave and good tackler ( took Basteraud down and then took the ball off him) and when Graham has the ball Cokanasiga will not be able to catch him as he can turn so quickly. should be very funny however it pans out

Didnt Cokanasiga get done like a kipper by Davies?

Some put up the vid of Shane stopping Banahanahanahan

Wales name team to face England

Wales: Liam Williams; George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Nicky Smith, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis; Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (C); Aaron Wainwright, James Davies, Ross Moriarty.

Subs: Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis, Aaron Shingler, Josh Navidi, Aled Davies, Jarrod Evans, Owen Watkin.

Thoughts…?

Thoughts…?

They need more back-row forwards. 😁

Moriarty looked bang average last weekend…..any chance they’ll Chuck Navidi in at 8 for the WC?

Navidi and Moriarty are both flankers our only 8 broke. I think the best backrow would have Moriarty, Navidi and Tips. Positions wouldnt matter.

Jesus Christ, this weekends England 23 features every single lock in the world cup squad…. including one starting at 6. Every single hooker, including Singleton at 20, so providing the only backrow cover.

In addition given our daft squad make up, every half back in the world cup squad is also in the 23.

Moriarty looked bang average last weekend…..any chance they’ll Chuck Navidi in at 8 for the WC?

Im guessing that none of the Welsh* players will be peaking for a couple of ‘friendly’ games against England, preferring instead to hit peak form in about six-eight weeks? 😁

*or any other nation with any sense.

Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Cole

Launchbury, Itoje

Lawes, BillyV, Ludlam

Hienz, Ford, Joe C, Francis, Joseph, McConnochie, Daly.

Bench: George, Marler, Sincks, Kruis Singleton, Youngs, Farrell, Tuilagi.

Farrell really that far out of favour? about time.

I cannot wait to see Darcy Graham come up against Cokanasiga. David V goliath.

There’s a lot of results needed to make that happen.
Sure they’re both good players, but if we’re sat watching those two lining up against each other in a month or two then good luck to them, they’ll have earned it.

Be very interested to see how your mr Darcy does this weekend against France.
Fella he’s up against, Raka, is uncapped so should be a stroll in the park…
😏

🙂

Its just the idea of one of the smallest players in international rugby against a giant winger. He claims to be 5’9″ and 11st 11lb but no one believes that.

He is a part of our plan to put out an entire back division of midgets to get loads of high tackle pens. I think there is an entire scots back division available none of who is over 5’10”

James Small( rip) put a lid on Lomu after he had used the entire English back line as doormats. Despite the claims of poisoning he did it 3 times. I don’t think Cocawhatever is fit to lace McConnachies boots. ( cracking English name btw…)

Scotland team
15. Stuart Hogg VICE CAPTAIN (Exeter Chiefs) – 67 caps

14. Darcy Graham (Edinburgh) – 4 caps
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) – 21 caps
12. Duncan Taylor (Saracens) – 21 caps
11. Byron McGuigan (Sale Sharks) – 8 caps

10. Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors) – 11 caps
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 24 caps

1. Jamie Bhatti (Edinburgh) – 13 caps
2. Stuart McInally CAPTAIN (Edinburgh) – 27 caps
3. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh) – 19 caps
4. Ben Toolis (Edinburgh) – 18 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh) – 33 caps
6. John Barclay VICE CAPTAIN (Edinburgh) – 71 caps
7. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh) – 10 caps
8. Josh Strauss (Blue Bulls) – 22 caps

Substitutes
16. George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) – 5 caps
17. Gordon Reid (Ayrshire Bulls) – 34 caps
18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 19 caps
19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) – uncapped
20. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 3 caps
21. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 4 caps
22. Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints) – uncapped
23. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh) – 11 caps

Looks tome to be a lot of possibles playing for a place in that lot

Interesting that he’s got Edinburgh forwards starting and Glasgow forwards on the bench. Wonder if that’s intentional or just the way things have shaken out.

Taking Hoppy jr to his first match at the millennium to see us play Ireland, could end up watching us get humped but hey ho and it means I can go too.

Coles doing the full WWE smack down for his yellow card there.

Go9d luck to all the players lets just hope for no more injuries!!

Go9d luck to all the players lets just hope for no more injuries!!

Indeed. Also hoping for an exciting game. I fear anything could happen.

My man love for Wainright is growing!!

North has been looking sharp today. 😁

From the look on Ken Owens face at the try, I couldn’t tell if he was pleased they’d scored or disappointed he hadn’t been the one to catch the cross field ball 😁

I still don’t know who is going to win.