Flippin heck, if our choices for lions 8 is faletau or Morgan; we’re in trouble.

ijs445ra ,
That halfpenny shoulder barge/cannonball that knocked SOB over was massively brave but was never a tackle. So SOB should never have been penalised for holding on in the tackle.
The ref got that one wrong, not SOB.

Loum you make sense. I have to admit that it is wrong to say drop Brown from the team after just one game.

Let’s keep it nice on here. Let the wendies get their knickers in a twist over on the Beckham thread. We should be above that on this thread.

Faletau is quality although Wrecker doesnt rate him. Beattie was good yesterday and Heaslip is Ok too.

The ref got that one wrong, not SOB.

the ref got a lot wrong at the breakdown hence all the shoeing going on, it was just a shame it took Wales till halftime to get the memo.

Faletau is a plodder. Consistent, does everything quite well without doing anything brilliantly. Morgan is the opposite, flaky even but he can change a game when in the mood.
Oh, and loum is spot on about the 1/2p non tackle.

I thought biggar looked better once Phillips went off and was getting quicker ball, but the Welsh forwards were doing better at that point as well.

Biggar did OK the obvious aside. Not sure that Phillips going off was the difference to the pace of the ball it seemed more due to Tipuric. Its not Phillips fault he was the only flanker Wales decided to play with from the start.

plodding

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdeD-LLePOE[/video]

Or plodder
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLLl9FduIks[/video]

I missed bits of both matches which was a shame but enjoyed essentially watching the second halves of both. Why do Wales do this? Must be v frustrang A_A!! On their day, I think Ireland in full flow are the most exciting back line among the 6N, but guess that they saved all of that for the bit I missed?

I hope today is fun for a neutral but looks like this years championship could be great to watch. I don’t worship Murdoch so miss most of league coverage on TV, so only hear about Farrell through the press. But for an English perspective, great to have such a reliable kicker keeping the board ticking over.

Love the twelvetrees nickname courtesy or Darcy….36!!!

I’ve seen him play many times, a_a. He just isn’t that good.

We’ll have to agree to differ on that then (but you are very wrong)

Fair enough (but you know I’m right 😀 )

Heaslip, O’Driscoll’s successor as captain, remarked that it was “one of the first games for a long time where I have walked off with literally nothing left in the tank”.

Oh Jamie, you should be feeling like that after every game. Lucky old turnip head made you captain, back row of Ferris, SOB and Henry please

Ok Welshies now I have calmed down and time has put a bit of perspective on yesterday tell me what happened in the first half, how does a team perform so shockingly. Judging on the results in the Autumn and yesterday then I lay the blame with Howley, I don’t think the players respect him. I wonder who gave them the rocket at half time?

I would have 12trees in front of the Samoan if I was in charge of the saes.

Watching some “highlights” by flicking through SKY+, two of England’s tries had forward passes (even Moore commented on them) in the moves, but the ref plays what he sees. Piss poor defending to let Hogg run through the gap for the Maitland try. Why have we put Lamont at 13 when it is pretty much known that in defence he is a rusher and in attack he has hands of glue (can’t pass/won’t pass).
And Davies was made to look bad by his outside runners in his passes behind the man, in both cases the runner was at best flat when the pass was made.
Denton for comedy pass of the day.
BoD really stepped up. Phillips showed petulance that, with another ref, might have got him into hot water.

Phillips always shows petulance, nothing unusual there.

As for Howleys half time team talk I reckon it was, “can i come in boys?”… No **** off.

12 trees and Manu for England. Barritt is useless.

Fofana on thw wing Huget at fullback and Michilac on the pitch. Nice to see the French are still mental!! What a **** epic backrow though.

Just seen the highlights again on BBC. Wow, I missed how brilliant BODs pass was for the first try Zebo try and surprised how easily Healy brushed Philipps’ tackle for his try.

Now talking of 8’s one of the best on show today……

Correction two of the best.

Shit what a try.

wooohooooooooo!!!1

What a start!!!

I have a man crush on Szarzewski 😳

He’s the only pro rugby player sponsored by L’Oreal. Too pretty for the hookers union!!

Italy will beat wales this season.

Good player that pic is still prefer para as more rounded.

Good game so far.
Its pretty rare that I can actually tolerate listening to Jonathan “One eye” Davies.
I guess its because neither Wales or England are playing.

I reckon Heaslip is a shoe in at 8 for the Lions…..isn’t he favourite to be captain now too?

Italy France has been pretty good so far. I think France are going to have too much in the backs for Italy to cope with.

How good is Parrise? An amazing player.

How many timrs will st johnny be mentioned at half time?

C’mon Itlay, let’s have a big start to the 2H

Inverdale your slipping!!!

St Johnny!!!

Well its more likely than them mentioning Chav Henson

On the bench for LW today after yet another injury!!!!

Parisse is teh awsumz.

Edit. How good have the scrums been today….hardly any nonsense.

Hope the L’Oreal kid is at hooker next week!