England vs Wales Match day thread

[maestegmafia]

SIX NATIONS: ENGLAND V WALES
Venue: Twickenham Date: Sunday, 9 March Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC One HD, listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

England

15-Mike Brown, 14-Jack Nowell, 13-Luther Burrell, 12-Billy Twelvetrees, 11-Jonny May, 10-Owen Farrell, 9-Danny Care

1-Joe Marler, 2-Dylan Hartley, 3-David Wilson, 4-Joe Launchbury, 5-Courtney Lawes, 6-Tom Wood, 7-Chris Robshaw (captain), 8-Ben Morgan

Replacements: 16-Tom Youngs, 17-Mako Vunipola, 18-Henry Thomas, 19-Dave Attwood, 20-Tom Johnson, 21-Lee Dickson, 22-George Ford, 23-Alex Goode


Wales

15-Leigh Halfpenny, 14-Alex Cuthbert, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-George North, 10-Rhys Priestland, 9-Rhys Webb

1-Gethin Jenkins, 2-Richard Hibbard, 3-Adam Jones, 4-Jake Ball, 5-Alun Wyn Jones, 6-Dan Lydiate, 7-Sam Warburton (capt), 8-Taulupe Faletau

Replacements: Ken Owens, Paul James, Rhodri Jones, Andrew Coombs, Justin Tipuric, Mike Phillips, Dan Biggar, Liam Williams
MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee : Romain Poite (Fra)

Touch judges : Steve Walsh (Aus) & Lourens van der Merwe (RSA)
TV Official : Simon McDowell (Ire)


Next up for Wales is a trip to London and after all the banter coming out of the England camp it is time to finish the hype this match has been building and play some rugby. Have England improved on last year? Will home advantage be enough? Has Wales over come a trough and reached another high?

With plenty of injuries to key players, in fact some of England's very best players are out of this game, a convincing win for England over Wales will give the nation huge confidence going forward, maybe even a shot at the championship next weekend.

The build up seems to have been all about England, Wales are a known entity, twice champions in recent years with pretty much the same team they field tomorrow, little change to their game plan or style gives very little to discuss.

On the many various threads the situation is similar, all about England, with very little admiration of this perceivably over-rated Welsh team that have failed to beat a Southern Hemisphere top three team since 2008, the mark of all great sides.

In all honesty a tough and challenging end to the Six Nations will do this Welsh set up some good, possibly more good than the confidence a third consecutive championship would give them. Wales have little to lose and less to prove, a defeat in the manner of last years game would be vastly more detrimental to their hosts.

I hope all the fans enjoy the game, I am sure it will be the usual roller coaster of emotion for both Nations.

[BigTrevsbigmac]

I think Wales have a lot to lose.

If Wales lose do they really have quality players to come in? Would their 2 aging props cut it in a WC competition week in week out. Has Gats left it too late to blood younger props?
Is SA the place to do this?
In contrast England have almost half their first choice players out & yet have been performing consistently well this 6Ns & together with Ireland have been the best side.

A loss by Wales would be fairly devastating as only Ian Evans is missing from what would be a first choice staring XV?

England will only improve with the players they have to come in. Can Wales say the same?

[maestegmafia]

There are some good articles in the newspapers this morning in the build up to the game.

The Telegraph "Quiet Man has history in his sights"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/wales/10685056/Six-Nations-2014-Welsh-prop-Gethin-Jenkins-prefers-to-play-down-milestone.html


Emotions will run high at England v Wales but the cool heads will win

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/mar/08/england-wales-six-nations-twickenham



"So what if Wales have all those Lions – they do not scare England, says Dylan Hartley"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/10684234/Six-Nations-2014-So-what-if-Wales-have-all-those-Lions-they-do-not-scare-England-says-Dylan-Hartley.html



"We are an exceptional team, says Courtney Lawes"

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/six-nations-2014-we-are-an-exceptional-team-says-courtney-lawes-9179112.html

[maestegmafia]

I think Wales have a lot to lose.

If Wales lose do they really have quality players to come in? Would their 2 aging props cut it in a WC competition week in week out. Has Gats left it too late to blood younger props?
Is SA the place to do this?
In contrast England have almost half their first choice players out & yet have been performing consistently well this 6Ns & together with Ireland have been the best side.

A loss by Wales would be fairly devastating as only Ian Evans is missing from what would be a first choice staring XV?

England will only improve with the players they have to come in. Can Wales say the same?

Your are a bit out of touch there Trev....!

[maestegmafia]

"Who would make the best combined XV from England and Wales?"
Eddie Butler picks his best team from the England and Wales squads facing each other in the Six Nations on Sunday

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/mar/08/england-wales-six-nations-best-xv

15 MIKE BROWN Who could ever oust Leigh Halfpenny? But on running form Brown is the revelation of the championship, the counter-attacker who is making the list of areas where England pose a threat grow and grow.

14 ALEX CUTHBERT Never the most elegant when faced with choices in defence, he offers angles and a sense of timing in attack that are pure poetry. A proven scorer on days of tension.

13 LUTHER BURRELL Has played well in three games – on three weekends, that is, when Jonathan Davies has been absent. Has scored twice and kept Brian O'Driscoll at bay.

12 JAMIE ROBERTS In robust form, carrying with greater speed into the tackle with each match. Not so sure about his kicking game – better that he rams than threads.

11 GEORGE NORTH Set the ball rolling with try against France, but has been a symbol of rebuilt Wales, rather than its rampaging reality. Could be he's biding his time, waiting for that one loose kick.

10 RHYS PRIESTLAND The mystery man. But seems to be heading towards self-assertion, on the end of a flat, accurate pass from Rhys Webb. The key player in red.

9 DANNY CARE Key man in white, the setter of the English rhythm and the half-back who keeps the tempo high. One of the guarantors that this game will not deceive.

1 GETHIN JENKINS Seemed a spent force, but rediscovered his form at the scrum of all places against France of all teams. Others have caught up with his contributions around the field, but he's not done yet.

2 DYLAN HARTLEY Two excellent hookers in contention – this will be the hardest of confrontations, with Richard Hibbard incapable of taking a backward step. Lineout accuracy gives Hartley the slot.

3 ADAM JONES Admits to all sorts of failings with the new scrum, but was special against France. If there are more scrums than usual, he will have a direct say in the outcome.

4 JOE LAUNCHBURY The injured Luke Charteris is a real influence in the second row, so it would have been a tight call, but Launchbury is unfussily effective at the basics and ever willing to be involved elsewhere.

5 COURTNEY LAWES Alun Wyn Jones had an off day against Ireland and a day off against France, while Lawes has been exceptional in three games. His game is tighter and he is a true force now.

6 TOM WOOD Wood or Lydiate? Lydiate or Wood? Take your pick. Work rate against the best chop tackle in the business. This is another duel to savour.

7 SAM WARBURTON A little bit more of a 7 than Chris Robshaw. Both are top class 6-and-a-bits. For a genuine 7 there's Justin Tipuric, but he and his absence are a matter for another day.

8 TAULUPE FALETAU Still improving, often unsung and totally reassuring. Tough as old boots and young enough at 23 to run all day. One day he will not be there and we shall realise how good he is.

[offload]

Trev - thanks for the insightful analysis. We will find out today if Wales can once again punch above their weight in spite of the all their rugby woes or whether England can inch their way to victory drawing on their enormous player base, huge budget, world class professional structure and recently purchased 'atmosphere'.

Wales have little to lose - we are used to it. England me thinks, will sulk for months.

[maestegmafia]

Stephen Jones in The Sunday Times

"It would be preposterous to say that today’s game will be anything less confrontational than any England-Wales game ever was. National pride is at stake as well as all the other sporting issues, and with the two teams locked in an unholy embrace as members of the same pool in the forthcoming Rugby World Cup, then to get ahead is vital. The thump of new-era rugby is also colossal.

But what will be carried on to the field from the dressing room is not the dislike of the ages but the final words of the coaches, the evidence of the DVDs, the fruits of the physiotherapists’ fingers and the dieticians’ research, and all the hours banked in endless preparation. Excellence stems from professionalism, not a grudge. Hate is no longer the goad. It just gets in the way."

[maestegmafia]

Laurence Dallaglio from The Sunday Times"

Say what you like about this winding up of England but you can’t really dispute the thrust of Gatland’s argument.

Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones have both won three Grand Slams, others have two and 12 of this afternoon’s team started in the side who won the Grand Slam against France two years ago. That’s impressive and when you remember these guys were unlucky not to make a World Cup final, you have to admit it’s a pretty good record.

It wouldn’t be much fun if Gatland gently pointed out all this. So he pushes the knife into England’s gut and gives it a little twist. As if he’s recalling some innocuous little statistic he says: “I’m not sure who has won on the last three occasions, I think it might have been us.” This point was a reference to Wales not being overawed by Twickenham and led to him mistakenly guessing that Wales had won on their past three visits.

They have won the past three games against England but two of those were at the Millennium stadium. Wales have actually lost on two of their three most recent visits to Twickenham. Just setting the record straight. And I’m sure Gatland doesn’t like to be reminded that six years have passed since Wales beat a primary team from the southern hemisphere.

Once upon a time at Wasps I benefited from Gatland’s ability to prepare a team and his knack of pressing the right psychological buttons. I know, too, what it is to play his kind of rugby. He helped us win plenty of trophies and it’s no surprise that under him Wales have won three Six Nations Championships, two of them Grand Slams. Winning is what he’s about and the second and third words in his rugby vocabulary are intensity and physicality.

This is how Wales will try to win this afternoon, playing the game on the front foot with a lot of physicality and at a very high tempo. England were not ready for it at the Millennium stadium last year but I believe they will be today.

Gatland doesn’t go to bed dreaming of how to make his scrum stronger or his lineout more efficient. He satisfies himself that the set-pieces are solid and then focuses on more interesting ways to win the game. When Wales started to squeeze England at the scrum in this fixture last year, that spelt real trouble for Stuart Lancaster’s team because any side coached by Gatland knows how to turn that advantage into scores.

[BigTrevsbigmac]

I think Wales have a lot to lose.

If Wales lose do they really have quality players to come in? Would their 2 aging props cut it in a WC competition week in week out. Has Gats left it too late to blood younger props?
Is SA the place to do this?
In contrast England have almost half their first choice players out & yet have been performing consistently well this 6Ns & together with Ireland have been the best side.

A loss by Wales would be fairly devastating as only Ian Evans is missing from what would be a first choice staring XV?

England will only improve with the players they have to come in. Can Wales say the same?

Your are a bit out of touch there Trev....!

How? England have players to come in Wales don't.
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/mar/06/wales-england-six-nations-breakdown

[BigTrevsbigmac]

"Who would make the best combined XV from England and Wales?"
Eddie Butler picks his best team from the England and Wales squads facing each other in the Six Nations on Sunday

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/mar/08/england-wales-six-nations-best-xv

15 MIKE BROWN Who could ever oust Leigh Halfpenny? But on running form Brown is the revelation of the championship, the counter-attacker who is making the list of areas where England pose a threat grow and grow.

14 ALEX CUTHBERT Never the most elegant when faced with choices in defence, he offers angles and a sense of timing in attack that are pure poetry. A proven scorer on days of tension.

13 LUTHER BURRELL Has played well in three games – on three weekends, that is, when Jonathan Davies has been absent. Has scored twice and kept Brian O'Driscoll at bay.

12 JAMIE ROBERTS In robust form, carrying with greater speed into the tackle with each match. Not so sure about his kicking game – better that he rams than threads.

11 GEORGE NORTH Set the ball rolling with try against France, but has been a symbol of rebuilt Wales, rather than its rampaging reality. Could be he's biding his time, waiting for that one loose kick.

10 RHYS PRIESTLAND The mystery man. But seems to be heading towards self-assertion, on the end of a flat, accurate pass from Rhys Webb. The key player in red.

9 DANNY CARE Key man in white, the setter of the English rhythm and the half-back who keeps the tempo high. One of the guarantors that this game will not deceive.

1 GETHIN JENKINS Seemed a spent force, but rediscovered his form at the scrum of all places against France of all teams. Others have caught up with his contributions around the field, but he's not done yet.

2 DYLAN HARTLEY Two excellent hookers in contention – this will be the hardest of confrontations, with Richard Hibbard incapable of taking a backward step. Lineout accuracy gives Hartley the slot.

3 ADAM JONES Admits to all sorts of failings with the new scrum, but was special against France. If there are more scrums than usual, he will have a direct say in the outcome.

4 JOE LAUNCHBURY The injured Luke Charteris is a real influence in the second row, so it would have been a tight call, but Launchbury is unfussily effective at the basics and ever willing to be involved elsewhere.

5 COURTNEY LAWES Alun Wyn Jones had an off day against Ireland and a day off against France, while Lawes has been exceptional in three games. His game is tighter and he is a true force now.

6 TOM WOOD Wood or Lydiate? Lydiate or Wood? Take your pick. Work rate against the best chop tackle in the business. This is another duel to savour.

7 SAM WARBURTON A little bit more of a 7 than Chris Robshaw. Both are top class 6-and-a-bits. For a genuine 7 there's Justin Tipuric, but he and his absence are a matter for another day.

8 TAULUPE FALETAU Still improving, often unsung and totally reassuring. Tough as old boots and young enough at 23 to run all day. One day he will not be there and we shall realise how good he is.

Strange a Welshman picking so many welsh players.

Rhys Priestland ? I really don't think so.........

[rainbow-warrior]

"Who would make the best combined XV from England and Wales?"
Eddie Butler picks his best team from the England and Wales squads facing each other in the Six Nations on Sunday

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/mar/08/england-wales-six-nations-best-xv

15 MIKE BROWN Who could ever oust Leigh Halfpenny? But on running form Brown is the revelation of the championship, the counter-attacker who is making the list of areas where England pose a threat grow and grow.

14 ALEX CUTHBERT Never the most elegant when faced with choices in defence, he offers angles and a sense of timing in attack that are pure poetry. A proven scorer on days of tension.

13 LUTHER BURRELL Has played well in three games – on three weekends, that is, when Jonathan Davies has been absent. Has scored twice and kept Brian O'Driscoll at bay.

12 JAMIE ROBERTS In robust form, carrying with greater speed into the tackle with each match. Not so sure about his kicking game – better that he rams than threads.

11 GEORGE NORTH Set the ball rolling with try against France, but has been a symbol of rebuilt Wales, rather than its rampaging reality. Could be he's biding his time, waiting for that one loose kick.

10 RHYS PRIESTLAND The mystery man. But seems to be heading towards self-assertion, on the end of a flat, accurate pass from Rhys Webb. The key player in red.

9 DANNY CARE Key man in white, the setter of the English rhythm and the half-back who keeps the tempo high. One of the guarantors that this game will not deceive.

1 GETHIN JENKINS Seemed a spent force, but rediscovered his form at the scrum of all places against France of all teams. Others have caught up with his contributions around the field, but he's not done yet.

2 DYLAN HARTLEY Two excellent hookers in contention – this will be the hardest of confrontations, with Richard Hibbard incapable of taking a backward step. Lineout accuracy gives Hartley the slot.

3 ADAM JONES Admits to all sorts of failings with the new scrum, but was special against France. If there are more scrums than usual, he will have a direct say in the outcome.

4 JOE LAUNCHBURY The injured Luke Charteris is a real influence in the second row, so it would have been a tight call, but Launchbury is unfussily effective at the basics and ever willing to be involved elsewhere.

5 COURTNEY LAWES Alun Wyn Jones had an off day against Ireland and a day off against France, while Lawes has been exceptional in three games. His game is tighter and he is a true force now.

6 TOM WOOD Wood or Lydiate? Lydiate or Wood? Take your pick. Work rate against the best chop tackle in the business. This is another duel to savour.

7 SAM WARBURTON A little bit more of a 7 than Chris Robshaw. Both are top class 6-and-a-bits. For a genuine 7 there's Justin Tipuric, but he and his absence are a matter for another day.

8 TAULUPE FALETAU Still improving, often unsung and totally reassuring. Tough as old boots and young enough at 23 to run all day. One day he will not be there and we shall realise how good he is.

Strange a Welshman picking so many welsh players.

Rhys Priestland ? I really don't think so.........

I think he was being kind to be honest, there'd be far more Welsh in my team.

[maestegmafia]

I think Wales have a lot to lose.

If Wales lose do they really have quality players to come in? Would their 2 aging props cut it in a WC competition week in week out. Has Gats left it too late to blood younger props?
Is SA the place to do this?
In contrast England have almost half their first choice players out & yet have been performing consistently well this 6Ns & together with Ireland have been the best side.

A loss by Wales would be fairly devastating as only Ian Evans is missing from what would be a first choice staring XV?

England will only improve with the players they have to come in. Can Wales say the same?

Your are a bit out of touch there Trev....!

How? England have players to come in Wales don't.
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/mar/06/wales-england-six-nations-breakdown

That is simple. It is because of the quality of the players. The First choice Welsh players are generally of a much higher calibre than their English counterparts... Hense the Lions test team selection and their drubbing of England last year, plus this team also beating various england selections the two matches previously, the fact England have not scored a single try against this welsh team.

England have a large playing base but a lower level of top quality player. Probably due to all the Foreign players stopping youngsters from progressing.

[slartibartfast]

Rumour has it that the welsh team have been or acting lineout.

I can't see England playing anything other than a 9/10 man game today until their noses are far enough ahead. If they play like they did against Ireland I think they'll struggle against Roberts and Davies in midfield.

[nathan]

nice to see the usual people on here cherry pick their quotes.....

[SecretFly]

Stephen Jones in The Sunday Times

"Excellence stems from professionalism, not a grudge. Hate is no longer the goad. It just gets in the way."

Hmmm.... maybe Stephen should listen to his own words with regards to a certain retiring number 13...and the Nation he comes from?

[BigTrevsbigmac]

I think Wales have a lot to lose.

If Wales lose do they really have quality players to come in? Would their 2 aging props cut it in a WC competition week in week out. Has Gats left it too late to blood younger props?
Is SA the place to do this?
In contrast England have almost half their first choice players out & yet have been performing consistently well this 6Ns & together with Ireland have been the best side.

A loss by Wales would be fairly devastating as only Ian Evans is missing from what would be a first choice staring XV?

England will only improve with the players they have to come in. Can Wales say the same?

Your are a bit out of touch there Trev....!

How? England have players to come in Wales don't.
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/mar/06/wales-england-six-nations-breakdown

That is simple. It is because of the quality of the players. The First choice Welsh players are generally of a much higher calibre than their English counterparts... Hense the Lions test team selection and their drubbing of England last year, plus this team also beating various england selections the two matches previously, the fact England have not scored a single try against this welsh team.

England have a large playing base but a lower level of top quality player. Probably due to all the Foreign players stopping youngsters from progressing.

You clearly haven't seen much age grade rugby over the last decade & as for the last U-20 game between us that was a total embarrassment.
This year England have a different side & Wales have largely the same so last years comparisons are irrelevant. The progress this year would be better compared by our respective performances & results against Ireland.......

[GloriousEmpire]

Conditions in london are absolutely perfect. Blue sky unbeset by cloud of any trace. Steady 17 degrees, not a whisper of wind.

Let's hope for an expansive game. It's a day to give the ball a lot of air and with a dry track after three days without rain I expect to see both sets of backs really look to show is what they can do.

Let's hope the referee keeps the breakdown clean so we can see quick ball in the half backs hands.

[SecretFly]

Let's hope the ref stays away from the game!!!
Because we all know, if one shows up, then he's going to get blamed for any loss that happens today. And one is predicted.....

Ban the ref and let the game commence!

[Biltong]

I don't think there is much to choose between Priestland and Farrell, neither Robshaw and Warburton, or for that matter Davies and Burrell

[SecretFly]

I don't think there is much to choose between Priestland and Farrell, neither Robshaw and Warburton, or for that matter Davies and Burrell

They'll all grind to a halt in the middle of the field?  Perfect portions of matter and anti-matter meeting?  We all know what happens there.  They both disappear, becoming pure energy.  Energy without mass can't score a try.  Boring game to follow as the crowd watch the perfect grass grow with not one nematode to add to the action.

[RDW]

Folks,

I'm sure you're all aware that this match is the match that causes so much work for the mods on here every year.

Just to let everyone know, we will be applying an 'act now, explain later' philosophy for the match this afternoon. If we think a post needs removed or a ban handed out we will do it without warning.

Things have been positive so far, lets keep it that way.

Best of luck to both teams and I hope it's a great game.

RDW

[SecretFly]

Great post RDW!

Now someone ban that man for prematurely using the dreaded red ink and needlessly scaring nice people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Biltong]

I don't think there is much to choose between Priestland and Farrell, neither Robshaw and Warburton, or for that matter Davies and Burrell

They'll all grind to a halt in the middle of the field?  Perfect portions of matter and anti-matter meeting?  We all know what happens there.  They both disappear, becoming pure energy.  Energy without mass can't score a try.  Boring game to follow as the crowd watch the perfect grass grow with not one nematode to add to the action.

The age old question, what happens when matter and anti matter meet?

Or

What happens when an indestructable force hits an immovable object?

Rugby is just a science experiment without labrats.

[RDW]

Great post RDW!

Now someone ban that man for prematurely using the dreaded red ink and needlessly scaring nice people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice people won't get bans!   

[GloriousEmpire]

I have hospitality today so probably won't post. Unless I get really drunk. So please go easy on my grammar and spelling.

Enjoy dudes! Good luck both teams!

England! Don't let me down!

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Looking forward to this game.  There's something about this game.  Sure, the Scots and Irish hate England more.  Not me mind.  I'm of planter stock.  So I'm a Brit.  That said I've gone a bit native see?  Love beating them English lot.  Can't have them.  For a race that invented the moustache in 1881 in a game of shuffleboard with the Swiss of all people, to see so few sportsmen wearing it with pride is, frankly, the worst thing they have perpetrated on these islands since the oboe.  

This game shall be a whopper I tell thee.  I do not frequent Burger King so I believe they are sponsers of such occasions.  Meaning there will be flames when the players walk out on the pitch, symbolising the flamegrilled burger 'meat'.  The grass is green, so that's the lettuce.  Errrr, I suppose the Welsh could be tomatoes.  Cause they wear red see?  And Eddie Butler supplies the cheese with an obligatory poem that goes:

'Twas a match from the days of yore,
I'm silver fox but my poems are a bore.
Working with Brian Moore is oh so fun,
As John Inverdale sucks my plums.

The Six Nations.  Wouldn't change a thing about it.  The Rugby Championship?  Pah!  Pah I say.  And kindly return it straight up your hoop from whence it came.

[EnglishReign]

Great day for rugby, broken field runners on both sides. Gonna be a classic.

[SecretFly]

 Good one Hook!  Especially the Butleristickness of your general mustachobolised comments.

[GloriousEmpire]

Burger King?

BK is a foreign import.
BK taste originates from artificial flavouring, things such as aluminium and ground fish bones with msg and "liquid smoke" injected into the meat to make it appear to be something it isn't.
BK is grilled in advance, frozen and microwaved then re-fried in msg and salt mixed with protein enhanced oil.

It's fatty, flabby, has no genuine nutritional value and makes you thirst for real food.

Bk also no longer put tomatoes on a whopper...


You decide on the analogy.

[Pal Joey]

When do your "guests" arrive, GE?

The silly T20 match has been postponed due to rain so watching the FA Cup QF instead.

The extra 2 hour wait is gonna kill me!   

[RuggerBoy]

I have recently been feeling drained and lethargic, recovering from a long and debilitating illness hasn't been easy. Occasionally the thought of "is it all worth it?" has drifted through my mind. Then I wake up this morning with the feeling of a knotted stomach, a sense of purpose where I felt I just had to do something. I wasn't quite sure what it was until I remembered it was match day, THE match day, Wales playing the ancient foe of England. I am now about to do something I haven't done all season, head down to my local club to soak up the atmosphere, where I will sit in the corner quietly (Ha!) and cheer on the Welsh lads, a near lone voice amongst the English. It was fantastic two years ago when I was actually at Twickenham, being a Taff amongst a pack of Leicester supporters, to enjoy the win. It might not be the same atmosphere down the club but I'm looking forward to it anyway.

Thank God for days like today, when it really is a joy to be alive. Christ, I love Rugby....

[GloriousEmpire]

When do your "guests" arrive, GE?

The silly T20 match has been postponed due to rain so watching the FA Cup QF instead.

The extra 2 hour wait is gonna kill me!   

Ha! On my way now. What's up with the traffic today? Has everyone left london?

[SecretFly]

BK taste originates from artificial flavouring, things such as aluminium and ground fish bones with msg and "liquid smoke" injected into the meat to make it appear to be something it isn't.
BK is grilled in advance, frozen and microwaved then re-fried in msg and salt mixed with protein enhanced oil.

It's fatty, flabby, has no genuine nutritional value and makes you thirst for real food.

Bk also no longer put tomatoes on a whopper...

So whats the point?  They're still tasty......Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm  Never let food science overcome your slobber-sucked, fat-fetishistic, diesel oil cooked, sliver-liver constipated, hyrogenated bile guzzling taste buds.

[Nachos Jones]

I am really looking forward to this. If Danny Care continues his fine form then I think Wales could have a long day ahead of them.

Secretly want Wales to win but I have gone with my head and say that England for the win.

[Pal Joey]

Enjoy the match, RuggerBoy. Have a quiet one for me, mate.   

Very hard to stay up all night for these games here in Oz. I did the right thing last night though; watched the Ireland game (well worth it!) but then hit the sack around 3am knowing what sort of a game it might be at Murrayfield. Saw the highlights today.... wise move made.

[Guest]

"Who would make the best combined XV from England and Wales?"
Eddie Butler picks his best team from the England and Wales squads facing each other in the Six Nations on Sunday

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/mar/08/england-wales-six-nations-best-xv

15 MIKE BROWN Who could ever oust Leigh Halfpenny? But on running form Brown is the revelation of the championship, the counter-attacker who is making the list of areas where England pose a threat grow and grow.

14 ALEX CUTHBERT Never the most elegant when faced with choices in defence, he offers angles and a sense of timing in attack that are pure poetry. A proven scorer on days of tension.

13 LUTHER BURRELL Has played well in three games – on three weekends, that is, when Jonathan Davies has been absent. Has scored twice and kept Brian O'Driscoll at bay.

12 JAMIE ROBERTS In robust form, carrying with greater speed into the tackle with each match. Not so sure about his kicking game – better that he rams than threads.

11 GEORGE NORTH Set the ball rolling with try against France, but has been a symbol of rebuilt Wales, rather than its rampaging reality. Could be he's biding his time, waiting for that one loose kick.

10 RHYS PRIESTLAND The mystery man. But seems to be heading towards self-assertion, on the end of a flat, accurate pass from Rhys Webb. The key player in red.

9 DANNY CARE Key man in white, the setter of the English rhythm and the half-back who keeps the tempo high. One of the guarantors that this game will not deceive.

1 GETHIN JENKINS Seemed a spent force, but rediscovered his form at the scrum of all places against France of all teams. Others have caught up with his contributions around the field, but he's not done yet.

2 DYLAN HARTLEY Two excellent hookers in contention – this will be the hardest of confrontations, with Richard Hibbard incapable of taking a backward step. Lineout accuracy gives Hartley the slot.

3 ADAM JONES Admits to all sorts of failings with the new scrum, but was special against France. If there are more scrums than usual, he will have a direct say in the outcome.

4 JOE LAUNCHBURY The injured Luke Charteris is a real influence in the second row, so it would have been a tight call, but Launchbury is unfussily effective at the basics and ever willing to be involved elsewhere.

5 COURTNEY LAWES Alun Wyn Jones had an off day against Ireland and a day off against France, while Lawes has been exceptional in three games. His game is tighter and he is a true force now.

6 TOM WOOD Wood or Lydiate? Lydiate or Wood? Take your pick. Work rate against the best chop tackle in the business. This is another duel to savour.

7 SAM WARBURTON A little bit more of a 7 than Chris Robshaw. Both are top class 6-and-a-bits. For a genuine 7 there's Justin Tipuric, but he and his absence are a matter for another day.

8 TAULUPE FALETAU Still improving, often unsung and totally reassuring. Tough as old boots and young enough at 23 to run all day. One day he will not be there and we shall realise how good he is.

Strange a Welshman picking so many welsh players.

Rhys Priestland ? I really don't think so.........

In today's Sunday Times Lawrence Dallaglio has the same ratio in his Anglo-Welsh team, i.e. 8W and 7E.

The only differences in personnel are that he has Farrell instead of Priestland, Davies instead of Burrell and Robshaw instead of Wood.

In case anyone doesn't know, Dallaglio is definitely not Welsh!

[nobbled]

All WUM's aside - should be a cracking game. I've no idea how it's going to go but nervous as hell and can't wait for kick-off.

Good luck Wales - but not quite as much as England.
 

[SecretFly]

I'll repeat the only warning I've put before England.  If England intend to play their usual (by now) pacey game controlled by the frenetic Care...then simply be very very careful, because Welsh players are being controlled by WarrenBall.  WarrenBall forces them to be structured in their approach.  But if England give them a licence to freelance, then the Welsh are lethal at that loose game of instincitve invention and keeping a ball alive.  If England try to run Wales off the field.... it might come back to haunt them.

[maestegmafia]

I think Wales have a lot to lose.

If Wales lose do they really have quality players to come in? Would their 2 aging props cut it in a WC competition week in week out. Has Gats left it too late to blood younger props?
Is SA the place to do this?
In contrast England have almost half their first choice players out & yet have been performing consistently well this 6Ns & together with Ireland have been the best side.

A loss by Wales would be fairly devastating as only Ian Evans is missing from what would be a first choice staring XV?

England will only improve with the players they have to come in. Can Wales say the same?

Your are a bit out of touch there Trev....!

How? England have players to come in Wales don't.
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/mar/06/wales-england-six-nations-breakdown

That is simple. It is because of the quality of the players. The First choice Welsh players are generally of a much higher calibre than their English counterparts... Hense the Lions test team selection and their drubbing of England last year, plus this team also beating various england selections the two matches previously, the fact England have not scored a single try against this welsh team.

England have a large playing base but a lower level of top quality player. Probably due to all the Foreign players stopping youngsters from progressing.

You clearly haven't seen much age grade rugby over the last decade & as for the last U-20 game between us that was a total embarrassment.
This year England have a different side & Wales have largely the same so last years comparisons are irrelevant. The progress this year would be better compared by our respective performances & results against Ireland.......

At under 20s Wales rotate their players every game to give them experience ready for what we focus on, the JWC.

You may have noticed Wales under 20s contains Sampson Lee among other welsh squad players being the first team to ever beat the kiwi under 20s.

We were a hell of a lot closer to beating England at this level in the JWC final last year.

The big difference is that in Wales those under 20s come through fast in England there is a journal an foriegner ahead of them.

[maestegmafia]

Folks,

I'm sure you're all aware that this match is the match that causes so much work for the mods on here every year.

Just to let everyone know, we will be applying an 'act now, explain later' philosophy for the match this afternoon. If we think a post needs removed or a ban handed out we will do it without warning.

Things have been positive so far, lets keep it that way.

Best of luck to both teams and I hope it's a great game.

RDW

Best of luck MODS...! I hope you get rid of the deadwood.

Right I'm off to the game...



Let's hope it's a cracker. C'mon Wales

[quinsforever]

radio silence now til after the match from me. fingers crossed for a great game of rugby, with absolutely consistent refereeing, and no scrum-bore-fest.

[yappysnap]

Fracking hell i'm tense and I'm at work so won't be watching until 9ish tonight!

Come on ENGLAND!!!

[yappysnap]

by ChequeredJersey Today at 12:06 pm
Good luck Wales, tough match. I'll take any win we can get over you, but what I really want is a bloody massacre of revenge and redemption

+100000000000000000

  

[RDSguru]

C'MON WALES

and thats all I have to say.....

[majesticimperialman]

I don't care if you are Wales supporter and an England supporter. If you don't have butterflies in the pit of your stomache before and during this game. You are not human.

All i hope for is good close game, going like the Ireland game did right down to the wire.  

I wish i had some fingernails. Atleast then i would be able to bite them,

[nathan]

you'll get the usual whinging from me mid game, so i'll apologise for that now. Good luck Wales and heres to a great game!

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Off to the pub now. Been a beautiful day in Madrid and have been mountain biking in the mountains. Got a mean thirst on and a big appetite for rugby. Good luck to both sides and hoping for a great display of rugby from both sides. kia kaha

[nathan]

Off to the pub now. Been a beautiful day in Madrid and have been mountain biking in the mountains. Got a mean thirst on and a big appetite for rugby. Good luck to both sides and hoping for a great display of rugby from both sides. kia kaha

apparently warmer here than the med! lovely day for rugby!

[slartibartfast]

Well I'm sitting down with a cup if tea.

Hope no injuries or stupid red/yellow cards.

[slartibartfast]

I know I've got fat fingers but trying to type anything sensible on this phone is rediculius.

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