Wales v England, Parc y Scarlets, 28th November 16:00

First topic message reminder :

England have been pretty comfortable so far clearly led by a set of forwards performing brilliantly. Breakdown, lineout, scrum, everything has been smooth and frankly dominant.

The backs continue to stutter looking for a bit of cohesion, perhaps unsurprisingly to an extent given there have been shuffles to selections. We've perhaps learnt that Furbank isnt good enough for international rugby and that having a winger play on the wing is sometimes a good thing. Obviously this means Jones will ignore that.

One guy completely set in stone is May who moved to joint second highest try scorer for England though. Always lightening but added so much to his game. Hes been relatively quiet this year but excellent yesterday. Quotes from Jones via  the bbc "The great thing is he is 30 and still improving,"
"There is no limit to where he can go. I don't think I have ever seen a player who is more professional in his preparation than Jonny. He is fast and elusive, at one stage it looked like he had spiders all over him."

He was always playing well when he got his england chance but obviously the best players continue to improve. You would normally say first name on the team sheet but theres about 5 of them at the moment.

Jones also said: 'We put ourselves in a good position to maybe go on and dominate. We didn't, but there is a lot more in us, which is pleasing," added Jones, who was named England head coach five years ago on Friday.

"Defence was pretty good but we are disappointed with the try at the end. We'd have liked to have a clean sheet, as they say in football, but we are improving. I particularly liked the ferocity of our ruck defence today."

"Wales is a massive game," added Jones. "If they have one game a year to save their season, it is against England. There is intense rivalry, the Scarlets' ground is an open one, so the elements will affect the game. It will be tough and we will pick our best 23 again."

Seems to me hes also a touch annoyed we didnt add more to the scoreboard and nil Ireland. Great defence clearly in the 2nd half but we struggled for field possession. The last sentence for me could be a bit misleading as it suggests the same team and bench for Wales, cant help but feel there'll be 2 or 3 changes though.


Again from the beeb it looks like Wales have a few injuries and doubts for the game: Tipuric was forced off the field in the second half, while Wales full-back Liam Williams also left the field with 15 stitches in his mouth after a stray boot but should be fit to face England. Wing Johnny McNicholl also departed with a rib cartilage issue.

Bath number eight Taulupe Faletau will be fit after recovering from injury, while Cardiff Blues back-rower Josh Navidi is battling to be in contention after missing the autumn programme so far with his own concussion issues.

Ross Moriarty is sidelined with an ankle problem.

Dragons back-rower Aaron Wainwright was handed the man-of-the-match accolade against Georgia after an impressive performance at number eight with Pivac believing this should be his long-term position.

"I personally like him at eight," added Pivac.

"I prefer him at eight to six. He gets his hands on the ball, he has very good acceleration out of the boot.

"You saw some of those skills tonight and I like him in that position."

Wales have an outside centre void to fill missing against England with Jonathan Davies set to miss the game with a knee problem. Johnny Williams impressed at inside centre on his debut.'

All set for a comfortable Wales win then.


Teams

Wales

TBC


England

Daly; Joseph, Slade, Farrell, May; Ford, Youngs; M Vunipola, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Launchbury, Curry, Underhill, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Stuart, Hill, Earl, Willis, Robson, Watson

Ffs Wales. Try England now from this scrum surely.

Though that sub was Webb for Ball for a second!

Curry and Underhill and such a great double team in attack and defence.

Is Rowlands qualified on Wales on the basis of going to the Dragon School?

I think it’s the wrong lock to go off, but AWJ is putting himself about.

Second tine Launchbury has spun someone on the try line to score

Launchbury is good at those support latches.

A good finish from Mako but boy does the England attack look blunt again. That gainline breaking ball carrier such as Manu/Lawrence/Nowell/Cokanasiga in the backline is conspicuous by their absence.

It's frustrating given that a Ford-Farrell-JJ axis scored some great tries during the record equaling winning run early in Jones tenure.

18-10 England

Wales just about within range

RiscaGame wrote:I think it’s the wrong lock to go off, but AWJ is putting himself about.

As AWJ ever been subed?

When you have the chance to reduce a two score game to a two score game you have to kick the points... Should have gone for the corner since Wales’ visits to the England 22 have been exceptionally rare.

Another 3 pts coming here and then it will be a one score game

Time to use that 6-2 bench split for some forward impact I think.

I am done watching George Ford. This is exactly the type of game he should be doing well - but is not. I would rather see Genge at 10 than Ford at this point. Far too close, and almost set up for England to give up another unforced try, such as Wales first one.

HIA for Curry there?

Oooh Jack Willis...

Curry really has bulked up hasnt he...

GeordieFalcon wrote:Curry really has bulked up hasnt he...

Underhill and Curry are looking more and more like Pocock these days!

But Curry did a lot of stuff but never really added much value to this game. Really glad to see Willis come on. I don't care if he carries much, just get to the breakdown as much as possible. Maybe he should have come on for Ford-feeding May right on the touch line was nuts.

But Curry did a lot of stuff but never really added much value to this game. Really glad to see Willis come on. I don't care if he carries much, just get to the breakdown as much as possible. Maybe he should have come on for Ford-feeding May right on the touch line was nuts.

king_carlos wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Curry really has bulked up hasnt he...

Underhill and Curry are looking more and more like Pocock these days!

Yesbthats true...both just look so strong.

That should be a yellow card

doctor_grey wrote:But Curry did a lot of stuff but never really added much value to this game.  Really glad to see Willis come on.  I don't care if he carries much, just get to the breakdown as much as possible.  Maybe he should have come on for Ford-feeding May right on the touch line was nuts.

His tackling has been excellent as ever. One important turnover I remember as well. He's been less prominent as a first receiver switching the point of contact around the fringes than he was in most games this year. A less rounded performance in attack but still good in defence.

I'm excited to see what Willis can do in a tight game with a lot of breakdowns to target though.

Farrell kicks the penalty and takes it out to 2 scores again

21-13 England

BigGee wrote:That should be a yellow card

As should Daly’s hit on Adams, so we can call that evens. Then we can discuss how the score should only be 14-13 to England

Some kick.

Jeez im still not sold on Slade.

I think Lawrence will take his spot at 13..

Genge and Willis will have caused tea cups to be thrown at the TV across Wales there

Poor to isolate LRZ there.

Good from Willis to not commit to the tackle so he can target the ruck there. An important penalty in what hasn't been a particularly good team performance.

I think Farrell and Jones are holding England back.

We need to see some passion and flare

I know this sounds a bit parochial, but England is really missing Courtney Lawes. Always does the little stuff, makes the necessary carries to set up the next phase, is a strong receiver in the lineout, good link player, strong at the breakdown, is pretty quick, makes the tackle in a thumping style, and has good game-smarts. Would get a sloppy, unfocused performance by the scruff of the neck.

TightHEAD wrote:I think Farrell and Jones are holding England back.

We need to see some passion and flare

And Ford.

England just easing away here, a try now would put a more realistic tone to the dominance they have had of the game.

Don’t know why we need to see flares?

doctor_grey wrote:I know this sounds a bit parochial, but England is really missing Courtney Lawes.  Always does the little stuff, makes the necessary carries to set up the next phase, is a strong receiver in the lineout, good link player, strong at the breakdown, is pretty quick, makes the tackle in a thumping style, and has good game-smarts.  Would get a sloppy, unfocused performance by the scruff of the neck.      

Not saying you are wrong but Launchbury has been very strong

England playing safe and happy to take the penalties

Farrell hooks it though, should have kicked it to the corner

I do wonder if we'd look better without Farrell

lostinwales wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:I know this sounds a bit parochial, but England is really missing Courtney Lawes.  Always does the little stuff, makes the necessary carries to set up the next phase, is a strong receiver in the lineout, good link player, strong at the breakdown, is pretty quick, makes the tackle in a thumping style, and has good game-smarts.  Would get a sloppy, unfocused performance by the scruff of the neck.      

Not saying you are wrong but Launchbury has been very strong

I like Launchbury a lot. He always adds smarts and toughness. I think Lawes adds just a bit more. And Jones has played him on the flank when Launchbury or Kruis was in the second row, I think that's because of the bit that Lawes adds. With the growth of Willis, Simmons, and Curry, I think Lawes time in the second row is probably at the end, however.

Congrats to the genuine English posters on here.

Ah well, not as bad as I expected and I thought we fronted up well. Terrible for Wales with ball in hand. But defence much improved.

lostinwales wrote:I do wonder if we'd look better without Farrell

And joe Simmonds at 10?

Nice to get a win if not nice to watch.

Well done England, but never really in doubt

Well that's that

Not a classic but a comfortable win for England, who never really broke loose either

Wales stepped up the physicality and competed but were always under pressure and other than the charge down, never really looked like scoring a try.

Both sides are pretty much where we thought they were

France - England final, the best 2 sides no doubt, who will hopefully give us a decent game

At some point, Pivac is going to look at scapegoating Humphreys or Jones.

Well..its a win. Not great but a win.



I think theres a few positions in the backs still open...

Wales were awful. Totally clueless in attack. Not sure they had one sustained attack in the England 22 all game?

England were pretty poor too, some bizarre kicking tactics when you thought they could have just run Wales ragged. But Underhill and Curry are so, so good.

If England play like this against France, Les Bleus will turn England into tiny little bits of brie.

Another easy win. Will need to step up to 3rd or 4th gear to beat France.