Getting excited now!!!!!

When comparing the two teams involved in this weekends six nations decider between Wales and England, this is the team i would choose:
15. 1/2p
14. Cuthbert (His defence is suspect but still better than Ashtons IMO)
13. Manu (JD2 hasnt really had the ball to shine!)
12. Barritt (DR Bob has been ok but not great)
11. North
10. Farrell
9. Phillips (Looks back to near his abrasive best IMO)
8. Faletau
7. Robshaw
6. Wood (I know he's playing 8 on sat but Warbs hasnt played 6 yet and Croft starts for the 1st time)
5. Evans
4. Launchbury
3. Jones
2. Youngs (Just! over Hibbard)
1. Jenkins (Just! over Marler)

So 8 Welshmen and 7 English. What will separate the teams? Home advantage? Home disadvantage? The benches? or just an error or a moment of brilliance? I, for one, cant wait! Have a great weekend all, enjoy the rugby and dont get too excited! Oh and good luck to both teams.........especially Wales!!!! COME ON BOYS!

Cymru Am Byth

Personally would rather have Ben Youngs at 9 than Mike 'slowest pass in the history of rugby' Phillips. Not fit to clean to Dwayne Peel's boots and I'm much happier to have Youngs even though he can have the occasional nightmare game from time to time. Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate Phillips strength's and although 9 man rugby may get you through a cagey 6N decider with runners like North, JD2 and 1/2p in the backs I feel he has held you back at times, especially against the SH teams. Still it's tomorrow that counts.

Otherwise agree Evans shades Parling and deserves to be a Lion for me and Jones & Cole are close but again I will agree as Jones and the Welsh scrum has looked stronger so far. Think England have the stronger bench with a greater impact potential, although if you Welshies are already winning the scrum battle then the England front row will not be happy to see Paul James coming on. Hopefully Bob Howley will want to keep his captain on the field unless he gets injured.

9. Phillips or Youngs
3. Jones or Cole

Lets just rank them equally, English and Welsh supporters will never agree.

Cmon Wales, give us English supporters a Slam. We need one more than you, dont be selfish. We will give you tips on how to beat Australia in the world cup in exchange?

James at 1 and you're spot on for me

The whole point of this thread really is to emphasize how closely matched the 2 teams are. Small margins are likely to decide the outcome of this match. Ok some would choose an extra Englishman ere or Welshman there but the principles the same. My money's on a Wales win.....by 9 points. At the moment mind, id take a 1 point win quite happily.

Wood over Faletau
Foxy over Manu (Davies one opportunity one try, thats not a bad ratio)
Warburton at 7
Robshaw at 6

No ways I pick Philips

If I had the combined player pool to pick from, I'd go for something like (with a few of players out of the position they've been playing in):

1. Jenkins
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Evans
5. Parling
6. Wood
7. Robshaw (C)
8. Faletau
9. Youngs
10. Farrell
11. North
12. Davies
13. Tuilagi
14. Halfpenny
15. Brown

16. Hibbard
17. Marler
18. Jones
19. Launchberry
20. Warburton
21. Phillips
22. Twelvetrees
23. Cuthbert

robbo277 wrote:If I had the combined player pool to pick from, I'd go for something like (with a few of players out of the position they've been playing in):

1. Jenkins
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Evans
5. Parling
6. Wood
7. Robshaw (C)
8. Faletau
9. Youngs
10. Farrell
11. North
12. Davies
13. Tuilagi
14. Halfpenny
15. Brown

16. Hibbard
17. Marler
18. Jones
19. Launchberry
20. Warburton
21. Phillips
22. Twelvetrees
23. Cuthbert

Thats a pretty good side but on top form

Adam Jones will be ahead of Cole
Wood ahead of Faletua at 8
Warburton everytime ahead of Robshaw at 7
Robshaw ahead of Wood at 6

Its such a shame that Warbs has been moved to the blindside as I really wanted to see the final outcome of who should be the Lions 7 (considering Rennie who would have been a shoe-in is injured)

It could end up being Robshaw at 6 and Warburton at 7 for the Lions, even though Robshaw is playing at 7 and Warburton is playing at 6 this week.

I don't like the idea of Wood at 8, not for England and certainly not for a combined team. I think he's a phenomenal 6, he tackles hard, hits rucks with intensity and can slow ball down or even turn it over, but he's not got the carrying or control at the base to be a top International 8 to rival say Parisse or Picamoles. As such I'd have him at 6 and therefore Faletau at 8.

Warburton/Robshaw and Jones/Cole are a pair of coin tosses. I think at the moment Robshaw's form makes him the choice at 7. With Wood and Robshaw on the flanks, having Jenkins and Cole in the team with their ability to win turnovers is invaluable.

Fair post Robbo

I would agree with you 100%, except last week Warburton was very very good against us, and Robshaw wasn't that hot against Italy...... so form-wise the jury is still out (until the weekend)

But certainly Warbs / Robshaw Lions combo sounds good

I didn't see the Scotland/Wales game, I was playing while it was on and it didn't seem like one to watch back! Saying that England/Italy was no better I expect, and Robshaw didn't have the effect he has been having earlier in the tournament.

Amazed how many would take Jekins over Marler when many Welsh fans dont even think Jenkins deserves to start ahead of Paul James.
For me the only ones I would pick clearly are Robshaw and Farrell from England and North and Halfpenny from Wales, all the others are close calls.
Should be a cracker of a game, just hope Walsh wants it to flow and doesnt do to this one what Joubert did to last weeks game against Scotland.