England vs Wales 9th March

First topic message reminder :

Let's look towards the next game after getting ourselves back on track against France, just like last year, after the Irish put the spanner in the works.

quinsforever wrote:i want to win in the last 2 minutes after a howler of a refereeing decision gifts england the game...

and then i kick back with a bottle of beer and watch this place explode!

You really should make the effort to watch an actual live game of rugby one day, old boy.

It is sometimes even more exciting than reading a blog.

You hear that, old boy?

Looks like Taulupe's cousin Billy is out. Looked like a nasty ankle injury. Sad news, I am sure Faletau was relishing the family rivalry.

Vunipola has been a real inspiration to the England team this season, their most dangerous attacking forward in all games so far by some distance.

I still think Morgan is a better option.

Billy takes too long to get going from a standing start.

Morgan is just as big, just as powerful and carries just as well. An able replacement and a position where England have quality strength in depth.

Jimpy wrote:Morgan is just as big, just as powerful and carries just as well. An able replacement and a position where England have quality strength in depth.

But Morgan rarely has more than 50 or 60 minutes in the tank. We don't have another replacement who can make the impact from the bench.
Not looking good.
Neither first choice props, first choice wingers, first choice 13 or first choice 8.

I know we talk about strength in depth, but we need more of our top players to take on Wales. As for strength in depth, who is there to back up Morgan?
I just pray SL doesn't decide to play a bloody flanker at 8 again. Didn't go well against Wales last time....

Thomas Waldron

nobbled wrote:

Jimpy wrote:Morgan is just as big, just as powerful and carries just as well. An able replacement and a position where England have quality strength in depth.

But Morgan rarely has more than 50 or 60 minutes in the tank. We don't have another replacement who can make the impact from the bench.
Not looking good.
Neither first choice props, first choice wingers, first choice 13 or first choice 8.

I know we talk about strength in depth, but we need more of our top players to take on Wales. As for strength in depth, who is there to back up Morgan?I just pray SL doesn't decide to play a bloody flanker at 8 again. Didn't go well against Wales last time....

Oh, let me think, Matt Kvesic, Tom Johnson, Dickson, Ewers....

gregortree wrote:Thomas Waldron

Could work as an impact player I guess, both fatties could managed 80 minutes between them   

nobbled wrote:

Jimpy wrote:Morgan is just as big, just as powerful and carries just as well. An able replacement and a position where England have quality strength in depth.

But Morgan rarely has more than 50 or 60 minutes in the tank. We don't have another replacement who can make the impact from the bench.
Not looking good.
Neither first choice props, first choice wingers, first choice 13 or first choice 8.

I know we talk about strength in depth, but we need more of our top players to take on Wales. As for strength in depth, who is there to back up Morgan?
I just pray SL doesn't decide to play a bloody flanker at 8 again. Didn't go well against Wales last time....

I'd give Easter or Haskell the bench spot, both have a lot to prove and wouldn't let England down.

Scrumpy wrote:

nobbled wrote:

Jimpy wrote:Morgan is just as big, just as powerful and carries just as well. An able replacement and a position where England have quality strength in depth.

But Morgan rarely has more than 50 or 60 minutes in the tank. We don't have another replacement who can make the impact from the bench.
Not looking good.
Neither first choice props, first choice wingers, first choice 13 or first choice 8.

I know we talk about strength in depth, but we need more of our top players to take on Wales. As for strength in depth, who is there to back up Morgan?
I just pray SL doesn't decide to play a bloody flanker at 8 again. Didn't go well against Wales last time....

I'd give Easter or Haskell the bench spot, both have a lot to prove and wouldn't let England down.

Easter won't get out of bed for less than £30,000

But that was back in 2011, with all the cuts taken place since he'll get out of bed for £25000 these days. 

Scrumpy wrote:But that was back in 2011, with all the cuts taken place since he'll get out of bed for £25000 these days. 

Plus the promise of some kind of NY honour from Her Maj.

Probably cheaper to get a floor length mirror and a dildo to get the 'Brand' playing

munkian wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:

nobbled wrote:

Jimpy wrote:Morgan is just as big, just as powerful and carries just as well. An able replacement and a position where England have quality strength in depth.

But Morgan rarely has more than 50 or 60 minutes in the tank. We don't have another replacement who can make the impact from the bench.
Not looking good.
Neither first choice props, first choice wingers, first choice 13 or first choice 8.

I know we talk about strength in depth, but we need more of our top players to take on Wales. As for strength in depth, who is there to back up Morgan?
I just pray SL doesn't decide to play a bloody flanker at 8 again. Didn't go well against Wales last time....

I'd give Easter or Haskell the bench spot, both have a lot to prove and wouldn't let England down.

Easter won't get out of bed for less than £30,000

Ha! You are a cheeky Munkian!
However you have highlighted why it won't happen. SL has made it all too clear that Easter's attitude or perhaps perceived attitude has no place in the current squad (let alone team).

Found this comment on the Beeb

"Wales v italy = scrum collapses
ireland v Wales = scrum collapses
Wales v france = scrum collapses

England v ireland = No scrum collapses!
scrums were won and lost, the first scrum ireland mangled england but it did not collapse, some went forward some went back but the key thing is they stayed up.
eng v ireland scrum contest was great, all the welsh games have had problems...why? AJ and GJ"


I tell you if the Ref is made aware that these guys are struggling at scrum time then he should side with England.

SL really needs to point this out to the media and Ref before the game.

munkian wrote:Probably cheaper to get a floor length mirror and a dildo to get the 'Brand' playing

You are a bad man.

And I laughed.

That makes me a bad man.

When we get to hell - I'm blaming you!

nobbled wrote:

munkian wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:

nobbled wrote:

Jimpy wrote:Morgan is just as big, just as powerful and carries just as well. An able replacement and a position where England have quality strength in depth.

But Morgan rarely has more than 50 or 60 minutes in the tank. We don't have another replacement who can make the impact from the bench.
Not looking good.
Neither first choice props, first choice wingers, first choice 13 or first choice 8.

I know we talk about strength in depth, but we need more of our top players to take on Wales. As for strength in depth, who is there to back up Morgan?
I just pray SL doesn't decide to play a bloody flanker at 8 again. Didn't go well against Wales last time....

I'd give Easter or Haskell the bench spot, both have a lot to prove and wouldn't let England down.

Easter won't get out of bed for less than £30,000

Ha! You are a cheeky Munkian!
However you have highlighted why it won't happen. SL has made it all too clear that Easter's attitude or perhaps perceived attitude has no place in the current squad (let alone team).

To be fair to Lancaster, there aren't too many of the '21' left in the squad are there ?

munkian wrote:

nobbled wrote:

munkian wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:

nobbled wrote:

Jimpy wrote:Morgan is just as big, just as powerful and carries just as well. An able replacement and a position where England have quality strength in depth.

But Morgan rarely has more than 50 or 60 minutes in the tank. We don't have another replacement who can make the impact from the bench.
Not looking good.
Neither first choice props, first choice wingers, first choice 13 or first choice 8.

I know we talk about strength in depth, but we need more of our top players to take on Wales. As for strength in depth, who is there to back up Morgan?
I just pray SL doesn't decide to play a bloody flanker at 8 again. Didn't go well against Wales last time....

I'd give Easter or Haskell the bench spot, both have a lot to prove and wouldn't let England down.

Easter won't get out of bed for less than £30,000

Ha! You are a cheeky Munkian!
However you have highlighted why it won't happen. SL has made it all too clear that Easter's attitude or perhaps perceived attitude has no place in the current squad (let alone team).

To be fair to Lancaster, there aren't too many of the '21' left in the squad are there ?

I don't think there are any...but I'm too lazy to check.

Scrumpy wrote:Found this comment on the Beeb

"Wales v italy = scrum collapses
ireland v Wales = scrum collapses
Wales v france = scrum collapses

England v ireland = No scrum collapses!
scrums were won and lost, the first scrum ireland mangled england but it did not collapse, some went forward some went back but the key thing is they stayed up.
eng v ireland scrum contest was great, all the welsh games have had problems...why? AJ and GJ"


I tell you if the Ref is made aware that these guys are struggling at scrum time then he should side with England.

SL really needs to point this out to the media and Ref before the game.

I'm sure the argument would be that no-one else can live with the power of the Welsh scrum....

nobbled wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:Found this comment on the Beeb

"Wales v italy = scrum collapses
ireland v Wales = scrum collapses
Wales v france = scrum collapses

England v ireland = No scrum collapses!
scrums were won and lost, the first scrum ireland mangled england but it did not collapse, some went forward some went back but the key thing is they stayed up.
eng v ireland scrum contest was great, all the welsh games have had problems...why? AJ and GJ"


I tell you if the Ref is made aware that these guys are struggling at scrum time then he should side with England.

SL really needs to point this out to the media and Ref before the game.

I'm sure the argument would be that no-one else can live with the power of the Welsh scrum....

Hmm, but it was the Welsh scrum that was lying flat on their bellys most of the time!

Surely Refs watch the games played in the 6 nations?

 

Adam Jones on his belly ? Surely that is propping the scrum, not collapsing it ?

I just think there is no room for this type of dangerous play to try and win the game at all costs, it’s not within the spirit of the game either.

I'm glad England doesn’t use such tactics in the scrum.

They've stopped boring in now have they ?

Casartelli wrote:

quinsforever wrote:i want to win in the last 2 minutes after a howler of a refereeing decision gifts england the game...

and then i kick back with a bottle of beer and watch this place explode!

You really should make the effort to watch an actual live game of rugby one day, old boy.

It is sometimes even more exciting than reading a blog.

had to give up my ticket to my brother as my wife is due on the 9th. i like the matchday experience well enough, but as far as objective analysis goes, watching it alone on TV is the only way not to get too influenced by the crowd at the match or the pub.

and at this stage in england's development i am enjoying their progress and week by week. when they are the finished product (rwc2015) i will just watch the matches, knowing how all the newer indivuduals combine.

munkian wrote:They've stopped boring in now have they ?

They've stopped boring the fans Munk.

There doesn't seem to be the same interest in this game as there was for the Ireland game.

i know. wierd. i can almost hear tumbleweed blowing across the thread.

is it an inability to do banter without losing it?

 

quinsforever wrote:

Casartelli wrote:

quinsforever wrote:i want to win in the last 2 minutes after a howler of a refereeing decision gifts england the game...

and then i kick back with a bottle of beer and watch this place explode!

You really should make the effort to watch an actual live game of rugby one day, old boy.

It is sometimes even more exciting than reading a blog.

had to give up my ticket to my brother as my wife is due on the 9th. i like the matchday experience well enough, but as far as objective analysis goes, watching it alone on TV is the only way not to get too influenced by the crowd at the match or the pub.

and at this stage in england's development i am enjoying their progress and week by week. when they are the finished product (rwc2015) i will just watch the matches, knowing how all the newer indivuduals combine.

Congratulations Quins, hope everything goes well

Maybe just cancel this one and take a point each?

Scrumpy wrote:There doesn't seem to be the same interest in this game as there was for the Ireland game.

If England managed a win against us in the last few years folk might be more interested.  

nobbled wrote:

Jimpy wrote:Morgan is just as big, just as powerful and carries just as well. An able replacement and a position where England have quality strength in depth.

But Morgan rarely has more than 50 or 60 minutes in the tank. We don't have another replacement who can make the impact from the bench.
Not looking good.
Neither first choice props, first choice wingers, first choice 13 or first choice 8.

I know we talk about strength in depth, but we need more of our top players to take on Wales. As for strength in depth, who is there to back up Morgan?
I just pray SL doesn't decide to play a bloody flanker at 8 again. Didn't go well against Wales last time....

lancaster hasn't been a huge fan of Morgan, he may just use him as an impact sub...

Vunipola is a huge loss. Great find for England. Has made an impressive international start.

killer938 wrote:

quinsforever wrote:

Casartelli wrote:

quinsforever wrote:i want to win in the last 2 minutes after a howler of a refereeing decision gifts england the game...

and then i kick back with a bottle of beer and watch this place explode!

You really should make the effort to watch an actual live game of rugby one day, old boy.

It is sometimes even more exciting than reading a blog.

had to give up my ticket to my brother as my wife is due on the 9th. i like the matchday experience well enough, but as far as objective analysis goes, watching it alone on TV is the only way not to get too influenced by the crowd at the match or the pub.

and at this stage in england's development i am enjoying their progress and week by week. when they are the finished product (rwc2015) i will just watch the matches, knowing how all the newer indivuduals combine.

Congratulations Quins, hope everything goes well

likewise quoins well done, 1st? boy or girl? another flaming harlequins fan!

maestegmafia wrote:

nobbled wrote:

Jimpy wrote:Morgan is just as big, just as powerful and carries just as well. An able replacement and a position where England have quality strength in depth.

But Morgan rarely has more than 50 or 60 minutes in the tank. We don't have another replacement who can make the impact from the bench.
Not looking good.
Neither first choice props, first choice wingers, first choice 13 or first choice 8.

I know we talk about strength in depth, but we need more of our top players to take on Wales. As for strength in depth, who is there to back up Morgan?
I just pray SL doesn't decide to play a bloody flanker at 8 again. Didn't go well against Wales last time....

lancaster hasn't been a huge fan of Morgan, he may just use him as an impact sub...

Vunipola is a huge loss. Great find for England. Has made an impressive international start.

Rather an odd comment. Morgan only lost his place through injury but has been kept on the bench when he came back. Vunipola has just been better, no drama in him being left out. If anything it shows a lot of faith putting all your back row options in two near identical 8s with no cover for the flanks or options to switch things up.
It would be a huge surprise if Morgan didnt start... As much as anything else there isn't another specialist 8 in the training squad and one hasn't been called up.

I've had to turn down a ticket stupid Sunday games!

I for one will be looking forward to the welsh props dropping the scrum - it's great how everyone outside of Wales get so hung up about it. I suspect there won't be as much of it against England as heartely is prone to standing up.

slartibartfast wrote:I've had to turn down a ticket :(stupid Sunday games!

Are you religious?

Rugby is my religion

Work is getting in the way.this year.

Taffineastbourne wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:There doesn't seem to be the same interest in this game as there was for the Ireland game.

If England managed a win against us in the last few years folk might be more interested.  

How come your lot still get excited about playing the all blacks then?  

Scratch wrote:

killer938 wrote:

quinsforever wrote:

Casartelli wrote:

quinsforever wrote:i want to win in the last 2 minutes after a howler of a refereeing decision gifts england the game...

and then i kick back with a bottle of beer and watch this place explode!

You really should make the effort to watch an actual live game of rugby one day, old boy.

It is sometimes even more exciting than reading a blog.

had to give up my ticket to my brother as my wife is due on the 9th. i like the matchday experience well enough, but as far as objective analysis goes, watching it alone on TV is the only way not to get too influenced by the crowd at the match or the pub.

and at this stage in england's development i am enjoying their progress and week by week. when they are the finished product (rwc2015) i will just watch the matches, knowing how all the newer indivuduals combine.

Congratulations Quins, hope everything goes well

likewise quoins well done, 1st? boy or girl? another flaming harlequins fan!

2nd, boy. Arthur. whenever i think his name i hear the Dambusters theme tune unbidden...naaah nah nah nah na na na nah, naaah nah nah nah, na, na, na, na, naah.....

at the appropriate moment, a pic, in uniform, will be posted

Congratulations quins. I've had the pleasure of knowing people recently transition from normal life to parenthood. Hard work it seems, but I guess you're used to it with this being your second child? How about bringing this one home, back to your roots, to be raised in the true land of his fathers?

quinsforever wrote:at the appropriate moment, a pic, in uniform, will be posted

Good luck to 'Bomber'!

The Saint wrote:Congratulations quins. I've had the pleasure of knowing people recently transition from normal life to parenthood. Hard work it seems, but I guess you're used to it with this being your second child? How about bringing this one home, back to your roots, to be raised in the true land of his fathers?

the first one is stocky, and like his grandfather who can bench press 120kg at ago 70, he's going to be a scrapper. the second, already in the womb they can tell his legs are significantly longer than his brother, he could play anywhere.

i would have no problem with them playing for wales at all. whoever they play for i will be supporting. such is the life of fathers.

quinsforever wrote:i know. wierd. i can almost hear tumbleweed blowing across the thread.

is it an inability to do banter without losing it?

Or is it that there's over a week to go still?

Jonathan Davies has been released from the Wales squad to get some much needed game time, along with seven others (who I guess probably won't make the 23)

Released Players:

Ospreys:
James King
Justin Tipuric
Dan Biggar

Scarlets:
Emyr Phillips
Samson Lee
Rhodri Williams
Jonathan Davies

Newport Gwent Dragons:
Andrew Coombs

Risca Rev wrote:

quinsforever wrote:i know. wierd. i can almost hear tumbleweed blowing across the thread.

is it an inability to do banter without losing it?

Or is it that there's over a week to go still?

Jonathan Davies has been released from the Wales squad to get some much needed game time, along with seven others (who I guess probably won't make the 23)

Released Players:

Ospreys:
James King
Justin Tipuric
Dan Biggar

Scarlets:
Emyr Phillips
Samson Lee
Rhodri Williams
Jonathan Davies

Newport Gwent Dragons:
Andrew Coombs

Rev,

Will be very surprised if Tipuric not make 23, who you think maybe on bench instead?

Didn't read it properly to be honest. He will make the bench, I'd imagine. Was more concerned about whether we'd get Coombsy again rather than the rest of the released players

They obviously knew that AWJ was struggling earlier in the week thats why Coombsy wasnt released, am guessing that with him being released then AWJ will be fit.

Will be glad to have Coombsey back if not wanted for 'Team Wales'

Unfortunately Ulster isn't really weakend during the 6 Nations as they still have all their SH players...