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.

Irish boys made for some fun banter. They have a sense of humour.

Metal Tiger wrote:Why are so many posters are avoiding this thread... unlike the joyful banter & discussion on the England v Ireland epic 3 threads?

all the England fans are standing in the rain, queueing up to get their money on down the bookies.

Busy and the thread is repetitive, sorry, will be on Saturday evening for the final build maybe

Here you go gals:
Halfpenny, Cuthbert, Davies, Roberts, North, Priestland, Webb - Faletau, Warburton, Lydiate, AWJ, Charteris, Jones, Hibbard, Jenkins. Reps: Owens, James, Rh.Jones, Ball, Tipuric, Phillips, Biggar, L.Williams.

Don't agree with Ball to the bench and Davies back in.

Glad to see Biggar on the bench instead of Hook, still he should be starting.

Preistland got yellow carded after being charged down the last time he played England, whereas Biggar had one of his best games for Wales when he played them :/

The Saint wrote:Here you go gals:
Halfpenny, Cuthbert, Davies, Roberts, North, Priestland, Webb - Faletau, Warburton, Lydiate, AWJ, Charteris, Jones, Hibbard, Jenkins. Reps: Owens, James, Rh.Jones, Ball, Tipuric, Phillips, Biggar, L.Williams.

Don't agree with Ball to the bench and Davies back in.

As long as Scott Williams isn't there to rip the ball out of Courtney Lawes hands I am happy!  

Yeah a shame, he's been playing exceptionally well this season. I also feel for his team mate Gareth Davies, overlooked yet against despite his consistently outstanding form. Looks like Gats has gone for experience, though that rarely counts nowadays. Should have stuck with form.

beshocked wrote:

The Saint wrote:Here you go gals:
Halfpenny, Cuthbert, Davies, Roberts, North, Priestland, Webb - Faletau, Warburton, Lydiate, AWJ, Charteris, Jones, Hibbard, Jenkins. Reps: Owens, James, Rh.Jones, Ball, Tipuric, Phillips, Biggar, L.Williams.

Don't agree with Ball to the bench and Davies back in.

As long as Scott Williams isn't there to rip the ball out of Courtney Lawes hands I am happy!  

BOD dropped him from the squad.

The Saint wrote:Yeah a shame, he's been playing exceptionally well this season. I also feel for his team mate Gareth Davies, overlooked yet against despite his consistently outstanding form. Looks like Gats has gone for experience, though that rarely counts nowadays. Should have stuck with form.

I'd hardly say selecting Rhys Webb is going for experience ???

Yeah, well done for pointing out a whole single player... But as you should be able to see, the team is the same old team. Ball should be in there, the centre's should have stayed the same and AWJ, JD2 and Lee should be on the bench.

The Saint wrote:Yeah, well done for pointing out a whole single player... But as you should be able to see, the team is the same old team. Ball should be in there, the centre's should have stayed the same and AWJ, JD2 and Lee should be on the bench.

You were talking about Gareth Davies not being included - I assumed you thought Gatland was going with experience over form selecting Webb - which makes no sense as Webb is on form and inexperienced.

Who is on form and should be selected then?

You could make an argument for Ball, but that's the only one I can see (and AWJ and Charteris are not exactly in bad form anyway)

George North is not a centre

wales606 wrote:

The Saint wrote:Yeah, well done for pointing out a whole single player... But as you should be able to see, the team is the same old team. Ball should be in there, the centre's should have stayed the same and AWJ, JD2 and Lee should be on the bench.

You were talking about Gareth Davies not being included - I assumed you thought Gatland was going with experience over form selecting Webb - which makes no sense as Webb is on form and inexperienced.

Who is on form and should be selected then?

You could make an argument for Ball, but that's the only one I can see (and AWJ and Charteris are not exactly in bad form anyway)

George North is not a centre

I wasn't alluding to Gareth Davies being an experienced 9. I was alluding to Gats' settled team being picked over the form players, except for Phillips as of the last game and this fixture. Behind him I guess we don't really have an experienced 9, unless you count Rees.

I wouldn't make wholesale changes, and I've actually stated several times over the past week the changes I would have made.

I am pretty happy with the side. Having seen JD2 play against Munster last weekend he is clearly not fully recovered, but even carrying an injury he is the best available with Scott Williams out injured. Webb took his chance last game. With Phillips star being on the wane, Davies at the Scarlets must also be close but the best prospect is young Rhodri Williams, but not ready quite yet.

My biggest concern is the bench with Rhodri Jones again covering tight head, as I have said before, he is a good loose head but Samson Lee is streets ahead of him at tight head, lets hope Adam does not get injured!

Not sure about Ball as an impact sub, he played really well against France, providing grunt in the scrums (made Adam Jones look great) and hit the rucks and tackles, Coombes may though be a better option to come on when the game is loosening up.

Pleased to see Biggar in place of Hook, at last Gats has used some common sense.

I think that's pretty much our strongest line up with 1st choice players (individual opinions aside) across the board.

We certainly won't have any excuses on the ' but so and so was injured' front.

bedfordwelsh wrote:I think that's pretty much our strongest line up with 1st choice players (individual opinions aside) across the board.

We certainly won't have any excuses on the ' but so and so was injured' front.

You're right.  The Who's Who of Welsh International rugby in the last few years are showing up for this one (when you include the subs too).
The onus is a heavy one.  Nowhere to run if it doesn't go right for them. And then Gatland has serious WC questions to ask himself and answer too.

Having said that - England have probably many more questions to ask of themselves if things don't go right for them... as they look to be in flat-out form at the moment.  I haven't seen them holding much back in terms of a template for the way they want to play the game or in the intensity they play that gameplan at.  I can't see where too much more effort could come from if current form still proves not enough to topple Wales.

SecretFly wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:I think that's pretty much our strongest line up with 1st choice players (individual opinions aside) across the board.

We certainly won't have any excuses on the ' but so and so was injured' front.

You're right.  The Who's Who of Welsh International rugby in the last few years are showing up for this one (when you include the subs too).
The onus is a heavy one.  Nowhere to run if it doesn't go right for them. And then Gatland has serious WC questions to ask himself and answer too.

Having said that - England have probably many more questions to ask of themselves if things don't go right for them... as they look to be in flat-out form at the moment.  I haven't seen them holding much back in terms of a template for the way they want to play the game or in the intensity they play that gameplan at.  I can't see where too much more effort could come from if current form still proves not enough to topple Wales.

Get Corbs, Cole, Billy V, Manu and Yarde back in the side maybe?

SecretFly wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:I think that's pretty much our strongest line up with 1st choice players (individual opinions aside) across the board.

We certainly won't have any excuses on the ' but so and so was injured' front.

You're right.  The Who's Who of Welsh International rugby in the last few years are showing up for this one (when you include the subs too).
The onus is a heavy one.  Nowhere to run if it doesn't go right for them. And then Gatland has serious WC questions to ask himself and answer too.

Having said that - England have probably many more questions to ask of themselves if things don't go right for them... as they look to be in flat-out form at the moment.  I haven't seen them holding much back in terms of a template for the way they want to play the game or in the intensity they play that gameplan at.  I can't see where too much more effort could come from if current form still proves not enough to topple Wales.

I think that would only come through improvements in some of the components. As has been frequently pointed out the team we have right now is good but threadbare in places behind the team we will put out. At TH in particular what we will put out wont be ideal. So much currently depends on Care, and with Youngs off form we dont currently have a replacement that offers anything like the same qualities. Same could be said for Robshaw and possibly Wood too.

England improvements to come:
1 first choice props fit and available
2 greenhorn young centre and wings to settle in with more caps
3 backup FH to get game time
4 Manu to get match fit

England and Ireland sitting in a tree .
K. I .S .S .I .N .G .

Metal Tiger wrote:Why are so many posters are avoiding this thread... unlike the joyful banter & discussion on the England v Ireland epic 3 threads?

It's boring. Just like Wales...

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:England and Ireland sitting in a tree .  
K. I .S .S .I .N .G .      

..with Wales in the middle taking the hit(s)? Naughty, naughty, jimmy. Pre-watershed, remember! Don't be getting excited....

SecretFly wrote:

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:England and Ireland sitting in a tree .  
K. I .S .S .I .N .G .      

..with Wales in the middle taking the hit(s)?  Naughty, naughty, jimmy.  Pre-watershed, remember!  Don't be getting excited....

   just get a room

I am glad that North is back on the wing.

I thought he was a reall threat at centre the other week. But on the wing i don't think he is such a threat. Providing we can keep him well marked, we should beable to nullify him a little. ( I hope).

Just noticed that Biggar is on the bench. Surprised really thought he would of started and Priestland on the bench.

For the Wales fans some tips to get the discussion flowing:

Accuse Walsh of being a homer before and after the game.
Label Brown a hot head and over rated.
Label Lawes a hot head.
Comment on England's rugby league tactics and influences.
Aggressively predict a Wales win.
Use words such as nepotism, forward dominated, one dimentional etc.

Much obliged,
Guns

majesticimperialman wrote:I am glad that North is back on the wing.

I thought he was a reall threat at centre the other week. But on the wing i don't think he is such a threat. Providing we can keep him well marked, we should beable to nullify him a little. ( I hope).

But there is also the thinking that he is a much better defender when he has the touchline next door. Its all swings and roundabouts

majesticimperialman wrote:I am glad that North is back on the wing.

I thought he was a reall threat at centre the other week. But on the wing i don't think he is such a threat. Providing we can keep him well marked, we should beable to nullify him a little. ( I hope).

ts OK - on the wing under gatlandball he will be kick chasing all day and will have to come inside if he wants a pass.

majesticimperialman wrote:Just noticed that Biggar is on the bench. Surprised really thought he would of started and Priestland on the bench.

Gatland hasn't selected Biggar all tournament, he has only made the matchday 22 once - what made you think Gatland would actually select the competent flyhalf now?

GunsGerms wrote:For the Wales fans some tips to get the discussion flowing:

Accuse Walsh of being a homer before and after the game.
Label Brown a hot head and over rated.
Label Lawes a hot head.
Comment on England's rugby league tactics and influences.
Aggressively predict a Wales win.
Use words such as nepotism, forward dominated, one dimentional etc.

Much obliged,
Guns

For England fans

Suggest the Welsh anthem leader is cheating
Argue about just how many Lions Wales have in their team
Cry when they realize they have only one, a replacement
Spend the entire game blaming Mike philips for Welsh aggression before realizing he is benched
Correctly spell dimensional
Suggest Halfpenny is not as good as Brown
Claim favorite status from the bookies on a home fixture on the back of 2 losses out of 2, being Cream of England rugby soup in the last meeting, and NOT EVEN HAVING SCORED A TRY V WALES UNDER LANCASTER OR IN THE LAST 240 MINUTES OF RUGBY.

What's wrong with spelling fonetically?

Metal Tiger wrote:Why are so many posters are avoiding this thread... unlike the joyful banter & discussion on the England v Ireland epic 3 threads?

Scratch and rainbow warrior?

Scratch wrote:

Metal Tiger wrote:Why are so many posters are avoiding this thread... unlike the joyful banter & discussion on the England v Ireland epic 3 threads?

all the England fans are standing in the rain, queueing up to get their money on down the bookies.

It's more like no reasonable poster (Welsh or English) can get a word in edge ways over all the chest beating Wums constantly harping on about your World Class & Lions 1 to 15 players and how man for man they are better than everyone else (SH & Ireland excuded) and how you will dominate & thrash us. Then if you do win the inevitable 435 threads you will start to explain why you won with your World Class & Lions 1 to 15 players and how man for man they are better than everyone else (SH & Ireland excuded) and why you dominated & thrashed us.

Your not just poor losers... your very poor winners. Not an ounce of humility.

Can't get a word in on an internet forum…..wow, rugby fans really have gone soft these days   

lostinwales wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:I am glad that North is back on the wing.

I thought he was a reall threat at centre the other week. But on the wing i don't think he is such a threat. Providing we can keep him well marked, we should beable to nullify him a little. ( I hope).

But there is also the thinking that he is a much better defender when he has the touchline next door. Its all swings and roundabouts

He's plenty of a threat on the wing though. If England want to mark him too well, then it's going to make room for players like Cuthbert. He's a better defender with Davies standing next to him as well, as he doesn't feel the need to drift in so much.

Metal Tiger wrote:
It's more like no reasonable poster (Welsh or English) can get a word in edge ways over all the chest beating Wums (Welsh or English)

Fixed that for you.

Metal Tiger wrote:

Scratch wrote:

Metal Tiger wrote:Why are so many posters are avoiding this thread... unlike the joyful banter & discussion on the England v Ireland epic 3 threads?

all the England fans are standing in the rain, queueing up to get their money on down the bookies.

It's more like no reasonable poster (Welsh or English) can get a word in edge ways over all the chest beating Wums constantly harping on about your World Class & Lions 1 to 15 players and how man for man they are better than everyone else (SH & Ireland excuded) and how you will dominate & thrash us. Then if you do win the inevitable 435 threads you will start to explain why you won with your World Class & Lions 1 to 15 players and how man for man they are better than everyone else (SH & Ireland excuded) and why you dominated & thrashed us.

Your not just poor losers... your very poor winners. Not an ounce of humility.

+2   

I was happy with Poite getting the game but have just noticed Walsh is running touch for Wales. Yes  I did say for Wales. How did they manage that?

Why isn't there a Welsh team thread? Doesn't anyone else think leaving Jake Ball on the bench is a mistake? This guy is a Lion in the making. AWJ and Ball for me. Bringing back JD2 is typical of Gatland rushing back players from injury too soon. North was poor in defence v France, so I assume that's the reason.
Looking forward to the game but cringe in advance of our sh*te negative tactics

Norfolklass wrote:Why isn't there a Welsh team thread? Doesn't anyone else think leaving Jake Ball on the bench is a mistake? This guy is a Lion in the making. AWJ and Ball for me. Bringing back JD2 is typical of Gatland rushing back players from injury too soon. North was poor in defence v France, so I assume that's the reason.
Looking forward to the game but cringe in advance of our sh*te  negative tactics

Write one then.

My own theory on why one hasn't been posted is unprintable on this site.

Anyway who cares what Wales pick, the England camp chat is the big news, and since they are clear favourites everyone is waiting for their TEAM announcement

Welsh fans are uncharacteristically quiet ahead of this one. Weight of bookies money may make more sobering reading this year ? Also SL has delayed announcing the squad, maybe there will be more noise after it gets announced. Not sure why it's delayed. Fitness results waited ? Anyway, this is the thread, so feel free to post.

majesticimperialman wrote:I am glad that North is back on the wing.

I thought he was a reall threat at centre the other week. But on the wing i don't think he is such a threat. Providing we can keep him well marked, we should beable to nullify him a little. ( I hope).

You can't nullify anything a little. That's like saying, 'he's a bit dead'.

That's it. Its all over for England. Lancaster has selected Tom Johnson for the bench. That means no proper No8 for the last 20 mins assuming Morgan doesn't get injured earlier. Probably move Wood to 8 in the last 20 mins. That coupled with T. Youngs at hooker who couldn't hit a barn door means the pack will be severely weakened. England have no chance. I will blame the coach. If he wanted another flanker he should at least have picked C. Clark. He can tackle, as it is we will see Johnson being bounced off all over the place like a tennis ball.

BT sport tonight channel 58. Welsh supporters night.

gregortree wrote:Welsh fans are uncharacteristically quiet ahead of this one. Weight of bookies money may make more sobering reading this year ? Also SL has delayed announcing the squad, maybe there will be more noise after it gets announced. Not sure why it's delayed. Fitness results waited ? Anyway, this is the thread, so feel free to post.

gregor,

Despite good recent results our record at Twickenham is nothing to write home about and I always go there nervous as hell and fear repeats of the 90s. If you take current 6 nations and then the last AI form on board then England are rightly favourites and have home advantage.

Wales have the experience and the settled side but they now have to start living upto expectations, if we hit the ground running and play at the tempo like we started with against France then I think we can win BUT if what happens a lot of the time we end up playing catch up then it could be a long afternoon.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:I am glad that North is back on the wing.

I thought he was a reall threat at centre the other week. But on the wing i don't think he is such a threat. Providing we can keep him well marked, we should beable to nullify him a little. ( I hope).

You can't nullify anything a little. That's like saying, 'he's a bit dead'.

  

Disagree Charteris should be dropped. AWJ shouldn't come straight back in if anything. Both the locks played very well v France.

Bedford, fair comment, I think all fans are entitled to feel nervous. Immense moment for England to break their 3 year voodoo. In same WC group too. So much psychology hangs on this result.

gregortree wrote:

Metal Tiger wrote:

Scratch wrote:

Metal Tiger wrote:Why are so many posters are avoiding this thread... unlike the joyful banter & discussion on the England v Ireland epic 3 threads?

all the England fans are standing in the rain, queueing up to get their money on down the bookies.

It's more like no reasonable poster (Welsh or English) can get a word in edge ways over all the chest beating Wums constantly harping on about your World Class & Lions 1 to 15 players and how man for man they are better than everyone else (SH & Ireland excuded) and how you will dominate & thrash us. Then if you do win the inevitable 435 threads you will start to explain why you won with your World Class & Lions 1 to 15 players and how man for man they are better than everyone else (SH & Ireland excuded) and why you dominated & thrashed us.

Your not just poor losers... your very poor winners. Not an ounce of humility.

+2   

does anyone know Farrell Jnr's email….could really do with a ticket

Walsh and Welsh have very similar spellings. Anyone noticed?

I think it's a conspiracy.

Best report it to my lawyers, Farrell and Sons.