6 Nations Round 3 - England v Wales

First topic message reminder :

England v Wales

Twickers, London
Saturday 26th Feb 2022
Kick Off - 1645hrs

England team

Steward; Malins, Daly, Slade, Nowell; Smith, Randall; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Sinckler, Ewels, Itoje, Lawes (Capt), Curry, Dombrandt.

Replacements: George, Marler, Stuart, Isiekwe, Simmonds, Youngs, Ford, Marchant.

Wales Team

L Williams; Cuthbert, Watkin, Tompkins, Adams; Biggar (capt), T Williams; W Jones, Elias, Francis, Rowlands, Beard, Moriarty, Basham, Faletau.

Replacements: Lake, G Thomas, Brown, S Davies, Morgan, Hardy, Anscombe, J Davies.

That was poor from Wales. Trying to be fancy yet didn’t draw in a single defender before making miss passes.

That was some kick

Slades a jammy sandwich there but 100% the right option

Fantastic from Slade. His kicking has largely been a non entity at international level but the 50-22 rule should suit him very well.

Leaving points on the pitch, time and again.

That's about 3 or 4 try chances muffed now ...

If its deemed a tackle then Wyn Jones is lying the wrong side stopping the clear out.

Smith and Randall just starting to click.

Ooftt. That must be very close to a yellow for Moriarty. Right the red zone, going forward, killing the ball on the wrong side.

Smiths gonna be looking for a new hairspary sponsor

England 12 - 0 Wales at half time.

It should be better for England, frankly. They've left opportunities out there.

Randall has been really good thus far. An all round performance as well. He's had a couple of really smart bits of defence using his pace to be a nuisance.

Turgid stuff, but England in complete control. Only disappointment is they haven't converted all the 'red zone' possession into at least one try. Wales have been destroyed at the breakdown.

Smith's wonderful. Randall is much better at 9.

Great/borderline defence from Wales.

We should have been further ahead, can never rule Wales out.

Smith and Randall have been great.

Left a load of points out there ... need to sharpen up in the 2nd half as Wales are the come-back kings ...

England 12 Wales 0.

Was not expecting that score at half time.

I hope Jones leaves this team on for a good while and doesn't make pre determined subs there's a lot of good here that's very close to working.

Wouldnt get too carried away with Englands pressure = dominance. Wales have made breaks alarmingly easily at times and will certainly feel they left a try on the field too. Similar pattern to the Scotland game in many ways.

That said the scoreline is solid enough in Englands favour, and gap between quality in the two teams that little big bigger than the first round ...plus homefield and LCD now being unable to get a yellow card makes it hard to see Wales pulling off a similar smash and grab.

But still England look a bit tootheless in attack. They have some good footballers, but noone who can run through with sheer pace and power the French have.

Its all a bit dull for all the intensity. Cuthbert very good. Smith very good. Slade very good but we still lack that real cutting edge, like what Tuilagi would have provided

Cuthbert Wales best player!

The Oracle wrote:Cuthbert Wales best player!

I can't help but smile knowing Oracle has been in the pub for hours!

Yeah a fit a sharp Tuilagi, May and Chuck Norris might put England up where they aspire to be.

People all over Smith and Randall, but its the forwards doing the work and winning the penalty count and contact (ignoring Dombrant handing off to the opposition)

Youngs should nt be brought on, just to gain his biggest caps haul.

If Randall gets injured then ok. otherwise leave well alone.

I wonder if Pivac will bring Morgan and Lake on soon, for a bit more breakdown threat.

Gooseberry wrote:Wouldnt get too carried away with Englands pressure = dominance. Wales have made breaks alarmingly easily at times and will certainly feel they left a try on the field too. Similar pattern to the Scotland game in many ways.

That said the scoreline is solid enough in Englands favour, and gap between quality in the two teams that little big bigger than the first round ...plus homefield and LCD now being unable to get a yellow card makes it hard to see Wales pulling off a similar smash and grab.

But still England look a bit tootheless in attack. They have some good footballers, but noone who can run through with sheer pace and power the French have.  

A couple of those breaks wouldn't have led to anything as a couple of clear forward passes were missed in the build up.

Indeed haven't seen Cuthbert play this well for a while

Heaf wrote:Indeed haven't seen Cuthbert play this well for a while

A bit down to p poor tackling like.

Simmonds on.

Eek. For Curry who was very good first half.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Heaf wrote:Indeed haven't seen Cuthbert play this well for a while

A bit down to p poor tackling like.

A bit of that too no doubt

What was that all about?

Thank god that was Dombrant not Ewels

No 7&1/2 wrote:Eek. For Curry who was very good first half.

Curry injured?  

That just sums up Wales' day. Game over.

Scotland must be wondering how they lost to the Welsh?

About time - although not how I expected it to come ...

Disastrous from Wales but cracking finish from Dombrandt.

England are building momentum when they have the ball but not converting it.

Hopefully that early try settles them down.

Great try buy Dombrant.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Heaf wrote:Indeed haven't seen Cuthbert play this well for a while

A bit down to p poor tackling like.

Ironically p poor tackling is partly what got him dropped serveral times

He was excellent against Scotland too, no controversy about him being ahead of LRZ for this one. Ypu mightve had a hard time convincing people that would have been the case pre tournament

Anyway all a bit academic if your forwards are going to literally give the game away

Simmonds might not be a 7 but he'll show up well there.

Dombrandt has done well this game. Done a lot of hard yacker rather than his free flowing running. But that's what he'll have to do at this level

Can I say quietly Ewels is having a very good game. Excellent in restarts which have been a bit dodgy since Launchburys been out.

Good exit from Randall at an important moment. England were looking like conceding straight from the restart there.

Backwards my ar*S

Superb by Itoje.

Had to go wide.

Brilliant from Itoje to spare England.

Wales are making yards far too easily.

So blatantly off his feet.

king_carlos wrote:Had to go wide.

Brilliant from Itoje to spare England.

Wales are making yards far too easily.

Slade is slightly a revolving door today. Daly has been excellent generally in defence. Didn't expect it.

And the lineout malfunctions.

I really wish George Kruis wasn't retiring.

England really sloppy giving Wales chances

God Malins shouldve just booted that out

That was neat.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

king_carlos wrote:Had to go wide.

Brilliant from Itoje to spare England.

Wales are making yards far too easily.

Slade is slightly a revolving door today. Daly has been excellent generally in defence. Didn't expect it.

He isn't a 12. His defensive work from 13 is excellent.

I thought Daly was strong defensively against Scotland as well.

The midfield is once again offering little in attack though. The forwards making more yards has made things look less listless but the backs are doing very little.