The Rugby Union Thread

tbm

Read an interesting stat the other day. Ireland as a team missed 19 tackles total against England, and 9 of them were on Vunipola. If Wales let him get up a head of steam they're in trouble. But its taylor made for Lydiate and Warbs. Really tough one to call. Lloyd and Taff are correct in that Wales haven't offered lots of attractive rugby, but save for the first half against Ireland have always looked relatively comfortable, have had a resolute defense, and never looked like losing a game.

England could have been 2 scores clear at half time v Ireland, but Irish defense and degree of sloppiness from England kept Ireland in it. Then you have the van den Flier try that should have been coupled with Nowells brilliant tackle that stopped a certain Henshaw score, and there wasn't a lot between England winning and losing that game against quite an inexperienced Ireland side. BUT, and I said this before the game, I couldn't see them losing it given the 6 months they've had. Same kinda goes for this weekend. Wales, in Twickers, again. England will be very fired up, and they'll be a better coached side then they were the last time.

Still though, the Wales center pairing and backrow unit could do a job on England. Stop Billy V, and you stop England making yards. Wales need to get a graphic designer to mock up an image of Dylan effing Hartley hoisting the 6N trophy and plaster it on the dressing room wall. That should be motivation enough for anybody.

Feels good to dislike England again

eSully

tbm said:

Feels good to dislike England again

Are you saying you liked the English Rugby team for a while  :-O  

Welsh team announced:

Wales: Liam Williams (Scarlets), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (ASM Clermont), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), George North (Northampton Saints), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, CAPT), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Paul James (Ospreys), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Luke Charteris (Racing 92), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues).

tbm

eSully said:

Are you saying you liked the English Rugby team for a while  :-O  ;

I wouldn't go that far, but with Robshaw as captain and Lancaster as coach they were harder to dislike. Insert a gobby Aussie as coach and Dylan effing Hartley as captain and that solves that problem!!

If it wasn't for Mike Brown and Owen Farrell there'd be nothing to like about that England team....

lloyd

tbm said:

eSully said:

Are you saying you liked the English Rugby team for a while  :-O  ;

I wouldn't go that far, but with Robshaw as captain and Lancaster as coach they were harder to dislike. Insert a gobby Aussie as coach and Dylan effing Hartley as captain and that solves that problem!!

If it wasn't for Mike Brown and Owen Farrell there'd be nothing to like about that England team....

So true, they've been fairly shit for 10 years too so it's been like hating an ugly puppy. England need some arseholes in the team, Brown, Farrel and Hartley are good for that, as is Lawes. I don't think Vunipola wil, have quite the same impact as a fortnight ago, we'll target him which will open space for other players, great player. Needs to up his fitness a touch more.

koneguitarist

I think Faletau will give his cousin a run for the money, Lydiate will chop anybody down no matter how big, I do think our back row has a better balance, we have a decent bench as well. Still cant understand how Anscombe gets game time?

lloyd

Anscombe is Gatlands boy-he courted him, persuaded him he was Welsh and got him over. He wanted him as our 10 when Priestland showed he was flaky and Biggar wasn't in favour. Gatland ignoring him means he fucked up (which he did with Biggar and overvaluing Anscombes talent) and his ego is too big to admit a mistake IMO.

koneguitarist

Been looking at Englands team, or squad as they still have not whittled it down to the 23, but can't help feel Wales are comfortable with whoever England play, but England seem wary about committing their team too early.

I wonder if there is still a degree of uncertainty of their own game plan. 

crunchman

England have named 24 now - Cowan-Dickie is in the 24 as George picked up an injury in training.   They may have been waiting on a few fitness concerns before naming the squad.

Tuilagi is back but I'd expect him to start on the bench.  I'm surprised they have dropped Goode though.

koneguitarist

I think they are trying to rush Tuilagi in, which to me says Eddie Jones does not think the English midfield is good enough, and I am sure that will come across to players as well.

exocet

I don't get the Tuilagi obsession. I really don't think that he's that good and yet as soon as he's remotely fit to play, he's in the squad?

crunchman

exocet said:

I don't get the Tuilagi obsession. I really don't think that he's that good and yet as soon as he's remotely fit to play, he's in the squad?

It depends how you use him.  I'm not sure you want him to start, but tired defenders are definitely not going to want to see him come off the bench after 60 minutes.

It's probably similar to Mako Vunipola.  He has drawbacks as a starter but he's great off the bench.

snakemanStoo

Eddie has said he wants the guys off the bench to be match winners, not blokes that weren't quite good enough to start.

fretmeister

I watched the Leicester -v- Chiefs game at the weekend.

It was really obvious that Manu needs a load more physiotherapy. The poor sod was incapable of using his arms in a tackle.

lloyd

Would love to see Tuilagi start but surely he'll be on the bench. Dangerous player, but surely not ready for a game like this by Saturday.

koneguitarist

To me, Tuilagi is a powerful runner, but that would be meeting like for like, which would be admitting they are going to try to stop Roberts and co rather than beat them by playing a faster more attacking game.

Which to be honest is what they did in RWC and although that did not fail, it sent wrong message to team and boosted Wales. 

tbm

This is great



You HAVE to love Andy Goode. It's mandatory.

lloyd

U20's starting soon SS2

lloyd

Again first 15 minutes of this is better than anything I've seen from the seniors.

kjdowd

lloyd;998008" said:

Would love to see Tuilagi start but surely he'll be on the bench. Dangerous player, but surely not ready for a game like this by Saturday.

Agreed. Although I hope he proves us wrong.

lloyd

Keelan Giles continues to impress, like all good players always looks like he's got more time on the ball than he has. Look forward to watching him progress.

England showing they're in their 1st year of the cycle and getting outplayed in large parts.