The Rugby Thread

[Thewobbler]

Wasps have 4 more positive tests and now that makes 11. Could be replace by bristol if they can't make the final.

 

[Japhet]

It's like a bloody conveyor belt out there.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

England team for Italy

Furbank; Watson, Joseph, Slade, May; Farrell, Youngs; M Vunipola, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Hill, Curry, Underhill, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Dunn, Genge, Stuart, Ewels, Earl, Robson, Lawrence, Thorley.

 

[Japhet]

England team for Italy

Furbank; Watson, Joseph, Slade, May; Farrell, Youngs; M Vunipola, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Hill, Curry, Underhill, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Dunn, Genge, Stuart, Ewels, Earl, Robson, Lawrence, Thorley.

Replacements look a bit random and a distinct lack of Exeter. Maybe giving them a break I guess.

 

['O Zio]

Replacements look a bit random and a distinct lack of Exeter. Maybe giving them a break I guess.

Yeah they'll need a break from both the extra games they've played and they'll have no doubt been celebrating for the past week so won't have been able to meet up with the squad on time.

 

[teok]

Eddie never allows the press to influence his selections does he. Jonny Hill in at second row is a good shout but euopean player of the season sam simmonds not even in the squad and prem player of the year willis not in the match day squad.

I sort of agree with eddie over simmonds but willis should be on the bench or starting imo.

I will be interested to see how ollie lawrence does of the bench though. He is definitely one to watch. I have no idea how furbank makes the team he has been dreadful this season.

The more interesting games this weekend are the non england ones though. France looked incredibly good against a good wales side last weekend. They will surely make a real good go for the world cup (in france) which is really good for the game.

Scotland v wales should be good also.

 

[mpickard2087]

Cowan-Dickie and Nowell are injured. Sam Simmonds as said before isn't the type of 8 Eddie wants by all accounts. Joe Simmonds is a good player and deadeye goalkicker, but Exeter's system and play is very different to England and he's never had to assume the sort of work Ford and Farrell have to do.

Willis will play at some point this autumn, but he's only just come into the squad after the Prem final, plus hasn't really been around it before so needs to learn the calls etc. I imagine. And Curry and Underhill have been excellent for England and are in his way.

Would have preferred Malins over Furbank.

 

[teok]

What do you guys think about ther fra vs ire match?

 

[talkshowhost86]

Replacements look a bit random and a distinct lack of Exeter. Maybe giving them a break I guess.

Distinct lack of Quins as well.

But that's because most of them are useless.

 

[mumfordspur]

No Willis is a disgrace.
Earl is good but not in Willis' league and Vunipola hasnt done much for England recently.
Ben Youngs stealing caps for years.
But Jones is a gobshite and before you stick up for him watch a re-run of the WC Final they blew England away.

 

[Yid-ol]

Good start by england, but why kick for 3 points from there when they want trys? Stupid decision IMO.

 

[mpickard2087]

Absolutely crap from England so far. Look undercooked after the cancelled game and after immediately going 10-0 up have got massively complacent. Silly errors, bad discipline, and the Italians are clearly going on the wind up every time the play gets whistled and it's working a treat for them as England players get sucked into it.

Need to wake up for the second half.

 

[Japhet]

Absolutely crap from England so far. Look undercooked after the cancelled game and after immediately going 10-0 up have got massively complacent. Silly errors, bad discipline, and the Italians are clearly going on the wind up every time the play gets whistled and it's working a treat for them as England players get sucked into it.

Need to wake up for the second half.

Big 8 minutes or so at restart with Polledri in the bin. Hopefully our forwards can knacker the fuck out of the Italian front 5 in that time.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Turgid so far. Need a half-time kick up the arse.

 

[Yid-ol]

Big 8 minutes or so at restart with Polledri in the bin. Hopefully our forwards can knacker the fuck out of the Italian front 5 in that time.

How about 1

That was a good try though.

 

[mpickard2087]

I think England were a bit disadvantaged in that every other team has had a hit out last week to get some rhythm. Lets just say we looked rusty....

Bit fortuitous it was Italy we were playing really. Maybe some will argue that it 'only' being them and so you don't quite fully focus, but we were way off it and any of the other teams we'd have really struggled today playing like that.

Injuries don't help but not so happy with the composition of the team, in particular the backs - there is a Tuilagi shaped hole in midfield to get over the gainline I thought. But who is there to replace him...?

Not bothered about the final game and standings. As I say every year, don't care for it being decided on bonus points/points difference. It will be won 4 lost 1 for two teams at the top, I don't count that as a conclusive victory - England benefiting or not.

 

[tototoner]

Cannot see us beating France by 7 points, think France will win by 6-10 points

 

[markt]

Looking good for the 6 nation's win as it stands. Poor first half against Italy, but did what is hopefully enough.

 

[spurs mental]

Shocking second half from Ireland. So many errors. Too easy for France. Hope we let them run in enough tries to allow them to win it outright

 

[tototoner]

Did well to keep the score respectable