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The Rugby Thread

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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Cory Hill has been sent home. 3 first team players we’re missing now. Big loss that.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,335
54,968
England starting XV: Elliot Daly, Ruaridh McConnochie, Jonathan Joseph, Piers Francis, Joe Cokanasiga, George Ford, Willi Heinz; Joe Marler, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, George Kruis, Tom Curry, Lewis Ludlam, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Jack Singleton, Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler, Courtney Lawes, Mark Wilson, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Anthony Watson.

Well they should be good enough to beat the USA ...
 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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England starting XV: Elliot Daly, Ruaridh McConnochie, Jonathan Joseph, Piers Francis, Joe Cokanasiga, George Ford, Willi Heinz; Joe Marler, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, George Kruis, Tom Curry, Lewis Ludlam, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Jack Singleton, Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler, Courtney Lawes, Mark Wilson, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Anthony Watson.

Well they should be good enough to beat the USA ...

Billy’s getting a lot of minutes innit.
 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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Probably good that he starts most games. Might expect to see him one of the first off if the score is good though.

USA are shit, though. The score would be good if I played number 8 in that game. I get that he’s in good form so there’s merits to keep playing him but considering he played all the warm up games plus the first 2 group games and he’s obviously going to play against Argentina and France too I just don’t think it’s worth the risk of him getting injured or burning out. Like you say I guess the plan is to take him off early but you could play whoever and breeze this game.
 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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Kin hell, what a result and performance by Uruguay. Wonder what odds you would’ve got on that.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
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England just doing what needs to be done so far. USA getting absolutely minced in the scrum and maul so may as well just keep going to that and reaping the rewards.

General play is still a bit lax though. USA have defended very well and rushing up and getting hits in, but we've fallen asleep at the breakdown a few times and then throw in the odd handling error or silly penalty and it's been enough to keep the rugby very bitty. Hopefully space opens up second half.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
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Also I cant be the only one finding the camera angles really annoying(?), the default angle is the man with the ball which gives no context to the rest of the game around him. The wider angle though looks several miles from the pitch. It's crap.
 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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Neat by Joseph. Bonus try, job done, but fairly uninspiring so far.

I know there’s still 25mins to go but if you go the whole game without USA scoring then I think only conceding 3 points in your first 2 games is pretty good, even if the opposition haven’t been the greatest.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
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I know there’s still 25mins to go but if you go the whole game without USA scoring then I think only conceding 3 points in your first 2 games is pretty good, even if the opposition haven’t been the greatest.

Tempting providence way beyond breaking point, but USA haven't looked like a threat at all so far. Leaving aside the chance of a penalty, they shouldn't be allowed a sniff, especially as they're getting knackered and battered.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
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Second half we just tried to run them off their feet. Breaks increased but so did the errors. That try at the end was silly stuff.

Definite things to work on though. I'd be confident that the intensity and focus will go up several notches now we get to the 'proper' matches, but we've got to tighten up some of the handling and discipline could improve. Also think some of our timings look off when putting the ball through the hands.
 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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Clive Woodward says he’s never seen anything like that tackle in a World Cup but thinks the Hodge tackle was a yellow. Hmmmmmm
 

'O Zio

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2014
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Deserved red card. Dangerous, stupid and unnecessary.

Agree. One of the most blatant shoulder charges you'll ever see. Even in bloody ice hockey a hit like that to the head gets you ejected from the game and a long suspension, let alone in rugby. Should get a lengthy ban IMO. This wasn't one of those grey area sloppy tackles that made contact with the head - it was a clearly deliberate attempt to just try and take out his frustrations on Farrell. Absolutely no place in the game for people who want to do things like that IMO.

Fortunately it looks like Farrell got away with just a cut on his face but it could've been much much worse.
 

teok

Well-Known Member
Aug 11, 2011
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Honestly I'm just we got through those games relatively unscathed. Now there is a decent break and we have argentina and france. Hopefully mako should be back next week.
 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
16,984
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Honestly I'm just we got through those games relatively unscathed. Now there is a decent break and we have argentina and france. Hopefully mako should be back next week.

I can’t believe you’ve picked up no injuries during or prior to the tournament. Getting a bit like Liverpool last season.
 
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