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Bath RFC	InTheFastLane
Exeter Chiefs	Driver - RIP 606
Gloucester	Anonmattyt
Harlequins	Steven_Sharks
Leicester Tigers	LukeLovesLuka
London Irish	stnick88
London Wasps	Arry
Newcastle Falcons	Sgt_Pooly
Northampton Saints	Dammit_Chris
Sale Sharks	SirJohnnyEnglish
Saracens	LDCPete
Worcester Warriors	prop_lyd

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Waiting List
1. Sam
2. pullthestrings
3. Bathite

Look how much better the aussies side looks with Higginbotham and Sharpe

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7092712,00.html

Sharpe makes them a much better team

Also from Planet rugby

Fabien Barcella:
If there was a prize for giving your coach a headache, the Biarritz prop would get it. Despite not playing in over a year, Marc Lièvremont took a leap of faith and included Barcella in France's squad. In the last 18 months, Barcella has ruptured knee ligaments, snapped his Achilles tendon and has now torn his bicep, ruling him out of Saturday's clash with Ireland. Some guys just have no luck...

Glad to see Higginbotham has been given a chance, he deserves it after a quality season for the Reds.

Barcella is fit Matt but not fully up to match fitness. He's down as standby for the Ireland game.

Similar story with Steenkamp who's not had much luck with injuries over the last year or two.

You were close to the team chris

swap Corbs for Wilson and Monye for Cueto

SA for weekend:

South Africa: F Steyn, J.P Pietersen, J Fourie, J de Villiers, B Habana, B James, F du Preez; T Mtawarira, J Smit, J du Plessis, B Botha, V Matfield, H Brussow, D Rossouw, P Spies

Replacements: B du Plessis, G Steenkamp, G Mostert, J Deysel, F Houggard, M Steyn, G Aplon

Strong SA team, fancy them to win this weekend.

Why is he out with a torn bicep if he is fit??

Good to see Steenkamp back. he is a massive boost to the Boks. i fancy the boks to win also.

How does BDP not start and why pick Roussouw at 6 and Brussouw when he has not played. Very strange decisions. Roussouw can play 8 internationally but not 6 for me

Also think De Jongh is unlucky not to get bench. pienaar also should always be bench as he offers options.

PdV is a clown. Boks could win the WC easily with another coach
Backline much better though

No Wilson praise the lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7093283,00.html

Torn bicep was a couple of weeks back and he's been back in training for a while from what I've read. Doubt he'd be on standby if he was still injured.

Seen pics of Barcella in training with a bandage on arm, may be minor.

Sale sign Jonny Leota

Anyone seen the Wales side for the weekend yet?
If we dont give them a stuffing I will be seriously disappointed!!
How Gatland is still manager is truly shocking!

Is it that bad of a team?

we should destroy there front 5 but the rest isn't so bad as to expect us to batter them at there own ground

James Hook; George North; Jamie Roberts, Gavin Henson; Shane Williams; Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Paul James, Lloyd Burns, Craig Mitchell, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton, Toby Faletau

Replacements: Huw Bennett, Ryan Bevington, Josh Turnbull, Justin Tipuric, Tavis Knoyle, Scott Williams, Aled Brew

Most papers thought they would drop Wyn Jones as he is struggling so badly but gatland has shown faith

I think it is Steve!

Phillips at 9 makes our defensive job much much easier. We should batter them in the set piece and across the park with a much stronger front 5. Henson is somewhat a defensive weakness these days. Their best centre is playing at FB! And what happens when Tipuric or to a lesser extent Turnbull are needed to cover lock or 8. They will be way out of the depth and would expect them to get blown away. Gatland hasnt really got a clue what hes doing these days and I'd ay hes happy enough to see out the world cup and collect his pay cheque from the WRU

If we dont win this comfortably I will be quite dissapointed.

I am off to the game saturday and there is nothing better in the rugby calendar than beating Wales in Wales. I was also at the 6nations game this year and i do love how bitter they get.

Prop is a minority in that he is not a bitter welshman where rugby is concerned

I have to disagree. I think we'll win but it won't be a massive margin.

I still think Phillips is a better 9 than Wigglesworth, we won't be dominating the lineout in fact I could see them taking some off our throw.

I don't see Henson as a defensive weakness at all, he has always been solid. I certainly don't think he'll be tested by Hape. See the midfield being pretty one dimensional to be honest.

I think we can really get after young LLoyds Burns throw. It will be his debut and Deacon and co can hopefully pressure it massively

Phillips 2/3 years ago maybe a better scrumhalf but he has been shocking for 18 months now. His service is terribly slow which ruins Wales attacking game. Most welsh lads would agree with that if you take the rugby board here as a sample. Wiggles is actually the type of scrummie Wales need. Good fast service from the ruck.

Will concede we wont dominate the lineout but can't see Wales doing so either. We have more then enough jumpers to hold our own ball. We will muller them in the scrum though.

Henson's straight on tackling has been questioned since his latest return. Seems to be worried about getting hurt when going in against the big carriers which England have plenty off at the moment. Englands midfield is most definately one dimensional but its good at what it does and will run at Henson all day. The welsh midfield on current form is pretty 1 dimensional as well.

I do really expect it to be a comfortable day out regardless of the English/Welsh rivalry. think Gatland has gone about it completly wrong with his side

Vito to play against South Africa:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/5426834/Victor-Vito-in-surprise-All-Blacks-callup

I'm hoping its only a chance to prove himself for post world cup while Henry rests some of the lads going to the world cup! He better not get himself called up for the world cup been banking on having him!!

anonmattyt wrote:

Prop is a minority in that he is not a bitter welshman where rugby is concerned

Cheers bud! To be honest i'm not too worried about Burns...he's got a big point to prove and I'd rate him above Bennett plus he's got his teamamate as target.

The 3 which i'm worried about are: Phillips (get rid of him), Hook (should have been roberts at 15 and JD2 at 13), No Delve-this guy is in tremendous form and has the knowledge of the sh back rows!!

I would like to think we'll nick it just on our home patch with a lot of players needing big games i.e Henson.

Any win on Welsh soil is always a hard fought victory. I'd be pretty happy with a 1 point sneak.

SJE - do you not think that it is actually the Welsh inability to generate quick ball for any of its no9s that is the problem. Reading in most newspapers last weekend Phillips was the second best performer in their team after Roberts, watching at Twickenham and he did have a good game, reckon going to France will get him playing back to his best. Wigglesworth isnt in his league.

Looks certain that Simpson, Wilson, Botha, Monye, Payne, Sharples, Robshaw and Doran-Jones are all definitely missing out this time round. Reckon other choices will be:

Hodgson or Flutey
Fourie or Shaw

"do you not think that it is actually the Welsh inability to generate quick ball "

See a little truth in that but it's no excuse. Phillips get plenty of quick ball for Wales and O's but he takes on too much rather than just letting his 10 make the shots. Thought he played quite well on Saturday but he's been pretty awful for a while now.

I'd personally rather have Wigglesworth in my team than Phillips right now, get a quick service and great basics. Phillips of 09 would obviously be better but I don't think he's likely to get back to that, nothing I've seen of him over the years suggests that anyway.

But Pooly he actually had a good game against England last week. It was abundantly clear that England smashed them all over the place in the breakdown and Wales only got better ball when the 5 subs came on at 60min mark.

For me he's the sort of player you would want in international games where it is a bit more aggressive, his game would be perfectly suited for the premiership too. I like him, he's not as good as he was in 2009, but I can see him coming back strong as soon as he's playing in France.

Personally never thought of Wigglesworth as anything more than a good club player who can pass the ball - wont challenge defences at all either.

People forget Wigglesworth was main 9 a few years back and player very well for England. I like a good basics scrum half and Phillips isn't that.

He did play pretty well on Saturday but has been pretty terrible for a while now. I've never really been a fan, though the Lions tour was his exception and thought he got overhyped on that too.

Pooly, people forget that Phillips was the best 9 in the world in 2009 - could never put Wigglesworth in same category, a top international has to have more than good basics. Phillips has great defence, can carry the ball up and is obviously very well thought of in the Welsh camp.

They stopped him playing at the Ospreys because he wanted to leave them, nothing to do with form as him on his worst form was better than their replacement on good form.

I like the confrontational style he brings to a game, think it would work well if you have him playing for first 50mins and then bring on a faster no9 for final 30mins. He will be so important for Wales in the games versus Fiji and Samoa...

"Pooly, people forget that Phillips was the best 9 in the world in 2009 - could never put Wigglesworth in same category, a top international has to have more than good basics. Phillips has great defence, can carry the ball up and is obviously very well thought of in the Welsh camp. "

I never thought he was anywhere near best in world Chris. Never liked his style myself, takes too much on and has very hit and miss service. I've never stated otherwise, ask Steve. I know matt and Steve like him but I just don't see it. Think we've had this discussion about 10 times lol

"Phillips has great defence, can carry the ball up"

Not really qualities I'd be looking for when I think of top scrum halfs. Snappy pass, game management, consistent service and ability to read a game are up there and I think these are things Phillips has a problem with lately.

different qualities make him different and that causes other defences to think more - look at teh try he set up, and the breaks he made and the space he creates. I like him, he'll improve and get better again.

Chris the difference in the speed of service last week was more then noticeable when Knoyle came on for Phillips. Might have been a bad day at the office for the welsh at the breakdown but that doesnt excuse his form of the past 2 years! His service just isnt up to scratch for international rugby.

And he was dropped from the O's because he was playing shockingly poor no other reason. Rhys Webb stepped in and looked a cracking prospect keeping Phillips out of the side then.

When nearly all of Wales is calling for him to be dropped from the side you know hes not playing well

I dont but phillips having poor service. He was hitting 12 from base of scrum and hitting monster passes out wide on the lions tour and at some velocity.

What i think happened is what has happened to AWJ etc in that they believe their own hype and end up the big fish in the small wales pond.

You very rarely see the england rugby team or premiership teams out on the town. Go to Cardiff or Swansea and you will see them out every week. The welsh players are massively unprofessional in general.

Look how their players improve when they go to france or other countries.

Personally when on form i think Phillips has much better service than any other of the home nations sides.

Cussiter- Average service his game is more of a threat from base.
Youngs- Service again average- cracking prospect.
Reddan- Average service
Stringer- all service nowt else

When was the last time Phillips was on form though? Been two years now. All four of the scrummies listed have much faster and cleaner service for me currently. Youngs and Stringer particularly would suit the Welsh game plan down to a key.

Phillips should for me be behind Peel, Knoyle and Williams in the pecking order currently. Just doesnt suit their game style at the moment.

I agree there Sir J....I really don't rate/like Phillips at the moment HOWEVER against the pacific island nations he may come into his own especially when keeping hold of the balla t the back of the breakdown.

I think Phillips has been poor a lot of the time due to wales having an awful backrow. To be fair there backrow is getting better and they have a few more options but wales were getting killed at the breakdown.

As i posted earlier he has been poor for a long time but i think his move to france will see him become the player he was

I agree there Matt, don't think Phillips has awful delivery it's just so inconsistent. His passing against Scotland this year was a prime example

I'm away for 2 weeks starting tommorow. Will try get on the internet as much as possible

Bath finally get Donald:

http://www.bathrugby.com/news/10326.php

All that hassle and watch him be a flop lol

Also Matt Rees out of world cup

Gutted for Matthew Rees and gutted that I sold him to Steve now!!!

I think he'll do well Driver. Not had a good year but he's got a decent all round game and imagine he'll get a good ride at Bath.

Big big loss for Wales.

Anybody know where the France/Ireland game is on tv wise?

Big blow for Wales. Sam Warburton likely to captain them now then.

Good for me I suppose. decent options at Hooker during world cup

Guys off to stag do - will get my predictions by Sunday, as think I might struggle to focus otherwise...

Have a good weekend and enjoy the rugby - if England win I will be well chuffed, as we are playing a completely new team whereas Wales played last week. Big advantage for Wales that. England by 5?

Rees out??!! What? Ah bollix.....let's hope for an injury to Bennett too!!

Donald will rip the Prem to shreds quality player and really ignites a backline. Bad for wales that.

Anyone know where Ireland and France can be watched ???

Not on Matt. I'll be d/l Saturday night. Shame as he looks on paper to be a cracker.

Not convinced with Donald, very hit and miss for me

I reckon Donald will be a huge sucess to be honest. Him and Louw should take Bath to another level.

Dont know if you can pick it up over there but the Ireland France game is being shown on RTE tomorrow evening.

The other half is away for the weekend so I have a cracking weekend of football and rugby in store!