England v Fiji - KO 14:30 Sat 10th NOV at HQ - Match Thread/Build Up etc....

[HERSH]

First topic message reminder :

Feel free to discuss this game and any other aspect involving the England Rugby team good or bad as your opinions count and you won't be judged (by me) if you go against England, but do try to give a reason!

Please respect other posters opinions


England team to face Fiji

15. Alex Goode (Saracens, 2 caps)
14. Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby, 2 caps)
13. Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 13 caps)
12. Brad Barritt (Saracens, 7 caps)
11. Ugo Monye (Harlequins, 13 caps)
10. Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers, 50 caps)
9. Danny Care (Harlequins, 33 caps)
1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 3 caps)
2. Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 0 caps)
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps)
4. Tom Palmer (London Wasps, 40 caps)
5. Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers, 8 caps)
6. Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs, 3 caps)
7. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt, 8 caps)
8. Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)


Replacements
16. David Paice (London Irish, 2 caps)
17. David Wilson (Bath Rugby, 19 caps)
18. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 0 caps)
19. Joe Launchbury (London Wasps, 0 caps)
20. Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 9 caps)
21. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 24 caps)
22. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 8 caps)
23. Mike Brown (Harlequins, 7 caps)

[RubyGuby]

Now now - who popped your cherry Gregor - You cherrys seem to prefer the welsh to the cornish variety

[gregortree]

just chuckling Ruby.... now... er oh, yes, back to England... to beat Fiji by how many ? Not sure this will prove much anyway.
BTW: our Cherry boy Qera will be getting a taste of Twickers with his Fiji call ... hope we get him back in one piece.
Only slightly off topic.. we have tickets to Glos v Fiji next Tuesday, looking fwd to that one too.

[RubyGuby]

Go Cherries

[gregortree]

The ultimate irony at Twickers .. Qera knocks out Sharples getting a long ban, Sharples in sick bay for a couple of months.
NOOO, please .. don't let that happen.

[Effervescing Elephant]

You've called it in now Gregor! You'll only have yourself to blame

[Dubbelyew L Overate]

I'm not going to mention TJ up against Sireli. Tuilagi and Goneva

[Effervescing Elephant]

Dammit Dubbelyew! Even thinking it constitutes mockers!

[Dubbelyew L Overate]

I wasn't thinking it, honest - it's just that the names came out all wrong.

[Effervescing Elephant]

[yappysnap]

Can Goneva actually play 13? He looks pretty lost at wing most of the time for Tigers except when he's on Flood's shoulder. Manu should have a pretty good time exploiting that

Bench is a little odd, but I guess if Foden was fit we'd have him starting and perhaps Goode covering, which adds a bit more flexability to it, or Browne and Foden starting depending on who's on the wing.

Farrel was always going to get the bench slot, I assume Lancaster meant that Burns couldn't pick up all of the amazing different attacking plays that we'll be running on Sat in a week

Waldrom/Robshaw/Johnson looks a very workman like backrow, not sure if it'll have that extra gear though to compete against the top 3 in the next few weeks. Perhaps golden boy will get a starting slot if he performs well off the bench. Oddly after all the abuse I kind of miss Croft...

[LondonTiger]

yappy,

Goneva arrived as a 13 who can play wing. His 26 caps are spread equally between the two positions.

As to his performances this season - he started the season on fire in attack. His defensive positioning can be a bit iffy, and his tackling is interesting.

[yappysnap]

yappy,

Goneva arrived as a 13 who can play wing. His 26 caps are spread equally between the two positions.

As to his performances this season - he started the season on fire in attack. His defensive positioning can be a bit iffy, and his tackling is interesting.

His positioning is appalling at times, hopefully that'll carry on this weekend. Should be interesting watching the two 13's knocking lumps out of each other, do we think Manu will look at the bigger picture this time though rather then engage in a one on one with his opposite number to the detriment of the team like he did against Devilliers?

[LeinsterFan4life]

FLYING FIJIANS NAMED FOR ENGLAND TEST:

01. Penijamini Makutu
02. Viliame Veikoso
03. Deacon Manu (c)
04. Leone Nakarawa
05. Api Ratuniyara
06. Api Naikatini
07. Malakai Ravulo
08. Akapusi Qera
09. Nikola Matawalu
10. Metuisela Talebula
11. Watisoni Votu
12. Sireli Naqelevuki (v-c)
13. Vereniki Goneva
14. Samu Wara
15. Simeli Koniferedi
RESERVES
16. Setefano Somoca
17. Seremaia Naurere
18. Manasa Saulo
19. Seko Kalou
20. Iliesa Ratuva
21. Kelemedi Bola
22. Ravai Fatiaki
23. Josh Matavesi

If you were to put Bobo and Matanavou in the backline, it would be petty dangerous.

[majesticimperialman]

I am quite satisfied with the team that Lancaster as chosen.

The only change i would make is Mike Brown at Full Back with Goode on the bench.

Lets wait and see how the team goes on saturday.

[yappysnap]

Anyone else think we need a bit more pace in the backrow? Maybe not for this game but when we meet the top3 will our backrow be a little behind the oppositin pace-wise?

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Surprised that you think that, Yappy, TJ is certainly pretty quick

[LondonTiger]

Johnson is quick.
Waldrom is quicker than he looks (not hard) and did not get killed for speed when playing 7 against Toulouse or Ospreys
Robshaw surely is not slow?

Any way a quick brain can often get you in the right place quicker than quick feet.

[gregortree]

When we got thumped in the RSA 2nd test, first half, what was impressive about the Bokke back row was the sheer kinetic dynamism.
I agree witgh LT, it is partly speed of thought & deed as much as outright sprint speed. The England back row are ok for speed as such, but need to combine it with brutally decisive intent when taking it up.

[yappysnap]

Actually yea that's true about Johnson he was pretty impressive in the baabaa's game before the summer tour, when it broke up I remember him making a fair few breaks now i'm thinking about it!

Maybe i'm being pessemistic but i'm just not quite taken with Eng at the moment.

Listening to SL's stuttering interview last night on the RC didn't help either.

[nathan]

Actually yea that's true about Johnson he was pretty impressive in the baabaa's game before the summer tour, when it broke up I remember him making a fair few breaks now i'm thinking about it!

Maybe i'm being pessemistic but i'm just not quite taken with Eng at the moment.

Listening to SL's stuttering interview last night on the RC didn't help either.

Yappy being pessimistic, no, not ever!

[yappysnap]

It's a natural past time!

And i'm setting myself up for a pleasant surprise...

[Portnoy's Complaint]

I'm with yappy.

There is a chance that England can just about sneak it past Oz and the Bokke. But it would be more as a pleasant surprise than anything in the way of confidence or expectation.

However if you can believe in Lady Luck, I believe that SL is lucky (as demonstrated by last year's 6Ns).

However the root of the problem may be in the balance of the attacking, glass-half-full MyCat and the doom-ridden negativity of Andy Farrell. And who wins that internal coaching battle.

[nathan]

I'm with yappy.

There is a chance that England can just about sneak it past Oz and the Bokke. But it would be more as a pleasant surprise than anything in the way of confidence or expectation.

However if you can believe in Lady Luck, I believe that SL is lucky (as demonstrated by last year's 6Ns).

However the root of the problem may be in the balance of the attacking, glass-half-full MyCat and the doom-ridden negativity of Andy Farrell. And who wins that internal coaching battle.

No offence grey, but I could of guessed you were with Yappy!!!

[nathan]

Can't wait for kick off!

[EnglishReign]

Nor me, really looking forward to it! Predicting T Youngs to have a stormer.

[yappysnap]

[nathan]

Nor me, really looking forward to it! Predicting T Youngs to have a stormer.

I think he will be in the loose, but I still think he'll throw a couple of dodgy throws. I just hope people aren't too harsh on him, we all know what some of the people are like on here!

[yappysnap]

Actually expecting a big game from Monye

[Portnoy's Complaint]

I'm hoping for a good game from Marler. Like Tom Youngs he's a bit erm - variable.

But it is 'only' Fiji. So hopefully maximum available IRB ranking points.

[HammerofThunor]

England can't gain any ranking points because their more than 7 points ahead of Fiji and at home.

They can lose plenty.

[yappysnap]

steak & cheese bagels- check

spindrift- check

adrenaline pumping- check

[anotherworldofpain]

With the biggest IRB point gap of any of the AIs, England statistically should win this by 46 points or more.

Anything less should be seen as a disappointment. They'll also need to retain structure and shape when the score blows out and play for the full 80 minutes.

[eirebilly]

Good luck England. Should comfortably beat Fiji

[yappysnap]

Cheers Billy, good luck to you boys too

[eirebilly]

Cheers Yappy, we will need it more than you guys

[Cumbrian]

Just had to get my Jennings Lakeland Bitter from the fridge, where my girlfriend 'helpfully' placed it.

Thought I had her trained, still requires more work after nearly ten years together!.

Is anybody else a bit nervous? There seems to be a good energy about the game.

[eirebilly]

Jaysus Cumbrian, just be happy that you have a girlfriend that thinks you need beer to watch the rugby

[Cumbrian]

Aye she spoils me rotten like.

[yappysnap]

Ah bitter in the fridge, you should be living down here in the south Cumbrian! It's how most of the pubs sell it...

Little bit of nerves but now that it's close to the hour i'm mainly excited.

Anyone else prefer old host lazenby to this new host? he is so bloody boring!

Goode needs to have a big game after Brown getting benched and all the talk about his footballing skills etc

[eirebilly]

Can only watch the Wales game here so can you guys give me the odd score update?

[Cumbrian]

Well I live in the West Country now with all this 'cider' stuff, good to get a taste of the home county, even if it is too cold.

Aye, the build up can be a bit sterile on Sky. could do with a few characters and a bit of banter.

[Cumbrian]

I keep chipping in with the score Billy.

[yappysnap]

Stay well clear of that Cider stuff!

ESPN def do the best build ups.

[eirebilly]

Good man Cumbrian

[yappysnap]

Those training jackets are horrible! Beige stripes

[Geordie]

I didn't realise their centre was 19st!
And monye listed as lighter than Sharples.... Really?

[yappysnap]

19stone can not be right! Big boy Bastauraud was only 17 or 18 max

[eirebilly]

There are some big lads in Fiji so its possible he could be 19st. Would'nt want to stand opposite him when he gets a head of steam up

[nathan]

Its always nice to see Manu belting out the national anthem.

[yappysnap]

Not as good as the AB's

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