England vs Wales 9th March

First topic message reminder :

Let's look towards the next game after getting ourselves back on track against France, just like last year, after the Irish put the spanner in the works.

Think the dynamite is the best solution for you Madge.

Is it really going to be like this for a fortnight?

Followed by a month of frothy-mouthed gloating and personal vindictiveness.

Not very adult or becoming is it?

to be honest it hasn't been that bad!!


I preferred the england v wales bickering thread though..

I think the whole wales v ireland thing is already forgotten about. back to the real rivallry

France lost composure as the match went on. It was disappointing to see them go into reverse after the promise shown in their first two matches. Difficult to read into Wales' performance, because France were so inconsistent. Wales had obviously improved from the Ireland game, but still looked below par (by their own standards). There will be lots of confidence from both sets of fans in the run up to the next match. But, in the cold light of day, I think at home, with a side that has consistently improved game by game, England will win. And, I might venture 'fairly' comfortably.

I never like making predictions but the way England picked up the pace and intensity after going behind to Ireland and then closing the game out gives me great confidence. I feel England should beat Wales at home fairly well. However sport is unpredictable to say the least. if it wasn't we wouldn't watch it. So it's just a guess really.

3 posts in a row Rev  

I miss talking with the Irish lads they were a good laugh as well as being well informed and passionate about the game win or lose, they also didn't just finger point and cry wum they were happy to debate topics too.  I bet they'll be here on v2 today and won't leave it a week before coming back on here after a defeat!

I wonder how long it will take for this topic to be locked for editing, as it already has a different tone.   

pretty obvious England are favourites for this match.

Home field advantage
Forward dominance at breakdown vs ireland and france
Counterattacking threat of Brown, May, Nowell (new this year )
Burrell's great attacking lines in their 22
Resurgent Care
Smarter, meaner Farrell
Imperious Hartley, Lawes and Launchbury in lineout
Incredible line defence (unreal vs ireland)

Only real weakness i see is potentially the scrum, but its only a slight weakness, and may not be at all vs Wales.

England by 10 to 15.

bookies have england 11/8 favourites to win 6N overall, and Wales are 5/1 behind Ireland at 2/1

What do the bookies know?

This game will be decided on who the Ref favours at Scrum time.

Wales have to be the favourites as Adam and Gethin seem to get away with scrummaging illegally most of the time these days. (nice if you can get away with it)

quinsforever wrote:pretty obvious England are favourites for this match.

Home field advantage
Forward dominance at breakdown vs ireland and france
Counterattacking threat of Brown, May, Nowell (new this year )
Burrell's great attacking lines in their 22
Resurgent Care
Smarter, meaner Farrell
Imperious Hartley, Lawes and Launchbury in lineout
Incredible line defence (unreal vs ireland)

Only real weakness i see is potentially the scrum, but its only a slight weakness, and may not be at all vs Wales.

England by 10 to 15.

You do not have a World class kicker who can give you an edge in a close game.

neither do you. 1/2P is fallible in pressure matches. where was he against Ireland?

He wasn't playing was he?   

i think he was...i remember him missing a kick

Scrumpy wrote:What do the bookies know?

This game will be decided on who the Ref favours at Scrum time.

Wales have to be the favourites as Adam and Gethin seem to get away with scrummaging illegally most of the time these days. (nice if you can get away with it)

Who will be reffiing ? and I would welcome any insighst on his reffing style / proclivities at scrum time ?

I believe its Romain Poite.

How is Romain with scrums ?

gregortree wrote:How is Romain with scrums ?

He ...em...usually doesn't have a clue what's going on in them, I seem to recall - even though I'm not the greatest ref watcher in the world Does that help a little?

Makes a guess like most Refs, hopefully if Gethin spends most of his time lying flat on his belly again at scrum time then he'll favour us, but you never know!

Scrumpy wrote:Makes a guess like most Refs, hopefully if Gethin spends most of his time lying flat on his belly again at scrum time then he'll favour us, but you never know!

  make sure your lads make space to let him see Gethin clearly. And if need be, attach a sat nav locator to his ass.

Coat tailing
Moral victory

You missed out de-valued from the list of phrases you've personally coined on here Saint.  

As for the game. To tight to call...

 hope we get him to guess right then.

Scrumpy wrote:3 posts in a row Rev  

I miss talking with the Irish lads they were a good laugh as well as being well informed and passionate about the game win or lose, they also didn't just finger point and cry wum they were happy to debate topics too.  I bet they'll be here on v2 today and won't leave it a week before coming back on here after a defeat!

I wonder how long it will take for this topic to be locked for editing, as it already has a different tone.   

Go and talk to them then Scrumpy. I'm sure there's plenty of threads. I'm happy to debate anything you want though. Never had you down as the debating type.

I'm a bit surprised Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins have been scrummaging illegally for so long and referees haven't noticed it.

England should be favourites for this. The scoreline against France flattered us a bit, and France were poor. The thing that gives me a bit of hope is that Wales typically get a fair bit stronger as the tournament goes on. And I still think England's half-backs are potentially flaky under pressure, even though Care has played very well so far this 6N.

Risca Rev wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:3 posts in a row Rev  

I miss talking with the Irish lads they were a good laugh as well as being well informed and passionate about the game win or lose, they also didn't just finger point and cry wum they were happy to debate topics too.  I bet they'll be here on v2 today and won't leave it a week before coming back on here after a defeat!

I wonder how long it will take for this topic to be locked for editing, as it already has a different tone.   

Go and talk to them then Scrumpy. I'm sure there's plenty of threads. I'm happy to debate anything you want though. Never had you down as the debating type.

I'm a bit surprised Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins have been scrummaging illegally for so long and referees haven't noticed it.

As already mentioned above the Refs generally don't have a clue when it comes to scrums, we all know that!   

It is funny that we have 2 illegal scrummagers who have been at the very top of the propping pops for so many years. Yep, lets hope they can outfox that beastly english frontrow so renowned for its scrummaging by lying flat on their bellys all game, just like last year

Wales are back now boyos, decimated France upfront and the defence was like Edwards had promised the boys he'd be waiting for them in his 'special' outfit if they came back in afer another poor showing...

This is years championship being won on points difference is basically a formality now   

ah, that irrepressible, unfounded welsh optimism.

love it. it's like the smell of giddy tipsiness in the air.

I had to balance out that classic english arrogance

oh guys, im looking forward to this game, and the shhtstorm
of banter that is coming.

 

my impression of the nervous psyche of welsh fans ahead of an England game with the 6N in the balance is akin to that of a 17 yr old who thinks he might be in with a chance of popping his cherry that night if he plays his cards right...

really really wants it, can't stop thinking and talking about it to his mates, but deep down harbours doubts about whether it's going to happen. And if/when it does, it's over in about 5 seconds then its back to thinking and talking about it to his mates until next year rolls around again...

   

Comfort wrote:It is funny that we have 2 illegal scrummagers who have been at the very top of the propping pops for so many years.  Yep, lets hope they can outfox that beastly english frontrow so renowned for its scrummaging by lying flat on their bellys all game, just like last year  

Wales are back now boyos, decimated France upfront and the defence was like Edwards had promised the boys he'd be waiting for them in his 'special' outfit if they came back in afer another poor showing...

This is years championship being won on points difference is basically a formality now   

Wales never went away Boyo!

You lost a game of rugby thats all, why the Welsh media/pundits/fans went into melt down calling for players heads is a typical over reaction everyone else in the NH has come to expect.  

Still trying to work out why Jiffy gave Gethin MOTM, is that the 1st time a yellow carded player picked up that award?

 

I genuinely have no idea, I'd have given it to WRUburton.

here's some salt, you may want to re-read that post and take it with a pinch   

WRUburton would have been my choice too, hopefully thats his one and only perfromance this season out of the way  

Wales are clearly hanging on to the idea that they will be dominant at scrum time. This may be true but what they won't have is a flaky ref and baying crowd on their side. I fully expect every scrum to collapse as it always does with Jones and jenkins. The ref should know exactly how this is happening. He has only to watch last weekend's matches. Apart from the scrums Wales have nothing else to overly worry England.

The trouble is when you have two world class props both going down and complaining to the Ref the Ref will probably go with them, even if it’s their fault.

They will be looking to buy as many penalties as possible so 1/2p can have some kicking practice.

I just hope SL brings this up in the pre game press conferences so the Ref is aware. Especially after Friday nights game where it was clear for all to see that these guys are struggling with the new scrum laws.

I'm expecting a close game and a better more exciting one than Itlay and Ireland.

To be fair England have been good and have improved every weak but Ireland should have won that Saturday they were the better side at the end of the day. Last autumn the English break down would have destroyed the Irish but O'mahony, Best and Heaslip proves that Irelands break down was far superior.

Our scrum will be on a high, and will target  (proably0 the weakest scrum England have had in years. Gethin and Adam will be looking to repeat their performances from Friday.

I predict more of our points coming from penalties due to our dominant scrum but we need to bring in the likes of North and Cuthbert up midfield if we have any chance of scoring tries.
England aren't weak up front, we might have the edge but won't ease past them like we did the French.
Two danger men to look out for is Hartley for his consistency at line out and Mike Brown for his pure class this championship.

quinsforever wrote:neither do you. 1/2P is fallible in pressure matches. where was he against Ireland?

Everybody's fallible and in the Ireland match the only Welsh player to perform well was Roberts. But that was one pressure game - singular.  Where's the evidence in Halfpenny's record with Wales and the Lions of failing in "pressure games" - plural? You're generalising from the particular - one poor game - a bit of wishful thinking. Of course, England may do a number on Wales similar to the one by Ireland, but I doubt it.

lions is gravy. losing a match for one's country is much more pressure.

wales haven't really won any big matches where the margin has been close and nailbiting and the pressure has really been on 1/2P's kicking. he is a confidence based kicker. kicks well when it's easy.

quinsforever wrote:neither do you. 1/2P is fallible in pressure matches. where was he against Ireland?

How many did he miss in the Championship decider last year?No pressure in that match I suppose  

Taffineastbourne wrote:

quinsforever wrote:neither do you. 1/2P is fallible in pressure matches. where was he against Ireland?

How many did he miss in the Championship decider last year?No pressure in that match I suppose  

He is a fine goal kicker, hell if I was feeling nasty I'd be tempted to send him a couple of high balls with strict instructions to take him out in the air and the game, as he is that much of a threat with the boot, even if it means a yellow card.

But that wouldn't be within the spirit of the game.   

Taffineastbourne wrote:

quinsforever wrote:neither do you. 1/2P is fallible in pressure matches. where was he against Ireland?

How many did he miss in the Championship decider last year?No pressure in that match I suppose  

not from a scoreline perspective

Scrumpy wrote:

Taffineastbourne wrote:

quinsforever wrote:neither do you. 1/2P is fallible in pressure matches. where was he against Ireland?

How many did he miss in the Championship decider last year?No pressure in that match I suppose  

He is a fine goal kicker, hell if I was feeling nasty I'd be tempted to send him a couple of high balls with strict instructions to take him out in the air and the game, as he is that much of a threat with the boot, even if it means a yellow card.

But that wouldn't be within the spirit of the game.   

its been tried before but he gets up brushes himself down and kicks the 3 points

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:

Taffineastbourne wrote:

quinsforever wrote:neither do you. 1/2P is fallible in pressure matches. where was he against Ireland?

How many did he miss in the Championship decider last year?No pressure in that match I suppose  

He is a fine goal kicker, hell if I was feeling nasty I'd be tempted to send him a couple of high balls with strict instructions to take him out in the air and the game, as he is that much of a threat with the boot, even if it means a yellow card.

But that wouldn't be within the spirit of the game.   

              its been tried before but he gets up brushes himself down and kicks the 3 points throws an intercept pass

Fixed   

We don't want to win it like that.

Do we?

i want to win in the last 2 minutes after a howler of a refereeing decision gifts england the game...

and then i kick back with a bottle of beer and watch this place explode!

yes not halfpennys best moment but we forgive him because we love him .god help it if it was priestland . he would have to have a 24 hour armed guard

quinsforever wrote:i want to win in the last 2 minutes after a howler of a refereeing decision gifts england the game...

and then i kick back with a bottle of beer and watch this place explode!

     

All we can say with any certainty is that the game will be won or lost in the collisions, by the team which wants it more. The forwards will win the match and the the backs will decide by how much. Oh, and possession will be nine tenths of something.

Quinsforever, but what are you on about - Halfpenny being fallible under pressure? Last minute penalty vs Ireland in 2012 to win the game and set us on the road to grand slam. Crucial kicks in a fairly close game vs france in 2012 to win the grand slam. His penalties against England in 2013 (while Farrell missed) gave us the cushion for us to capitalise on with Cuthbert's 2nd half tries. And of course his kicking in the Lions 1st test which won the game. Just a few examples.

You'd swear some folk watch rugby in an entirely different reality...