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.

gregortree wrote:We'll just have to call it a draw then Scratch.

I suppose you can hope for a draw but i think it's unlikely

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV8vB1BB2qc&list=PL4FDD1FF8C74E3BD5

gatland has shown many times he is very good at motivating the opposition. Ireland, last AIs...I thank him for providing more motivation than SL could for England's "boys"

2 fine examples of "trivia" above

gregortree wrote:Trivia of the day for 606:

"England have never lost at home on the penultimate weekend of a Six Nations championship. They have played at Twickenham nine times in round four and won the lot."

"The referee, Romain Poite, has only refereed one previous Six Nations game at Twickenham, in 2011. England won it."

Interesting trivia that not many will know

Scratch wrote:More trivia of the day

Wales are 3 from 3 v England since before the RWC.

England have never beaten Wales under Lancaster.

England have never scored a try v Wales under Lancaster.

Boring WUM dressed up as trivia

here's a good one -

england have more starting players who have never lost to wales than wales have starting players who have never lost to England

BamBam….England fan?

Not a WUM at all, a statement of fact, nothing else. If you choose to get your knickers in a twist over it that is your prerogative.   

quinsforever wrote:here's a good one -

england have more starting players who have never lost to wales than wales have starting players who have never lost to England

That's a good one but a pyrrhic victory quoins……shall we do caps and Lions next?

Or World Cup wins? Just as relevant

Scratch wrote:More trivia of the day

Wales are 3 from 3 v England since before the RWC.

England have never beaten Wales under Lancaster.

England have never scored a try v Wales under Lancaster.

England have certainly never been awarded a try v Wales under Lancaster. If I were stirring, I might argue that they actually scored one twice over...

Anyway, there's a first time for everything.

BamBam wrote:Or World Cup wins? Just as relevant

1-0 Well done, hope it helps on Sunday   

Suppose that headline about Sir Warren will get some people salivating.

I also suppose Wales will have to get wound up by this then, seeing as apparently international players need help to get up for a game

http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/29733.php

Scratch wrote:

BamBam wrote:Or World Cup wins? Just as relevant

1-0 Well done, hope it helps on Sunday   

Hope the Lions caps do too   maybe you can line them up and hope our lads trip over them

Risca Rev wrote:Suppose that headline about Sir Warren will get some people salivating.

I also suppose Wales will have to get wound up by this then, seeing as apparently international players need help to get up for a game

http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/29733.php

They aren't going to make them share dressing rooms are they?

Our starting XV won’t be far off 1,000 caps

Did Gatland not see the Ireland game where we beat them with about a 1/10th the amount of caps.

More trivia

It is 36 years since Wales won two championship games in a row at Twickenham.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:More trivia

It is 36 years since Wales won two championship games in a row at Twickenham.

Excellent.Hope 36 is playing on Sunday even more now!

God, this thread is awful.

Staggering with difficulty towards page 18, trying to match The E & I thread.

Scratch wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:Suppose that headline about Sir Warren will get some people salivating.

I also suppose Wales will have to get wound up by this then, seeing as apparently international players need help to get up for a game

http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/29733.php

They aren't going to make them share dressing rooms are they?

Does the WRU employ the Western Fail to write this rubbish for their website?

Talk about taking Joe Launchbury out of context!

Metal Tiger wrote:

Scratch wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:Suppose that headline about Sir Warren will get some people salivating.

I also suppose Wales will have to get wound up by this then, seeing as apparently international players need help to get up for a game

http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/29733.php

They aren't going to make them share dressing rooms are they?

Does the WRU employ the Western Fail to write this rubbish for their website?

Talk about taking Joe Launchbury out of context!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/10659300/Six-Nations-2014-England-lock-Joe-Launchbury-warns-Wales-against-complacency.html

Telegraph sir?

wales606 wrote:God, this thread is awful.

Inm tempted to go back to the Steve Walsh mirror one. I swear we can make that happen.

Scratch wrote:

Metal Tiger wrote:

Scratch wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:Suppose that headline about Sir Warren will get some people salivating.

I also suppose Wales will have to get wound up by this then, seeing as apparently international players need help to get up for a game

http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/29733.php

They aren't going to make them share dressing rooms are they?

Does the WRU employ the Western Fail to write this rubbish for their website?

Talk about taking Joe Launchbury out of context!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/10659300/Six-Nations-2014-England-lock-Joe-Launchbury-warns-Wales-against-complacency.html

Telegraph sir?

Ahhhh.... the English Western Fail.

However... Iit says nothing about 'England are gonna take Wales to a dark place'

That is pure made up cowpat headlines by the WRU press team to whip up the sparkly hat brigade.

The inference is clear, JL states England take teams to Dark Places in TW18, not sure which is worse, getting upset by the inference or the Dark Place, either way both are utterly insignificant to Wales on sunday

Metal Tiger wrote:

Scratch wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:Suppose that headline about Sir Warren will get some people salivating.

I also suppose Wales will have to get wound up by this then, seeing as apparently international players need help to get up for a game

http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/29733.php

They aren't going to make them share dressing rooms are they?

Does the WRU employ the Western Fail to write this rubbish for their website?

Talk about taking Joe Launchbury out of context!

Isn't it just the same as people choosing to make a headline out of what sir warren apparently said? You need to chill out a bit, or criticise that too (in the interests of balance).

Especially after seeing your second post on the matter, as well. Calm your beans butt, it's all good.

"56-all" so far in this thread.

Can't wait for the tie breaker. Good luck both sides!

(raise the Toll..........bridge and shut the front door!)

Who left the light on in that darkest of dark places I wonder?





 

it was a dark place at the millennium last year  when they turned the lights off  for the Welsh team    picked  the trophy up  

That was a shining example of illuminating G-ball. For some.   

How are you coping Jimmy? Feeling confident they can do it again away?

Personally I have picked England to win this. I just feel that, like Ireland, these teams are evenly matched and had this been in Wales then I would pick Wales but England's home ground advantage and their passionate fans will spur England to victory. Will be very close though and I feel will be very similar to the Ireland match.

Am I alone in feeling that Wales plateaued around 2011 and haven't really moved on?

I'm picking a comfortable win for England this weekend. I think Wales have a lions hang over and had one good game left in them (I'm consistent in this view throughout the tournament if you check my posts) I said Wales would put it together once - and the question would be, against whom? I feel like they've answered that question already.

I think England for all their pfaffing around in the double figures have an impressive direct game and the current leniency in ruck interpretation is providing leverage for their strangling ruck flooding approach.

Wales will struggle to get the ball wide where they have an advantage because (a) they lack a left/right kicking game due to their Backline balance being overly concerned with power and size and (b) distribution and vision are crippled by g-ball and (c) the back row is fatigued and ruck-drunk and unlikely to deal with England's tactics and close carrying (d) they lack genuine pace behind the scrum.

Linebreaker wrote:"56-all" so far in this thread.

Can't wait for the tie breaker. Good luck both sides!

(raise the Toll..........bridge and shut the front door!)

Who left the light on in that darkest of dark places I wonder?





 

Shouldnt that be Troll bridge?

More trivia -

Did you know that Owen Farrell is now 8th in the all time top points scorer in England.

218 points in 22 caps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_top_England_international_rugby_union_points_scorers_and_try_scorers

Lancaster has a winning ratio of 63% so far as coach.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_national_rugby_union_team



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales_national_rugby_union_team

Warren Gatland in comparison has a winning ratio of 50% as Welsh coach.

Leigh halfpenny is the 3rd highest in the Welsh all time points scorers. 377 in 51 caps

beshocked wrote:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales_national_rugby_union_team

Warren Gatland in comparison has a winning ratio of 50% as Welsh coach.

Leigh halfpenny is the 3rd highest in the Welsh all time points scorers. 377 in 51 caps

Does that include the ones Howley was in charge for ?

Howley was about 50/50 anyway

I have major concern over JD2's fitness.In the Scarlet's game his tackling was a shadow of his usual rumbustuous style.He seemed loathe to attempt a rip as he did not want to test his pecs
I hope that I misread things but I fear that he may be forced off pretty early on Sunday.

Linebreaker wrote:That was a shining example of illuminating G-ball. For some.   

How are you coping Jimmy? Feeling confident they can do it again away?

not really confident but it be close either way . think it go all the way to wire

Taffineastbourne.

I did not see the scarlets game, but regarding JD being brought back in to the Wales team for this match against England.

I am a big believer that a player should not get in an international team/squad based on reputation, he should only get chosen if he is 100% match fit.

I site Johnny Wilkinson as an example. When Johnny was playing for England he used to get injured and be out of the game for 2/3 month, he would then play 1/2 games for his club and then straight back into the England team and get injured again.

Players should have enough time to get themselves match fit and fully recover from their injuries.

But then again JD is a young player he may come through all right.

SL has omitted Manu. Same kind of scenario- But not worth risking

majesticimperialman wrote:Taffineastbourne.

I did not see the scarlets game, but regarding JD being brought back in to the Wales team for this match against England.

I am a big believer that a player should not get in an international team/squad based on reputation, he should only get chosen if he is 100% match fit.

I site Johnny Wilkinson as an example. When Johnny was playing for England he used to get injured and be out of the game for 2/3 month, he would then play 1/2 games for his club and then straight back into the England team and get injured again.

Players should have enough time to get themselves match fit and fully recover from their injuries.

But then again JD is a young player he may come through all right.

Madge,I am pretty sure that if it was Italy this weekend he would have been given more time.Hopefully our medics and fitness gurus know what they are doing.  

well if JD not performing and not as sharp as gatland said then his understudy Mr north should do ok

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

beshocked wrote:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales_national_rugby_union_team

Warren Gatland in comparison has a winning ratio of 50% as Welsh coach.

Leigh halfpenny is the 3rd highest in the Welsh all time points scorers. 377 in 51 caps

Does that include the ones Howley was in charge for ?

Nope

Rob Howley is on 45% win ratio. 5 won 6 lost.

To be fair to Gatland his Welsh side has played more than Lancaster's England.

Though if even Brian Ashton and Martin Johnson can have either win ratios than Gatland.......

Lancaster's record should take a hit when they play NZ.

they may take a hit then but we have 2 games before to increase it

Even if we only perform adequately from here till the end of next summer i can still see him being way above 60%

Percentages don't tell you everything, though, do they? Losing a series 3-0 in New Zealand (the most likely outcome - even one drawn game would be a huge result) is a lot less of a cause for concern than, say, losing a series in Japan.

And while the difference between a 71.5% winning record against 6N teams and a 78.5% winning record doesn't sound that huge, that 7% would make a big difference to England come Sunday night.

I'm just watching the rugby club.

Lawes is being interviewed about the line out with Youngs sat next to him with a blank look on his face.

England squad
Mike Brown, Jack Nowell, Luther Burrell, Billy Twelvetrees, Jonny May, Owen Farrell, Danny Care; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, David Wilson, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw (captain), Ben Morgan

Replacements: Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola, Henry Thomas, Dave Attwood, Tom Johnson, Lee Dickson, George Ford, Alex Goode


2 specialist and 2 part time fly halves. Banging.

I really don't see what Goode brings from the bench

GloriousEmpire wrote:Am I alone in feeling that Wales plateaued around 2011 and haven't really moved on?

I'm picking a comfortable win for England this weekend. I think Wales have a lions hang over and had one good game left in them (I'm consistent in this view throughout the tournament if you check my posts) I said Wales would put it together once - and the question would be, against whom? I feel like they've answered that question already.

I think England for all their pfaffing around in the double figures have an impressive direct game and the current leniency in ruck interpretation is providing leverage for their strangling ruck flooding approach.

Wales will struggle to get the ball wide where they have an advantage because (a) they lack a left/right kicking game due to their Backline balance being overly concerned with power and size and (b) distribution and vision are crippled by g-ball and (c) the back row is fatigued and ruck-drunk and unlikely to deal with England's tactics and close carrying (d) they lack genuine pace behind the scrum.

at the risk of being banned for disagreeing with you and therefore being accused of having a personal vendetta, you know less than diddly about Wales!

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I really don't see what Goode brings from the bench

A "playmaking" option from the bench that some posters believe is imperative to have in a backline.

Who would you have instead?

Somebody that adds impact Beshocked. You either start Goode or drop him, he adds nothing from the bench.

We have Farrell, Ford & 36 as FH option.

Brown, Nowell, May as FB options.

What happens if a winger gets injured??? Brown to wing!!!

I'd have Jon Joseph or Marlon Yarde.

I never want to see brown on the wing again.

He needs to keep playing at FB. the more time there the better, he needs to focus on his job and a seriously important one.England need to build around him and grantee him that spot- But I think SL has figured that out. BUt yes why no yarde?

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Somebody that adds impact Beshocked. You either start Goode or drop him, he adds nothing from the bench.

We have Farrell, Ford & 36 as FH option.

Brown, Nowell, May as FB options.

What happens if a winger gets injured??? Brown to wing!!!

I'd have Jon Joseph or Marlon Yarde.

Yarde isnt fit for international rugby yet and who knows where JJ is at. For impact and versatility I'd currently prefer to go to Eastmond or Daly. Having both Dickson and Goode on the bench makes me sad.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Somebody that adds impact Beshocked. You either start Goode or drop him, he adds nothing from the bench.

We have Farrell, Ford & 36 as FH option.

Brown, Nowell, May as FB options.

What happens if a winger gets injured??? Brown to wing!!!

I'd have Jon Joseph or Marlon Yarde.

Don't know about you but I definitely would not want 36 to step up at 10, even apprehensive of Ford doing it vs Wales but I will given the benefit of the doubt.

Nowell or May as FB options? Just no. Neither have particularly shone on the wing. Putting them into another position would be like Ugo Monye all over again!

Jon Joseph?   Is he even fit?

Marland Yarde? A player whose just come back from injury? Someone whose barely played for England?

If a winger gets injured then yes Brown to wing.

By the way smart for not mentioning Watson or Eastmond as options. 

Lostinwales Eastmond and daly?  Hype over substance.