England XV vs Wales

First topic message reminder :

Injuries have struck England hard in the past couple of weeks. Foden, Rokoduguni, Tuilagi, Eastmond, Farrell, Morgan, Wood, Parling, Launchberry, Lawes, Slater and Cole all look set to miss out England's first match with Wales through injury. Ford our current first choice fly half suffered a mild concussion against Glasgow whilst his kicking was inconsistent too, something which has been affecting his game the last few matches.

Following these injuries this would be my XV and subs to take on Wales.

1. J.Marler
2. D.Hartley
3. D.Wilson
4. G.Kruis
5. D.Attwood
6. J.Haskell
7. C.Robshaw
8. B.Vunipola

The front row would remain unchanged after going so well in the Autumn internationals. Kruis will come in for the injured Lawes, although I think England would have opted for Parling had he been fit. In the back row Haskell will come in for the injured Wood, however, I think on form Haskell would have been pushing very close for a starting spot anyway. Vunipola is offered another chance with Morgan out injured.

09. B.Youngs
10. D.Cipriani
11. J.May
12. B.Barritt
13. L.Burrell
14. A.Watson
15. M.Brown

At half back Youngs has been in good form for Leicester this season and has emerged as a leader too. Cipriani would get the nod over Ford on form, he has a huge chance with Farrell out injured and I think he might just take it. In the centres Barritt will be selected on merit in his more comfortable role of inside centre, I feel his defensive leadership will be integral against Wales. Burrell has also had a strong season and deserves his chance. Our back three although a little lightweight has bags of pace and enthusiasm and will be looking to kick on from the Autumn.

16. T.Youngs
17. A.Corbisiero
18. K.Brookes
19. G.Kitchener
20. C.Clark
21. D.Care
22. G.Ford
23. J.Joseph

What a bench! Youngs and Corbisiero are both Lions whilst Brookes impressed when he came on in the Autumn. Kitchener is in the form of his life at the moment too, so will relish this opportunity. It was a tough call between Easter and Clark, but I'd go with the latter who has been in top form for Northampton and it's time to see if he can sink or swim at international level. Care, Ford and Joseph provide a lethal attacking threat and will look to inject something different when they come on. Joseph is very unlucky to miss out on a starting spot, he has been electric all season and put in another impressive showing yesterday against Glasgow.

What would be your XV?

Coxy001 wrote:Massively inexperienced back line.

Ford is the weak link. Can't tackle. Kicking is average (both out of the hand and from the tee). No pace going forwards.

Stands a bit flatter than Farrell, and that's about it. Expecting Roberts to run a very simple line straight at Ford every single time... Robshaw has his work cut out cutting the channel off.

Can't even hope for a mud bath with the roof being shut.

Sigh, and am in Cardiff for a stag party this weekend as well. Joyful.

At least we can deal with just one of your factual inaccuracies to a degree hopefully even you might be satisfied by. The roof will be open.

Coxy001 wrote:That's the thing though BamBam, there's the extra work rate involved to cover such a scenario. Worse case scenario is our set piece (which is the best in the NH) goes to pot. Best case scenario we get on the front foot and such a worry is eased.

Thankfully the Welsh only have 3 gameplans:

1) Direct
2) Infringe at the scrum yet win the penalty, HP doesn't miss
3) Direct.

Who's the ref by the way?

whereas England have 1. The set piece.

Not overly fond of Roberts running at either Ford or Cipriani but at least it's not Burns.

What has happened to Burns? He seems to have completely fallen off the map at Tigers?

Chjw131 wrote:

Coxy001 wrote:Massively inexperienced back line.

Ford is the weak link. Can't tackle. Kicking is average (both out of the hand and from the tee). No pace going forwards.

Stands a bit flatter than Farrell, and that's about it. Expecting Roberts to run a very simple line straight at Ford every single time... Robshaw has his work cut out cutting the channel off.

Can't even hope for a mud bath with the roof being shut.

Sigh, and am in Cardiff for a stag party this weekend as well. Joyful.

At least we can deal with just one of your factual inaccuracies to a degree hopefully even you might be satisfied by. The roof will be open.

Would respond in kind if that made any sense.

Gwlad wrote:

Coxy001 wrote:That's the thing though BamBam, there's the extra work rate involved to cover such a scenario. Worse case scenario is our set piece (which is the best in the NH) goes to pot. Best case scenario we get on the front foot and such a worry is eased.

Thankfully the Welsh only have 3 gameplans:

1) Direct
2) Infringe at the scrum yet win the penalty, HP doesn't miss
3) Direct.

Who's the ref by the way?

whereas England have 1. The set piece.

Its great how the set piece leads to so many tries though

Gwlad wrote:

Coxy001 wrote:That's the thing though BamBam, there's the extra work rate involved to cover such a scenario. Worse case scenario is our set piece (which is the best in the NH) goes to pot. Best case scenario we get on the front foot and such a worry is eased.

Thankfully the Welsh only have 3 gameplans:

1) Direct
2) Infringe at the scrum yet win the penalty, HP doesn't miss
3) Direct.

Who's the ref by the way?

whereas England have 1. The set piece.

I hope Gatland and Edwards are thinking that way, because I am quite looking forward to see what Burrell and Joseph can do running lines off Ford. It may not click, but if Burrell plays like he did last 6N and Joseph can translate what he's doing at club level it will be very hard to defend.

Actually Coxy, this is the first time for a long time that I think Englands back 3 is a match if not more exciting ball in hand than the Welsh

So: 1. Set piece
     2. Back 3
     3. The outstanding 10 and 13 in the uK at the moment

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:Actually Coxy, this is the first time for a long time that I think Englands back 3 is a match if not more exciting ball in hand than the Welsh

So: 1. Set piece
     2. Back 3
     3. The outstanding 10 and 13 in the uK at the moment

lostinwales wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

Coxy001 wrote:That's the thing though BamBam, there's the extra work rate involved to cover such a scenario. Worse case scenario is our set piece (which is the best in the NH) goes to pot. Best case scenario we get on the front foot and such a worry is eased.

Thankfully the Welsh only have 3 gameplans:

1) Direct
2) Infringe at the scrum yet win the penalty, HP doesn't miss
3) Direct.

Who's the ref by the way?

whereas England have 1. The set piece.

Its great how the set piece leads to so many tries though

Agreed, take 2013 for instance…..

Gwlad wrote:

lostinwales wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

Coxy001 wrote:That's the thing though BamBam, there's the extra work rate involved to cover such a scenario. Worse case scenario is our set piece (which is the best in the NH) goes to pot. Best case scenario we get on the front foot and such a worry is eased.

Thankfully the Welsh only have 3 gameplans:

1) Direct
2) Infringe at the scrum yet win the penalty, HP doesn't miss
3) Direct.

Who's the ref by the way?

whereas England have 1. The set piece.

Its great how the set piece leads to so many tries though

Agreed, take 2013 for instance…..

No that was the red, not the Welsh pack...!

maestegmafia wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

lostinwales wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

Coxy001 wrote:That's the thing though BamBam, there's the extra work rate involved to cover such a scenario. Worse case scenario is our set piece (which is the best in the NH) goes to pot. Best case scenario we get on the front foot and such a worry is eased.

Thankfully the Welsh only have 3 gameplans:

1) Direct
2) Infringe at the scrum yet win the penalty, HP doesn't miss
3) Direct.

Who's the ref by the way?

whereas England have 1. The set piece.

Its great how the set piece leads to so many tries though

Agreed, take 2013 for instance…..

No that was the red, not the Welsh pack...!

Red? Who got a red? Hartley?

lostinwales wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

Coxy001 wrote:That's the thing though BamBam, there's the extra work rate involved to cover such a scenario. Worse case scenario is our set piece (which is the best in the NH) goes to pot. Best case scenario we get on the front foot and such a worry is eased.

Thankfully the Welsh only have 3 gameplans:

1) Direct
2) Infringe at the scrum yet win the penalty, HP doesn't miss
3) Direct.

Who's the ref by the way?

whereas England have 1. The set piece.

Its great how the set piece leads to so many tries though

Not against Wales. The only time England have scored a try against Wales in last 4 seasons was last term, so yes i fully expect England to win and then go on to another 6 Nations championship. By RWC their first team will be back to replace this injury induced A team (though at least 7 who started v SA are starting v Wales) and they will win that too.

Gwlad wrote:

lostinwales wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

Coxy001 wrote:That's the thing though BamBam, there's the extra work rate involved to cover such a scenario. Worse case scenario is our set piece (which is the best in the NH) goes to pot. Best case scenario we get on the front foot and such a worry is eased.

Thankfully the Welsh only have 3 gameplans:

1) Direct
2) Infringe at the scrum yet win the penalty, HP doesn't miss
3) Direct.

Who's the ref by the way?

whereas England have 1. The set piece.

Its great how the set piece leads to so many tries though

Not against Wales. The only time England have scored a try against Wales in last 4 seasons was last term, so yes i fully expect England to win and then go on to another 6 Nations championship. By RWC their first team will be back to replace this injury induced A team (though at least 7 who started v SA are starting v Wales) and they will win that too.

Thank goodness.  I was worried.
Hartley can't win this one by himself.

doctor_grey wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

lostinwales wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

Coxy001 wrote:That's the thing though BamBam, there's the extra work rate involved to cover such a scenario. Worse case scenario is our set piece (which is the best in the NH) goes to pot. Best case scenario we get on the front foot and such a worry is eased.

Thankfully the Welsh only have 3 gameplans:

1) Direct
2) Infringe at the scrum yet win the penalty, HP doesn't miss
3) Direct.

Who's the ref by the way?

whereas England have 1. The set piece.

Its great how the set piece leads to so many tries though

Not against Wales. The only time England have scored a try against Wales in last 4 seasons was last term, so yes i fully expect England to win and then go on to another 6 Nations championship. By RWC their first team will be back to replace this injury induced A team (though at least 7 who started v SA are starting v Wales) and they will win that too.

Thank goodness.  I was worried.
Hartley can't win this one by himself.

You must mean 3 seasons. Only 2012 and 2013 where we didn't score any tries. 2014 and 2011 we scored two each.

You nearly scored one 2012 too

Gwlad wrote:You nearly scored one 2012 too

Strettle did score remember, he never tells a lie. Too bad, as that try followed by the simple conversion would have given England the draw, thus victory and then the grand slam . #606

Just disgressing back to the roof question.  The main reason Lancaster wants it open is to help the Bath lads.  The Recreation ground obviously does not have a roof and it does not really have sides either.  So an open roof at the MS helps them feel less claustrophobic. Simple reasoning!

Just disgressing back to the roof question.  The main reason Lancaster wants it open is to help the Bath lads.  The Recreation ground obviously does not have a roof and it does not really have sides either.  So an open roof at the MS helps them feel less claustrophobic. Simple reasoning!

How many other rugby grounds have a roof? Rugby is an outside sport and the elements - rain and wind - are part of it. If the 'soft' Welsh need a roof then fine, but for me rugby is better off without. if fans don't like a bit of wind and rain, they should stay in the pub.

cb wrote:Just disgressing back to the roof question.  The main reason Lancaster wants it open is to help the Bath lads.  The Recreation ground obviously does not have a roof and it does not really have sides either.  So an open roof at the MS helps them feel less claustrophobic. Simple reasoning!

I just think this is one area where Gatland really shot himself in the foot he should of just said it's your choice we don't care and are happy to play in any conditions.

But that isn't Gatland's way.

TightHEAD wrote:But that isn't Gatland's way.

I think its the way of a lot of SH coaches or maybe just the ones Wales have had lol