England v Wales, 26 September

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ENGLAND v WALES
26 September 2015
KO: 20:00
Twickenham, London

Live on [tbc]

Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) & Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

A. Head to Head

126 Played 126
58 Won 56
12 Drawn 12
56 Lost 58
1,596 Points 1,456

B. Recent Form

6 February 2015
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
16 – 21 to England

9 March 2014
Twickenham Stadium, London
29 – 18 to England

16 March 2013
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
30 – 3 to Wales

25 February 2012
Twickenham Stadium, London
12 – 19 to Wales

13 August 2011
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
19 – 9 to Wales

6 August 2011
Twickenham, London
23 – 19 to England

4 February 2011
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
19 – 26 to England

6 February 2010
Twickenham, London
30 – 17 to England

14 February 2009
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
23 – 15 to Wales

2 February 2008
Twickenham, London
19 – 26 to Wales

C. Teams

ENGLAND

[tbc]

WALES

[tbc]

Was pretty obvious who would replace Allen but now it's official, Tyler Morgan will link back up with the squad later today and arguably should have been there from the beginning. Wales are yet to give updates on James, Lee and Williams; but hopefully we've at least got Rob Evans back training too and just not told the press about it...

It is a shame about Allen, his 3 tries was very impressive.

If you have to bring in any props because of the injuries they are not going to have much training time with the team before the England game are they?

rodders wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:I think May is the only player who could have caught Matawalu, he's what a sub 10.6 man for the 100 so his position becomes a bit irrelevant.

The way he jumps into the tackles I'd say he must do a decent time on the 110m hurdles too....

He is going to have try disallowed for that by the end of the RWC.

majesticimperialman wrote:It is a shame about Allen, his 3 tries was very impressive.

If you have to bring in any props because of the injuries they are not going to have much training time with the team before the England game are they?

No, so it looks as if Evans and Andrews are next in line having been in the extended squad for the world cup. Mitchell and even Adam Jones are better TH props than Andrews but I doubt they'll get the call.

I'm worried, I just know how this is going to go.

Wales are going to struggle on paper and on paper they are going to suffer when we deploy the bench etc etc.

I can see Wales playing out of their skins and with one or two Ref calls they will walk away with the win. I can see it happening and I'm very afraid and all England fans should be too.

England at home to Wales, in a world cup that they're hosting with a French ref(?). Wales will NOT be getting the rub of the green.

Ref calls always balance out in the end, Wales will win by 2pts

mikey_dragon wrote:England at home to Wales, in a world cup that they're hosting with a French ref(?). Wales will NOT be getting the rub of the green.

As long as your defender remember an inch short of the line counts as a try you should do ok

I think Wales might pull off an upset after this weekend actually, Gat's has pulled a blinder by injuring all his key men and lumping all the pressure on England.

Given our history with French ref's TH I don't think so. Even Poite yesterday was rubbish. He wouldn't card Uruguay but he would have loved to have carded Wales IF given the opportunity .

It was a try rodders, clear as daylight.

rodders wrote:I think Wales might pull off an upset after this weekend actually, Gat's has pulled a blinder by injuring all his key men and lumping all the pressure on England. 

That's quite an extreme way of putting pressure on the opposition!

rodders.

Will Wales have any players left to play this week end. Given the injuries that they have?

Oh dear

Is Gatland playing extreme mind games with England?

I am not very confident going into this weekends game. We have far too many injuries and rubbish players.

How come Wales have picked up so many injuries this early on in the tournament?

Is it down too the tough training, is it down to lack of match fitness?

Or is it just simply bad luck?

Bad luck.

TightHEAD wrote:It was a try rodders, clear as daylight.

There was daylight between the ball and the line that's for sure!

You're surely not this bored rodders?

majesticimperialman wrote:rodders.

Will Wales have any players left to play this week end. Given the injuries that they have?

Well I've heard Gavin Henson is available if needed but Adam Jones is washing his hair .

LordDowlais wrote:I am not very confident going into this weekends game. We have far too many injuries and rubbish players.

LD,

Even before the injuries I wasn't overly confident our record at Twickenham isn't brilliant.

rodders wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:It was a try rodders, clear as daylight.

There was daylight between the ball and the line that's for sure!

Post a screencap showing the daylight then.

I just hope Liam Williams and Samson Lee will be ok. If they are then we stand a chance. If not, then it au revior to our WC.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:I am not very confident going into this weekends game. We have far too many injuries and rubbish players.

LD,

Even before the injuries I wasn't overly confident our record at Twickenham isn't brilliant.

We should have played our best team yesterday, scored 80+ points, and went into the England game with our tails up.

As it been said the Liam Williams was just a knock and nothing more.  Is this the truth or is it Gatland hoping it is just a knock?

rodders wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:It was a try rodders, clear as daylight.

There was daylight between the ball and the line that's for sure!

Well the game was played at night so it must have been a try, yep it says so in all the match reports too. Billy V scored a TRY!

majesticimperialman wrote:As it been said the Liam Williams was just a knock and nothing more.  Is this the truth or is it Gatland hoping it is just a knock?

Is Gatland playing mind games with himself and other coaches too?

TightHEAD wrote:

rodders wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:It was a try rodders, clear as daylight.

There was daylight between the ball and the line that's for sure!

Well the game was played at night so it must have been a try, yep it says so in all the match reports too. Billy V scored a TRY!

Can you please talk about this on the England V Fiji thread ?

Umm but it is relevant, so no Lord.

TightHEAD wrote:Umm but it is relevant, so no Lord.

Exactly, isn't Vainapolo Welsh anyway ....

majesticimperialman wrote:As it been said the Liam Williams was just a knock and nothing more.  Is this the truth or is it Gatland hoping it is just a knock?

Nobody is saying anything more than a minor thigh injury. Going into next weekend I don't think that will be an issue. However complete lack of game time has to be a concern

mikey_dragon wrote:England at home to Wales, in a world cup that they're hosting with a French ref(?). Wales will NOT be getting the rub of the green.

Getting your excuse in first? Honestly what is it with the constant ref blaming - its bollox and its tiresome. Blaming the ref before the game?

So how many players short of their best were Wales yesterday?

if we're talking 7 or 8 changes for Eng then we can't real anything into it.

it'll be close no doubt.

rodders wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Umm but it is relevant, so no Lord.

Exactly, isn't Vainapolo Welsh anyway ....

Probably, he did go to a £36000 a year school.

TJ wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:England at home to Wales, in a world cup that they're hosting with a French ref(?). Wales will NOT be getting the rub of the green.

Getting your excuse in first?  Honestly what is it with the constant ref blaming - its bollox and its tiresome.  Blaming the ref before the game?

You must be on a WUM with this load of cobblers, unless you can prove that I'm constantly ref blaming or blaming the ref before a game - I was acutally responding to somebody with that one stating that it's more likely England might get the rub of the green. Didn't Graham Henry or Steve Hansen prove that home teams do get the rub of the green long ago? Either way your WUM hasn't worked. Don't feed the trolls!

trebellbobaggins wrote:So how many players short of their best were Wales yesterday?

if we're talking 7 or 8 changes for Eng then we can't real anything into it.

it'll be close no doubt.

Coming back in should be Jenkins, AWJ, Faletau, Biggar, North, Roberts. It doesn't help our crisis at TH and full-back though, areas where England seem strong.

I must admit to not watching Pro12 as the boss says I watch too much rugby anyway. Are the Welsh replacement props any good?

Typically England look stronger with the replacement front row but I suspect this is just because England's replacements are a similar standard to the starters and most other countries are not. If Wales bring on considerably weaker replacements or try to keep their starters on they will be in trouble.

mikey_dragon wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:So how many players short of their best were Wales yesterday?

if we're talking 7 or 8 changes for Eng then we can't real anything into it.

it'll be close no doubt.

Coming back in should be Jenkins, AWJ, Faletau, Biggar, North, Roberts. It doesn't help our crisis at TH and full-back though, areas where England seem strong.

That's certainly 4 in particular that could change the game.

feels like they  should have been picked to ensure the cricket score yesterday.

I guess they'll be fresh though now. It's going to be close.

Cyril wrote:beshocked, I've tended to feel a degree of sympathy for your views in the past because Sarries (and their players) are often given a rough ride. However, I think you've just been itching to have a go at certain players and maybe you just like an argument?

Criticising May for basically recovering from a standing start against one of the quickest 9s in the game is a bit odd. He's been one of the form players and is scoring tries.

For the record I think Ashton is a better and more-rounded player than many suggest but he's currently in the chasing pack of about 6 players behind the incumbents. Maybe he's been unlucky that his being out of the squad was timed with a period when the wingers got more ball, but that's life.

Maybe we can pick this up after the next round of Champions Cup games and moving into the 6 Nations selections? Obviously, bar injuries, there won't be any changes.

Nowell has been playing well too (one of the few that were good in France) but he's having to be patient too.

I was criticising May for letting Matawalu in the first place, not for his cover tackle that was him basically making up for letting the bloke past.

Anyway I am moving on now.

I think the Welsh are playing mind games.

Saying how crippling the injuries are when in reality they'll be ready, fit and well prepared.

This is a Welsh side that destroyed Uruguay and won 4 consecutive games in the 6 nations finishing on a high.

The world class TH Samson Lee will be back, he will relish being part of a Welsh scrum that will take on an English scrum which has been struggling for consistency.

The Welsh 2nd row will target the English lineout as they know that T.Youngs is not the most solid thrower.

In the backrow they will have two 7s - Warburton and Tipuric against England's two 6.5s. Should be able to have a field day at the breakdown with turnovers galore!

Faletau will relish running at England as he did in the 6 nations this year......

At scrum half they will have an unknown quantity which will make them quite dangerous and unpredictable.

10 they have one of the best goal kickers in rugby union, a warrior and a hero of Wales. The loss of Halfpenny will not be felt because Biggar is just that good at goal kicking.

Jamie Roberts will enjoy running at either the out of sorts Barritt or the rookie Burgess who positionally could be caught out.

Scott Williams will still have fond memories of ripping the ball from Lawes in 2013 and will look to do the same again!

North will like to see if he can run over Watson whose not exactly famed for his defensive ability.

Liam Williams adds excitement that Halfpenny wouldn't dream of.

As for the bench.....

Except for lack of strength of depth still plenty for Wales to be optimistic about.

Feck its only Monday and I'm a nervous wreck already.

beshocked.. put like that it can't be less than a huge win for wales then.

I am no more nervous after the weekend (as long as injuries not to bad) than I was before it, yes it was a poor performance but as has been mentioned there's the core of 1st XV to come back in.

Yes we will have to be at our very best and the 23 man squad will have to play at top of their game as we can't afford to play bad and win but we all knew that even before yesterdays game.

And don't forget Gat's picked Andy Farrell to coach on with the Lions specifically to get an insight as to how he operates with this game in mind.

He might look a bit silly but he's a canny operator is old Warren...

beshocked wrote:

Cyril wrote:beshocked, I've tended to feel a degree of sympathy for your views in the past because Sarries (and their players) are often given a rough ride. However, I think you've just been itching to have a go at certain players and maybe you just like an argument?

Criticising May for basically recovering from a standing start against one of the quickest 9s in the game is a bit odd. He's been one of the form players and is scoring tries.

For the record I think Ashton is a better and more-rounded player than many suggest but he's currently in the chasing pack of about 6 players behind the incumbents. Maybe he's been unlucky that his being out of the squad was timed with a period when the wingers got more ball, but that's life.

Maybe we can pick this up after the next round of Champions Cup games and moving into the 6 Nations selections? Obviously, bar injuries, there won't be any changes.

Nowell has been playing well too (one of the few that were good in France) but he's having to be patient too.

I was criticising May for letting Matawalu in the first place, not for his cover tackle that was him basically making up for letting the bloke past.

Anyway I am moving on now.

I think the Welsh are playing mind games.

Saying how crippling the injuries are when in reality they'll be ready, fit and well prepared.

This is a Welsh side that destroyed Uruguay and won 4 consecutive games in the 6 nations finishing on a high.

The world class TH Samson Lee will be back, he will relish being part of a Welsh scrum that will take on an English scrum which has been struggling for consistency.

The Welsh 2nd row will target the English lineout as they know that T.Youngs is not the most solid thrower.

In the backrow they will have two 7s - Warburton and Tipuric against England's two 6.5s. Should be able to have a field day at the breakdown with turnovers galore!

Faletau will relish running at England as he did in the 6 nations this year......

At scrum half they will have an unknown quantity which will make them quite dangerous and unpredictable.

10 they have one of the best goal kickers in rugby union, a warrior and a hero of Wales. The loss of Halfpenny will not be felt because Biggar is just that good at goal kicking.

Jamie Roberts will enjoy running at either the out of sorts Barritt or the rookie Burgess who positionally could be caught out.

Scott Williams will still have fond memories of ripping the ball from Lawes in 2013 and will look to do the same again!

North will like to see if he can run over Watson whose not exactly famed for his defensive ability.

Liam Williams adds excitement that Halfpenny wouldn't dream of.

As for the bench.....

Except for lack of strength of depth still plenty for Wales to be optimistic about.

I don't even know why we're turning up

Fair play beshocked, you can turn it. We do not even know if Liam Williams or Samson Lee will be playing yet.

Beshocked you sure do know how to give us Wales fans a confidence boost. It depends on the severity of Williams' apparent dead leg. Depending on the swelling he could be out for 2 weeks. Lee is certainly cropped, again, but I don't think it is Achilles related(?) Either way if he start he'll surely go off injured again.

The injury to Lee is the real biggie here. If he makes it then I see this as a 50/50 game. Without him then I think England will have the edge at the set piece.

Who is the back-up to Liam Williams at 15? Sounds like he'll make it but who is next? Amos? Priestland?

mikey_dragon wrote:Beshocked you sure do know how to give us Wales fans a confidence boost. It depends on the severity of Williams' apparent dead leg. Depending on the swelling he could be out for 2 weeks. Lee is certainly cropped, again, but I don't think it is Achilles related(?) Either way if he start he'll surely go off injured again.

If he's cropped as you say then surely he won't start? If my maths is correct then Gatland has to make a decision by Wednesday one way or the other.

funnyExiledScot wrote:The injury to Lee is the real biggie here. If he makes it then I see this as a 50/50 game. Without him then I think England will have the edge at the set piece.

Who is the back-up to Liam Williams at 15? Sounds like he'll make it but who is next? Amos? Priestland?

It should be chuffing Dan Evans from Ospreys, but it will more than likely be Matthew Morgan or Hallam Amos.

Bambam don't know why either though it might be because England have a better bench. The more players Wales lose, it's like a hammer blow whereas with England if some players got injured we should just shrug our shoulders and go okay.

Lorddowlais more mind games. Both will start. Gatland is just trying to keep England guessing.

My point is that there's still plenty for Wales to be optimistic about.

This England side is vulnerable in areas but also quite dangerous.

Going to be an interesting game.