England vs Australia, 3 October

majesticimperialman wrote:That is a good call.

But who would get the call if it was a winger? Chris Ashton may be?

The way this world cup is going with injuries, every team might have to have a second team on stand by. in the future that is.

Will Carling: Lancaster treats England like boys
by DUNCAN BECH
Tuesday 29 September 2015

England begin the countdown to the defining match of Stuart Lancaster’s reign amid accusations by former captain Will Carling that their head coach has created a “classroom orientated environment” among players treated as “schoolboys”.

England’s World Cup survival hinges on the outcome of Saturday’s showdown with Australia after Wales left Twickenham with a stunning 28-25 upset victory. Should England lose, they will become the first single host nation to exit the tournament at the group stage.

Captain Chris Robshaw has been condemned for opting for an attacking line-out in the closing moments when awarded a penalty instead of giving Owen Farrell the chance to kick for goal – albeit from a difficult position near the touchline – that would have secured a draw.

Carling, who led England 59 times, is scathing of Robshaw’s “unbelievable” decision and of the selection against Wales, but saved his most savage criticism for the failure by Lancaster – a former schoolteacher – to empower his leaders.

“I got the sense that England were panicking. I don’t blame Chris as much as I blame others. I blame the environment,” Carling told Radio 5 Live. “We have a very prescriptive environment in the England team. I’ve listened to Stuart Lancaster say for years that ‘I don’t have the leaders and therefore we’re having to make all the decisions as coaches’. It’s a very classroom orientated environment.

“My view is that he has had leaders and that he needed to have trusted them and develop them.

“What we watched in the last ten minutes was a confused debate between people who have never been given responsibility to lead and drive the team. Instead, we’ve treated them as schoolboys.”

Had England secured a draw against Warren Gatland’s underdogs, they would have been in a stronger position come the final reckoning of an unprecedented tough Pool A.
“You have to kick the penalty. Farrell was kicking brilliantly and if we’d drawn, that would not have been a disastrous result,” Carling said.

“We were far more likely to get those three points than a line-out. There are so many more variables in going for a line-out drive, especially when we executed it as badly as we did.”

Carling, who won 73 caps from 1988-1997, has called for George Ford to be restored to the starting XV and for Henry Slade to be picked in the centres.

“England have to pick sides to win games rather than being hard to beat. There’s a very subtle difference, but a very important one,” Carling said.

“I think we picked a team against Wales that would be hard to beat, would survive off mistakes and pressure when we have players who are good enough to go out and win games.

“Some of the selections were bizarre and the timings were strange.

“To me the mindset was all wrong. We’d beaten Wales on a Friday night in Cardiff in February by attacking them and we should have done the same on Saturday.

“I don’t know where Lancaster goes now. Henry Slade is a great footballer and should have been playing against Wales. We need some footballers in there. If we pick the footballers again, so Ford at 10, Farrell at 12 and Slade at 13, then suddenly we have a backline who can play.”

emack2 wrote:This Group was going to be a Group with a large casualty rate,all three tier 1 sides
suffering.Australia have lost Skelton and Palu.England Vunipola at least,Wales almost
a whole backs division.
The Referee will have a huge effect on this game,Scrums will be rigourously policed.
He will have Scrums for every little knock on,resets rather than milked penalties
and too many offences will mean yellow cards.
England will need to be good at the breakdown,defending the driving maul,and if
they use a kicking game it must be to touch.
Trying to play 10 man Rugby won`t work,nor aerial ping pong,they need to be
superfit and play for 85 minutes because Australia will._Plus a bench that will
strengthen not weaken there game.
To much has been made of Fortress Twickenham and home advantage bit the
easy ride is over the work starts here.
England probably have a slightly better chance of proceeding than Wales ironically
because frankly can`t see either side beating Australia hope I`m wrong                                  

Coxy001 wrote:Have some faith:

Wales beat Fiji with a bonus point, move to 14 points.

England beat Aus with 4 tries and by more than 7. Eng to 11, Aus stay on 9.

England 5 points against Uraguay, move to 16 points.

Australia thrash Wales with a bonus point, move to 14 with Wales on 14.

We go through, Aus 2nd and Wales go out

You heard it here first!

maestegmafia wrote:

Coxy001 wrote:Have some faith:

Wales beat Fiji with a bonus point, move to 14 points.

England beat Aus with 4 tries and by more than 7. Eng to 11, Aus stay on 9.

England 5 points against Uraguay, move to 16 points.

Australia thrash Wales with a bonus point, move to 14 with Wales on 14.

We go through, Aus 2nd and Wales go out

You heard it here first!

England putting four tries and not conceding less than a seven point advantage is a big ask...!

This Australia side are very good.

Rugby Fan wrote:Mixed feelings about Skelton being out. He can have an impact but, when he's on the field with Hooper and Pocock, Australia have a weak lineout. I also had him down as someone who might get carried away and draw a card.

George Carlin wrote:England's problem will be scoring the 4 tries, unless they actually go with a creative midfield like 9. Care 10. Ford 12. Farrell 13. Slade.

George Carlin wrote:England's problem will be scoring the 4 tries, unless they actually go with a creative midfield like 9. Care 10. Ford 12. Farrell 13. Slade.

lostinwales wrote:As we go on the bonus point vs Fiji gets more and more important

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:After watching Australia so far, I honestly feel that neither England nor Wales will have a hope against them.

Australia were my pick before the WC started.

They have only reinforced that belief.

RubyGuby wrote:Mike Brown needs to de-escalate as he may well become a liability V Aus -

I can just see an Aussie player saying to Brown, "hey mate, unlucky against Wales, Nice interview though" - You just know that is going to happen and trust me, it was my forte' on the field.  
.

fa0019 wrote:

Rugby Fan wrote:Mixed feelings about Skelton being out. He can have an impact but, when he's on the field with Hooper and Pocock, Australia have a weak lineout. I also had him down as someone who might get carried away and draw a card.

Skelton is a big loss. He doesn't jump, no one can lift him but a 6'8 guy lifting is a big help and come scrum time they never go back. He's not a hot head... he doesn't ever lose it. But he never starts anyhow.

No 7&1/2 wrote:From an opposition view point Loaded would be happier seeing Burgess, Barritt or Burgess Slade line up? Assuming you've seen anything of Slade over there.

No 7&1/2 wrote:From an opposition view point Loaded would be happier seeing Burgess, Barritt or Burgess Slade line up? Assuming you've seen anything of Slade over there.