6 NATIONS 2018 - England v Wales build up/Match/Autopsy Thread - 12-6

by TightHEAD Sun 04 Feb 2018, 5:13 pm

First topic message reminder :

England v Wales (The Big One) ITV 16:45pm

So much rests on this game. Wales look strong, England did enough in Rome to look comfortable.

Really hard to see how this wil play out.

Discuss.

Ref - Jérôme Garcès (France)

Head to head - Played - 130 Eng 61 - Wales 57 - Drawn 12

England Team

15 Mike Brown (Harlequins 65 caps) 14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby 29 caps) 13 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby 36 caps) 12 Owen Farrell (Saracens 54 caps) 11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers 30 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers 41 caps) 9 Danny Care (Harlequins 77 caps)

1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens 45 caps) 2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints 90 caps) 3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers 78 caps)
4 Joe Launchbury (Wasps 48 caps) 5 Maro Itoje (Saracens 15 caps) 6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints 62 caps) 7 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins 60 caps) 8 Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs 4 caps)

Replacements
16 Jamie George (Saracens 21 caps) 17 Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs 1 cap) 18 Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs 6 caps) 19 George Kruis (Saracens 22 caps) 20 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby 4 caps) 21 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens 27 caps) 22 Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors 9 caps) 23 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs 24 caps)

Wales team
Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets); Josh Adams (Worcester), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Steff Evans (Scarlets); Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys capt), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester).

Replacements: Elliot Dee (Dragons), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Aled Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton).

NO TRY - https://mobile.twitter.com/mattyjwills/status/962615635321737217/video/1

by **RiscaGame** Sat 10 Feb 2018, 1:44 pm

Anscombe at 15 worries me. I know he has played there in Super Rugby, but this will be different. I’m still (weirdly) very excited for this, even though I expect England to win by about ten.

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 10 Feb 2018, 1:56 pm

Halfpenny is a big loss with his recent kicking, I'm a bit more confident now.

by Geordie Sat 10 Feb 2018, 2:03 pm

This is when Wales are at their most dangerous though...when they lose "key players" and the replacements come in with fire in their bellies!

by mikey_dragon Sat 10 Feb 2018, 2:11 pm

lostinwales wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:You English are a funny bunch. We don't really care what Eddie thinks of Patch, it's you lot who keep going on about it. It might also be worth mentioning that Patch previously had to step up against NZ in NZ and did really well, albeit from full-back, so to question his bottle is madness. He is prone to the odd interception out wide though so I hope he remains at 10, Anscombe can't fill his shoes right now. It would been interesting to see Owen Williams run at 10.

As for the game I hear Gatland is predicting just a narrow win this time. I think it will be a narrow loss though, we'll miss the big guys like Faletau, JD2, Liam Williams and an in-form North.

We English are talking mainly about Eddie and what he does. What that leads to is media coverage of Patchell and AWJ, even if it all boils down to them saying what Eddie is talking about is rubbish.

Now Eddie has managed to shift media attention with a couple of sentences. He is a very good WUM.

I don't mind Eddie, good coach and funny bloke. I just don't see why Gatland got and still gets a lot of criticism and Jones does not. It doesn't take much these days but he's been criticised for a lot less. I think some of the stuff EJ comes out with is completely unnecessary. Not denying he's a good WUM.

by Scottrf Sat 10 Feb 2018, 2:16 pm

Eddie gets plenty of stick.

by Guest Sat 10 Feb 2018, 2:17 pm

It's because Eddie smiles while Wozza doesn't.

by TightHEAD Sat 10 Feb 2018, 3:04 pm

1/2p you dirty lad.

by Geordie Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:14 pm

Well they were only playing Italy but I think Ireland just put a marker down for the grand slam.

This is huge game for both teams.

Why am I nervous that Wales are going to win this one.

by Scottrf Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:16 pm

Wilko always sounds like he's writing a book on rugby management speak.

by Geordie Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:18 pm

Ah Scott you beat me to it.

He doesn't half spout out some verbal sh1te doesn't he..... Laugh

by Scottrf Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:20 pm

You have to focus on the forseeables and execute on the tangible factors of your mind-space within your physical control parameters.

by Geordie Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:21 pm

And at the other extreme Gareth Thomas is just a complete n0b head

by Geordie Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:22 pm

Scottrf wrote:You have to focus on the forseeables and execute on the tangible factors of your mind-space within your physical control parameters.

When your kicking in the wet, your feet will sink slowing down your pace. Too keep the pace up you need to have excitement...you have to keep up your excitement...

by lostinwales Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:24 pm

GeordieFalcon wrote:Well they were only playing Italy but I think Ireland just put a marker down for the grand slam.

This is huge game for both teams.

Why am I nervous that Wales are going to win this one.

No we got this. There is always a danger that Wales pull out one of those performances, but this is at home, and they are not due one of those for a while. England and Ireland are at a level above the rest of the 6N at the moment.

by Duty281 Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:35 pm

Halfpenny is a massive loss for the Welsh.

Those guaranteed 3 and 2 point kicks are no longer so.

Have to back England for this one, but it’s difficult to gauge just how good Wales were last week.

by eirebilly Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:44 pm

Best of luck to both sides and sets of fans, should be a very close game.

by lostinwales Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:46 pm

eirebilly wrote:Best of luck to both sides and sets of fans, should be a very close game.

Other than the condfidence and the 'on their day thing' - Why should this be a close game?

by Geordie Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:47 pm

Englands best hooker on already...

by eirebilly Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:47 pm

Not sure you can say that was a 'no arms' tackle by Hartley, he took a knock to his head whilst trying to wrap his arms, purely accidental for me.

by mid_gen Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:48 pm

Surprised they didn't take the 3 from that dodgy decision, bank that.

by Geordie Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:49 pm

YYYEEESSSSSS

by Scottrf Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:50 pm

What a kick. Unbelievable.

by lostinwales Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:51 pm

So feeding is OK again

by mid_gen Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:51 pm

Roadrunner in his natural habitat....lovely kick as well.

by lostinwales Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:52 pm

lol running behind ha ha. Nice start Smile

by Scottrf Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:52 pm

Patchell knock on, Farrell in his face. Welcome to Twickers.

by Geordie Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:53 pm

mid_gen wrote:Roadrunner in his natural habitat....lovely kick as well.

But he doesn't play well in the 6n...only the AI;s

by Geordie Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:58 pm

Wales are very high defensively...England should keep kicking over the top

by Scottrf Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:03 pm

Two very wasteful kicks in a row from Ford there. Farrell having a stormer on the other hand.

by eirebilly Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:04 pm

Farrell's vision really is excellent.

by eirebilly Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:05 pm

Itoje just took out AWJ by the neck...

by Scottrf Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:07 pm

World class ball retention.

by TightHEAD Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:08 pm

High tackles from Wales every time, and offside every breakdown

by lostinwales Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:08 pm

feck me how well is Farrell playing today?

by TightHEAD Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:09 pm

Bol. Locks

by Duty281 Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:09 pm

Superb intensity levels from England.

by Geordie Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:09 pm

Farrell has been like a general so far....but Launchbury has been very prominent so far this game.

He is such an underated player for England.

by TightHEAD Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:11 pm

by Scottrf Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:11 pm

Yeah that's a try.

by TightHEAD Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:12 pm

That was a try wales

by Geordie Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:12 pm

AH poor decision.

That should be a try.

by eirebilly Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:12 pm

No try?

Home ground decision that one.

by **profitius** Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:12 pm

Looked clearly like Anscombes hand to me

by TightHEAD Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:12 pm

Are we sure the Tmo isn’t Eddie?

by lostinwales Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:13 pm

Watson's hands were there at the same time.

Very borderline

by lostinwales Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:13 pm

AWJ putting pressure on the ref again?

by mid_gen Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:13 pm

Farrel is having a blinder. Ford some ropey kicking so far.

JJ really solidifies our defence,. His positioning is top class.

by Duty281 Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:14 pm

Correct decision with the question being given as try yes or no.

He’s knocked that on in the process of grounding it.

AWJ needs to can it.

by Geordie Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:17 pm

eirebilly wrote:No try?

Home ground decision that one.

I think your right...however its not the first and wont be the last...

by eirebilly Sat 10 Feb 2018, 5:19 pm

GeordieFalcon wrote:
eirebilly wrote:No try?

Home ground decision that one.

I think your right...however its not the first and wont be the last...

No, you are correct with that one. Its sickening when its your side on the back of a decision like that though.

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