WALES VS ENGLAND - MATCH THREAD - Friendly????

[TightHEAD]

WALES VS ENGLAND........................................It deserves a dedicated match thread.

Date: 17th AUG 2019
KO Time: 14:15
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff.

Teams

Wales

Liam Williams; George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Nicky Smith, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis; Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (C); Aaron Wainwright, James Davies, Ross Moriarty.

Subs: Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis, Aaron Shingler, Josh Navidi, Aled Davies, Jarrod Evans, Owen Watkin.

England

England starting XV v Wales
15 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 31 caps)
14 Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
13 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 41 caps)
12 Piers Francis (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
11 Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 5 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 56 caps) C
9 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)
1 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps)
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 86 caps)
4 Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 59 caps)
5 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 27 caps)
6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 72 caps)
7 Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 42 caps)

Finishers
16 Jamie George (Saracens, 37 caps)
17 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 59 caps)
18 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 22 caps)
19 George Kruis (Saracens, 33 caps)
20 Jack Singleton (Saracens, 1 cap)
21 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 86 caps)
22 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 70 caps)
23 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 33 caps)

Head to head -  Played 133 - England 63 - Wales 58 - Drawn 12

[WELL-PAST-IT]

Looked at the graph and thought what the **** then saw only three votes.

I think it does matter, for both sides, Wales will not want to be beaten in consecutive games by the side they are likely to meet in the QFs. England the opposite, they will gain a lot of confidence from beating the side that if not for England's win on Sunday, would have been numero uno.

[TightHEAD]

Team up.

Surprised by that team to be honest, looks like Gats doesn't want another loss and is chasing the No1 in the world tag.

[TightHEAD]

Nice team.

[TightHEAD]

Look at that bench wow.

[Collapse2005]

If Wales lose do they drop to third in the world?

[TightHEAD]

Would have rested BillyV to be honest.

[WELL-PAST-IT]

Never seen that lock combo before, that will be interesting.

Same front row starting. Putting a lot of game time on Lawes, Ludlam and Billy V.

Only one change in the backs, Watson rested.

But that bench will have a major impact when it comes on, but Singleton as a flanker?

Surprised that there have not been more changes, only 2 from the side that played most of Sunday's game. The starters are going to need a rest next week, so probably nearer a first XV for Ireland.

[robbo277]

If Wales lose do they drop to third in the world?

If we assume a narrow loss they'll be 3rd or 4th - depending on New Zealand.

If England win then England will be above Ireland who will be above Wales.

NZ would either be first (if they beat Australia), third (if they drew), fourth (if they lost narrowly) or sixth (if they lost heavily).

[LondonTiger]

In this scenario Ireland could enter next week as the number 1 team in the world (and NZ 6th):


World Rankings Calculator



any win for Wales though and no matter what NZ do the Welsh will be ranked No1:

Different Calculation

[tigertattie]

Really, NZ dropping to 6th in the world? How is that even possible?

[robbo277]

Really, NZ dropping to 6th in the world? How is that even possible?

It's only possible with a 16+ point loss at home, to follow up an away 16+ point loss, to a team ranked quite far below them (or at least they would have been before they went.

Couple that with NZ dropping a couple of games over the past 12 months or so and falling from their very lofty 95-ish to around 90.

[Tramptastic]

Excellent, Scotland would only be 1 place behind the best team in the world in 6th

Scotland are dark horses for the world cup

[TightHEAD]

Do people really care about world rankings?

So what if you are the No1 team for a week or so, unless you turn it into a RWC winners medal round your neck its meaningless.

[Tramptastic]

Do people really care about world rankings?

So what if you are the No1 team for a week or so, unless you turn it into a RWC winners medal round your neck its meaningless.

Nothing else matters but the purity of complex arithmetic

Numbers don't lie, pundits do

[TightHEAD]

I have never known such a open RWC, lets be honest SA, AUS have a great chance, FR, WALES, ENG and IRE are all in with a shout if they get a little bit of luck.

[Tramptastic]

False. If the games fall out as indicated above only Wales can win. Currently, only New Zealand can win.

[Tramptastic]

Trolling aside, I'd put a tenner on South Africa to win the whole thing and feel fairly expectant of profit.

[Collapse2005]

Trolling aside, I'd put a tenner on South Africa to win the whole thing and feel fairly expectant of profit.

I reckon Wales, England and Ireland would all beat them.

[king_carlos]

James Davies and Lewis Ludlam will be a great battle at openside. Two fantastic flankers with lots to prove.

I hope having two Bath teammates outside him sees JJ spark some more of his attacking ability. He was a rock in this England team prior to injury.

[maestegmafia]

Really, NZ dropping to 6th in the world? How is that even possible?

All the top ten are so close we are going to see a lot of movement in the next few weeks

[Collapse2005]

NZ havent been very convincing in their last 5 games. Two losses, a draw and two wins. One of the wins was a very lucky win v England thanks to a contraversial disallowed try and the other a scrappy unconvincing win v Argentina. I think its fair to say they deserve to drop in the rankings as its been a while since they really dominated anyone.

[Rugby Fan]

James Davies and Lewis Ludlam will be a great battle at openside. Two fantastic flankers with lots to prove.

I hope having two Bath teammates outside him sees JJ spark some more of his attacking ability. He was a rock in this England team prior to injury.

The coaches have said most teams will be hiding their best attacking moves at this stage. That might be one reason Jones chose to name his squad early. He wants players to stick to the plan in these warm-up games, rather than feel they have to go for broke to try and stand-out.

[robbo277]

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/11786435/who-makes-your-wales-vs-england-combined-team

Combined team article from Sky Sports. Had a go.

Genge, Owens, Francis, Launchbury, Jones, Lawes, Ludlam, Vunipola, Davies, Ford, Cokanasiga, Parkes, Joseph, North, Williams

Some very tight ones in there, notably tighthead, openside and outside centre gave me the most pause. It's not often I'd pick England's back row over Wales' back row man for man and as a unit, but this time I think it's the right call, however you could quite easily have an all-Wales backline. Should be a good test.

[BigTrevsbigmac]

Yes all good fun & as you say close calls.

What isn’t close is the quality of the bench & as we know they are as important as the starters nowadays.

[LondonTiger]

They offer Jones v Itoje but I would go for both.

My combined with flankers being a tough call:

Genge, Owens, Cole, Itoje, Jones, Wainwright, Davies, Vunipola, Davies, Ford, Cokanasiga, Parkes, Davies, North, Williams. (9 Welsh, 6 English)

And benches:

George, Marler, Sinckler, Kruis, Navidi, Youngs, Farrell, Manu. (1 Welsh, 6 English)

[TightHEAD]

15 Liam Williams
14 Ruaridh McConnochie
13 Jonathan Joseph
12 Hadleigh Parkes
11 Joe Cokanasiga
10 George Ford
9 Willi Heinz
1 Ellis Genge
2 Ken Owens
3 Dan Cole
4 Joe Launchbury
5 Maro Itoje
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Billy Vunipola On second thoughts we need to rest Billy. Ben Morgan

[majesticimperialman]

Will the ROOF be open or CLOSED. 

And does it really make a difference to the game?

[TightHEAD]

Only light showers forecasted so open or closed the ball will be greasy. 80k+ inside a warm stadium will make the ball greasy.

[No 7&1/2]

Jones has requested it be closed to mimic in part our opening 2 games in Japan.

[LondonTiger]

Jones has requested it be closed to mimic in part our opening 2 games in Japan.

If I were Gatland I would be tempted to say no

[robbo277]

Jones has requested it be closed to mimic in part our opening 2 games in Japan.

Do we get a say? I thought it was a Six Nations rule that both teams have to agree. Not sure about an international like this.

Would be funny (and a bit petty) if Gatland decided to keep it open after all the times England have stopped them shutting it.

[No 7&1/2]

I assumed it always had to be agreed to close it but dont know.

[WELL-PAST-IT]

Latest news:

Bath wing Ruaridh McConnochie is a doubt for England's second Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Wales on Saturday due to muscle soreness.

From the Beebs Sports website. Will we see may come into the match day squad?

[LondonTiger]

Probably more likely to be Watson as Eddie likes May on the left wing.

[king_carlos]

Probably more likely to be Watson as Eddie likes May on the left wing.

Cokanasiga switching wings would be the easy solution there.

It's a shame that McConnochie is being delayed his chance. He's got a really strong all round game from his Sevens experience.

11.May, Nowell, McConnochie
14.Daly, Watson, Cokanasiga

The wing options in this squad are excellent. It makes the lack of solidity at full-back even more frustrating. I hope Watson gets two starts there in the final two warm-ups.

[robbo277]

Probably more likely to be Watson as Eddie likes May on the left wing.

He could switch Cokanasiga?

I think with May it might be the other winger. In 2017, Daly played left and May played right. I think he likes Daly on the left, Watson and Nowell on the right and May just plays either.

Although it might not be where Eddie likes them, more where they prefer to play. I know some wingers have a preference.

[BigTrevsbigmac]

Daly has that enormous left boot so makes sense for him to play wing that side. I don’t think it matters too much with the others.

[RiscaGame]

Jones has requested it be closed to mimic in part our opening 2 games in Japan.

If I were Gatland I would be tempted to say no

Seeing as he has a say for once, he should, but I suspect he won’t.

[No 7&1/2]

It's one of those things no matter how stupid but takes a little more pressure off England. Wales have presumably got what they want. No excuses. Funny old thing.

[RiscaGame]

It's one of those things no matter how stupid but takes a little more pressure off England. Wales have presumably got what they want. No excuses. Funny old thing.

How does that make sense, when Wales didn’t get what they wanted and won last W v E game in Cardiff?

[No 7&1/2]

Weird game last time. England fell short of what they'd expect. Dont think pressure came into it that that game. Just one of those days.

[WELL-PAST-IT]

Watson to replace McConnochie who has a minor muscle strain

[LondonTiger]

Shame for McConnochie.

[WELL-PAST-IT]

Liam Williams out, Halfpenny in.

Torn hamstring, hope not too serious

[WELL-PAST-IT]

We seriously have to get England an anthem of their own. That was a dirge.

[Guest]

Wales’ skill levels looking a bit off so far.

[RDW]

This game is basically just tackle practice for both teams so far.

[Rugby Fan]

This is not a scintillating game.

[RDW]

That's an absolute nonsense of a yellow

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