[2015 RWC] Pool A: England vs. Fiji (18/09/2015)

[TheSaffycen]

If the game opens up, though May, Brown and JJ will enjoy it, the likes of Matawalu, Nadolo, Goneva and Talebula will score tries against anyone.
Again I don't think that we will lose, I think it will be by around 15-19 points. I can still see Fiji getting 2 tries and have chances for many more. I just can't see the Fiji pack giving them good ball to attack with.

 

[LiRFCMatt]

20-25 point win for the English. A good game to get us started and hopefully we keep up the momentum going into the bigger games.

 

[ncurd]

England unchanged XV from Ireland match

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34250496

England: Mike Brown (Harlequins); Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby); George Ford (Bath Rugby); Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Geoff Parling (Exeter Chiefs), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), Chris Robshaw (capt, Harlequins), Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby).

Replacements: Rob Webber (Bath Rugby), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Sam Burgess (Bath Rugby).

Webber replacement Hooker is a slight surprise but apart from that I'm in zero shock. Also Care looks to have completely fallen out of favour which is hugely surprising considering 18 months ago.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Team announced:

15. Mike Brown (Harlequins, 39 caps)
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 13 caps)
12. Brad Barritt (Saracens, 23 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 16 caps)
10. George Ford (Bath Rugby, 13 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 49 caps)

1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 33 caps)
2. Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 24 caps)
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps)
4. Geoff Parling (Exeter Chiefs, 25 caps)
5. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 40 caps)
6. Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 38 caps)
7. Chris Robshaw (captain, Harlequins, 39 caps)
8. Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby, 29 caps)

Replacements

16. Rob Webber (Bath Rugby, 13 caps)
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 23 caps)
18. Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints, 12 caps)
19. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 24 caps)
20. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 19 caps)
21. Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 23 caps)
22. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 31 caps)
23. Sam Burgess (Bath Rugby, 2 caps)

So Webber for George on the bench, otherwise identical to the Ireland game

 

[Maverick1987]

Surprised George has been dropped . I think I'd have kept it completely unchanged tbh

 

[Willodell100]

Surprised and disappointed Nowell or Slade didn't make the bench. If Joseph or any one of the back three get injured it's a delightfully subtle centre pairing of Barritt & Burgess!

Burgess will provide an impact but if (hopefully a big one) we do need to score points big hits will not suffice.

Slade or Nowell would give us greater coverage and flexibility. And pace and slight of hand which will be required in the worst case scenario we are two scores down.

 

[TommiG88]

Slightly disappointed. Webber is in there after a poor season whilst George has looked good in the warm ups. Burgess' inclusion is surprise as he covers few positions. Would have had Nowell in there I think.

 

[Every Time Ref]

I'd rather have seen Slade there. Even if Burgess is ahead in the pecking order, Slade is the obvious choice in a game we could really do with scoring big.

 

[chippieolamus]

I expected pretty much that team, only surprise is that Webber's in ahead of George, why? I would've gone for Launch over Lawes and Nowell at 23. Nowell must be feeling very had done by considering he's been excellent for England.

 

[optimuswolf]

I expected pretty much that team, only surprise is that Webber's in ahead of George, why? I would've gone for Launch over Lawes and Nowell at 23. Nowell must be feeling very had done by considering he's been excellent for England.

Nowell isn't much of an impact sub though, and burt obviously thinks we can shift personel if an outside back gets injured.

I'd have gone with slade myself.

I also think once launch is back to full match fitness he'll be in.

Youngs must be on final warning for his set piece play (it was rubbish again v ireland). Personally I'd have him on the bench with george starting.

 

[ncurd]

Too late for George to start talented lad but you can't start a guy in the RWC who has two 2 caps as a sub to his name

 

[Maverick1987]

Too late for George to start talented lad but you can't start a guy in the RWC who has two 2 caps as a sub to his name

I disagree with this there's plenty of experience around him in that scrum . I'm a huge fan of Youngs but if his set piece is ****e against Fiji he is gonna have to be changed vs Wales and George is the right man if you ask me

How many caps did Thompson have before the 2003 World Cup ?

 

[ncurd]

I disagree with this there's plenty of experience around him in that scrum . I'm a huge fan of Youngs but if his set piece is ****e against Fiji he is gonna have to be changed vs Wales and George is the right man if you ask me

How many caps did Thompson have before the 2003 World Cup ?

At least 9 and as a starter.

http://en.espn.co.uk/statsguru/rugby/player/13846.html?class=1;template=results;type=player

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Robshaw equalling Martin Johnson's no. of caps as captain... I'm impressed tbh.

 

[RedruthRFC]

Surprised and disappointed Nowell or Slade didn't make the bench. If Joseph or any one of the back three get injured it's a delightfully subtle centre pairing of Barritt & Burgess!

Burgess will provide an impact but if (hopefully a big one) we do need to score points big hits will not suffice.

Slade or Nowell would give us greater coverage and flexibility. And pace and slight of hand which will be required in the worst case scenario we are two scores down.

Agreed 100%. I really can't get my head around the way that Lancaster structures his bench. An injury to Mike Brown will mean Watson to full back, Joseph to wing, Barritt to 13 (*sigh*) and Burgess in at 12 - surely disruptive. Either Nowell or Slade would avoid so much disruption in this kind of scenario and better cover at 13.

 

[Wendigo7]

Agreed 100%. I really can't get my head around the way that Lancaster structures his bench. An injury to Mike Brown will mean Watson to full back, Joseph to wing, Barritt to 13 (*sigh*) and Burgess in at 12 - surely disruptive. Either Nowell or Slade would avoid so much disruption in this kind of scenario and better cover at 13.

I can.

It's a simple as this really, the bench isn't going out to win the game, he has full expectation the first will go pile on the points or put us in enough of a position that when the bench comes on, that's game set and match. Lock the match down and kill the game off.

Which is fine if it works tbh.

 

[TobesHodges]

Might be smart move from Lancaster not playing George. If him or Youngs get injured Webber's going to come in cold from not playing for a month and a bit, I wouldn't be surprised seeing George back for the Wales game..

Sadly for all the talk about Slade I can't see him getting much action, you might say he will get a game vs Uruguay, but what are the chances were going to need to put a massive score on them come the last game.. High!

 

[RedruthRFC]

I can.

It's a simple as this really, the bench isn't going out to win the game, he has full expectation the first will go pile on the points or put us in enough of a position that when the bench comes on, that's game set and match. Lock the match down and kill the game off.

Which is fine if it works tbh.

I could follow this logic somewhat if I thought there was any chance of him structuring the bench differently in matches that are expected to be tighter.

Surely the function of the bench is to provide impact players and to cover injuries. This bench appears to be designed for the former at the expense of the latter.

 

[McTallshort]

All to be expected but like most people dont understand why Slade isnt on the bench but Burgess is obviously Lancaster and co are seeing something the rest of us dont and they are getting paid for it so good luck to them.

 

[NickBD]

Fiji with be brutal, so I guess they'll try to match the physicality having Sam off the bench. Having both Vunipola brothers, Launch and Burgess will be a big last 20. I think Slade will be the option off the bench in the other group games.