[2015 RWC] Pool A: England vs. Wales (26/09/2015)

[ncurd]

Also another anti-Farrell case were going by the word of a man who was RL convert who never succeeded in RU.....as a player.

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God, it makes me sick. It really does. What the expletiving expletive are these expletiving idiots thinking?! I cannot seriously believe that one of England's only genuine candidates for a World XV this year was possibly going to be dropped for someone who doesn't even play the same position.

This just this....JJ being dropped would any other team in the world consider this a good idea with the players we have.


At most I can possibly seeing Gatland making that decision.

 

[JJFlash]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/34354637

Gatland's poor attempt at raising the pressure a notch or two!
At least Lancaster doesn't resort to this. Sure, both teams are going to beat seven bells out of each other - that's a given, but Gatland chooses to state the obvious!

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Maybe Gatland has dropped mind games in favour of mind control, he has hypnotised Farrell and is getting him to talk ******** on his behalf...

I hope yet another stupid Gatland press release will make the players double determined to beat Wales. Does that man thrive on being a complete ******?

 

[HaydnH]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/34354637

Gatland's poor attempt at raising the pressure a notch or two!
At least Lancaster doesn't resort to this. Sure, both teams are going to beat seven bells out of each other - that's a given, but Gatland chooses to state the obvious!

I don't think the below is a bad response to a "will you be targeting X" question:

"We won't be trying to single out Sam Burgess at all," said Gatland. "We will be going out there to smash him like everyone else," he added.

Crappy journalism maybe...

 

[TommiG88]

I don't think the below is a bad response to a "will you be targeting X" question:

"We won't be trying to single out Sam Burgess at all," said Gatland. "We will be going out there to smash him like everyone else," he added.

Crappy journalism maybe...

Agreed, BBC have taken his comments a tad out of context to stir things up.

Bad journalism.

 

[Yoshimitsu]

Dogma

Also another anti-Farrell case were going by the word of a man who was RL convert who never succeeded in RU.....as a player.

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This just this....JJ being dropped would any other team in the world consider this a good idea with the players we have.


At most I can possibly seeing Gatland making that decision.

I suspect that someone, somewhere once said "Defence win matches" and now it's seen as an absolute. It's probably written on a wall somewhere. I have visions of Andy pointing a stick at it every time Mike Catt mentions the abilities of Ford / JJ I've seen this single way of thinking before and it is crippling.

If any of this is true then Lancaster might as well bin Catt. If Andy Farrell if the defacto selector then why waste Catt's time?

 

[j'nuh]

I don't think the below is a bad response to a "will you be targeting X" question:

"We won't be trying to single out Sam Burgess at all," said Gatland. "We will be going out there to smash him like everyone else," he added.

Crappy journalism maybe...

Yeah, seriously. The editor/journo used the headline and leading paragraph to paint the entirely opposite story to the actual article. ****-tier journalism at its finest.

 

[McTallshort]

So bin off Farrell after the world cup, promote Catt (or bring in King), and bring in a new defence coach (Ellis?).

Neil back as the new defense coach?

 

[ncurd]

I suspect that someone, somewhere once said "Defence win matches" and now it's seen as an absolute. It's probably written on a wall somewhere. I have visions of Andy pointing a stick at it every time Mike Catt mentions the abilities of Ford / JJ I've seen this single way of thinking before and it is crippling.

If any of this is true then Lancaster might as well bin Catt. If Andy Farrell if the defacto selector then why waste Catt's time?

Wouldn't surprise me if they got defence confused with forwards.

 

[msf]

Good no.10 appears to have been struck dumb(er) by this selection.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I cannot seriously believe that one of England's only genuine candidates for a World XV this year was possibly going to be dropped for someone who doesn't even play the same position.

When you put it like that...

 

[TobesHodges]

Isn't Farrell our Defense Coach? And don't we win most of our matches through our defence? :/ Just saying..
This is just English journalism, let's see how far we can pummel our sports teams, just so we can say 'I told you so' at the end of it, it really ****** me off.
This coaching team inherited a ****ing shambles 4 years ago, they've installed pride in shirt, they now have depth only rivalled by NZ and has given the belief and the tools that on our day we can beat anyone.
I don't know why this **** can't wait till after the WC.. There not going to change the bloody coaches after game 3 of the World Cup!!..

Rant over, Thanks for listening

 

[ncurd]

Because the coaches appear to have lost the plot?

 

[Yoshimitsu]

Isn't Farrell our Defense Coach? And don't we win most of our matches through our defence? :/ Just saying..
This is just English journalism, let's see how far we can pummel our sports teams, just so we can say 'I told you so' at the end of it, it really ****** me off.
This coaching team inherited a ****ing shambles 4 years ago, they've installed pride in shirt, they now have depth only rivalled by NZ and has given the belief and the tools that on our day we can beat anyone.
I don't know why this **** can't wait till after the WC.. There not going to change the bloody coaches after game 3 of the World Cup!!..

Rant over, Thanks for listening

An interesting rant indeed!

These things do tend to get a bit unbalanced under pressure but I've always been very clear that the nation and the RFU owe Lancaster a debt of gratitude for the ethos and cultural changes he introduced after said shambles. No one wearing the shirt will be doing anything other than their level best to win in it and they are expected to display the pride that should be associated with it. It is clear that this cultural element extends to the coaching team so credit to them for that.

But I actually take some offence at your characterisation of reactionary naysayer. I don't want to be proved right! I will be mildly satisfied if we put the Welsh away but I've seen this route before and it wasn't pretty. The latest selection is concerning. It breaks with what looked like a trend to the progressive and returns to a bosh first ask questions later mentality. Even if all the coaches are in total agreement that this is the way to play, I am not.

"And don't we win most of our matches through our defence?" Now I know what you mean and I'm being a bit sarcastic but how many actual points does defence score? How far down that road do you go before you just pick all the 6's you can and put them on the park? At the moment I reckon we already have what 5 in the team who have played there (or bloody should) (Lawes, Robshaw, Wood, Burgess, Haskell?). I believe Andy Robinson as coach of Scotland may have the beating of this. He once managed 4 6's in one pack I believe. Also if defence really does win matches then the All Blacks would probably put a bit more into that side of their game. They don't in my view because they are more than aware that a balanced adaptable game beats more opponents than an inflexible dogmatic one. As I've said previously the selection Lancaster has made allows for no Plan B. If Plan A isn't working we'll just do more of it whilst trying a bit harder.

Also as for the depth thing. The Aussies seem to have a bit of depth at the moment. Well enough to trouble us.

If this is a masterstorke and we go on to win the Webb Ellis Trophy with a midfield of Burgess / Barritt I will eat my words and apologise for all the intemerate things I've said about Lancaster. I'm pretty sure however I won't have to.

 

[McTallshort]

Good no.10 appears to have been struck dumb(er) by this selection.

That's because he's currently on a ban

 

[TheSaffycen]

An interesting rant indeed!

These things do tend to get a bit unbalanced under pressure but I've always been very clear that the nation and the RFU owe Lancaster a debt of gratitude for the ethos and cultural changes he introduced after said shambles. No one wearing the shirt will be doing anything other than their level best to win in it and they are expected to display the pride that should be associated with it. It is clear that this cultural element extends to the coaching team so credit to them for that.

But I actually take some offence at your characterisation of reactionary naysayer. I don't want to be proved right! I will be mildly satisfied if we put the Welsh away but I've seen this route before and it wasn't pretty. The latest selection is concerning. It breaks with what looked like a trend to the progressive and returns to a bosh first ask questions later mentality. Even if all the coaches are in total agreement that this is the way to play, I am not.

"And don't we win most of our matches through our defence?" Now I know what you mean and I'm being a bit sarcastic but how many actual points does defence score? How far down that road do you go before you just pick all the 6's you can and put them on the park? At the moment I reckon we already have what 5 in the team who have played there (or bloody should) (Lawes, Robshaw, Wood, Burgess, Haskell?). I believe Andy Robinson as coach of Scotland may have the beating of this. He once managed 4 6's in one pack I believe. Also if defence really does win matches then the All Blacks would probably put a bit more into that side of their game. They don't in my view because they are more than aware that a balanced adaptable game beats more opponents than an inflexible dogmatic one. As I've said previously the selection Lancaster has made allows for no Plan B. If Plan A isn't working we'll just do more of it whilst trying a bit harder.

Also as for the depth thing. The Aussies seem to have a bit of depth at the moment. Well enough to trouble us.

If this is a masterstorke and we go on to win the Webb Ellis Trophy with a midfield of Burgess / Barritt I will eat my words and apologise for all the intemerate things I've said about Lancaster. I'm pretty sure however I won't have to.

The All Blacks gameplan is based on defence. They kick more than any other team and have a hugh emphasis on defence and scoring off counter attack ball, it's why they make sure they have the best fitness.

 

[FLOBALOB]

I really cant understand picking goode for the bench. I assume it must be more than just cover for Brown but I cant see why. For my money surely Nowell would be the better option as he provides legitimate cover for the wings, more than enough nous and experience to fill in at 13. And should Brown need replacing ,switching the 2nd best fullback in the squad,Watson, from the wing and putting Nowell there. It does look like a wasted pick to me.

 

[msf]

The irony - I always thought I would get a ban responding to him.

 

[kesh]

I really cant understand picking goode for the bench. I assume it must be more than just cover for Brown but I cant see why. For my money surely Nowell would be the better option as he provides legitimate cover for the wings, more than enough nous and experience to fill in at 13. And should Brown need replacing ,switching the 2nd best fullback in the squad,Watson, from the wing and putting Nowell there. It does look like a wasted pick to me.

I don't think the hysteria we're in would be at this level if he'd picked Nowell at 23. It's almost as if he's either goading people or his game plan is to play such a physical game that his expecting injuries to players he can manage without, so long as Wales can't field a side vs Fiji.

 

[ncurd]

If Joseph hadn't been injured and they went through with the plan to drop him I'd guarantee the hysteria would be worse. Regardless of what happened to Goode.

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The All Blacks gameplan is based on defence. They kick more than any other team and have a hugh emphasis on defence and scoring off counter attack ball, it's why they make sure they have the best fitness.

How do we counter attack if we can't turnover the ball?