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

[Lé Ddanno]

I think watson at FB would be a great alternative with Nowell moving to wing.

With my most optimistic of hats on: yes.

But 12/13 has been such a problem for what, 3 years overall? ( again, to qualify, I don't rate Barritt as an international at all) that losing someone that finally nailed one of those spots while avoiding the throttling of public service officials, jumping from maritime vessels or insulting (allegeded) pig fanciers while being really quite awesome... sucks. In the context of this game.

So smooshing the rest of the backline about as a result - potentially shifting a great winger and fullback about with no clear reason other than not knowing what else to do to fill gaps in the midfield seems like group suicide. At this stage, screw it. Throw Slade and Burgess on and see what happens. And for gawds' sake get defenders into the rucks. Please?

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Anyone else think Lancaster's folding under pressure?

I think he's playing into Gatland's hands personally. This match is not going a to be pretty, I can say that. May and Watson are not going to see any ball. If he puts Goode on the bench at 23, that really will complete the circle of misery.

 

[martinspoonboy1]

Anyone have an insider knowledge on what the percentages are for JJ to pull through the injury?

 

[NickBD]

Well JJ hasn't been rules out yet and Farrell did say he had every chance to be fit. The team doesn't get announced till Thursday morning according to 5live, things can change that's if these reports are true.

 

[brokenoses]

Goode on the bench apparantly...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ru...t-Wales-Rugby-World-Cup-George-Ford-axed.html

''The bench place vacated by Burgess will be filled by Saracens full back Alex Goode, who can also provide cover at No 10.''

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Farrell, Barritt, Burgess and Goode would very closely resemble the England side that scored the lowest number of tries in recent 6N history and got smashed in Cardiff... WTF must Lancaster be thinking.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Well JJ hasn't been rules out yet and Farrell did say he had every chance to be fit. The team doesn't get announced till Thursday morning according to 5live, things can change that's if these reports are true.

I bloody hope so.

 

[Yoshimitsu]

I'm almost beyond caring

Goode on the bench apparantly...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ru...t-Wales-Rugby-World-Cup-George-Ford-axed.html

''The bench place vacated by Burgess will be filled by Saracens full back Alex Goode, who can also provide cover at No 10.''

I'm a fan of England rugby but if this comes to pass I'll actually be glad to miss this one. My mum could provide cover at 10. It doesn't mean its a good idea.

Lancaster has folded before the cards have been played. He's seen Warrenball coming and bottled the challenge of trying to solve the puzzle. Instead he'll try and grind a depleted Wales into the dirt. I don't think it'll work. We tried to play like Fiji against Fiji and now he's picked a team to play like Wales against Wales.

Up and unders for 80 minutes anyone?

Seriously this is madness. Sam Burgess must be a seriously good salesman. Fine at 6 for Bath, pretty average elsewhere. This proposed line up is Tindallnoonesque! All the creativity and style of well Jamie Noon and Mike Tindall!

 

[Mumbles119]

Can anyone get an emergency message to Lancaster? Or maybe he needs one of those those intervention things.

If that line up is true, I'm not sure I can watch on Saturday.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Goode on the bench apparantly...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ru...t-Wales-Rugby-World-Cup-George-Ford-axed.html

''The bench place vacated by Burgess will be filled by Saracens full back Alex Goode, who can also provide cover at No 10.''

Right that's it, I'm outta here.:wall:

 

[TRF_Olyy]

There's just no need to have Goode on the bench.
Nowell covers more positions, Farrell can cover 10 from the pitch and Wigglesworth can in an emergency.
How many times does Goode have to prove he can't play international rugby?

 

[dullonien]

My confidence is growing by the hour!

 

[Maverick1987]

My confidence is growing by the hour!

Don't get too excited, the damage to your propping ranks hasn't been revealed yet ..... You might have to play Scott Andrews

 

[j'nuh]

Holy Christ that 10-12-13 axis is unbalanced.

 

[Maverick1987]

Holy Christ that 10-12-13 axis is unbalanced.

More unbalanced than Farrell-Barritt-Tuilagi ?

 

[TobesHodges]

I'm not understanding all this chopping and changing the midfield.. Just put Slade at 13 and keep the same SL.. Only um and arr on the backs is the 23 Burgess, Nowell or Goode?

 

[yaboyjj]

There's just no need to have Goode on the bench.
Nowell covers more positions, Farrell can cover 10 from the pitch and Wigglesworth can in an emergency.
How many times does Goode have to prove he can't play international rugby?

personally I find Goode's involvement harder to fathom than Barritt at 13 (and that takes some beating).
Why do we need additional cover for 10 when Ford is on the bench already- Nowell should be there to cover wing and the distinct possibility of Barritt having a nightmare at OC/ getting injured.

Why the hell is Slade in the squad as an OC/utility if they won't pick him when the first choice OC gets injured? Barritt at 13 is a far worse proposition that Barritt at 12. He has no pace to pose any attacking threat there and actually becomes a liability in defence, getting turned inside-out by the Welsh speedsters (speedy by comparison)

I distinctly remember Lancaster talking only a few weeks ago about the importance of a balanced midfield, with a combination of Bosh/Distribution/Footballing skills and finishing prowess (pretty sure this was before/after the France warmups). Ever true to his word, we now have the sum of fk all in these criteria apart from a bit of bosh from Burgess. clueless and most of all, peahearted. Heyneke Meyer looks like a rosy proposition by comparison.

I sincerely hope this is a wind up or a clever press 'leak' intended to out-Gatland, Gatland- I doubt Lancaster has the mental capacity for that though.

 

[dullonien]

Don't get too excited, the damage to your propping ranks hasn't been revealed yet ..... You might have to play Scott Andrews

Very true, but I would have thought that we would have called someone into the squad by now if things were serious.

 

[bw245]

If these rumours are true then Roberts is going to have a field day on Saturday. England will have to take advantage of Wales' 20,000 injured props.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Hmmmm. No problem with Farrell, his game has always seemed more suited to nervy RWC rugby. Lack of experience meant that SB and HS were never going to be paired; I like what SB brings but he's just had an unfair heap of pressure piled on his shoulders. Hope the wingers come infield to feed off him as they won't see the ball otherwise. BB at 13 is just a mare. This pairing is tacit admission that the squad selection was wrong. The article also suggests that JJ isn't guaranteed to be fit for Aus either....

He's muscled up the backs, but it's upfront where we've looked underpowered. Do we now expect Mako, George, Launch, Hask and Billy?? I think my tongue's in my cheek, but I'm really not sure any more.