[2020 Autumn Nations Cup] Wales vs England (28/11/20)

[MikeTheNative]

Hoping to see this from Wales

01 Wyn Jones
02 Elliot Dee
03 Samson Lee
04 Jake Ball
05 AWJ
06 Shane Lewis Hughes
07 Josh Navidi
08 Taulupe Faletau

09 Lloyd Williams
10 Callum Sheedy
11 LRZ
12 Johnny Williams
13 Owen Watkin
14 Josh Adams
15 Liam Williams

16 Sam Parry
17 Nicky Smith
18 Tomas Francis
19 Will Rowlands/Cory Hill
20 Aaron Wainwright
21 Kieron Hardy
22 Dan Biggar
23 George North

Expecting Tips to be out after taking a heavy blow to the head v Georgia. Not 100% on Faletau, but he was looking better v Ireland, whilst I don't think Wainwright has the dog to start v England. Wainwright does offer cover across the backrow from the bench though.

We need some basics from our scrum half for this game and Lloyd has shown he can add some old fashioned zip at the base. His box kicking is also far superior to Davies and Webb who have both been very poor this autumn, hence Hardy on the bench.

I don't think Biggar offers enough at 10, so I'd lie to see Sheedy going again. Not sure if JD2 will be fit, but I personally wouldn't play him anyway as he's been way off the pace. Tompkins is a liability in defence I'm afraid.

Not that he deserves it, but maybe North makes the bench as cover for Wing/Centre, although not sure. Halfpenny would be another option with Adams covering centre. Or JD2 could occupy the 23 shirt if fit, but no real wing cover then...

I would pick a team close to this. Centre is a big problem though. I thought Williams deserves another go at 12, however JD still looks quite off the pace. As you said Tompkins is struggling defensively but I don't think Watkin offers enough offensively at 13 trying to play the style Privac wants but what options do Wales have? Biggar is a good 10 but he doesn't challenge the defensive line as much as you would want, this is sadly where a fit Anscombe would excel, even a on form Patchell but he is also struggling to come back from injuries. As Ireland showed last week there's just no point aimlessly running at this England defence, you need to kick well and that's why I think Biggar will probably get the start. North looked decent in the pro 14 game on the weekend but how often does he have one decent game then another 9 where you forget he's playing after that?

 

[Scotty]

England squad

Backs: Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Jonathan Joseph, Max Malins, Jonny May, Dan Robson, Henry Slade, Anthony Watson, Ben Youngs.

Forwards: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Jack Willis.

Given this i HOPE to see

Genge
LCD (was on form pre injury plus George has played almost 80min each game. Poor Dunn v harsh)
Sinks
Itoje
Hill
Willis
Curry
Billy.

Robson
Ford
May
Faz
JJ
Watson
Daly

George
Mako
Stuart
Launchbury
Underhill
Young
Slade
Malins

Travelling reserves
Marler
Earl (i cannot see underhill being dropped after last week nor can i see Billy ever being dropped)

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

More of a running threat than JJ, though?


I've never really liked a 6/2 split, really - just feels inevitable with the makeup of the 25 we've selected

Plus with Daly, Watson and Ford all just back from injury it feels like tempting fate

6/2 split makes sense for England currently. Why would you want to replace a forward with another back who will simply never see the ball?

 

[Flanker94]

England have serious strength and power upfront, they are an experienced side that are used to imposing themselves on their opposition. They quite simply absorbed Ireland last weekend and made twice the amount of tackles, made a mess of the scrums and lineout and won the gainline when they did attack. Simple game but very well implemented.
Wales are very much in transition; trying out new players and Pivac is trying to implement his thumbprint on them. To me, they look as weak as I've seen them in 15/20 years, but they will no doubt improve and will always raise their game vs. England (in Cardiff nonetheless).
Still have to call this for England. Could get ugly.

 

[Ferrari333SP]

Really excited for this game; what's the weather forecast looking like for Saturday?

 

[Umaga's Witness]

I think it will be
1 - Mako
2 - George
3 - Sinckler
4 - Itoje
5 - Launch
6 - Curry
7 - Underhill
8 - Billy
9 - Youngs
10 - Ford
11 - May
12 - Farrell
13 - Slade
14 - Watson
15 - Daly

Uninspiring but I think Jones has been coaching England enough to have a special place of not wanting to lose to Wales so will put out pretty much the 1st team and play the same gameplan as we did against Ireland, relying on Wales' attack being even more blunt than the Irish one.

Hmmm, would England entertain gaining experience with a little bit more attacking against the brittle welsh defence?

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Hmmm, would England entertain gaining experience with a little bit more attacking against the brittle welsh defence?

Many England fans would but I don't think Jones does.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I think it will be
1 - Mako
2 - George
3 - Sinckler
4 - Itoje
5 - Launch
6 - Curry
7 - Underhill
8 - Billy
9 - Youngs
10 - Ford
11 - May
12 - Farrell
13 - Slade
14 - Watson
15 - Daly

Uninspiring but I think Jones has been coaching England enough to have a special place of not wanting to lose to Wales so will put out pretty much the 1st team and play the same gameplan as we did against Ireland, relying on Wales' attack being even more blunt than the Irish one.

Uninspiring in terms of blooding new players, but that team is more than capable of playing some brilliant rugby if let off the leash. I think 13 of those started the RWC semi against the ABs.

If the team is something like this it would be a crying shame to watch them kick the leather off the ball against a poor Wales.

 

[TommiG88]

6 2 split confirmed

 

[TRF_Olyy]

15. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 45 caps)
14. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 53 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 32 caps)
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 86 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 59 caps)
10. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 70 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 102 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 62 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 52 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 38 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 41 caps)
5. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 67 caps)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 26 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 54 caps)

FINISHERS
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps)
17. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 6 caps)
19. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 2 caps)
20. Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 6 caps)
21. Jack Willis (Wasps, 1 cap)
22. Dan Robson (Wasps, 5 caps)
23. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 44 caps)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Only the two outside centres starting, and three locks in the 23?
EJ feeling OK?

He has brought it back by having 4 opensides though

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Pretty much as expected then minus JJ still being on the wing. Maybe easing Watson back in? He's the ideal player for the kick chase game we are playing now though.

 

[MikeTheNative]

That pack and bench split is designed to beat the Welsh up at front, which from Wales' games so far England should be able to accomplish. If England are as dominate up front as you expect them to be fair, I think a 14+ win is definitely on the cards.

 

[ncurd]

Yup looks like easing Watson back in like Ford last week. At least looks like Farrell at 10 was not a long term strategy....I'd still like to see an actual wing on the wing.

 

[MikeTheNative]

Wales: Halfpenny; Adams, Tompkins, J Williams, Rees-Zammit; Biggar, Lloyd Williams; W Jones, Elias, Lee, Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Lewis-Hughes, Botham, Faletau.

Replacements: Dee, Carre, Francis, Rowlands, Wainwright, Webb, Sheedy, Watkin

No Liam Williams is a bit of a blow but more of a blow is no Navidi. That's a rather green back row, Botham has only played 14 senior pro games his entire career!
I don't think scrums will be too much of a issue bit lineout is something England is going to attack, Elias' throwing has been hit and miss added to the fact that Both 2nd rows aren't that great jumpers, Wales will have to use Lewis-Hughes and Botham a lot in the lineout to try and at least get some ball.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Really hope we don't just kick the ball every 10 seconds again. After watching the last two games I fear Wales might just cut us to spreads. You can't just defend all day.

Our weaker defenders (like Ford) are bound to make a defensive mistakes at some point if we carry on like this.

 

[MikeTheNative]

Really hope we don't just kick the ball every 10 seconds again. After watching the last two games I fear Wales might just cut us to spreads. You can't just defend all day.

Our weaker defenders (like Ford) are bound to make a defensive mistakes at some point if we carry on like this.

Wales has struggled to break down everyone they have played so far, I don't see why England, who have the best defence in this group, would suddenly struggle. I expect Wales to kick the ball a lot more than Ireland did last week.

 

[BPM]

Indeed. Plus this Welsh midfield has never played together before. There's plenty of ability there, but other than Halfpenny, Biggar and Adams, there's not a whole lot of experience there.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Really hope we don't just kick the ball every 10 seconds again.

I've got some bad news for you

 

[Scotty]

15. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 45 caps)
14. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 53 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 32 caps)
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 86 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 59 caps)
10. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 70 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 102 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 62 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 52 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 38 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 41 caps)
5. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 67 caps)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 26 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 54 caps)

FINISHERS
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps)
17. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 6 caps)
19. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 2 caps)
20. Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 6 caps)
21. Jack Willis (Wasps, 1 cap)
22. Dan Robson (Wasps, 5 caps)
23. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 44 caps)

Dont hate it tbh but why not just start robson? Give him a real chance. Dont mind Willis on the bench as its only second cap and Would rather Watson start and JJ at 23 to get him match fit. But tbh i dont mind it at all.