[2022 Six Nations] England vs Wales (26/02/22)

[Jakedood]

25 players retained by Eddie:
LP: Genge, Marler, Rodd
HK: Cowan-Dickie, George
TP: Sinckler, Stuart
LK: Itoje, Isiekwe, Ewels, Chessum
BR: Curry, Lawes, Simmonds, Dombrandt
SH: Randall, Youngs
FH: Ford, Smith
CT: Daly, Slade, Tuilagi
B3: Malins, Nowell, Steward

Imagine that Rodd and Chessum will drop out, although I'm ever so slightly expecting a 6:2.

Harry Randall dropped, Ford covering 9 & 10

 

[Teddington Logic]

Reports that LRZ has been released back to Gloucester, guess that's some relief for our glacial back three in terms of pace.

If true that will improve the Welsh defence

 

[MikeTheNative]

If true that will improve the Welsh defence

Cuthbert will be starting instead so swings and roundabouts really.
LRZ has seemed a bit off the pace so far, not sure he's been carrying an injury as his ankle was severely strapped vs Ireland. Hopefully he get's two weeks off and back ready for France.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Harry Randall dropped, Ford covering 9 & 10

I thought you were being serious then

Such are the times that we live in

 

[Welsh Exile]

Just don't get this decision at all. If he's fit then he's got to be involved. He rolled his ankle in the warm up of the Ireland game, played nonetheless, team got spanked, started Scotland and was poor in D for that Graham try and he gets dropped for that for Alex ******* Cuthbert. With this and his insistence on playing Cuthbert and brining people like Priestland in over Lloyd and Evans I'm starting to think Pivac is a clown.

 

[Welsh Exile]

You look at our attack and how poor it is and he just keeps shooting himself in the foot. Almost seems like there's more to this than meets the eye.

 

[Welsh Exile]

I guess we're so ******* poor at manufacturing any kind of space for our backs that Pivac doesn't give a ****. Apparently Faletau Will start. Will be the same as Scotland. Try and turn it into the mother of all scrappiest street fights and nick a win. News flash Wayne, you won't get close to a WC if you can't score tries. Neglecting our attack and our clearly talented young attacking players like LRZ and Lloyd etc isn't good in the short term or, more importantly, the long term. It was only by chance that LRZ burst onto the scene. Pivac clearly didn't want to play him but his performances last year kept him in. It's like Wayne doesn't like fast, dangerous backs.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Alex ******* Cuthbert.

Cuthbert is a rock in defence, please have him as last man as often as possible

 

[Jakedood]

I guess we're so ******* poor at manufacturing any kind of space for our backs that Pivac doesn't give a ****. Apparently Faletau Will start. Will be the same as Scotland. Try and turn it into the mother of all scrappiest street fights and nick a win. News flash Wayne, you won't get close to a WC if you can't score tries. Neglecting our attack and our clearly talented young attacking players like LRZ and Lloyd etc isn't good in the short term or, more importantly, the long term. It was only by chance that LRZ burst onto the scene. Pivac clearly didn't want to play him but his performances last year kept him in. It's like Wayne doesn't like fast, dangerous backs.

Woo-sah my friend

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I guess we're so ******* poor at manufacturing any kind of space for our backs that Pivac doesn't give a ****. Apparently Faletau Will start. Will be the same as Scotland. Try and turn it into the mother of all scrappiest street fights and nick a win. News flash Wayne, you won't get close to a WC if you can't score tries. Neglecting our attack and our clearly talented young attacking players like LRZ and Lloyd etc isn't good in the short term or, more importantly, the long term. It was only by chance that LRZ burst onto the scene. Pivac clearly didn't want to play him but his performances last year kept him in. It's like Wayne doesn't like fast, dangerous backs.

Yeah, I could see LRZ following in Stockdale's footsteps in terms of struggling to reach his peak after being the best wing in the world for a year but to drop him completely is madness. Especially in a game where Wales will probably need a try against the run of play to win.

 

[Gavin]

What has Joe Marchant got to do to stay within the England squad?

Always thought he is a quality player who rarely lets his team down and he covers centre and wing.

 

[Which Tyler]

What has Joe Marchant got to do to stay within the England squad?

Always thought he is a quality player who rarely lets his team down and he covers centre and wing.

Put on 3 stone and develop a heavy carrying game, whilst not losing any pace or acceleration.

He's not done anything wrong, but he's also not done anything to make himself undroppable as Manu returns

 

[BPM]

Agreed. However, I'd argue that there are several players who have 'not done anything to make themselves undroppable' including several who have done something wrong yet are still there … Youngs and Ewels spring to mind.

 

[Which Tyler]

Agreed. However, I'd argue that there are several players who have 'not done anything to make themselves undroppable' including several who have done something wrong yet are still there … Youngs and Ewels spring to mind.

Agreed.
Though none of whom have a world class player returning to fitness (however briefly), in their position

 

[BPM]

Fair enough re. Tuilagi, but I'm not sure Slade justifies divine right to selection he currently seems to enjoy.

 

[Which Tyler]

Fair enough re. Tuilagi, but I'm not sure Slade justifies divine right to selection he currently seems to enjoy.

And I would agree again. - but he's been earmarked as the chosen one for quite a while now.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Fair enough re. Tuilagi, but I'm not sure Slade justifies divine right to selection he currently seems to enjoy.

Yeah, I was gonna say: I'd love to see what a Manu/Marchant midfield looks like

Slade is one of EJs faves, though - it'll take an injury to get him out of the starting XV

 

[BPM]

Slade just annoys me TBH. He has all the talent but just rarely seems to turn it on for England. At one stage he put in a couple of consecutively good games and I thought he'd cracked it, only for him to be poor/anonymous for the next few.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I think it's difficult to be consistently effective as a creative midfielder in international rugby at the moment but equally Slade is a pretty excellent defender and great kicking option though. I rate him as highly as Ringrose and Fickou to be honest, although those two are seemingly elevating their game another level currently.

 

[Jakedood]

Really interesting article in the telegraph by Charlie Morgan, pointing out that in the last 3 years v Wales in 6N, England have had a total of 4,5 & 6 lineouts, with only 3 of the 104 kicks appearing as deliberate attempts to put the ball into touch. Then went on to show how England use the lineout as a really effective platform to attack, with Mauls, dummy mauls, variations in numbers, and also as a platform to launch Tuilagi in midfield, and how taking that away from England enhances ball in play time, puts more emphasis on fitness and creativity to break a side down over multiple phases, something England have struggled to do, as well as counter attack with a whole lot of dynamism.
To put this in perspective, Wales have had 45 lineouts off of 94 England kicks, almost 50% going to touch

Makes you wonder if the inclusion of 4 lineout jumpers in the pack (incl Curry here ofc) or maybe even 5 if Dombrandt is at 8, will be as important as the ability to recognise and manipulate the defense in open play, and just how useful Marcus Smith may be this weekend with the way he sees the game