RBS 6 Nations - England vs Wales - 25/02/2012, 16:00

[mstar]

Owen Farrell "I've been trying to do the things I do at the club here, trying to bring as much energy and as much information as I can "I'm not trying things I don't normally do, I'm just trying to do the things I do well."
QUOTE]

its what worrys me about this team are we adopting a kind of saracens strategy? we have the Saracens bermuda triange in the england team, who have the drilled the way to play:
Kick, chase, tackle the hell out of the opposition into submission, then go for easy kick penalties.

 

[Saintjay]

Owen Farrell "I've been trying to do the things I do at the club here, trying to bring as much energy and as much information as I can "I'm not trying things I don't normally do, I'm just trying to do the things I do well."
QUOTE]

its what worrys me about this team are we adopting a kind of saracens strategy? we have the Saracens bermuda triange in the england team, who have the drilled the way to play:
Kick, chase, tackle the hell out of the opposition into submission, then go for easy kick penalties.

Have they got this well it works for Sarries attitude? Out of all the top four Aviva teams they have scored the least amount but also given away the least amount of points.

Kicking the ball back to Wales seems like a bad idea all day long. I know the 2003 era team won ugly but they did it by keeping the ball and were very good at it. If we go down this route again with a Sarries game plan we could get shafted.

 

[Mogs999]

Have they got this well it works for Sarries attitude? Out of all the top four Aviva teams they have scored the least amount but also given away the least amount of points.

Kicking the ball back to Wales seems like a bad idea all day long. I know the 2003 era team won ugly but they did it by keeping the ball and were very good at it. If we go down this route again with a Sarries game plan we could get shafted.

the kick chase ploy can be very effective when executed properly and Wales don't generally fare well in an aerial battle.But I can't believe SL would pick those centres just to watch them running up and down the field chasing aimless kicks!

 

[Johnny Bach]

Strettle, for me, has actually been one of our better players thus far. He absolutely crackles with energy, has made a fair effort in tackling, despite his relative frailty, and has really got stuck in. Hasn't had much in the way of attacking ball, but has looked like an old-school nippy winger, rather than the depressingly-pedestrian Banahan or Volcano. And what better way to target North, by having facing him a man who gets up in defence extremely quickly. Big fan.

 

[Teh Mite]

Unless Barritt has dyed his hair blonde and grown his nose about 30 times, then it was Strettle making the tackles.

That's only because he's the targeted winger that so much traffic runs down his channel that he's appearing to make lots of hits. Pay more attention and you'll also notice Barrett has been shephearding opposition attackers every time Strettle goes in to act as a reluctant speedbump.

He's the weakest link in what has been a disapointly shitty backline. Without the sarries coaching connection he wouldn't be anywhere near the so-called "elite".

 

[Toby Faletau-Jones]

Unless Barritt has dyed his hair blonde and grown his nose about 30 times, then it was Strettle making the tackles.


Hardly.
Yes George North is big, and strong, but he's not bloody superman.
If people can tackle players like Alesana Tuilagi, they can tackle George North.

But they can't aha.

 

[HowieLO6]

That's only because he's the targeted winger that so much traffic runs down his channel that he's appearing to make lots of hits. Pay more attention and you'll also notice Barrett has been shephearding opposition attackers every time Strettle goes in to act as a reluctant speedbump.

He's the weakest link in what has been a disapointly shitty backline. Without the sarries coaching connection he wouldn't be anywhere near the so-called "elite".

I'd beg to differ. I can't argue with his defensive weaknesses (although I see them more as a case of the weakest link, rather than a weak link), but his few chances with ball in hand have been promising. rarely given the space to break free, he has extremely quick feet and a keen eye for a gap. Call him a Morrison's winger, to the Waitrise of Shane Williams.

That said, I'd sooner have JSD there.

 

[cyRil]

Possibly the best response to a post ever.

 

[Toby Faletau-Jones]

Quite looking forward to this match.

Should be a good battle in the front-row - I'd give Wales a slight edge here, but I'm not overly familiar with Ken Owens. Wales will be happy to have Alun Wyn Jones back at lock, but I do feel they still miss some real 'grunt' in the second row (which Davies provides, and - somewhat surprisingly to me - Charteris provided during the RWC). I think Wales have a slight edge in this department too, though I do think Botha has been pretty solid for England thus far (I have seen very little of Parling though). Again I think Wales have a slight edge in the loose-forwards, particularly at the breakdown. I am interested to see how Ben Morgan goes for England though, as I've heard a lot about him.

I the halves again I see Wales having a slight edge. England will (hopefully) be getting better ball delivered by Dickson, and I do think Youngs could add something to the England attack with his sniping runs if he comes on with 15-20 mins to go (as he did versus Argentina in the RWC). I thought Priestland has been pretty quiet so far (is he injured somehow?), and I think his duel with Farrell will be interesting. Yet again I think Wales have a (slight) edge in the midfield, due to Barritt's inexperience (though he has been rock solid thus far) and the fact that Tuilagi is only just back from injury. Though I'm becoming more of a fan of Davies each time I see him I'm still not yet convinced about his defense, and he may struggle to contain Tuiagi, who can run some great angles at times (and at pace). I think it is pretty even out wide: I'd take North over Ashton on current form (though Ashton at his best is pretty handy), and Cuthbert v Strettle is an interesting matchup. Cuthbert was pretty average in the first match, but looked far more assured in the second match, while Strettle has been pretty solid thus far. Strettle has never really impressed me at international level - he has never looked that poor either - I just wonder whether he has that extra spark that is sometimes needed at the higher level. Both fullbacks are quality - Foden may have been a bit quite lately, but when on form he is very dangerous.

So, in conclusion, I think Wales have a slight edge in almost every area, with the only area they have a big advantage in is at the breakdown. I think England's home ground advantage almost negates this edge... almost. I'm picking Wales to win by 5-10.

How can you only say Slight haha. The only slight if anything would be in the 2nd row. Other than that, Wales at the moment are far better in every position, and such. Cuthbert apart from being inexperienced, suffered a head injury so that affected him against Ireland. This was also the case coming into that game, for others such as Priestland, and Roberts. I think, England will really step up, and it'll be about 2/3 points to either side, but with respect to England, if Wales don't win this then it will be seen as an embarassment. We (Wales) have always been there abouts, as SA and NZ know, losing by 1/2 points on consistent occasions, through our poor goal kicking. This is a potentially massive game in which Wales need to win to prove those critics wrong if you like. They also need to kick on and in the summer do a job on the Aussies.

 

[cyRil]

How can you only say Slight haha. The only slight if anything would be in the 2nd row. Other than that, Wales at the moment are far better in every position, and such. Cuthbert apart from being inexperienced, suffered a head injury so that affected him against Ireland. This was also the case coming into that game, for others such as Priestland, and Roberts. I think, England will really step up, and it'll be about 2/3 points to either side, but with respect to England, if Wales don't win this then it will be seen as an embarassment. We (Wales) have always been there abouts, as SA and NZ know, losing by 1/2 points on consistent occasions, through our poor goal kicking. This is a potentially massive game in which Wales need to win to prove those critics wrong if you like. They also need to kick on and in the summer do a job on the Aussies.

It's people like you that will make a defeat tomorrow all the more unbearable!

 

[Saintjay]

How can you only say Slight haha. The only slight if anything would be in the 2nd row. Other than that, Wales at the moment are far better in every position, and such. Cuthbert apart from being inexperienced, suffered a head injury so that affected him against Ireland. This was also the case coming into that game, for others such as Priestland, and Roberts. I think, England will really step up, and it'll be about 2/3 points to either side, but with respect to England, if Wales don't win this then it will be seen as an embarassment. We (Wales) have always been there abouts, as SA and NZ know, losing by 1/2 points on consistent occasions, through our poor goal kicking. This is a potentially massive game in which Wales need to win to prove those critics wrong if you like. They also need to kick on and in the summer do a job on the Aussies.

Nope you have not once in recent years in 1994 you ran them close by a few points. Apart from that is is safe to say the All Blacks have been the better team.

As for proving critics wrong, what critics?. Most people here agree that Wales are playing decent rugby and are one of the best Welsh teams for awhile. Many expect Wales to win and with luck the team will still be in form around 2015 yet there is along way to go.

 

[RedCard]

Where's the betting thread for this match....... need to stick all my dosh on red before I bottle it.

As for proving critics wrong, what critics?. Most people here agree that Wales are playing decent rugby and are one of the best Welsh teams for awhile. Many expect Wales to win and with luck the team will still be in form around 2015 yet there is along way to go.

Plenty of critics about and rightly so I guess. Wales have looked like a decent side with lots of potential but have come up short on key occasions for various reasons. Missed kicks..... red cards...... don't really matter as it's all about the win. This is going to start becoming a hurdle in itself if they don't win when the opportunity comes along. Ireland was a step in the right direction and this England match is another.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

It's people like you that will make a defeat tomorrow all the more unbearable!

Seconded.

 

[psychic duck]

It's people like you that will make a defeat tomorrow all the more unbearable!

thirded

 

[bushytop]

Nope you have not once in recent years in 1994 you ran them close by a few points. Apart from that is is safe to say the All Blacks have obeen the better team. [/QUOTE

25-26 loss in 2004... I'd call that running them close. Notable mention 12-19 loss 2009. Didn't play them in 1994 funnily enough.

Apart from that a fully fit all back side are the better team... sans Richie & Dan, well I may sound crazy but we'd be in with a shout.

 

[cyRil]

Nope you have not once in recent years in 1994 you ran them close by a few points. Apart from that is is safe to say the All Blacks have obeen the better team. [/QUOTE

25-26 loss in 2004... I'd call that running them close. Notable mention 12-19 loss 2009. Didn't play them in 1994 funnily enough.

Apart from that a fully fit all back side are the better team... sans Richie & Dan, well I may sound crazy but we'd be in with a shout.

Yep, bushy's spot on. Possibly the most gutted I've ever been after a game of rugby - especially after Gav's penalty hit the post. We lost 36-38 to South Africa in that same Autumn Series too... Which I'd say is close, but then we've turned losing to them by a few points into an art form in recent years.

 

[Saintjay]

Nope you have not once in recent years in 1994 you ran them close by a few points. Apart from that is is safe to say the All Blacks have obeen the better team. [/QUOTE

25-26 loss in 2004... I'd call that running them close. Notable mention 12-19 loss 2009. Didn't play them in 1994 funnily enough.

Apart from that a fully fit all back side are the better team... sans Richie & Dan, well I may sound crazy but we'd be in with a shout.

Yeah my bad I got my years mixed up 2004 was the one when you came close.

 

[bushytop]

How come the under 20's ain't on TV tonight?

 

[cyRil]

How come the under 20's ain't on TV tonight?

They're on Sky Sport 2... Cos it's England. =/

 

[TRF_Cymro]

For the money in it.