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

[cyRil]

I can see there are a lot of potentially exciting players there, but also I'm optimistic that they don't have the experience or temperament for international rugby yet. Now it's very intriguing!!

 

[GarethEWilliams]

Ok I need to hibernate for 52 hours and then I will be ok. If I wasn't off the booze I think I would drink until Saturday so I wasn't thinking about this game every second!

As a Welshman why am I more comfortable being the under dog with a nothing to lose, and everyone expecting us to lose. I don't like the favourites tag, especially against England, a long way to fall!

 

[rhifsaith]

just a quick question; how much has Owen Farrell played at out-half?

 

[bushytop]

just a quick question; how much has Owen Farrell played at out-half?

Not a massive amount and that could be 'pivot'al...

 

[mshirleyb]

I agree. On paper that looks like a tasty side. Farrell is a kicking 10 so we kind of know what to expect from him, but Barrett and Manu bearing down on you chasing "up and unders" is pretty daunting. Morgan and Tuilagi will break the gain line and give them go forward which will bring the back three into play, which has not been seen so far. Wales' line speed has been good and will need to be again on Saturday. Does Farrell have the abiity to unlock a rush defence? Who knows. I am certainly not overly confident. For me with the home advantage this is a tight 50/50 game. Fingers crossed.

 

[Saintjay]

The Dawson debates link for those that want it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17135337.

In short at the end he mentions that he has heard that a welsh player has said they are coming to Twickenham to humiliate England and saying the comment would be like a red rag to a bull.

No doubt the media will be attempting to dig out the source on that one as the game becomes closer.

As for the team yeah happy with that about as good as we could have picked at the moment.

 

[j'nuh]

This might be the biggest game of Farrell's career so far. Lancaster has made the right selections in most other places, and the biggest question mark is now on Farrell himself. At 10, he's going to be more heavily involved in the way England play than he has so far. He's going to get good service from Dickson (not sure about how good the forwards platform will be though) and it will be his responsibility to play in a way that brings Tuilagi, Foden, Ashton etc. into the game. It's a golden opportunity to impress those who are unsure of him, but if he can't get others involved well enough, and Flood comes on and does a better job of it, this will stick in the memory of anyone who has doubts about his attacking play and he may find himself relegated to the bench sooner than expected.

This 22 is better than the last two, but is still not close to being the best 22 England could put out.

 

[Atco]

hodgson did not recover from a finger injury - otherwise I wonder who would be at 10? - It may be that the injury has forced the centre partnership that many people wanted to see

The finger injury is probably true but I suspect it has come at rather a useful time, if you get my drift.

 

[bushytop]

The Dawson debates link for those that want it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17135337.

In short at the end he mentions that he has heard that a welsh player has said they are coming to Twickenham to humiliate England and saying the comment would be like a red rag to a bull.

No doubt the media will be attempting to dig out the source on that one as the game becomes closer.

As for the team yeah happy with that about as good as we could have picked at the moment.

I hope he is just playing mind games to 'kick start' his countrymen this weekend... wouldn't surprise me with Daws either. If a Welsh player did really say it Gats will set Edwards on him and he won't be giving opponents any extra ammo in future.

 

[RedCard]

Lancaster has now made this a far more tasty game. It now looks a far more capable England team and as a Wales fan would have been far more comfortable meeting the previous 2 starting 15's.

 

[Sorp111]

The finger injury is probably true but I suspect it has come at rather a useful time, if you get my drift.

I do and whilst i think Hodgson has dome nothing wrong it is rather convenient - though Lancaster has now shown that he is comfortable making changes to maybe he would have made the changes anyway

 

[Saintjay]

I hope he is just playing mind games to 'kick start' his countrymen this weekend... wouldn't surprise me with Daws either. If a Welsh player did really say it Gats will set Edwards on him and he won't be giving opponents any extra ammo in future.

A kiwi setting an Englishman on a Welshman for saying things about the England rugby team. It sounds like the start of a joke

I don't know to be honest yes it is the kind of thing Daw's would say but I am not sure he would come out with that that and not have the ability to back it. Only because of the amount of grief it could cause.

 

[gingergenius]

APPLAUSE.

I'll still have a little moan about openside but other than that, I don't think I've been happier with the England team selection in a long time. This selection still isn't better than the Wales side on paper, but it shows we're giving it our best shot, Mouritz Botha having just turned 30 is the oldest man in the starting lineup and so for the first time in yonks, I can't really complain about the philosophy the England management are bringing. Hats off to Stuart Lancaster.

And how much has Farrell played 10? Well he's finished the last two England games at 10. He played an entire Premiership final at 10 and outshone the then incumbent England fly half. The fact is, he's got far more Premiership and Heineken Cup experience playing 10 than he has 12.

 

[bushytop]

I don't know to be honest yes it is the kind of thing Daw's would say but I am not sure he would come out with that that and not have the ability to back it. Only because of the amount of grief it could cause.

All we need now is for the beeb to interview Austin Healy!

 

[Atco]

This 22 is better than the last two, but is still not close to being the best 22 England could put out.[/QUOTE]

As a matter of interest, who's missing? Woods, Care (silly sausage), er.....Lots of possible swaps but I can't see many no-brainers.

 

[Atco]

I do and whilst i think Hodgson has dome nothing wrong it is rather convenient - though Lancaster has now shown that he is comfortable making changes to maybe he would have made the changes anyway

As in; "I'm fit coach" "Looks bad to me Charlie" "...but I'm fine coach" "Now, Charlie you don't want those nasty rough Welsh backs standing on it, do you?" "S'pose not, coach".

 

[Saintjay]

As in; "I'm fit coach" "Looks bad to me Charlie" "...but I'm fine coach" "Now, Charlie you don't want those nasty rough Welsh backs standing on it, do you?" "S'pose not, coach".

He failed the erm grip test. As to what he was gripping and pulling on that is up to the reader to decide

 

[welsh wizard]

oopps! Still wales by 8 for me,this team is on the verge of somthing special

 

[GarethEWilliams]

He failed the erm grip test. As to what he was gripping and pulling on that is up to the reader to decide

I think it was a bar of soap, which Lancaster covered in oil.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Do you think they borrow Jamie Roberts?

Charlie can you grip him.....er no then it has to be farrell!

Glad Charlie is out he was only ever a stop gap.


My only bet is that farrell kicks all our possession away...just like at sarries!