[RWC2023 Bronze Final] Argentina vs England (27/10/2023)

[Reiser99]

You'd like to think that Borthwick has asked the likes of Lawes and Marler if they wanted to play or they carrying knocks- neither seemed to be.

Winning a 6N will be difficult but I'm not all for just playing the kids either so would have liked to have seen the likes of Lawes play in the 6N if their form warrants selection.

It's hard to get excited about this one but as others have said view it as the start of a new era. I got really sick of 'it will all be alright by the world mateeee' Eddie Jones so want to see England win as many games as possible and challenge for as many 6N ***les as possible.

Bloody hell you're aiming high. I'd be happy with a solid 2nd or a competitive 3rd.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Lawes and Marler might be thinking about the long ass season head for their clubs

 

[Scotty]

Return of the kamikaze twins!
Wonder what Underhill starting over Ludlam says about the pecking order going forwards?

Surprised they've not given Lawrence a start tbh, and would've liked Ford to get a start, but ho hum - hopefully a fun game, some dynamic players starting on the on the bench, hopefully they're not stifled

Happy with that team, rather see Lawrence start too tbh.

Back row is great. Where is Martin

 

[Geordie]

You'd like to think that Borthwick has asked the likes of Lawes and Marler if they wanted to play or they carrying knocks- neither seemed to be.

Winning a 6N will be difficult but I'm not all for just playing the kids either so would have liked to have seen the likes of Lawes play in the 6N if their form warrants selection.

It's hard to get excited about this one but as others have said view it as the start of a new era. I got really sick of 'it will all be alright by the world mateeee' Eddie Jones so want to see England win as many games as possible and challenge for as many 6N ***les as possible.

Id be amazed if he doesnt ask Cole to stay on for the 6n...

 

[Geordie]

Bloody hell you're aiming high. I'd be happy with a solid 2nd or a competitive 3rd.

Agree....and the emergence of a basic attack...

 

[ncurd]

Curry, Underhill and Earl feels like a back row to properly salivate over.

Glad to see Dan get a run out, just for him even if he's completely outplayed.

Hope last week was the we've seen BV in an England shirt. And this is the last we've seen of Youngs (and Farrell but I think thats too much hope).

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Curry, Underhill and Earl feels like a back row to properly salivate over.

Different strengths and styles but fundamentally 3 open sides. Will be fun to watch if it works, as it may well here. But not balanced enough for a long term unit in my book.

Walker and Malins on the phone to their agents seeing what's available in France.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Once again there are parts of the team sheet that look good on paper, I just hope they deliver. Curry, Underhill and Earl looks like it could be an absolute menace at the breakdown. Ludlam can feel a bit hard done by but I think he's like Ford in the sense he can be putting in man of the match level performances for England and it's viewed as just being "solid" whilst the favourite can still walk in ahead of them (I'm a big Underhill fan btw so no attack on him). If Ludlam continues as he is though, I don't see him dropping out of contention. You need some players who consistently bash out top tier performances and Ludlam has done better than Curry in that regard recently. Curry may peak with higher scores than Ludlam but I'd say Ludlam has currently been averaging better than any other.

Youngs and Farrell is fairly uninspiring, I guess Borthers wants them to play a controlling game. If only we had a 10 who had already done this against Argentina ready to start...

 

[Grizwald]

Bloody hell you're aiming high. I'd be happy with a solid 2nd or a competitive 3rd.

Yeah I mean over the next 4 year cycle not 6N 2024, although that would be nice Ireland and France wont suddenly be shite post RWC. Scotland I'm not too sure, there's not many that you expect to retire immediately, Finn will have another RWC in him.

Wales and England rebuilding. I'd be happy with an incremental improvement.

 

[LIONSxv]

Different strengths and styles but fundamentally 3 open sides. Will be fun to watch if it works, as it may well here. But not balanced enough for a long term unit in my book.

Walker and Malins on the phone to their agents seeing what's available in France.

I always thought of Underhill as small 6 . His strength is more tackling and stopping than over the ball, where he is good but not at the levels of a Curry.

Curry was always so more more effective when Underhill hit them backwards and he could get over the ball

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Finn will have another RWC in him

He'll be 35 by then, for a bloke that has never been in great shape that might be ambitious tbh

 

[McTallshort]

Seeing Ludlam and Underhill on that team sheet and no Billy really breaks my heart

 

[TopTen2003]

Lovely back row!

 

[Half Pint]

Smith at FB with Arundell and Steward on the wings.

So a 10 at 15, a 15 at 11 and a 15 at 14.

I think the 50-22 rules make it sensible to field a (left) full-back and a (right) full back, and then a quality kicker as the 3rd of the back 3.
Between the three of them, there's pace (Arundell), catching (Steward) and kicking (Smith). If Argentina can put together sequnece of a few good kicks to pull the 3 of them out of shape, then they'll struggle to cover for each other. But if they can keep to their roles, they'll do fine.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Happy with that team, rather see Lawrence start too tbh.

Back row is great. Where is Martin

I agree. Lawrence is the future whereas Tuilagi is the past.

 

[BrokenWing]

So a 10 at 15, a 15 at 11 and a 15 at 14.

According to Justin Marshall, that's not far off of NZ.

 

[Scotty]

I agree. Lawrence is the future whereas Tuilagi is the past.

I do wonder, is Lawrence the future 12 though, theres alot good possible 12s coming through, and he is a 13 first. Marchant is going to France...he he the future there? Say Will Joseph and couple others coming through. So depends what SB wants.

Maybe a rpute for the squad thread though not the matchday thread.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Happy with that team, rather see Lawrence start too tbh.

Back row is great. Where is Martin

Wouldn't be surprised if Martin is rested because of the amount of work he put in.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67214279

Cause for celebration?

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I agree. Lawrence is the future whereas Tuilagi is the past.

Maybe we're also in for a Tuilagi retirement announcement too?

33 in May and a fading force at this level which both he and Borthwick will know. Been playing international rugby for a long time now and all those injuries have taken their toll.

May partly depend on SB's longer term plans for the 12 shirt. Also whether he sees Lawrence as a straight replacement for Marchant at 13.