[RWC2023 QF3] England vs Fiji (15/10/2023)

[Scotty]

I wouldn't be surprised if Smith is only starting 15 against Fiji as we're not worried by their kicking game. I think we may try to play with some pace, but the lack of arundell would have been better.

Supposedly Daly is to start at 13 with Marchant on the wing?

With who at 12?! I have a suspicion but i hope im wrong.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Tiresome that I don't agree with people's assessments

**** me you're boring.

 

[whocaresaboutthetruth]

**** me you're boring.

Ok sorry.England are ****,farrell should be shot,borthwick is useless,blah blah blah.That better?

 

[BrokenWing]

I'd disagree with that.I think the fact players like Haskell are coming out in support of Farrell shows it's becoming an issue for Farrell.Haskell refers to it as bullying in the piece and I wouldn't disagree.most people are affected by bullying especially on a large scale like Farrell is receiving.

You're free to disagree. Doesn't make you right.

 

[dirty harry]

Apparently Matavesi's dad has died.

If Fiji lose him I think they lose their set peice.

Fiji just cant seem to catch a break!!!

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Leaked team from the Telegraph:

Marler
George
Sinkler
Itoje
Chessum
Ludlam
Curry
Earl

Care
Ford
Steward
Tuilagi
Marchant
Arundell
Smith

Dan
Genge
Cole
Martin
Underhill
Youngs
Lawrence
Daly

(Just kidding.)

 

[whocaresaboutthetruth]

You're free to disagree. Doesn't make you right.

Never said I was

 

[Bada-Bing!]

The moment I read Ford was starting I knew it was a joke. . Shame though. SB is doing a Southgate with his blind loyalty to Farrell likely starting back at 10 IMO.

 

[TommiG88]

If Smith is named at 15 I think SB would have dropped a clanger and caved to public pressure.

Fiji is the ideal opposition for Steward. They have kicked far more in this RWC than anyone expected, and have adopted a very traditional European game plan, sprinkled with ball carrying brutality and offloading flair.

I expect it to rain on Smith all day if he gets a start, and I think England then give Fiji an option to control the match by keeping England in the back foot. Now I'm not saying Fiji win, but what I am saying is that if Fiji kick well, and put players under Smith Fiji get a hell of a lot of territory and ball, and when they get that they score points.

I disagree. Fiji were panicked by Portugals pace, and Fiji's wide defence has been shown to not be the best. Any loose kicking and Smith would certainly more likely to cause more issues than Steward.

We will find out on Sunday though

 

[TommiG88]

With who at 12?! I have a suspicion but i hope im wrong.

Manu

 

[Grizwald]

I'd have thought before the tournament Smith playing let alone starting at FB in a knock out game was mental.

I've been saying for a while Stewards form has been poor, he's been given plenty of time to find it. You're loosing the high ball stability and positioning but gaining a hell of a lot with Smith. A lot of talk about having a second play maker from 15 is the way to go and I'd subscribe to that. Steward is still young and has plenty of to work on and plenty of potential.

It's really hard on Ford if the leaked team is correct. I'm a bit bored of the Farrell talk, the only thing that annoys me is him being made captain which makes him harder to drop on form.

 

[ageingback23]

If Daly is playing, which I understand he is, he can also step in at 15 in D, given that he has much more experience there than Smith with the England. And before people get on his case, I think Daly is pretty decent and turns up well. I suspect that this is SBs plan. Have Daly support Smith in D, and have smith there to add more cut and thrust to our attack. Which does make sense. Is Steward better than both Daly and Smith, I suppose in the air, due to height, yes, but that's about it. Fiji don't have a great kicking game, and I'm not sure they'll fall for the bait of kicking it at Smith. Their best bet is to run the ball. If England are to win this game we need a much better defensive performance, and to win the collisions in contact, slow the ball down and fight to win it back. Starve Fiji of the fast ball they crave, and we should be fine. Pressure is on our back row, and centres, to insure they are tight and tackling well.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

The Telegraph have reviewed the squad and seem to be assuming it will be South Africa in the semi which is brave call

 

[Dutch01527]

Imagine what could have been if someone like Gatland had been appointed England's head coach and had implemented a strategy of retiring older players, introducing new, talented, inform players playing in their natural positions. Drive them to new levels of fitness with a clear defensive and offensive strategy and give that new team as much playing time together pre world cup as possible. Team could be:

Genge
George
Sinkler
Itoje
Chessum
Lawes
Earls or Curry
Mercer
Care or Mitchell
Smith, Ford or Farrell
Tuilagi or Lawrence
Marchant
Ollie Hassell-Collins
Adam Radwan or Cadan Murley
Arundel

With 13 games under their belt now that team could be a handful for anyone. Even more so if we had a bit more horse power up front with a giant lock and tighthead that I am struggling to identify at the moment.

 

[HamJan]

Imagine what could have been if someone like Gatland had been appointed England's head coach and had implemented a strategy of retiring older players, introducing new, talented, inform players playing in their natural positions. Drive them to new levels of fitness with a clear defensive and offensive strategy and give that new team as much playing time together pre world cup as possible. Team could be:

Genge
George
Sinkler
Itoje
Chessum
Lawes
Earls or Curry
Mercer
Care or Mitchell
Smith, Ford or Farrell
Tuilagi or Lawrence
Marchant
Ollie Hassell-Collins
Adam Radwan or Cadan Murley
Arundel

With 13 games under their belt now that team could be a handful for anyone. Even more so if we had a bit more horse power up front with a giant lock and tighthead that I am struggling to identify at the moment.

Tbh Gatland couldn't get a job after the 2021 Lions shambles, so I wasn't keen on him even being asked, plus the fact that 2016-2019, wales were awful to watch. To be fair, he's done well with Wales during this RWC, but in the long term I'd sooner give Borthwick time to prove himself.

 

[dirty harry]

Tbh Gatland couldn't get a job after the 2021 Lions shambles, so I wasn't keen on him even being asked, plus the fact that 2016-2019, wales were awful to watch. To be fair, he's done well with Wales during this RWC, but in the long term I'd sooner give Borthwick time to prove himself.

2021 shambles? Losing 2-1 to SA by a late kick is a shambles now?

Also he had a job, he just didnt do very well at it hahahaha

2019 RWC Wales were very good to watch, as they were during their grand slam and being ranked 1st in the world, I have no words lol

 

[Jimbo]

Wide play isnt Englands strength though is it

Could you tell me what is, I can't think of a single area of particular strength that any above us in the world rankings would be concerned with.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Imagine what could have been if someone like Gatland had been appointed England's head coach

I'd certainly have been open to him, or someone similar, as interim through to this World Cup. We're limited, but at least we'd have looked organised limited and fit.

And not afraid of the big calls - if your coach has previously dropped BOD you'll feel you'll need more than reputation. Won't surprise me if it transpires that he'd also had some frank conversations with AWJ and Tipuric.

 

[Jimbo]

Farrell has been benched pretty recently(I can't remember which game)for Marcus smith to start.I think people have got Farrell as the root of many evils but seem to forget that England have still not performed when he was out of the team injured or suspended..He's back in the fold in the World Cup and England haven't lost a game(I'm not saying that is only down to him).I saw ford miss a number of tackles against Samoa and nothing has been said of that.maybe if he is starting with Farrell that may be one of the reasons.A rugby team is made up of many different aspects and players bring what others don't and vice Versa.Farrell obviously brings what the coaches perceive there teams need.

The evidence suggests that what the management perceives the team needs is either wrong or he doesn't bring it at all.

The game you thinking of maybe when England got a hiding from the French at HQ, the French were on fire and smith is still young and hasn't had to much game time under those types of circumstances so for me it's difficult to judge, the team also hasn't had too much time with his so those excellent breaks he makes are not capitalised on in the way Quins would because England are not used to it so don't run the support lines, it would take a little while to get used to a more Smith type game plan and I certainly don't think something similar to Quins really suites it needs to be a more controlled balanced type rather than Globe trotter style but at least getting Smiths peers to expect and anticipate him going went its on and adjust accordingly would help!

 

[Crash Hamster]

If Daly is playing, which I understand he is, he can also step in at 15 in D, given that he has much more experience there than Smith with the England. And before people get on his case, I think Daly is pretty decent and turns up well. I suspect that this is SBs plan. Have Daly support Smith in D, and have smith there to add more cut and thrust to our attack. Which does make sense. Is Steward better than both Daly and Smith, I suppose in the air, due to height, yes, but that's about it. Fiji don't have a great kicking game, and I'm not sure they'll fall for the bait of kicking it at Smith. Their best bet is to run the ball. If England are to win this game we need a much better defensive performance, and to win the collisions in contact, slow the ball down and fight to win it back. Starve Fiji of the fast ball they crave, and we should be fine. Pressure is on our back row, and centres, to insure they are tight and tackling well.

It's still a 13 and a 10 at 14 and 15 though.

As a former forward, I have little real understanding of what the floppy hair brigade actually do, but it seems to matter quite a bit which one goes where. I wonder if Sniff Bostik feels the same?