Wales v England - 05/08/23 5:30 KO

[Vieux Talonneur]

Probably a thank you to some fringe players before being cut

And a final chance for a run out for those who might be on stand by.

My guess is that many of the marginals here won't be going.

None of 10 - 14 are nailed on. Nor, without wanting to reignite the Ludlam debate, are any of the back row including Willis as sub.

Hooker, who knows? At lock, can't see both Hill and Martin travelling.

 

[Saintjay]

Way way way more experimental than I expected,
Completely forgot Porter was in the squad still

Bit confused by the logic in it - they've said they've pretty much got the side settled in their minds - how many of these combinations are going to make it onto the plane?

Kinda has the feel of a Barbarians run out game rather than building towards the RWC


Rodd, Hill, Dan and Malins are there

Blame the Telegraph reporters.....

 

[BPM]

Way way way more experimental than I expected,
Completely forgot Porter was in the squad still

Bit confused by the logic in it - they've said they've pretty much got the side settled in their minds - how many of these combinations are going to make it onto the plane?

Kinda has the feel of a Barbarians run out game rather than building towards the RWC


Rodd, Hill, Dan and Malins are there

Same here. Although with the exception of Porter, I actually quite like the side that's been picked.

It really feels like a trial for the Quins lads for sure. If they can show that they can replicate their combination at test level, it might solidify the theory that it's our plan B/bench.

 

[Juggler]

Aside from the slight suspicion that he is the secret love child of Tim Nice But Dim, I'm happy he's getting a go

In fact anybody at 12 apart from Farrell gets my vote (inc TNBD)

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I'm glad we didn't go for an ultra conservative tried and tested team. All I hope is that, if they go out and perform well, it actually counts for something. I hate it when a player takes every chance they are given, performs brilliantly but is then dropped because it's deemed the games were against weakened opposition. You can only play what is in front of you and if a player is only ever picked against weakened teams, that should not be held against them.

 

[Jimbo]

Same here. Although with the exception of Porter, I actually quite like the side that's been picked.

It really feels like a trial for the Quins lads for sure. If they can show that they can replicate their combination at test level, it might solidify the theory that it's our plan B/bench.

I mean I rate the Quins boys highly and really like the style they play, with that said does that translate to the international stage at the best of times, with exception to 2 seasons ago when have they really collectively performed and looked like they can really compete with the best of the best, they were not really worrying the premiership heavy weights since their ***le.

 

[BPM]

True, but last season we were much more disrupted by call ups and injuries. Dombrandt, Care and Smith started something mad like 6 Premiership games together last season.

 

[BPM]

I'm glad we didn't go for an ultra conservative tried and tested team. All I hope is that, if they go out and perform well, it actually counts for something. I hate it when a player takes every chance they are given, performs brilliantly but is then dropped because it's deemed the games were against weakened opposition. You can only play what is in front of you and if a player is only ever picked against weakened teams, that should not be held against them.

I agree although I wouldn't say it's a particularly weak Wales lineup. Should be a good game.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I agree although I wouldn't say it's a particularly weak Wales lineup. Should be a good game.

It was less a comment about Wales strength and more a comment about how a player can perform well but have that performance dismissed for whatever reason someone can come up with, usually involving the other team being weak / own team being strong. If every chance you give a player to prove themselves you dismiss because you don't deem the circumstances of the chance worthy of attention, then don't waste everyone's time putting out teams where it doesn't matter what they do, it means nothing.

Experimental sides are good if the coach actually takes on board how players perform. Experimental sides are a complete waste of time if the coach just chucks them out in games they don't care about and the results do nothing to help a player break into the main team.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Honestly I get this video is just a fun little teaser for the game and Smith's feet, but Watson getting done on the outside doesn't fill me with confidence weirdly!

 

[TopTen2003]

Not sure if anyone caught Borthwicks comments yesterday but he essentially confirmed that 3 x 9s and 3 x 10s are all going to the RWC.

Talked about flexibility to cover positions and need to adapt:

BBC:

Farrell, Ford and Smith are the fly-halves in Borthwick's current training squad, while Care and Leicester Tigers' Ben Youngs and Jack van Poortvliet are the scrum-halves.

With World Rugby increasing the squad size for the 2023 tournament, Borthwick says all six are all likely to travel.

"I think it is pretty clear given I have kept three scrum-halves and three fly-halves within the camp," he said.
The head coach also stressed that position flexibility is "incredibly valuable", prioritising players able to play in multiple roles.

"There is a need to be able to adapt," he added. "We are going to have to do that during this tournament and we have kept our squad quite tight between each of our camps in terms of the number of players we have had in camp.

"I am really aware that there is going to be a need for the players outside the 33 that will be named on Monday to be ready to be the next man in. What I see with this squad now is that they have built togetherness and conditioning and a role clarity that anyone can slot into the 33."


EDIT- apologies thought I was posting in the England RWC Squad thread

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

It is a shame that neither of Ford or Smith can cover anywhere else. Both in terms of picking the 33 and a 23.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

It is a shame that neither of Ford or Smith can cover anywhere else. Both in terms of picking the 33 and a 23.

In fairness, it is very very unusual in the grand scheme of things now

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It is a shame that neither of Ford or Smith can cover anywhere else. Both in terms of picking the 33 and a 23.

Short memories

Eddie Jones reveals who is England's third-choice scrum-half - Ruck

England head coach Eddie Jones named his 31-man Rugby World Cup side for Japan earlier today – springing a few surprises in the process. Gloucester scrum-half Heinz appears to have done…

www.ruck.co.uk

 

[Which Tyler]

In fairness, it is very very unusual in the grand scheme of things now

Agreed, there's a few who can slot in and do a job at FB, at club level during an injury crisis; but really not many outside of those situations (barring the French fondness for players who can play SH and FH - and even that seems to have dropped off recently)

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

It is a shame that neither of Ford or Smith can cover anywhere else. Both in terms of picking the 33 and a 23.

Eddie Jones claimed at the last world cup that Ford could cover scrum half hahahahaha

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Didn't Eddie bring up Spencer?

 

[Saintjay]

The new welsh lad looks good in red.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

The new welsh lad looks good in red. View attachment 17265

If we could get one of Henry Thomas or Canterbury kit back….sorry, Henry.

 

[Jimbo]

Surely a bigger squad size diminishes the need for so many players playing multiple positions, ultimately I'd say prioritise specialists where ever possible, if the best player happens to be able to cover a second position great, unless there is not much to pick between them it shouldn't be a huge factor. Then there's the fact that it's in France so if cover needs to come in, it's not a huge operation to get it there, a small spattering of multi positional personnel is useful but happy for them to sit on the bench, Daly springs to mind.