Pre-RWC test matches
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@mofitzy_ said in Pre-RWC test matches:
@sparky
Interesting that England played 2 opensides.Even with this result they still have a slight chance of not making it out of their pool (France and Argentina).
Not on that performance.
And if France have another second half like yesterday they'll get dispatched as easily as Ireland.
Eddie is in a nice place having to select two from Curry, Underhill and Ludlum.
My backline would be
Heinz, Farrell
Tuilagi, Joseph
May, Watson, DalyYoungs, Ford, Cokinasinga
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@MiketheSnow said in Pre-RWC test matches:
@mofitzy_ said in Pre-RWC test matches:
@sparky
Interesting that England played 2 opensides.Even with this result they still have a slight chance of not making it out of their pool (France and Argentina).
Not on that performance.
And if France have another second half like yesterday they'll get dispatched as easily as Ireland.
Eddie is in a nice place having to select two from Curry, Underhill and Ludlum.
My backline would be
Heinz, Farrell
Tuilagi, Joseph
May, Watson, DalyYoungs, Ford, Cokinasinga
Heinz? I haven't seem him play in England but find it hard to believe.
The dual 10s (Ford/Farrell) and dual 7s might be similar to what the ABs are looking at - duals 7s there is an element of getting the best players on the park regardless of position, and playing to their strengths in the case of Barrett and Farrell.
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@MiketheSnow said in Pre-RWC test matches:
@mofitzy_ said in Pre-RWC test matches:
@sparky
Interesting that England played 2 opensides.Even with this result they still have a slight chance of not making it out of their pool (France and Argentina).
Not on that performance.
And if France have another second half like yesterday they'll get dispatched as easily as Ireland.
Eddie is in a nice place having to select two from Curry, Underhill and Ludlum.
My backline would be
Heinz, Farrell
Tuilagi, Joseph
May, Watson, DalyYoungs, Ford, Cokinasinga
Even though I think Heinz form is very good I think he is more suited to closing out the game than Youngs.
There’s some big units in the English backs that will take some stopping if they get good ball.
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@mofitzy_ said in Pre-RWC test matches:
@sparky
Interesting that England played 2 opensides.Even with this result they still have a slight chance of not making it out of their pool (France and Argentina).
England showed their hand yesterday. Heinz might replace Youngs, Mako might start, Slade or Watson might come in for Daly but that was more or less their side and game plan for the RWC knockouts.
Use Itoje to disrupt the opposition lineout, use the dual openside flankers to dominate the breakdown and win quick ball, two play makers to move the ball to the two 12 channel quickly or kick long, have their 4 ball-carriers (Itoje, Billy V, Tuigali and Cok: dubbed the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse by one newspaper) smash the 12 channel hard, repeatedly and relentessly, make the speed and footwork of their wings if they get 1 on 1s. Very effective indeed against most opposition. They showed to make the rush defence redundant.
How to stop it?
Be stronger at set piece, be better at the breakdown, have big men up (BBBR!!!) and ready in the 12 channel to make dominant tackles on their massive units, pressure their playmakers, none of their back three are especially good defenders so force them to make 1-on-1 tackles.
England are a very strong side, but I would still back the All Blacks or Boks against them.
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@ACT-Crusader Yeah - Tuilagi is huge and Cokinasinga is even bigger - Jonah-sized.
We need to have someone like Tony "Trampled" Underfoot to mark him....
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Navidi set to get the captain's armband for Wales v Ireland this Saturday
The son of an Iranian wrestler who was almost lost to New Zealand but is now set to captain Wales | Wales Online
Josh Navidi is set to be handed the honour of captaining Wales
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Great to read about his background.
That's one of the standouts for me with a RWC - with so much media coverage, there's always a couple of players you learn more about than you ordinarily would have.Congrats to Navidi. Great honour to captain your your country.
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Obviously a meaningless friendly that means nothing in their build up to their first world cup game against Japan who must still be on a real high after dispatching South Africa in the last tournament. If they were taking it seriously then things are not looking good at all for them.
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@Rapido said in Pre-RWC test matches:
Georgia 24 - Southern Kings 20
Was their B side I imagine as they have another game this weekend vs Scotland. How they would love to win that game!
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A bit late but I watched a bit of that England v Ireland game and have been worrisome ever since.
If us kiwis got all excited by the performance in Bled 2, then the English must be beside themselves, because I for one thought they (the English) looked frikken incredible!!!
A performance better than ours I'd say! gulp
Can someone please offer a reason not to be bloody fearful at what Eddie the stats man has compiled in Old Blighty a month before the big dance?
Shit they looked good....
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@Siam said in Pre-RWC test matches:
A bit late but I watched a bit of that England v Ireland game and have been worrisome ever since.
If us kiwis got all excited by the performance in Bled 2, then the English must be beside themselves, because I for one thought they (the English) looked frikken incredible!!!
A performance better than ours I'd say! gulp
Can someone please offer a reason not to be bloody fearful at what Eddie the stats man has compiled in Old Blighty a month before the big dance?
Shit they looked good....
They lost to Wales the week beforehand.
Seriously though, this England side is big and strong. Like seriously big and strong.
Tonga, USA, Argentina, France, Quarter, Semi, Final.
Thats a tough last 5 weeks and they will tire.
Still favourites for me, but not head and shoulders. Like all teams have their weak points.
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@Billy-Tell said in Pre-RWC test matches:
@Rapido said in Pre-RWC test matches:
Georgia 24 - Southern Kings 20
Was their B side I imagine as they have another game this weekend vs Scotland. How they would love to win that game!
B side or not they must be a little worried that they could not deal to a team turfed out of Super Rugby, primarily because they were simply not very good.
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@Siam said in Pre-RWC test matches:
A bit late but I watched a bit of that England v Ireland game and have been worrisome ever since.
If us kiwis got all excited by the performance in Bled 2, then the English must be beside themselves, because I for one thought they (the English) looked frikken incredible!!!
A performance better than ours I'd say! gulp
Can someone please offer a reason not to be bloody fearful at what Eddie the stats man has compiled in Old Blighty a month before the big dance?
Shit they looked good....
As I wrote in another thread
"Lots of pundits getting excited about England"s prospects but to win the WC they have to beat France, Argentina, Wales/Australia, NZ/SA, NZ/SA
Too tall an order."
