The Rugby Thread

[Tredman]

Doing well aren't we - having to follow it on the telegraph's live text....

how's cipriani playing?

 

[Dinowolf]

Good win against Crusaders. Shows good depth to our squad.
Cipriani did well and as Farrell is injured may get a chance on Saturday (probably on bench to start though).
We need to start with Rooney playing a more central role.....oops, I mean Tuilagi.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Crusaders without All Blacks are not the same side. England had the chance and I fear New Zealand will want to smash it up in the third test. Good test for Lancaster's men. Keeping it within 15 points would be good.

 

[Dinowolf]

Looks like a 'battering ram' selection. With Farrell injured and no Twelvetrees, whose going to enact the gameplay?
There's going to be a lot on Freddy Burns' shoulders.

 

[Tredman]

Looks like a 'battering ram' selection. With Farrell injured and no Twelvetrees, whose going to enact the gameplay?
There's going to be a lot on Freddy Burns' shoulders.

Thats incredibly harsh on eastmond - he's certainly not a battering ram and is a far more skilful runner than 12trees. Not seen enough of his distirubtion, but judging by the first two tests tuilangi and eastmond looked a much more exciting partnership

 

[Dinowolf]

Sorry I don't know how to show it bigger, you have to click on it.

 

[Stan Hullis]

Eastmond used to play 6/7 in RL so has no problem with his distribution. He's a good pick and the complete opposite of a battering ram.

 

[Dinowolf]

Thats incredibly harsh on eastmond - he's certainly not a battering ram and is a far more skilful runner than 12trees. Not seen enough of his distirubtion, but judging by the first two tests tuilangi and eastmond looked a much more exciting partnership

I wasn't trying to be harsh, just feel that we have more of a collision type play planned esp. with Vunipola at no.8.
I feel that Burns may have to play deeper too, and it may go horribly wrong if we play too narrow. Hopefully Ashton and Yarde will stay wide when necessary.

It's an exciting selection.

 

[Tredman]

agreed we do seem to be going more for power, but the ABs tore us apart in broken play last week. I think swapping vunipola for morgan just gives us a much better version of morgan, they are very similar players.

A lot will depend on youngs and burns - i can see cipiriani coming on early too.

 

[Stan Hullis]

WTF has happened this week? Terrible for England.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

WTF has happened this week? Terrible for England.

New Zealand produced by far their best performance of the series, and then at their best the All Blacks are too good for every other team. A decent second half for England though.

 

[Dinowolf]

New Zealand produced by far their best performance of the series, and then at their best the All Blacks are too good for every other team. A decent second half for England though.

Agree with this.

The experiment with Eastmond/Tuilagi didn't work, we played too narrow and left far too many gaps in the line, and Yarde's defensive play needs to be vastly improved, although his attacking play is brilliant. I thought Vunapola diidn't look at his best (not fully fit?) and his yellow card was harsh. Morgan gave us more impetus and better defence, when he came on.
A lot of plusses for us, and I know it was the All Blacks in New Zealand, but when the pressure was put on we were found wanting.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Mike Tindell the only player from England's 03 world cup team still playing, announces his retirement.

 

[ROVERT47]

Ok, I ain't no union officianado but it's shit Saturday ( no football) and I find myself watching the avivva premiership.
A player virtually assaults another (red card 8 game ban minimal in football), touch judge and ref have chat and decide it's nothing.
Am I honestly supposed to take this sport seriously.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Yes. Scraps happen in rugby. Football is full of poofs.

 

[ROVERT47]

That'll do for me, spoken like a true rugger type.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Wigan have a player sent off inside the first two minutes.

 

[ROVERT47]

Red card deservedly, thumping an opponent, play on in union.

 

[Stan Hullis]

Thumping him whilst knocked out on the floor!

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Red card deservedly, thumping an opponent, play on in union.

He thumped him, then hit him again as the player lay on the ground. That would be wrong even in Aussie Rules.