International Rugby

[tomd2103]

Farrell again, ey?

He grew up on Rugby league and was taught to defend by his dad who was a league player, in league the 2-3 hits that have been highlighted this series would be perfectly acceptable. That said I think he's lucky to get away with it as often as he does. It's not just him though, plenty of players do it but because it was such a key time in the SA game it's been blown up out of proportion.

I think things are setting up nicely for the world cup now and the opening weekend of the 6N is a massive with England away in Dublin. The winner of that takes the 6N and possibly goes into the world cup as favourites, NZ do seem to be creaking quite badly right now, just like England did a year ago.

Not sure about that Paul, seeing as both England and Ireland have to visit Cardiff in the 6N!!  I still think the All Blacks are the team to beat and that both Australia and South Africa will be different propositions by the time they arrive in Japan.  I have seen the South Africans play a few times this Autumn and they have got an absolutely monster pack.  They just seem to be a bit incoherent in the back division, but a bit of fine tuning there and they will be a real force. 

It does feel like the playing field has levelled out somewhat though and the build up to the World cup should be fascinating.   

SA have a fantastic pack but the 9 and 10 combo doesn't work (in my opinion) and that will hold them back. Australia won't be in the mix, they haven't got the forwards to deal with any of the big sides. NZ are obviously still a very good side but I think their back row is the weakest it's been for years and the air of invincibility has gone. If that try hadn't been scrubbed off they'd have gone for 3 defeats in 6months which would've been unheard of 2 years back and at pretty much any point in the last 7-8 years a close call like England would've seen a massive step up in performance the following week but they showed they just didn't have the gear to go up to. They'll still bully the smaller teams (see Italy and Japan this autumn) but if the big sides follow their plan and turn up I can see a fair few tight games.

I thought the South African centres looked a bit limited this Autumn, but they have a dangerous back three.  Think you are right about their 9/10 combo, but if they can sort that (the 9 from Sale might well be brought back into the fold) and maybe use Pollard as a 12, they will be a tough team to beat come the World Cup.

Australia are a strange one, as all the rumours before the Autumn test were that they had their strongest tight five for some time.  You can never write them off though and again I'm sure they will be turning up in Japan in decent enough shape. 

I still think the All Blacks would beat any of the other sides in the world over a three match series home or away.   A one-off game might be a different matter though and they might be vulnerable enough for sides to catch them cold.  Knowing them though, they will have unearthed five new superstars by the time the World Cup comes around and it will be business as usual.   

[Louzie0]

Barbarians v Argentina
Cracking match, really enjoying it.

[Jon Crofts]

Opening weekend of the 2019 6 Nations is only a few weeks away now.

What's England's injury list looking like as we head into a tough opener vs Ireland on the Saturday late afternoon?

[paul_e]

Opening weekend of the 2019 6 Nations is only a few weeks away now.

What's England's injury list looking like as we head into a tough opener vs Ireland on the Saturday late afternoon?

Front Row:
Mako is back and playing so should be ok, Moon is fit, George is fit, Hartley has had a niggle but should be fit, Sinckler is fit, Williams is fit - I suspect that will be the 6 on matchday but there's plenty of decent backup as Hill, Genge, Hepburn, Cowan-Dickie, Dunn and Catt are all fit and have all been around the squad in the last couple of years.

Second Row:
Launchbury is still out not sure where he's at, Kruis and Lawes are fit, Itoje is currently out but should be back soon, might miss the Ireland game. Not sure who gets the nod in squad and/or if Itoje or Launchbury don't make it, there's 3-4 options, Ewels and Isiekwe are both fit but playing back row at club level

Back Row:
Underhill looks unlikely, Simmonds definitely out, Billy V is due back about now, Hughes is out (I think), I think everyone else in the mix is fit. I expect Wilson at 6 or 8, Curry at 7 and then Shields or Billy V (at 6 or 8 respectively) depending on Billy being fit. Ted Hill at Worcester will be involved in the squad, he might shock a few people and call Kvesic in as he's been in great form for Chiefs.

Half backs:
Care Fit, Farrell fit and the tigers pair of Youngs and Ford are fit but in awful form, I think he'll pick them anyway, Smith will probably be involved and I'd guess 1 from Wigglesworth or Maunder at 9, I doubt Robson will get a look in. Burns and Cipriani will probably miss out despite being in good form for their clubs.

Centres:
Manu is fit, Slade is fit, T'eo is fit, Francis is fit - I suspect they're the options he's looking at. Outside bet is a call up for Max Wright, really slim bet is a call up for Fraser Dingwall, they're definitely on the radar.

Outside backs:
Watson 50/50, Cokanasiga should be fit, Nowell 50/50, Daly fit, May fit. No idea what he'll do if the first 3 don't make it but Ashton and Solomona might well be involved and I expect Thorley to get a call up, Lewington might get a nod as well.

That's a bit of an essay but I think it pretty much covers everything. The Backrow is the problem area, if Billy doesn't make it we're looking really short of quality in there unless he backs down and picks some of the people he's been ignoring for a few years. I think Shields will be in but he really doesn't deserve to be, he's been terrible for Wasps.

[UK Redsox]

Thorley wasn't in the Glawster lineup at the weekend. Is he injured as well ?

[paul_e]

Thorley wasn't in the Glawster lineup at the weekend. Is he injured as well ?

Just rested as far as I can tell, no talk of an injury and he was involved in an England meetup/medical screening on Tuesday (Ackermann mentioned both him and Cipriani had been to it but the RFU haven't said anything).

[Jon Crofts]

Apparently 2019 could be Nigel Owen’s last 6 Nations.

Also if chelts doesn’t cough up some wonga sharpish he won’t be going to England v Scotland either. 🤩

[UK Redsox]

Apparently 2019 could be Nigel Owen’s last 6 Nations.

I thought that Nige announced some time ago that he was packing it in anyway after RWC 2019.

He'll make a brilliant co-commentator or studio expert after he retires (to go along with his existing Welsh language TV career)

[cheltenhamlion]

Thorley wasn't in the Glawster lineup at the weekend. Is he injured as well ?

Just rested as far as I can tell, no talk of an injury and he was involved in an England meetup/medical screening on Tuesday (Ackermann mentioned both him and Cipriani had been to it but the RFU haven't said anything).

Thorley was left out on the back of a head injury thingy.

[paul_e]

Thorley wasn't in the Glawster lineup at the weekend. Is he injured as well ?

Just rested as far as I can tell, no talk of an injury and he was involved in an England meetup/medical screening on Tuesday (Ackermann mentioned both him and Cipriani had been to it but the RFU haven't said anything).

Thorley was left out on the back of a head injury thingy.

Yeah, he came back in for the Munster game so had to be something minor. I still think he'll get into the England squad.

[cheltenhamlion]

He should. He is as quick as fuck and far better defensively than May ever was.

[UK Redsox]

Initial England squad for Ireland game

Forwards: Jack Clifford, Dan Cole, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Nathan Hughes, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Ben Moon, Brad Shields, Kyle Sinckler, Jack Singleton, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Harry Williams, Mark Wilson.

Backs: Chris Ashton, Mike Brown, Joe Cokanasiga, Elliot Daly, Ollie Devoto, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Jonny May, Jack Nowell, Dan Robson, Henry Slade, Ben Te'o, Ollie Thorley, Manu Tuilagi, Ben Youngs.

[paul_e]

Happy with that. I'm not sure how Ben Earl has snuck his way in on the back of about 5 or 6 starts, ever, Jones seems to pick anyone English who gets game time for Sarries. Add Clifford as well and we've got a couple of back rows that i just can't see having any involvement, I'd have put Ludlow ahead of both of them right now.

I don't think Singleton is ready but with Hartley missing with a dodgy knee and Taylor struggling to get fit we're a bit light on hookers so I'm ok with him there as effectively the 5th choice.

No Care in the backs means Robson gets in despite being in his worst form for about 3 years, which highlights how poor the handling of him has been.

Finally Thorley is there as I suspected, I don't think he'll be involved in the 23 against Ireland but I suspect he'll get gametime during the tournament, probably alternating with Cokanasiga.

[UK Redsox]

Thorley should at least get the Italy game but the Ireland game being first means that there's no chance of early experimentation

[paul_e]

Thorley should at least get the Italy game but the Ireland game being first means that there's no chance of early experimentation

Italy and Scotland seem the obvious games to give him a shot in. Ireland and Wales away are quite big atmosphere's to throw a new cap in so France at home would be the other sensible option.