Quote from: tomd2103 on November 26, 2018, 02:50:10 PMQuote from: paul_e on November 25, 2018, 02:07:25 PMQuote from: Ger Regan on November 25, 2018, 12:54:40 PMFarrell 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.
Quote from: paul_e on November 25, 2018, 02:07:25 PMQuote from: Ger Regan on November 25, 2018, 12:54:40 PMFarrell 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.
Quote from: Ger Regan on November 25, 2018, 12:54:40 PMFarrell 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.
Farrell again, ey?
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?
Thorley wasn't in the Glawster lineup at the weekend. Is he injured as well ?
Apparently 2019 could be Nigel Owen’s last 6 Nations.
Quote from: UK Redsox on January 03, 2019, 03:05:56 PMThorley 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).
Quote from: paul_e on January 03, 2019, 03:29:13 PMQuote from: UK Redsox on January 03, 2019, 03:05:56 PMThorley 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.
Thorley should at least get the Italy game but the Ireland game being first means that there's no chance of early experimentation