Rugby Union 2012/13

[PaulWinch again]

What's pleasing is that Lancaster clearly sees these flair players as the future.

[paul_e]

What's pleasing is that Lancaster clearly sees these flair players as the future.

Farrell is the joker in the pack in that idea though, I really don't understand why he's been so stubborn in selecting 10,12 and 13.  We really need some fantastic open attacking displays this summer to make it that much more difficult for him to to revert to the 6N borefest that the backs served up.  Alex Goode being injured could be the real blessing in disguise though, a hard running attacking fullback is almost a requirement in modern international rugby and despite being a good player Goode isn't that.

[PaulWinch again]

I'm not really a fan of Goode at international level at all.

[paul_e]

I'm not really a fan of Goode at international level at all.

That's pretty much my point, he's technically sound but he lacks the explosive pace and cutting running lines you need to make it at the very top level.

I have similar concerns about Brown who I think is lacking the change of pace and decision-making you need at international level.

Daly will be a lot better than either of them.

[PaulWinch again]

Barnes really is a wanker. Britz was well out of line when he tried to swing for Farrell and Barnes tried to put the blame on Farrell.

[danlanza]

Barnes really is a wanker. Britz was well out of line when he tried to swing for Farrell and Barnes tried to put the blame on Farrell.

Should have been a red card.

[PaulWinch again]

Definitely a red. Overall the Lions will be happy with that, they did particularly well in tough conditions in the second half.

[Dave Summers]

I really wish I could get into the Lions this year however I am still really peeved at the lack of Englishmen on the tour, all seemingly based on 80 mins at Cardiff with everything beforehand conveniently forgotten.

Looking at the squad I see a test team of 10/11 Welshmen and the rest Irish so why would I be that bothered if we win, lose or draw?

They played nicely today against a poor opposition really and scored some good tries.  Now, can someone answer a question for me please?.  Chris Ashton and Delon Armitage have been rightly castigated for seeemingly taking the piss with their pre score celebrations, especially Armitage in the Heineken Final.   Not a peep was said about Phillips today for doing exactly the same?

Can you tell I am bitter? :-)

Anyway, much more interested in the England tour and liking what I see in the line up for tomorrow's match.  With the two tests on BBC next week, it will be great to see how our young talent and flair go. 

[SO Villa]

I really wish I could get into the Lions this year however I am still really peeved at the lack of Englishmen on the tour, all seemingly based on 80 mins at Cardiff with everything beforehand conveniently forgotten.

Looking at the squad I see a test team of 10/11 Welshmen and the rest Irish so why would I be that bothered if we win, lose or draw?

They played nicely today against a poor opposition really and scored some good tries.  Now, can someone answer a question for me please?.  Chris Ashton and Delon Armitage have been rightly castigated for seeemingly taking the piss with their pre score celebrations, especially Armitage in the Heineken Final.   Not a peep was said about Phillips today for doing exactly the same?

Can you tell I am bitter? :-)

Anyway, much more interested in the England tour and liking what I see in the line up for tomorrow's match.  With the two tests on BBC next week, it will be great to see how our young talent and flair go. 

Phillips was doing it to a clubmate (Rokocoko) so I guess it's slightly different.

[taylorsworkrate]

I really wish I could get into the Lions this year however I am still really peeved at the lack of Englishmen on the tour, all seemingly based on 80 mins at Cardiff with everything beforehand conveniently forgotten.

Looking at the squad I see a test team of 10/11 Welshmen and the rest Irish so why would I be that bothered if we win, lose or draw?

They played nicely today against a poor opposition really and scored some good tries.  Now, can someone answer a question for me please?.  Chris Ashton and Delon Armitage have been rightly castigated for seeemingly taking the piss with their pre score celebrations, especially Armitage in the Heineken Final.   Not a peep was said about Phillips today for doing exactly the same?

Can you tell I am bitter? :-)

Anyway, much more interested in the England tour and liking what I see in the line up for tomorrow's match.  With the two tests on BBC next week, it will be great to see how our young talent and flair go. 

It's almost as if Wales relatively poor form up to the England game (and their abysmal record against Australia) has been completely ignored.

It would be absolute madness if at least Coles and Tuilagi weren't in the test team. I don't trust Gatland though.

[SO Villa]

I really wish I could get into the Lions this year however I am still really peeved at the lack of Englishmen on the tour, all seemingly based on 80 mins at Cardiff with everything beforehand conveniently forgotten.

Looking at the squad I see a test team of 10/11 Welshmen and the rest Irish so why would I be that bothered if we win, lose or draw?

They played nicely today against a poor opposition really and scored some good tries.  Now, can someone answer a question for me please?.  Chris Ashton and Delon Armitage have been rightly castigated for seeemingly taking the piss with their pre score celebrations, especially Armitage in the Heineken Final.   Not a peep was said about Phillips today for doing exactly the same?

Can you tell I am bitter? :-)

Anyway, much more interested in the England tour and liking what I see in the line up for tomorrow's match.  With the two tests on BBC next week, it will be great to see how our young talent and flair go. 

It would be absolute madness if at least Coles and Tuilagi weren't in the test team. I don't trust Gatland though.

So you'd have Cole instead of Adam Jones? Seriously?

[paul_e]

I really wish I could get into the Lions this year however I am still really peeved at the lack of Englishmen on the tour, all seemingly based on 80 mins at Cardiff with everything beforehand conveniently forgotten.

Looking at the squad I see a test team of 10/11 Welshmen and the rest Irish so why would I be that bothered if we win, lose or draw?

They played nicely today against a poor opposition really and scored some good tries.  Now, can someone answer a question for me please?.  Chris Ashton and Delon Armitage have been rightly castigated for seeemingly taking the piss with their pre score celebrations, especially Armitage in the Heineken Final.   Not a peep was said about Phillips today for doing exactly the same?

Can you tell I am bitter? :-)

Anyway, much more interested in the England tour and liking what I see in the line up for tomorrow's match.  With the two tests on BBC next week, it will be great to see how our young talent and flair go. 

It would be absolute madness if at least Coles and Tuilagi weren't in the test team. I don't trust Gatland though.

So you'd have Cole instead of Adam Jones? Seriously?

Yes, Jones is marginally better in the scrum but we'll destroy Australia there anyway.  In the loose Cole is one of the best props in the world, his work around the breakdown is as good as most 7s.

If Cole doesn't start it shows that Gatland has clearly gone with the 'familiar' picking welsh players and playing welsh tactics, but subbing in a few from other nations to make it look like he's trying to balance things out.

As others have said a hell of a lot of the Welsh players are in on the back of the game against England, but the reality is it was tactical errors that cost England more than individual players (Brown on the wing, Barritt ahead of Twelvetrees at 12, Marler starting, Wood at .  Fix these and there is nothing between England and Wales, but we'll likely see 8-9 welsh starters and 2-3 english.

[taylorsworkrate]

I really wish I could get into the Lions this year however I am still really peeved at the lack of Englishmen on the tour, all seemingly based on 80 mins at Cardiff with everything beforehand conveniently forgotten.

Looking at the squad I see a test team of 10/11 Welshmen and the rest Irish so why would I be that bothered if we win, lose or draw?

They played nicely today against a poor opposition really and scored some good tries.  Now, can someone answer a question for me please?.  Chris Ashton and Delon Armitage have been rightly castigated for seeemingly taking the piss with their pre score celebrations, especially Armitage in the Heineken Final.   Not a peep was said about Phillips today for doing exactly the same?

Can you tell I am bitter? :-)

Anyway, much more interested in the England tour and liking what I see in the line up for tomorrow's match.  With the two tests on BBC next week, it will be great to see how our young talent and flair go. 

It would be absolute madness if at least Coles and Tuilagi weren't in the test team. I don't trust Gatland though.

So you'd have Cole instead of Adam Jones? Seriously?

Yep, Coles is a more dynamic player in the loose and is still an excellent scrummager.

[taylorsworkrate]

To be honest before the squad was selected I was almost certain of a Lions series victory. Now I'm leaning towards a mediocre Aussie side.

[SO Villa]

Whilst I understand that a lot of people are sceptical of such a heavy Welsh bias, this could actually be to the advantage of the Lions.

Already, half the squad understand the system and tactics that Gatland is looking for instead, as in previous years, trying to get 37 players up-to-speed in 3 weeks.

If the non-Welsh contingent can buy into it, we will be in business.

As for Wales' dreadful recent record against Australia, most have those defeats have been very narrow and I  think the addition of the likes of O'Driscoll, O'Connell and Sexton plus maybe Tuilagi off the bench are more than enough to make the crucial difference.