Rugby Union 2013-14

[PaulWinch again]

I think Abendannon is leaving.

[paul_e]

I think Abendannon is leaving.

Is that confirmed?  I actually don't pay that much attention to Bath so I hadn't seen anything to say it was definite.  I can understand it if he does but they'll have to replace him because Watson will miss a lot of club rugby for the rest of his career, he's too good to not be a regular in the England squad, give him a bit of time to get used to regular top level rugby and he's got the pace, power, skills and defence to cover 11-15, he reminds me of North when he first got into the Welsh side, still raw but with absolutely everything you want in a outside back.

[PaulWinch again]

There are some really exciting players in England and I'm glad that even though he's still making a few errors, Lancaster is beginning to bring our game on.

[PaulWinch again]

Sounds like Ford is going to be on the bench on Saturday. Happy about that, as it potentially gives us a lot more impact from the bench.

[paul_e]

Ford on the bench is a big improvement, he's persisting with Goode though, which is frustrating.

[PaulWinch again]

Ford on the bench is a big improvement, he's persisting with Goode though, which is frustrating.

Yeah but hopefully it's a gradual transition, maybe he doesn't want to leave too much inexperience on the bench in such a big game. I'm hoping that's the case anyway.

[paul_e]

So Davie Wilson in for Cole and Ford onto the bench in place of Barritt, as was clearly ging to be the case when the 23 was announced.  Should be a close game, Ireland have started the tournament really well and made Wales look very average (Although Mike Phillips deserves a fair share of the 'credit' for that).  England started 20minutes late against France but have been good since and keeping scotland at 0 highlights just how dominant we were, better precision and we'd have given them a real pasting.

I'm going to go for Home advantage and give go for England 17-13 Ireland and a very nervy last 10.

[PaulWinch again]

I have a sneaking suspicion we'll win this won comfortably by about 10-12 points.

[Jon Crofts]

Stupid basic errors cost us dear there, that was Frances cup final, they'll get fuck all from here on, they always do.

Told you so.

[lovejoy]

Fuck me that ref was biased.

[N'Rexy]

Roland, biased? Yes! He has never given Wales anything. Can't think of a single decision that was wrong tonight. Championship is back on!

Cymru am byth!

[lovejoy]

At least a couple of line outs where the ball clearly came off a Welsh player and given to Wales, the North try involved a shove in the back that forced the French player to split the ball, the French number 8 was sin binned for very little whilst Welshies on a wind up went un punished and I even though the Welsh try looked short of the line or at best inconclusive.

It's almost as if the ref felt he needed to even something up......

[paul_e]

If I'm honest I'm really pleased it's Joubert for the England game, I hold out hopes that he'll stop them killing the breakdown, hes about the only ref in this tournament that I'd back to do that, especially with England at home.  Without Cole to do the dirty stuff on the floor that Robshaw doesn't bring we'd be really susceptible to the game being slowed down and I wouldn't trust some of the other refs to care how legally it's done.

[Proposition Joe]

England breed the downright dumbest players in world rugby.  How many times can you knock on the door of the try-line and screw it up?

[paul_e]

We missed a few chances but that was brilliant in defence.  I also take back my previous criticism of Brown, I'd always thought his running lines weren't good enough for someone without blistering pace but he's worked very hard on it and looks every bit an international fullback now.

Gutted to see Billy V on crutches, I really hope that was precautionary.

Burrell is a genuinely world class prospect in the centres, everything he did today was superb.