Rugby Union (was 2014-15, now an ongoing thread)

[paul_e]

From the way Lancaster talks I think Burgess is going to make the squad.

I think so too, I just hope it's at the expense of Barritt and not Burrell, Barritt and Burgess as our only options at 12 is sending a very clear message of our intentions.

[PaulWinch again]

If it's a choice between Barritt and Burrell they'll pick Barritt I suspect.

[paul_e]

If it's a choice between Barritt and Burrell they'll pick Barritt I suspect.

We'll take 4 centres, we have 2 13s in JJ and Slade and 4 12s in Barritt, Burgess, Burrell and 12trees.  For me the latter is already out of the running, his form just hasn't been good enough for the last year. If that's right my big concern is that Barritt and Burgess is basically 2 guys who are there to defend, Burgess has the potential to do much more but his inexperience is a big problem.  If we do then need to change things the only real alternative is Farrell at 12, which is a prospect that terrifies me.

[PaulWinch again]

Farrell in the centres is an absolute no no.

[paul_e]

Much stronger pack for the return game:

Mike Brown;
Jack Nowell, Jonathan Joseph, Luther Burrell, Jonny May;
George Ford, Ben Youngs;
James Haskell, Chris Robshaw (capt), Billy Vunipola;
Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes;
Joe Marler, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole

Replacements: Jamie George, Mako Vunipola, David Wilson, Dave Attwood, Nick Easter, Danny Care, Danny Cipriani, Billy Twelvetrees.

I think that's 7 of the starting 8 with Wood in for Haskell the only change.

In the backs I really hope they find a way to get Burrell into the game and give him a chance to show why he deserves a place, his running lines and timing are his key qualities and too many times they haven't secured the ball well and he has no idea how long it will take to come out, which nullifies him far too much in the important 2nd and 3rd phase game where he can be devastating.

I'm happy with the back 3 but I think I'd have liked to see Cips get a start at 15 to see if he can offer the same intelligence as Goode but with the extra yard of pace that's needed against the better sides.  Despite all the praise Goode is getting right now (which is massively over the top anyway, Slade was far better than him as a creative influence) the 1 time they tested his pace May pulled him out of the fire and it's not an isolated thing, he's been caught out as slow and 'on-his-heels' (defensively) in pretty much every game he's played for England.

[PaulWinch again]

Goode is going to go to the World Cup sadly. I think Cip is a much better option.

[paul_e]

Goode is going to go to the World Cup sadly. I think Cip is a much better option.

I agree and I think it's as big a mistake as Steffon Armitage not being there.  Those 2 decisions are, in my opinion, going to cost us the chance of winning the world cup at home, I just can't see us being able to compete with NZ, SA or Australia when we meet them at the business end of the tournament, we're still trapped in our safety first Northern Hemisphere approach where a centre who can tackle is considered more valuable than one who can break tackles.

[PaulWinch again]

Shit day in football and cricket so far, so let's hope the rugby boys turn up.

[paul_e]

Fingers crossed, I have England to win with a-7 handicap and JJ to get the first try, worth a few pennies if it comes in and wouldn't b a massive shock given the respective sides.

[PaulWinch again]

The French are well on top. Our discipline is terrible.

[taylorsworkrate]

Well this has been pretty horrendous so far

[PaulWinch again]

Very worrying half. Need a big response.

[PaulWinch again]

Forwards are getting crushed again. This is a desperate and very worrying display.

[villan1975]

Shit day in football and cricket so far, so let's hope the rugby boys turn up.

Nope. The shit sandwich of a day continues.

[PaulWinch again]

Our set piece has fallen apart completely. At the moment our World Cup plans are in tatters.