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

[PaulWinch again]

Cipriani needs to go to the World Cup.

[villan1975]

Absolutely dire up front. Only positives were Cipriani looked very threatening and if we give good service to the backs they would cause problems for any team.

[UK Redsox]

They almost pulled that out at the end. That was a nicely controlled passage of play to work their way almost to the French goal line.

I agree that Cipriani should go to the RWC. He has that added bit of flair and unpredictability

[PaulWinch again]

Cipriani has to go. It's a major concern that both the forward pack last week and this week were crushed. Also we have four hookers none of whom can throw.

[paul_e]

Cipriani has to go. It's a major concern that both the forward pack last week and this week were crushed. Also we have four hookers none of whom can throw.

I refer to my comment from last week, Lancaster, the RFU and some fans were so desperate to see Hartley out of the squad that none of them stopped to think about whether we had anyone remotely capable of replacing him in the team and the truth is that we very clearly don't.  The most frustrating part is that both Cowan-Dickie and George might become good Hookers but when they look around and see Webber and Youngs as the standard required to play internationally it does nothing to motivate them to learn how to throw or hook the ball.

Aside from that, from the little I saw in the pub it was an utterly piss poor performance on a piss poor pitch that yet again highlights the fact that Robshaw can't play against a side who are fighting for the ball on the floor.  Clarke last week showed for about 50-60minutes how to play 7 at international level (his sin bin turned the game and we struggled to wrestle control back) but still he'll insist on sticking with his captain and the truth is it will see him out of a job in 2 months when we get bossed in the QF or SF by a team they have spotted the glaring hole in our game and gone full out to exploit it.

[PaulWinch again]

The only positive from the last night is that it should have eliminated any sense of complacency from them. They are not as bad as they performed yesterday. But that should be a massive kick up the arse.

[Dave Summers]

Not posted on here for a while but what an absolute dogs breakfast our coaching team have made of selection and preparation for this World Cup.

This is a tournament in which we ought to have a real good chance of success but through stubbornness and placing character, leadership, defensive ability over all else, we're probably going to end up being gallant losers in the knockout stages. If we get out of the group stages that is.

Lancaster made great store over saying that players had the chance to secure a spot in the squad f they played well in the two warm ups. No one has played better than Slade and Cipriani and yet all the noises point to both being left out. We are going into the tournament with JJ, Burrell, Burgess and Barritt!!!!! As someone said on Twitter, we are an injury to JJ away from Tindall and Noon Mark 2.

I didn't want Lancaster when he was appointed and although I hope I end up eating humble pie, I reckon I won't want him in 2 months time. Beggars belief we've gone into the last 2 World Cups with two coaches who've had barely any experience at the top level.

Here's hoping

[PaulWinch again]

I think last weekend has led to the belief we're worse than we are. I'm pretty confident that our forward pack will never play that badly again. We can't judge Lancaster on anything other than his word yet in terms of people having a chance to impress. He will hopefully pick Cipriani in particular. I think he is a terrific option to change a game, as Saturday showed. We can't afford not to have him as an option.
I still think we have a good chance in this World Cup, especially as all our games are at Twickenham. It's just critical that the forwards turn up, we get the centre pairing as right as it can be and we take Cipriani.

[paul_e]

The issue that he won't address is 7, the best sides in every world cup have been the ones with a genuinely nasty bastard at 7 who skirts on the edge of the rules and does everything he can to piss off the opposition.  When we won it We had Neil Back who wasn't a good player but he was a good cheat.  New Zealand have Richie McCaw who again is a very good cheat (but is a very good player as well).  Robshaw is too nice and nothing like aggressive enough.  We've got away with the latter because of Hartley but now they've binned him we don't have a nasty forward, Clarke showed the difference it makes.  For me it's summed up when you hear the various captains talking to ref on over the mic, Robshaw is all like 'please sir, if you wouldn't mind just maybe considering that he might not be allowed to do that, your decision of course and I don't want to complain, in fact sorry for bringing it up'.  All the rest 'can you keep an eye on him doing that shit'.

[Jon Crofts]

Sounds like common sense may prevail and Hartley to get a call up by the sound of it, Graham Rowntree making heavy hints in an interview today.

[paul_e]

Sounds like common sense may prevail and Hartley to get a call up by the sound of it, Graham Rowntree making heavy hints in an interview today.

It's a shame common sense didn't prevail when the ban was handed out, it was never a 4 week ban, it didn't deserve red at the time and should've been left at that, which is what would've happened for pretty much anyone else.

He can only be called up for an injury replacement though so I wonder who is going to pick up an unexplained injury just after the Fiji game.

[PaulWinch again]

Sounds like common sense may prevail and Hartley to get a call up by the sound of it, Graham Rowntree making heavy hints in an interview today.

What did he say?

[UK Redsox]

Sounds like common sense may prevail and Hartley to get a call up by the sound of it, Graham Rowntree making heavy hints in an interview today.

What did he say?

"Going forward, we never discount the possibility of Dylan coming in, if required, as long as he has served his ban."

"I trust Dylan. He played in the last game of the Six Nations for us. He is fit.

"I have been in touch with him regularly and he would be able to come in and slot in if we need him."

[PaulWinch again]

Sky Sources, Cipriani will be left out. Typical, so the question is what was the point in him being involved.

[PaulWinch again]

My issue with the Cipriani thing is that you shouldn't come out and say everyone has a chance to impress, then give a player 15 minutes in which he completely changes the game and then still not give him a chance. I like Lancaster in general, but there are too many favourites in the squad.