International Rugby

[cdbearsfan]

Worth its own thread I reckon.

Got a £10 e/w bet on France in the unlikely event that Scotland don't storm to victory.

[cheltenhamlion]

I can't see the frogs winning it. England are the only Northern Hemisphere side with a shot to my mind. They really need to win the group of death though.

[PaulWinch again]

Thing is I'm really torn as to whether us being in the 'grpup of death' is a help or a hindrance. I actually think that if we came through the group, and even won it, we'd be full of confidence and battle hardened. I wouldn't give us much chance in another country, with the team at it's current stage of development, but at home you never know. I do think it's critical that Launchbury gets fully fit and thst Youngs finds his line out jumpers.

[paul_e]

If I were to bet right now I'd go for Australia, they've got pace and quality out wide, a solid front 5 and then the best back row in the tournament which is what will make the difference.  I think whoever tops our group is in the final either way though so we need to hit the ground running and get every point we can.

For England we've only really got Ford as a 'playmaker' in the squad for the first game so we're putting a lot of pressure on him.  JJ and the wingers are superb outside backs who can rip anyone apart given half a yard but I just don't see anyone who will make those gaps consistently, the options at 12 are pathetic in terms of creating play.  My opinion on the back row is clear so I won't go over that again and I think Youngs is a decent option from the bench but he's nothing like good enough at the set piece to be the starting hooker, the decision to throw Hartley to the wolves over a nothing incident looked bad at the time and the 3 summer games have shown it to be fucking idiotic.  I genuinely think Lancaster is going to throw away a great chance of winning the world cup at home because he wanted t pick 'nice guys' rather than the best players.

[UK Redsox]

May, Joseph and Watson are decent players but there's no world class players in the England team.

I think that they're especially weak at scrum half.

[UK Redsox]

What games are people going to?

At the moment I'm just doing USA v Japan at Kingsholm

[PaulWinch again]

May, Joseph and Watson are decent players but there's no world class players in the England team.

I think that they're especially weak at scrum half.

Fit and on form Cole, Launchbury, Lawes, Wood, Joseph, Brown and potentially Ford are World class.

[PaulWinch again]

I'm going to Wales and Uruguay on Sunday.

[montague]

SA v Samoa at VP
Wales v Aus at twickers

[Dave Cooper please]

Are Brazil in it?

[cdbearsfan]

twickers

Cringe.

[UK Redsox]

twickers

Cringe.

When I was going regularly to England games (back in the late 70s & early 80s) it was referred to as 'HQ'. I don't remember people calling it 'Twickers' back then

[paul_e]

May, Joseph and Watson are decent players but there's no world class players in the England team.

I think that they're especially weak at scrum half.

Fit and on form Cole, Launchbury, Lawes, Wood, Joseph, Brown and potentially Ford are World class.

I agree on all except Brown, I don't think he's got the brains to be a world class full back.  Watson will be world class though, get him the ball in space and he'll destroy any winger in the world but unlike most wingers he's also got the awareness and hands to make things for other people, unfortunately he's probably still a little inexperienced right now, the 2019 world cup will be his tournament. 


EDITED because I missed putting 2019 so the last bit was all kinds of weird.

[nigel]

May, Joseph and Watson are decent players but there's no world class players in the England team.

I think that they're especially weak at scrum half.

Fit and on form Cole, Launchbury, Lawes, Wood, Joseph, Brown and potentially Ford are World class.

I agree on all except Brown, I don't think he's got the brains to be a world class full back.  Watson will be world class though, get him the ball in space and he'll destroy any winger in the world but unlike most wingers he's also got the awareness and hands to make things for other people, unfortunately he's probably still a little inexperienced right now, the world cup will be his tournament.

I like Mike Brown, but I have to agree, Paul. Oh for Jason Robinson 

[Jon Crofts]

Thing is I'm really torn as to whether us being in the 'grpup of death' is a help or a hindrance. I actually think that if we came through the group, and even won it, we'd be full of confidence and battle hardened. I wouldn't give us much chance in another country, with the team at it's current stage of development, but at home you never know. I do think it's critical that Launchbury gets fully fit and thst Youngs finds his line out jumpers.

Youngs won't play past the opener with Fiji before he falls foul of a mystery injury and in comes Hartley.  At least that's what I'm hoping for.