International Rugby

[UK Redsox]

Barnes to ref the NZ v Ire QF

Sets him up for the final if England don't make it

[dcdavecollett]

IF...?

[PaulWinch again]

Sounds like it’s going to be Farrell at 10 - he better perform, because Ford absolutely has.

[paul_e]

Sounds like it’s going to be Farrell at 10 - he better perform, because Ford absolutely has.

Of course it will be, Farrell at 10 every game he was available for was inevitable and how anyone else played was never going to matter.

[PaulWinch again]

It’s very curious that they’ve dropped Stewart from the squad entirely.

[paul_e]

It’s very curious that they’ve dropped Stewart from the squad entirely.

Not really, he's a decent all-round player but no more than that. Where he excels is under the high ball and on the kick return, neither of which are likely to be big factors against Fiji. That leaves you with a direct choice on the bench of him or Lawrence and the latter has far more to his game to suggest he can come on and make a difference. I'm more bothered by them picking Daly on the wing ahead of Arundell.

Up front I think things a bit muddled. Cole and George in there suggests we want to dominate the scrum early on and then open up with more progressive carriers later but Genge/Marler are the wrong way round if that's the plan and similarly you'd probably start Billy and swap him out if that's the focus. Quite how Martin has leapfrogged into first cover at Lock I don't know, the guy is nowhere near the level of someone like Ribbans and with Lawes at 6 if you want a more progressive option then you'd look at Ludlam taking that spot with Lawes easily able to step over if needed. Alternatively Underhill there instead gives you the option to tighten things up and have a game breaker to bring in.

The selection sums up Borthwick for me, it's like he's not sure what he wants to achieve so he's mushed a few different styles together and will see what works on the day, which is a really shitty way to set up a team at this level.

[nigel]

Might have a cheeky bet on all 4 Northern Hemisphere teams going through.

Quite confident of England and Wales going through
Ireland seem to have New Zealand’s number
France, with home advantage, hopefully dump the Boks

[PaulWinch again]

I think it’s quite odd to drop Steward from the 23 either. I’m not that fussed about it, he’s decent, but he’s been an ever present for a while. Regardless of the opposition’s particular style it’s quite a bold/atypical call for Borthwick.

[Villa Lew]

Anybody going for an All Blacks win tonight?

[paul_e]

Anybody going for an All Blacks win tonight?

I'm leaning that way but I wouldn't bet on it.

[paul_e]

These Welsh shirts are fucking awful.

[nigel]

These Welsh shirts are fucking awful.

Looks like they got them from the local Marseille flea market

[nigel]

Josh Adams, you lucky man.
Thought that may have been a yellow

[paul_e]

Josh Adams, you lucky man.
Thought that may have been a yellow

Agreed, very lucky, was fucking stupid as well.

[AV84]

Would be amusing if Argentina end up the last Southern Hemisphere team in the competition.