Wales v England

[normanski]

I'd be delighted if you dropped North. He's by far the better, more dangerous player.

He can be a player for the big game.

People keep saying the French gifted him two tries but if you look at the build up to both he was really working hard to achieve his scores.

On his first Huget had the ball covered and North could have slowed down to wait for him to gather and stand up or even made a halfhearted attempt to follow up.

Instead he came onto him at pace, looming over him and perhaps catching Huget’s eye as he collected the ball and squeezed it forward. George still had to crouch forward, claim a very wet and greasy ball and touch down, all in one flowing movement of magic!

The second was just as well taken. North was starting to run forward at pace to tackle the inside player as the second rower was winding up to make the pass. He timed the run to perfection, seeing it was going long he changed direction slightly got to the high ball, juggled it a full pace and then held the greasy ball to run over half the length of the field to score.

Stom, I suspect the England game will be much closer than many people on both sides of the Severn believe.

[Stom]

I'd be delighted if you dropped North. He's by far the better, more dangerous player.

He can be a player for the big game.

People keep saying the French gifted him two tries but if you look at the build up to both he was really working hard to achieve his scores.

On his first Huget had the ball covered and North could have slowed down to wait for him to gather and stand up or even made a halfhearted attempt to follow up.

Instead he came onto him at pace, looming over him and perhaps catching Huget’s eye as he collected the ball and squeezed it forward. George still had to crouch forward, claim a very wet and greasy ball and touch down, all in one flowing movement of magic!

The second was just as well taken. North was starting to run forward at pace to tackle the inside player as the second rower was winding up to make the pass. He timed the run to perfection, seeing it was going long he changed direction slightly got to the high ball, juggled it a full pace and then held the greasy ball to run over half the length of the field to score.

Stom, I suspect the England game will be much closer than many people on both sides of the Severn believe.

Really? Most I speak to think it's going to be tight as a badger's proverbial.

[Digby]

Do most people think a badger's proverbial is tight? It might just be me but I'd never given it any consideration

I do agree assuming both teams defend as expected it should be a close game

[Sandydragon]

Do most people think a badger's proverbial is tight? It might just be me but I'd never given it any consideration

I do agree assuming both teams defend as expected it should be a close game

I think a ducks proverbial would be tighter but a badgers would still be tighter than most (assessment based on once watching a documentary about badgers).

If Wales step up ( and if we can’t step up for England at home, in a World Cup year, to maintain an unbeaten record, to deny the English a grand slam and when many in the media seem to hint that England just need to turn up- then frankly we should just give up now) then it will be a very good and tight game. England are in form, Wales have two weeks to rediscover theirs in camp.

[Numbers]

Mako is out then so that's one less ball carrier to worry about.

[Stom]

Mako is out then so that's one less ball carrier to worry about.

I'd say Genge is almost as good a carrier. Not as good a tackler nor passer, but he's not shabby.

Hard to compare anyone to Mako nowadays, though, he's in a class of his own as a LH.

[Sandydragon]

Mako is out then so that's one less ball carrier to worry about.

I'd say Genge is almost as good a carrier. Not as good a tackler nor passer, but he's not shabby.

Hard to compare anyone to Mako nowadays, though, he's in a class of his own as a LH.

Agreed. He is a loss for you, although perhaps not to the same degree that losing Billy V was.

[Sourdust]

There's no denying that Mako's absence is good news for us. I'd have preferred Billy, though!

If ½p is genuinely fit then it's a no-brainer he must start. I agree that North is far from un-droppable but why is no-one even talking about dropping Sanjay? He's hardly set the world alight, and has also made some conspicuous errors. ½-N!-Josh looks tidy to me. Liam can sit on the bench getting angrier...

[normanski]

There's no denying that Mako's absence is good news for us. I'd have preferred Billy, though!

If ½p is genuinely fit then it's a no-brainer he must start. I agree that North is far from un-droppable but why is no-one even talking about dropping Sanjay? He's hardly set the world alight, and has also made some conspicuous errors. ½-N!-Josh looks tidy to me. Liam can sit on the bench getting angrier...

Your back three selection wouldn’t surprise me. Gatland has a habit of pulling rabbits out of hats for big games.

[Renniks]

With our recent game plan, I'd prefer to have North and Adams, than [Either of them] + Williams

I'm concerned Wales will nullify us and will lead to us trying to much before crumbling - in my view the two clear ways you have to do that - Dominate us in the tackle, and cover the back field well…

[Son of Mathonwy]

Nope, Halfpenny out again (probably). Extremely worrying that he's still struggling with concussion. Hope Kerevi's feeling proud of himself.

[bruce]

It's a crying shame but I have a feeling we have seen the last of 1/2penny in a playing capacity.

[Ross. S]

It's a crying shame but I have a feeling we have seen the last of 1/2penny in a playing capacity.

Yeah I've been getting that feeling too

[Digby]

It's a crying shame but I have a feeling we have seen the last of 1/2penny in a playing capacity.

Yeah I've been getting that feeling too

It'd almost be a relief after all the knocks he's taken and clearly suffered from

[Sandydragon]

It's a crying shame but I have a feeling we have seen the last of 1/2penny in a playing capacity.

That would be a huge shame, but nothing compared to his ongoing health.

[Numbers]

It's a crying shame but I have a feeling we have seen the last of 1/2penny in a playing capacity.

That would be a huge shame, but nothing compared to his ongoing health.

Aye, hope all goes well for him.

[Sourdust]

Yes, I've been saying for a while that I think he's done. I'd love to be wrong, and thought perhaps I was - but this latest episode seems to all-but confirm it. Retirement announcement before the RWC I reckon.

[francoisfou]

Yes, I've been saying for a while that I think he's done. I'd love to be wrong, and thought perhaps I was - but this latest episode seems to all-but confirm it. Retirement announcement before the RWC I reckon.

Sad news indeed, as he's a fine instinctive player.

[Puja]

Biggar left the field injured early for Saints today. Not sure what with or how seriously.

Puja

[Sandydragon]

Biggar left the field injured early for Saints today. Not sure what with or how seriously.

Puja

Reports today suggest it’s minor.

[Puja]

Biggar left the field injured early for Saints today. Not sure what with or how seriously.

Puja

Reports today suggest it’s minor.

Good to hear. While he's a bloody menace (and I really don't want his kick-and-chase up against Daly), I'd rather your lot weren't too injury deprived; we need to have a clear idea of where we are, and win on our own merits if we are to win.

Puja

[Hooky]

I'd be delighted if you dropped North. He's by far the better, more dangerous player.

He can be a player for the big game.

People keep saying the French gifted him two tries but if you look at the build up to both he was really working hard to achieve his scores.

On his first Huget had the ball covered and North could have slowed down to wait for him to gather and stand up or even made a halfhearted attempt to follow up.

Instead he came onto him at pace, looming over him and perhaps catching Huget’s eye as he collected the ball and squeezed it forward. George still had to crouch forward, claim a very wet and greasy ball and touch down, all in one flowing movement of magic!

The second was just as well taken. North was starting to run forward at pace to tackle the inside player as the second rower was winding up to make the pass. He timed the run to perfection, seeing it was going long he changed direction slightly got to the high ball, juggled it a full pace and then held the greasy ball to run over half the length of the field to score.

Stom, I suspect the England game will be much closer than many people on both sides of the Severn believe.

Really? Most I speak to think it's going to be tight as a badger's proverbial.

I don’t see it being close. I hope I’m wrong obviously but I see an England win by 15 points. Wales don’t have to ball carriers to stop this England side.

[Banquo]

Biggar left the field injured early for Saints today. Not sure what with or how seriously.

Puja

Reports today suggest it’s minor.

Good to hear. While he's a bloody menace (and I really don't want his kick-and-chase up against Daly), I'd rather your lot weren't too injury deprived; we need to have a clear idea of where we are, and win on our own merits if we are to win.

Puja

Ashton is out, so we have no chance.

[normanski]

Reports today suggest it’s minor.

Good to hear. While he's a bloody menace (and I really don't want his kick-and-chase up against Daly), I'd rather your lot weren't too injury deprived; we need to have a clear idea of where we are, and win on our own merits if we are to win.

Puja

Ashton is out, so we have no chance.

Ha! Ashton May be out but Nowell will be in, so we have no chance!

[normanski]

Reports today suggest it’s minor.

Good to hear. While he's a bloody menace (and I really don't want his kick-and-chase up against Daly), I'd rather your lot weren't too injury deprived; we need to have a clear idea of where we are, and win on our own merits if we are to win.

Puja

Ashton is out, so we have no chance.

Ha! Ashton May be out but Nowell will be in, so we have no chance!