Far be it from me to defend the English press and anyone else from the EMB, but I think the press may have focused on number of caps as a factor for relative strength and experience. At Twickenham England's starting XV had 390 caps between them, whereas Wales had 676 caps. Obviously that doesn't mean the players with more caps are guaranteed first team players, but I guess that may be why the press chose to use the terms they did...as well as the fact they bias scumbagsMrK wrote:I am loving the fact that the English press and EMB are talking about their mix n match teams against our first choice .
I’d give you the backs were mostly first choice , excluding Anscombe and Liam.
But the pack ?
I’d argue Evans , Lee (if fit) , Beard or Hill, Navidi will start , and Tipuric . Would all improve our pack
So I’d say 50% first choice pack at best.
I also think the 10 spot isn’t 100% nailed on yet .
My rose tinted glasses still thinks Gats has something up his sleeve .
For now though , I’ll give England the dues of humping Ireland .
Whilst I don’t think we are the #1 team in the world ( despite the rankings ) . I don’t think England are all that either.
Agree with your final sentence. I honestly don't see much between any of the top 6 teams. I'd have NZ in front and favourites for the RWC cup, but I also think all of the other 5 teams can beat them. It may require a number of things going their way but I feel we're all catching them up.
Also as good as it was beating Ireland, and I thought we scored some nice tries, especially the planned set piece moves from the scrum and Curry's try. Ireland were utter shite. Don't think I've seen them play that poorly before tbh. I do hope Jones doesn't get complacent about things as just a week before we struggled to get anything going in Cardiff.
