England vs Wales - Sat 5.30pm - A New Hope

[Mellsblue]

Further searchings for silver linings, Farrell is out of the picture, probably until at least the 2nd if not the 3rd group game. That's a free run of no pressure for Ford and Smith, with actual centres outside them.

The idea that he won’t come straight back into the XV…

[Mellsblue]

Quote from BBC website: "amazing how a red card to Owen Farrell has changed this game for England."

One day the scales may fall from their eyes... he's not the messiah..

He is a very naughty boy.

[Adam_P]

Shame Arundell wasnt on the pitch once Owen had jettisoned himself

[jngf]

First choice backrow for me J Willis or Ludlam at 6, Earl at 7, Billy at 8 - if T Curry can dislodge any of these on form fair enough but he should not start on reputation alone, the bar for flanker, especially in an attacking context has been raised from the days of the kamikaze kids

[switchskier]

Further searchings for silver linings, Farrell is out of the picture, probably until at least the 2nd if not the 3rd group game. That's a free run of no pressure for Ford and Smith, with actual centres outside them.

You guys get all of the luck.

If the squad hadn't already been announced, might he have been left out? Can they change it now?

[Mellsblue]

Daly was class.

[Puja]

But as he's running over, he has to realise he's not getting there. Just charging on is poor decision making.

If he doesn't go full pelt though, then Adams catches it without jumping and walks over the line. We'd got far too narrow.

Puja

Can’t believe you’re trying to defend it. He went full pelt and got there too early which means he could’ve not gone full pelt and got there at the correct time.

He got there early? Completely disagree. He gets there early if he knows for a fact that Adams is going to stop and jump in the air. If he doesn't go that quickly, Adams doesn't jump and just catches the ball a metre closer to the touchline to cross untouched.

Puja

[Puja]

Further searchings for silver linings, Farrell is out of the picture, probably until at least the 2nd if not the 3rd group game. That's a free run of no pressure for Ford and Smith, with actual centres outside them.

You guys get all of the luck.

If the squad hadn't already been announced, might he have been left out? Can they change it now?

We can do what we like - the squad naming timeline was our choice, not something enforced on us. Though unless he gets a 9 game ban, there's no way in any of the hells that he'll be left out of the squad.

Puja

[jngf]

If he doesn't go full pelt though, then Adams catches it without jumping and walks over the line. We'd got far too narrow.

Puja

Can’t believe you’re trying to defend it. He went full pelt and got there too early which means he could’ve not gone full pelt and got there at the correct time.

He got there early? Completely disagree. He gets there early if he knows for a fact that Adams is going to stop and jump in the air. If he doesn't go that quickly, Adams doesn't jump and just catches the ball a metre closer to the touchline to cross untouched.

Puja

Think you’re in a minority of one on this Puja - welcome to the club

[jngf]

Ford having to do not just Farell’s but SB’s job too in fielding after match commentary

[Shiny]

Amazing how much better we played with Ford running the show after the petulant clown went off, like a different team. Pair Ford with Mitchell (if JVP is injured) add the two centres from today, Daly and Watson on the wing and we might actually do quite well and get quick ball. And for me Earl starts at 8 over Billy as well. Hopefully Faz’s ban finishes after the World Cup.

[jngf]

Gatland as past it as Lawes, Cole and Youngs

[Mellsblue]

Amazing how much better we played with Ford running the show after the petulant clown went off, like a different team. Pair Ford with Mitchell (if JVP is injured) add the two centres from today, Daly and Watson on the wing and we might actually do quite well and get quick ball. And for me Earl starts at 8 over Billy as well. Hopefully Faz’s ban finishes after the World Cup.

Stop it. It’s the hope that kills you.

[jngf]

Sarah Bernhardt accentuating the +ve

[Insouciant]

Amazing how much better we played with Ford running the show after the petulant clown went off, like a different team. Pair Ford with Mitchell (if JVP is injured) add the two centres from today, Daly and Watson on the wing and we might actually do quite well and get quick ball. And for me Earl starts at 8 over Billy as well. Hopefully Faz’s ban finishes after the World Cup.

Agree with most of that. Thought Earl look good. I barely remember seeing Billy V in the first 50 or 60 tbh. Ford given a chance with two centres and suddenly England played some rugby. Good decision on the kick to the corner to maul over for the try with only 12 men topo.

There's a decent team in that squad, but whether Simon Bolivar actually manages to spot it is another matter. Fazlet will be back in as soon as his ban is over I fear.

[jngf]

Durden looks likes he’s trying hard not to piss himself laughing listening to this

[Spiffy]

Two pretty ropey teams who will scare nobody in the RWC. A reflection of two pretty ropey coaches who are amongst the world's dullest.
Soggy Bedwetter has brought nothing to the England set up.

[Scrumhead]

First choice backrow for me J Willis or Ludlam at 6, Earl at 7, Billy at 8 - if T Curry can dislodge any of these on form fair enough but he should not start on reputation alone, the bar for flanker, especially in an attacking context has been raised from the days of the kamikaze kids

Why do you hate on Curry so much despite every possible bit of evidence to the contrary?

Earl had a good game against a poor Welsh side. I’m not sure that quite stands against any of the others’ achievements for England.

[jngf]

First choice backrow for me J Willis or Ludlam at 6, Earl at 7, Billy at 8 - if T Curry can dislodge any of these on form fair enough but he should not start on reputation alone, the bar for flanker, especially in an attacking context has been raised from the days of the kamikaze kids

Why do you hate on Curry so much despite every possible bit of evidence to the contrary?

Earl had a good game against a poor Welsh side. I’m not sure that quite stands against any of the others’ achievements for England.

Why do you like to characterise me as hating him?, which I don’t, I just don’t see him as quite as a good a player as you do. He’s not as good a fetcher as J Willis, not as good an carrier:attacker as Ludlam or Earl and not quite as good a defender ( or open side ) as Underhill imo. As your stats showed he does have a high balanced range of qualities but I maintain he’s not objectively the best player in any single area of backrow play. I’ll concede he’s certainly a better 6 than Lawes and I hope we can at least agree on that?

[Oakboy]

I don't rate Earl particularly but he simply looked a better 8 than BV today and a worse 7 than Willis. I thought Lawes was just OK but he was doing some of the 2nd row work where Martin looked a bit of a lost soul.

Itoje was back towards his feisty self but he was carrying his 2nd row partner.

Maybe, SB is now regretting dumping Slade. Lawrence looked far better with him in the 6N than he did today with Marchant. The obvious decision is to drop Farrell for Slade even if he is just to be a bench option.

[Puja]

I don't rate Earl particularly but he simply looked a better 8 than BV today and a worse 7 than Willis. I thought Lawes was just OK but he was doing some of the 2nd row work where Martin looked a bit of a lost soul.

Itoje was back towards his feisty self but he was carrying his 2nd row partner.

Maybe, SB is now regretting dumping Slade. Lawrence looked far better with him in the 6N than he did today with Marchant. The obvious decision is to drop Farrell for Slade even if he is just to be a bench option.

Yeah, Martin needs more time in the oven, sad to say. I wasn't wrong about his immense promise, but I was wrong about him being ready.

I can't see Slade is the answer - Lawrence didn't look especially good except in occasional bright moments in the 6N, which he also had here with a couple of good runs. He's just not very good at being a close-quarters battering ram, which is what we seem determined to use him as.

Puja

[FKAS]

Ford at 10 with 14 men was infinitely better than Farrell with 15. As soon as England lost Farrell we started to take control. Ford's game management and variation really has to be the go to.

Surely Farrell has used up his reductions and tackle correction courses. Got to be at least a three week ban. Ideally a bit more, by the time he's back Ford should be firmly set in the side.

[Sandydragon]

If he doesn't go full pelt though, then Adams catches it without jumping and walks over the line. We'd got far too narrow.

Puja

Can’t believe you’re trying to defend it. He went full pelt and got there too early which means he could’ve not gone full pelt and got there at the correct time.

He got there early? Completely disagree. He gets there early if he knows for a fact that Adams is going to stop and jump in the air. If he doesn't go that quickly, Adams doesn't jump and just catches the ball a metre closer to the touchline to cross untouched.

Puja

It was clumsy and totally worthy of a yellow card.

[FKAS]

I don't rate Earl particularly but he simply looked a better 8 than BV today and a worse 7 than Willis. I thought Lawes was just OK but he was doing some of the 2nd row work where Martin looked a bit of a lost soul.

Itoje was back towards his feisty self but he was carrying his 2nd row partner.

Maybe, SB is now regretting dumping Slade. Lawrence looked far better with him in the 6N than he did today with Marchant. The obvious decision is to drop Farrell for Slade even if he is just to be a bench option.

Yeah, Martin needs more time in the oven, sad to say. I wasn't wrong about his immense promise, but I was wrong about him being ready.

I can't see Slade is the answer - Lawrence didn't look especially good except in occasional bright moments in the 6N, which he also had here with a couple of good runs. He's just not very good at being a close-quarters battering ram, which is what we seem determined to use him as.

Puja

I think Martin looks solid but not much more currently. No errors but no standout moments either. He's doing the graft but he needs to show more.

I think the answer in the backline is Ford. Farrell stood very deep and the centres seemed to struggle to align as JVP was looking to play close to the line with darts and offloads the centres seemed a bit in no man's land. No sure Slade will offer much, SB seems to want running options in the midfield and Slade doesn't offer that particularly well.

[FKAS]

Can’t believe you’re trying to defend it. He went full pelt and got there too early which means he could’ve not gone full pelt and got there at the correct time.

He got there early? Completely disagree. He gets there early if he knows for a fact that Adams is going to stop and jump in the air. If he doesn't go that quickly, Adams doesn't jump and just catches the ball a metre closer to the touchline to cross untouched.

Puja

It was clumsy and totally worthy of a yellow card.

He simply has to jump. If you don't get airborne in that situation you just can't touch the player.