England's Dastardly plan

[Spiffy]

According to today's Planet Rugby, England took on their RWC warmup games in a state of less than full fitness, deliberately planned so that fitness would peak within the tournament itself. The Argie game proves the point apparently. A fiendishly clever ploy reflecting some inspired coaching.
I believe they have been working on the same approach when it comes to scoring tries, so watch out. One of these days ..........

[Puja]

According to today's Planet Rugby, England took on their RWC warmup games in a state of less than full fitness, deliberately planned so that fitness would peak within the tournament itself. The Argie game proves the point apparently. A fiendishly clever ploy reflecting some inspired coaching.
I believe they have been working on the same approach when it comes to scoring tries, so watch out. One of these days ..........

That was the last shred of hope that English fans were clinging onto over the warmup matches and we've had a little discussion on this in other threads not that it's been "confirmed", however I am a little bit concerned that expectations are whiplashing a little. Before the Argentina game, there were dire predictions of not being able to get out of the pool, and now there's open chat amongst fans and pundits of being able to rotate our team for Japan, the team we were scared of, just under a week ago!

I think I want to see us back up the Argentina game with a dominant victory against Japan before I start to believe that there's a grand plan in effect and, even then, it'll take a bit more to get me to forgive losing to Fiji at Twickenham (and I say that as one of the people who used IBWT genuinely. He had a lot of credit in the bank with me, but it was all spent across the 6N and summer internationals).

Puja

[FKAS]

All we've evidenced to so far is that the players are fit, there some actual defensive structure in place and that George Ford knows how to control a game and the scoreboard.

More than we'd thought likely pre Argentina but we're nowhere near good enough for the big games. Got to go hard against Japan and look to build again. Rotate a bit against Chile maybe but not against potential banana skins Samoa and Japan. Empty the bench if we finish the game off early. If anything we need more time on the pitch to work on the attack.

[Oakboy]

I think there are huge volumes of bated breath. Will Farrell and Vunipola walk back in? Or, will the plus points from Saturday be built upon?

SB has been lucky that suspension/injury forced his selection. Will he recognise that and go with the flow? I think that was far more significant than training camp claims about fitness. It is more about mentality/confidence/team spirit than physicality, IMO. Winning teams always look fitter than losing teams.

[morepork]

This is a wind up, right?

[Puja]

This is a wind up, right?

Ask again when your team's won a match in this RWC. Maybe you should've done fitness training through your warmup matches as well?

Puja

[p/d]

This is a wind up, right?

Ask again when your team's won a match in this RWC. Maybe you should've done fitness training through your warmup matches as well?

Puja

They did spend quite a bit of time doing stretches behind their posts v SA

[FKAS]

This is a wind up, right?

Ask again when your team's won a match in this RWC. Maybe you should've done fitness training through your warmup matches as well?

Puja

They did spend quite a bit of time doing stretches behind their posts v SA

Those shuttle runs back to halfway from under the posts were good cardio.

[Spiffy]

This is a wind up, right?

Wind up? Moi?

[Danno]

I think there are huge volumes of bated breath. Will Farrell and Vunipola walk back in? Or, will the plus points from Saturday be built upon?

Yes. (I'd prefer Will Ferrell at this point)
No.
The end.

[fivepointer]

Every team would want their fitness to peak at the WC, wouldnt they?

England did look a little lethargic in the warm ups and have seemed to turn a corner with their fitness.

Thats good. Now time to build on the Argentina win and go up another gear.

[Mellsblue]

All we have to do now is work on passing and tackling. Simples.

[Oakboy]

All we have to do now is work on passing and tackling. Simples.

You are just never satisfied!

[Mellsblue]

All we have to do now is work on passing and tackling. Simples.

You are just never satisfied!