England vs Samoa - Sat 4.45pm

[Mellsblue]

Harsh on clogs.

[Beasties]

Harsh on the causes of clogs.

[Mellsblue]

Watching this France backline brings this whole debate into sharp relief.

[Oakboy]

Watching this France backline brings this whole debate into sharp relief.

Did they say the French left winger was playing under-20 stuff earlier this year? How come they can integrate young talent that easily but we don't even try?

[Mellsblue]

Watching this France backline brings this whole debate into sharp relief.

Did they say the French left winger was playing under-20 stuff earlier this year? How come they can integrate young talent that easily but we don't even try?

Exactement, mon ami.

[Mikey Brown]

Watching this France backline brings this whole debate into sharp relief.

Did they say the French left winger was playing under-20 stuff earlier this year? How come they can integrate young talent that easily but we don't even try?

Sure he’s rapid and he can’t stop scoring but how does he cope with 20 kick chases in a row? What’s his bounce time?

[jimKRFC]

Watching this France backline brings this whole debate into sharp relief.

Did they say the French left winger was playing under-20 stuff earlier this year? How come they can integrate young talent that easily but we don't even try?

Pretty sure he was in the End U20 game this year at Bath. He looked pretty good then.

[Danno]

Penaud is ridiculous

Also, France's ball presentation is unreal, it's out the back instantly and they have SHs that actually use the thing within 5 seconds

[Tom Moore]

I'm wondering if this is the slowest backline ever selected for a rugby match ever?

Exhibit A:

M Cueto (Sale Sharks); M Banahan (Bath), D Hipkiss (Leicester), A Erinle (Biarritz), U Monye (Harlequins); J Wilkinson (Toulon), P Hodgson (London Irish)

If Monye had made a break in that team he'd have to have rented somewhere whilst he waited for support.

[Mellsblue]

Watching this France backline brings this whole debate into sharp relief.

Did they say the French left winger was playing under-20 stuff earlier this year? How come they can integrate young talent that easily but we don't even try?

If you look across to the right wing, Penaud became a fixture in the France side after one season playing for Clermont… a season he started as back-up for Rougerie at 13

[Mellsblue]

I'm wondering if this is the slowest backline ever selected for a rugby match ever?

Exhibit A:

M Cueto (Sale Sharks); M Banahan (Bath), D Hipkiss (Leicester), A Erinle (Biarritz), U Monye (Harlequins); J Wilkinson (Toulon), P Hodgson (London Irish)

If Monye had made a break in that team he'd have to have rented somewhere whilst he waited for support.

‘If’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting given who would, hypothetically, be passing him the ball…

[Tom Moore]

Exhibit A:

If Monye had made a break in that team he'd have to have rented somewhere whilst he waited for support.

‘If’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting given who would, hypothetically, be passing him the ball…

Agreed. Let's assume intercept.

[Oakboy]

Watching this France backline brings this whole debate into sharp relief.

Did they say the French left winger was playing under-20 stuff earlier this year? How come they can integrate young talent that easily but we don't even try?

If you look across to the right wing, Penaud became a fixture in the France side after one season playing for Clermont… a season he started as back-up for Rougerie at 13

I suppose 'it's only Italy' has to be said but . . . . Pace on the ball + 15-man continuity + Aldritt = pretty damned good!

[Mellsblue]

Did they say the French left winger was playing under-20 stuff earlier this year? How come they can integrate young talent that easily but we don't even try?

If you look across to the right wing, Penaud became a fixture in the France side after one season playing for Clermont… a season he started as back-up for Rougerie at 13

I suppose 'it's only Italy' has to be said but . . . . Pace on the ball + 15-man continuity + Aldritt = pretty damned good!

Yep. Like watching a different sport and that’s just the intent. The execution is like watching a different species.

[Beasties]

Watching this France backline brings this whole debate into sharp relief.

Did they say the French left winger was playing under-20 stuff earlier this year? How come they can integrate young talent that easily but we don't even try?

Pfft. SB’s plan will prove how untenable this idea is. They must be desperate to even think about trying such nonsense.

[FKAS]

Watching this France backline brings this whole debate into sharp relief.

Did they say the French left winger was playing under-20 stuff earlier this year? How come they can integrate young talent that easily but we don't even try?

Pfft. SB’s plan will prove how untenable this idea is. They must be desperate to even think about trying such nonsense.

Isn't it just the one under 20 that's progressed into the squad and he's being rotated in and out? LBB will likely make way for Villiere for the quarters.

Not dissimilar to how England are drip feeding Arundell game time.

[Mellsblue]

Did they say the French left winger was playing under-20 stuff earlier this year? How come they can integrate young talent that easily but we don't even try?

Pfft. SB’s plan will prove how untenable this idea is. They must be desperate to even think about trying such nonsense.

Isn't it just the one under 20 that's progressed into the squad and he's being rotated in and out? LBB will likely make way for Villiere for the quarters.

Not dissimilar to how England are drip feeding Arundell game time.

Not quite the same with Chile being the worst team in the tournament and Italy being a historical banana skin with qualification not assured. #IBWBT

[FKAS]

Pfft. SB’s plan will prove how untenable this idea is. They must be desperate to even think about trying such nonsense.

Isn't it just the one under 20 that's progressed into the squad and he's being rotated in and out? LBB will likely make way for Villiere for the quarters.

Not dissimilar to how England are drip feeding Arundell game time.

Not quite the same with Chile being the worst team in the tournament and Italy being a historical banana skin with qualification not assured. #IBWBT

Italy aren't a banana skin to a team as good as France. They had their scare with the second team they sent out earlier in the tournament. Didn't think this one would be anything other than one sided

[Spiffy]

Did they say the French left winger was playing under-20 stuff earlier this year? How come they can integrate young talent that easily but we don't even try?

If you look across to the right wing, Penaud became a fixture in the France side after one season playing for Clermont… a season he started as back-up for Rougerie at 13

I suppose 'it's only Italy' has to be said but . . . . Pace on the ball + 15-man continuity + Aldritt = pretty damned good!

Aldritt is great at what he does - powerful carries, strong tackling, jackling, all with an amazing engine and real consistency. His one weakness is that he is not good at using the ball in attack, never passes and goes to ground/recycles as a matter of course. This is his designated role in the team - a hard yards maker. With a few added footballing skills be could be the complete No.8. Surprised that such a fluid team as France have not got him working on this.

[FKAS]

If you look across to the right wing, Penaud became a fixture in the France side after one season playing for Clermont… a season he started as back-up for Rougerie at 13

I suppose 'it's only Italy' has to be said but . . . . Pace on the ball + 15-man continuity + Aldritt = pretty damned good!

Aldritt is great at what he does - powerful carries, strong tackling, jackling, all with an amazing engine and real consistency. His one weakness is that he is not good at using the ball in attack, never passes and goes to ground/recycles as a matter of course. This is his designated role in the team - a hard yards maker. With a few added footballing skills be could be the complete No.8. Surprised that such a fluid team as France have not got him working on this.

He offers more for La Rochelle. He runs good support lines and has an offloading game with them. Perhaps France want more structure from their forwards and save the freedom in attack for the backs.

[Mellsblue]

Isn't it just the one under 20 that's progressed into the squad and he's being rotated in and out? LBB will likely make way for Villiere for the quarters.

Not dissimilar to how England are drip feeding Arundell game time.

Not quite the same with Chile being the worst team in the tournament and Italy being a historical banana skin with qualification not assured. #IBWBT

Italy aren't a banana skin to a team as good as France. They had their scare with the second team they sent out earlier in the tournament. Didn't think this one would be anything other than one sided

I see you ignored the word historical - I’m sure it would’ve played on their minds and informed selection. Point still stands that comparing Chile and Italy is comparing apples and oranges. I’d also note that JBB has played three matches to Arundell’s one.

[p/d]

Not quite the same with Chile being the worst team in the tournament and Italy being a historical banana skin with qualification not assured. #IBWBT

Italy aren't a banana skin to a team as good as France. They had their scare with the second team they sent out earlier in the tournament. Didn't think this one would be anything other than one sided

I see you ignored the word historical - I’m sure it would’ve played on their minds and informed selection. Point still stands that comparing Chile and Italy is comparing apples and oranges. I’d also note that JBB has played three matches to Arundell’s one.

And is likely to be replaced by their first choice winger rather than being ignored for a centre and wing/fb cover by an anglers’s dream

[Banquo]

Fellas Superb Backmaster has it cracked trust him

[Danno]

Criticising Aldritt is kind of funny.
(Being kind)

[Spiffy]

Criticising Aldritt is kind of funny.
(Being kind)

We all see what we see, sometimes different things, and need not all agree. Aldritt is very good at what he does. I think he would make the England team. (But not the Irish .