QF v Fiji

[Oakboy]

Andy Goode on the rugby pod suggests that Farrell and Arundell had a bust up in training, leading to the latter's exclusion...

Based on Farrell being Mr Perfect in the training camp, how the hell did that happen? Arundell, as the most junior in camp, can hardly have told Farrell he was one of the all-time most overrated players presumably.

[Margin_Walker]

Andy Goode on the rugby pod suggests that Farrell and Arundell had a bust up in training, leading to the latter's exclusion...

Yep. Has it 'on good authority' apparently.

May be complete rubbish, but that's tickled me. Would have paid to see it.

[Spiffy]

Andy Goode on the rugby pod suggests that Farrell and Arundell had a bust up in training, leading to the latter's exclusion...

Based on Farrell being Mr Perfect in the training camp, how the hell did that happen? Arundell, as the most junior in camp, can hardly have told Farrell he was one of the all-time most overrated players presumably.

Maybe Arundell ran around him in a training game and made him look a useless tit ?

[Puja]

Andy Goode on the rugby pod suggests that Farrell and Arundell had a bust up in training, leading to the latter's exclusion...

Based on Farrell being Mr Perfect in the training camp, how the hell did that happen? Arundell, as the most junior in camp, can hardly have told Farrell he was one of the all-time most overrated players presumably.

Maybe Arundell ran around him in a training game and made him look a useless tit ?

Wouldn't surprise me at all if Farrell put in a high shot and Arundell took umbrage.

There is also the decent possibility that it was nothing more than a mild difference of opinion and Goode has been told the story from someone who was told the story and it's expanded to this load of bollocks from nothing at all.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

it's expanded to this load of bollocks from nothing at all.

Puja

Goode’s media career summed up in one sentence.

[Puja]

it's expanded to this load of bollocks from nothing at all.

Puja

Goode’s media career summed up in one sentence.

Either that, or it's a description of his current hair situation.

Puja

[Beasties]

Is there any way we can get Carl Fearns into camp?

[Oakboy]

Billy V being quoted in today's DT, makes me wonder if SB is planning on starting him.

[Mikey Brown]

Oh god. Every time he speaks I dislike him more. I’m not sure I even want to look.

[TheDasher]

it's expanded to this load of bollocks from nothing at all.

Puja

Goode’s media career summed up in one sentence.

I like Andy Goode. Knows his stuff and is an amusing character - not afraid to say what he thinks, often right and often very funny.

[TheDasher]

Hoping for something like: (bit of what I'd like mixed in with inevitabilities... I think I'd like Ludlam, Curry, Earl back row for instance but he will pick Lawes).

Genge
George
Stuart/Sinckler
Itoje
Ribbans
Lawes/Ludlam
Curry
Earl

Care
Ford
Daly
Lawrence/Manu
Marchant
Arundell
Smith

Marler
Dan
Stuart/Sinckler
Chessum
Lawes/Ludlam
Youngs/Mitchell
Farrell
Malins/Steward

[TheDasher]

Andy Goode on the rugby pod suggests that Farrell and Arundell had a bust up in training, leading to the latter's exclusion...

Based on Farrell being Mr Perfect in the training camp, how the hell did that happen? Arundell, as the most junior in camp, can hardly have told Farrell he was one of the all-time most overrated players presumably.

Maybe Arundell ran around him in a training game and made him look a useless tit ?

I think he looked like that before Arundell ran round him so can't have been that.

[Mikey Brown]

it's expanded to this load of bollocks from nothing at all.

Puja

Goode’s media career summed up in one sentence.

I like Andy Goode. Knows his stuff and is an amusing character - not afraid to say what he thinks, often right and often very funny.

Are you being serious? He has his moments but the cringey, try-hard banter and Pier Morganisms make him very difficult to watch for me.

At least he’s not Haskell.

[FKAS]

Based on Farrell being Mr Perfect in the training camp, how the hell did that happen? Arundell, as the most junior in camp, can hardly have told Farrell he was one of the all-time most overrated players presumably.

Maybe Arundell ran around him in a training game and made him look a useless tit ?

I think he looked like that before Arundell ran round him so can't have been that.

Arundell ran the ball back instead of kicking it?

[TheDasher]

Goode’s media career summed up in one sentence.

I like Andy Goode. Knows his stuff and is an amusing character - not afraid to say what he thinks, often right and often very funny.

Are you being serious? He has his moments but the cringey, try-hard banter and Pier Morganisms make him very difficult to watch for me.

At least he’s not Haskell.

Haskell I find unwatchable, increasingly Tindall too. Goode is quite amusing, he can take the mick out of himself, he's not shy of saying anything and I think he's got a pretty good understanding of the game - I do find him funny too, Jim Hamilton as well.

Perhaps it's an age thing - how old are you? 74?

[loudnconfident]

Hoping for something like: (bit of what I'd like mixed in with inevitabilities... I think I'd like Ludlam, Curry, Earl back row for instance but he will pick Lawes).

Genge
George
Stuart/Sinckler
Itoje
Ribbans
Lawes/Ludlam
Curry
Earl

Care
Ford
Daly
Lawrence/Manu
Marchant
Arundell
Smith

Marler
Dan
Stuart/Sinckler
Chessum
Lawes/Ludlam
Youngs/Mitchell
Farrell
Malins/Steward

Another despairing prayer from the England RR forum... At least all hope is not (yet) extinguished.

It's pointless perhaps, but I'd appreciate OF on the bench. He can cover most of the back line at a pinch, and possibly an emergency shift on the back row too

[Puja]

Hoping for something like: (bit of what I'd like mixed in with inevitabilities... I think I'd like Ludlam, Curry, Earl back row for instance but he will pick Lawes).

Genge
George
Stuart/Sinckler
Itoje
Ribbans
Lawes/Ludlam
Curry
Earl

Care
Ford
Daly
Lawrence/Manu
Marchant
Arundell
Smith

Marler
Dan
Stuart/Sinckler
Chessum
Lawes/Ludlam
Youngs/Mitchell
Farrell
Malins/Steward

Another despairing prayer from the England RR forum... At least all hope is not (yet) extinguished.

It's pointless perhaps, but I'd appreciate OF on the bench. He can cover most of the back line at a pinch, and possibly an emergency shift on the back row too

I'm waiting for the inevitable teamsheet where we play Farrell at 10 (because Ford/Farrell was the reason we were shit against Samoa), and put Ford at 22 and Smith at 23.

Puja

[Oakboy]

It still seems fundamental to me that if you have three FHs in the squad, one starts at 10, one is on the bench and one does not make the 23. Anything else is the sort of crowbar nonsense that has held us back for years.

IMO, Smith's place is at 22 where he can come on at FH or FB depending on the state of the game. He is not a competent starting FB.

SB should pick Lawrence/Marchant at 12/13, select Ford at 10 and find the judgement/courage to direct Farrell to a seat in the stand.

[Banquo]

It still seems fundamental to me that if you have three FHs in the squad, one starts at 10, one is on the bench and one does not make the 23. Anything else is the sort of crowbar nonsense that has held us back for years.

IMO, Smith's place is at 22 where he can come on at FH or FB depending on the state of the game. He is not a competent starting FB.

SB should pick Lawrence/Marchant at 12/13, select Ford at 10 and find the judgement/courage to direct Farrell to a seat in the stand.

Sadly, Faz is the obvious bench option if Ford starts.

[p/d]

It still seems fundamental to me that if you have three FHs in the squad, one starts at 10, one is on the bench and one does not make the 23. Anything else is the sort of crowbar nonsense that has held us back for years.

IMO, Smith's place is at 22 where he can come on at FH or FB depending on the state of the game. He is not a competent starting FB.

SB should pick Lawrence/Marchant at 12/13, select Ford at 10 and find the judgement/courage to direct Farrell to a seat in the stand.

thankfully he knows the way..........

I'm with you regards the 10's. It's as if it has suddenly dawned on them that they have no playmakers outside of the 10 shirt. Trying to crowbar all 3 into the 23 is, as Mellsblue would oft say, like a bald head man wearing a wig.

[TheDasher]

I cannot work out why anyone would have Smith on the bench bearing in mind the obvious ability he has to make things happen. Things that basically don't happen otherwise. We will simply not win our semi final or a final playing it safe - we get battered doing that. We may as well go down swinging.

[p/d]

I cannot work out why anyone would have Smith on the bench bearing in mind the obvious ability he has to make things happen. Things that basically don't happen otherwise. We will simply not win our semi final or a final playing it safe - we get battered doing that. We may as well go down swinging.

I'd start him at 10, with Ford on bench. OF can FO

[TheDasher]

I cannot work out why anyone would have Smith on the bench bearing in mind the obvious ability he has to make things happen. Things that basically don't happen otherwise. We will simply not win our semi final or a final playing it safe - we get battered doing that. We may as well go down swinging.

I'd start him at 10, with Ford on bench. OF can FO

I'd be delighted with that too, I just don't ever advocate that or put him there in line-ups because I know slippery balls won't do it/it's not happening. 100% with you though, it'd be great.

Regardless, of the abilities as a 10, he's got a wicked step and is a phenomenal runner - he can beat his man better than anyone else in the squad bar Arundell I'd say - and we need some of that in the side.

[Oakboy]

It still seems fundamental to me that if you have three FHs in the squad, one starts at 10, one is on the bench and one does not make the 23. Anything else is the sort of crowbar nonsense that has held us back for years.

IMO, Smith's place is at 22 where he can come on at FH or FB depending on the state of the game. He is not a competent starting FB.

SB should pick Lawrence/Marchant at 12/13, select Ford at 10 and find the judgement/courage to direct Farrell to a seat in the stand.

Sadly, Faz is the obvious bench option if Ford starts.

Obvious to SB, perhaps. I suppose it would be a way to cover 12 should Tuilagi start. It is fundamentally negative though, isn't it?

[Banquo]

It still seems fundamental to me that if you have three FHs in the squad, one starts at 10, one is on the bench and one does not make the 23. Anything else is the sort of crowbar nonsense that has held us back for years.

IMO, Smith's place is at 22 where he can come on at FH or FB depending on the state of the game. He is not a competent starting FB.

SB should pick Lawrence/Marchant at 12/13, select Ford at 10 and find the judgement/courage to direct Farrell to a seat in the stand.

Sadly, Faz is the obvious bench option if Ford starts.

Obvious to SB, perhaps. I suppose it would be a way to cover 12 should Tuilagi start. It is fundamentally negative though, isn't it?

No- it covers 10 adequately and 12 sort of, and an experienced goal kicker. It safely allows back 3 cover as the other option.