QF v Fiji

[p/d]

Wtf!

[p/d]

Bloody clueless. Line out targeted and then kick chase. Once we tire bring on Billy

[Which Tyler]

At least Daly and Marchant are the sensible way around...

[p/d]

At least Daly and Marchant are the sensible way around...

wouldn't trust the BBC on that

[Margin_Walker]

10 and 15 will get the headlines, but it's the wings that still annoy me.

How are we at the 2023 world cup with May and Daly on the wings? Domestically so many outside backs were performing well last season. Being a proven international is one thing, but wing is one position where form does generally take priority imo. You need to be a threat there.

[Banquo]

forget the wings and the backs....breakdown needs to be a million times better with the self same pack!

[p/d]

forget the wings and the backs....breakdown needs to be a million times better with the self same pack!

Exactly. Identify the Fiji threat and then do F all about it.

[Which Tyler]

10 and 15 will get the headlines, but it's the wings that still annoy me.

It would concern me a lot more if A] we had any plan to actually use them; or B] they weren't even wingers

[Mellsblue]

No Steward on the wing I suppose…
Let’s look at the genius planning from Steak Tartare (the opposite of well done).
A 10 with no experience at 15.
A bloke not in the original squad at 14
A bloke not in the original squad at 9
A flanker at no8
A backline selected against Samoa in preparation for Fiji that has been completely reorganised other than two blokes not in the original squad.
The man is a selectorial genius.

[Oakboy]

Based on already having digested unappetising changes from the leaks, the selection I now find most annoying is Vunipola on the bench. OK, Underhill needs acclimatisation or whatever but what has Ludlam done to be so far out of favour?

[p/d]

No Steward on the wing I suppose…
Let’s look at the genius planning from Steak Tartare (the opposite of well done).
A 10 with no experience at 15.
A bloke not in the original squad at 14
A bloke not in the original squad at 9
A flanker at no8
A backline selected against Samoa in preparation for Fiji that has been completely reorganised other than two blokes not in the original squad.
The man is a selectorial genius.

and yet, just when we wanted a bloke not in the original squad at 7

[TheDasher]

No Steward in the squad is not the right move imo, I also think Ribbans is being hard done by he's good enough to be in the 23 somewhere in my view, I also think it's a shame Will Stuart's form has tanked as I'm not sure the other two are really ahead of him on a good day. I also think Ludlam makes more sense on the bench than Billy V and can also feel hard done by. No Arundell is just shit. What is wrong with these people? All that talent, pace and game changing ability and he's in the stands. Painful and frankly bordering on unjust.

[p/d]

Based on already having digested unappetising changes from the leaks, the selection I now find most annoying is Vunipola on the bench. OK, Underhill needs acclimatisation or whatever but what has Ludlam done to be so far out of favour?

Played outside the game plan?

Curry, Underhill & Ludlum will be the line up for SF ........... if we make it through Sunday.

[p/d]

No Steward in the squad is not the right move imo,

I can only assume they have gone through Daly's highlights reel to know that the FB berth is well covered.

[FKAS]

Bloody clueless. Line out targeted and then kick chase. Once we tire bring on Billy

If we're targeting kick chase then why drop Steward? Particularly after his best performance for several weeks against Samoa. He was easily the stand out of the starting backs (not that, that was a particularly high bar).

It's a bleh style selection. Not sure how Daly is still getting picked at this point he should be joining Malins in the never seen again part of the squad. I suspect half of England fans will be supporting Fiji.

[Beasties]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67095694

England: Smith; May, Marchant, Tuilagi, Daly; Farrell (capt), Mitchell; Genge, George, Cole, Itoje, Chessum, Lawes, Curry, Earl.

Replacements: Dan, Marler, Sinckler, Martin, Vunipola, Care, Ford, Lawrence.

fck off

(I’m actually crying inside)

[Beasties]

No Steward on the wing I suppose…
Let’s look at the genius planning from Steak Tartare (the opposite of well done).
A 10 with no experience at 15.
A bloke not in the original squad at 14
A bloke not in the original squad at 9
A flanker at no8
A backline selected against Samoa in preparation for Fiji that has been completely reorganised other than two blokes not in the original squad.
The man is a selectorial genius.
And a TH who was the reason we lost a WC final 4 years ago.

FTFY

[fivepointer]

Its a horrible bodge but thats what this whole WC campaign has been.

I almost want us to lose so we can rip up this squad and start afresh but we'll just have to muddle through.

[Puja]

I have to say Cole at 3 makes me angry, but thinking about it, I don't know that I disagree. It's an indictment of Sinckler and Stuart that they're playing so poorly that it's probably the right call.

Puja

[p/d]

Bloody clueless. Line out targeted and then kick chase. Once we tire bring on Billy

If we're targeting kick chase then why drop Steward? Particularly after his best performance for several weeks against Samoa. He was easily the stand out of the starting backs (not that, that was a particularly high bar).

It's a bleh style selection. Not sure how Daly is still getting picked at this point he should be joining Malins in the never seen again part of the squad. I suspect half of England fans will be supporting Fiji.

Agree ref Steward.

Bothers:’However, we have shown in the group stages how we can win games, and we will be calling on that experience and determination to ensure we carry on our journey."

Now, call me old fashioned, but I would suggest of the backs Ford and Steward were quite instrumental in the group stages

[Galfon]

With that back 3 Selectorial Bewilderment must be expecting Fij
to be stifled of decent posession..No Steward or Arundell in the 23 is a shocker - maybe they've not toed the line.

[Mikey Brown]

I would honestly rather go 4:4 with Steward covering 8 than have Vunipola.

[Epaminondas Pules]

I’m genuinely just not bothered. Never thought I’d say that about England. It’s all just so meh! And has been for a loooooong time now. Our forwards are guff, the backline meh and Stubborn Bastard is doing everything possible to not play Arundell! I’m bored of it all.

I’m much more interested in the start of the Prem.

[Banquo]

Bloody clueless. Line out targeted and then kick chase. Once we tire bring on Billy

If we're targeting kick chase then why drop Steward? Particularly after his best performance for several weeks against Samoa. He was easily the stand out of the starting backs (not that, that was a particularly high bar).

It's a bleh style selection. Not sure how Daly is still getting picked at this point he should be joining Malins in the never seen again part of the squad. I suspect half of England fans will be supporting Fiji.

Agreed on Stewards return to form both sides of the ball,

Selection is mad tbh. Same pack that Samoa took the piss out of at the breakdown. Mass changes to the backs.

[Mellsblue]

I’m genuinely just not bothered. Never thought I’d say that about England. It’s all just so meh! And has been for a loooooong time now. Our forwards are guff, the backline meh and Stubborn Bastard is doing everything possible to not play Arundell! I’m bored of it all.

I’m much more interested in the start of the Prem.

Same here. I care so little that I booked a tennis court not caring that I’d miss the first 15/20 mins of the match. Only to realise that I cared so little I didn’t even know which day the match was on. I normally organise my weekends around an England match…