QF v Fiji

[Greebo]

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.

Unfortunately, I feel the same.

[Mikey Brown]

Yep. I’ll probably get more enjoyment from watching Russell vs Newcastle, even if he doesn’t make it off the bench.

[p/d]

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…

Come on chaps!!! Can’t enjoy the good times if we turn our backs on the bad.

Try supporting England, Exeter and QPR….. these are not good times

[jngf]

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?

Been too competent and under (RFU imposed) minimum height regulation of 2m for blindside flanker

[jngf]

Suspect we’ll scrape a narrow win against Fiji then self destruct in semis

[jngf]

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

Might as well pick any balding 60 year old - Cole was past it 5 years ago - selection is a joke

[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…

Come on chaps!!! Can’t enjoy the good times if we turn our backs on the bad.

Try supporting England, Exeter and QPR….. these are not good times

I’ll see you and raise you England, Bedford Blues and Grimsby Town (I’ll chuck in the NY Giants for free).

[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.

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…

My wife asked me earlier in the week when the game was on and I actually didn’t know. I just said it’s either Saturday or Sunday.

[Insouciant]

Suspect we’ll scrape a narrow win against Fiji then self destruct in semis

I kinda see it going this way, I feel like we're going to win which is at odds with our selection. Maybe Fiji will play well, but they were pretty bad in their last two matches (no disrespect to Portugal and Georgia). Hopefully, for the sake of the spectacle at least, they turn up. I'd quite like to see them win, but whatever happens happens. I'm not too fussed really.

Looking at our line up, it's a patchwork at best. The cult of Farrell continues. Billy V is in for some reason (?) with Underhill and Ludlam not in the 22, both of whom I'd rather see in it somewhere. As someone else commented, the pack is the same one that got outplayed largely v Samoa. Fingers crossed they've had their weetabix. I like the idea of Smith at 15. Still not sure why Arundell is being overlooked entirely but hey ho.

Excited for the games this weekend in general, they all look very close on paper - but not specifically this one.

[Oakboy]

SB has picked the XV that he thinks gives him the best chance of beating Fiji. If we win was he right? If we lose was he right? In the latter case, where does that leave him?

I can't come up with a reasonable argument in favour of keeping him based on the selection of the 33 and the selection of this 23, should we lose.

[p/d]

no to sacking him. Let him get his new bods in ref coaching and see how things go from there. I can’t imagine the Wriggler and his limited skill set as an attack coach have made selection any easier.

Plus we have a very green defence coach

[morepork]

Is SB really this thick or are his hands tied by something else?

[p/d]

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…

My wife asked me earlier in the week when the game was on and I actually didn’t know. I just said it’s either Saturday or Sunday.

Did that get you out of the weekend chores?

[Mellsblue]

Is SB really this thick or are his hands tied by something else?

He has no backs/attack coach to guide/argue with him. The coaching panel is a HC, defence coach, scrum coach and a skills coach who is moonlighting (and seemingly drinking moonshine) as a backs coach.

[Epaminondas Pules]

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…

My wife asked me earlier in the week when the game was on and I actually didn’t know. I just said it’s either Saturday or Sunday.

Did that get you out of the weekend chores?

Not even close

[Puja]

SB has picked the XV that he thinks gives him the best chance of beating Fiji. If we win was he right? If we lose was he right? In the latter case, where does that leave him?

I can't come up with a reasonable argument in favour of keeping him based on the selection of the 33 and the selection of this 23, should we lose.

I think it'd be exceptionally shitty to take the person who was expecting and who had been told to build his career progression and development around taking over the England role after the RWC, drop him in on short notice with very little time to actually build anything, heavily imply that he'll be out on his ear if he fails to make the knockouts, and then sack him because he went uber-safety first and did make the knockouts but not in as fun a way as we'd like.

He gets a year, to my mind, barring absolute collapse and no signs of anything being built in the 6N.

Puja

[Banquo]

no to sacking him. Let him get his new bods in ref coaching and see how things go from there. I can’t imagine the Wriggler and his limited skill set as an attack coach have made selection any easier.

Plus we have a very green defence coach

Absolutely, why wouldn't you want to keep someone with no apparent intl leadership ability, no apparent selection ability, zippo knowledge of back play but knows a thing or two about the lineout and how kicking for territory guarantees a lovely stat. And a nasal talking point.

[Banquo]

Is SB really this thick or are his hands tied by something else?

He has no backs/attack coach to guide/argue with him. The coaching panel is a HC, defence coach, scrum coach and a skills coach who is moonlighting (and seemingly drinking moonshine) as a backs coach.

surely he has been around the block enough to work some things out, outside the lineout?

[Banquo]

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…

My wife asked me earlier in the week when the game was on and I actually didn’t know. I just said it’s either Saturday or Sunday.

Did that get you out of the weekend chores?

What chores?


A gin and tonic please ...

[Danno]

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 give up. You win, Surreal Baguette.

[Banquo]

SB has picked the XV that he thinks gives him the best chance of beating Fiji. If we win was he right? If we lose was he right? In the latter case, where does that leave him?

I can't come up with a reasonable argument in favour of keeping him based on the selection of the 33 and the selection of this 23, should we lose.

did make the knockouts but not in as fun a way as we'd like.

That's A way of looking at it.

[TheDasher]

No Arundell in the 23 hurts most for me - it sends a message. If you're too talented, quick and attacking, we're not interested. Who would La Rochelle or Leinster rather sign, Arundell or May? Who would New Zealand, France, Ireland or South Africa rather have in their squad, Arundell or May? But Steve prefers May. Great.

[Mellsblue]

Is SB really this thick or are his hands tied by something else?

He has no backs/attack coach to guide/argue with him. The coaching panel is a HC, defence coach, scrum coach and a skills coach who is moonlighting (and seemingly drinking moonshine) as a backs coach.

surely he has been around the block enough to work some things out, outside the lineout?

You’d hope so but…

[Banquo]

Fiji: Droasese; Habosi, Nayacalevu (capt), Tuisova, Radradra; Botitu, Lomani; Mawi, Ikanivere, Tagi, Nasilasila, Tuisue, Tagitagivalu, Botia, Mata.

Replacements: Matavesi, Ravai, Doge, Derenalagi, Miramira, Kuruvoli, Masi, Maqala.

[Mikey Brown]

No Arundell in the 23 hurts most for me - it sends a message. If you're too talented, quick and attacking, we're not interested. Who would La Rochelle or Leinster rather sign, Arundell or May? Who would New Zealand, France, Ireland or South Africa rather have in their squad, Arundell or May? But Steve prefers May. Great.

Another layer to add the sadness is how we now talk about Arundell now as if he’s done anything to earn a wing spot. We’re just that desperate to avoid picking others that we may as well throw in a promising youngster.

That’s not a diss to him, he hasn’t really had the chance to do anything. But all he’s achieved so far is to not mess up a bunch of walk-ins vs Chile, in addition to a great touch/try a year or two ago.