Numbers wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 10:46 am
Pathetic, and no-one has even mentioned the actual fucking team, no wonder this board is like a ghost town.
I guess we are all assuming the leak is as accurate as usual:
"WalesOnline rugby correspondent Ben James has revealed that Wales are set to make just two changes to their starting XV.
Aaron Wainwright is set to come in for Tommy Reffell, packing down alongside Taulupe Faletau and Jac Morgan in the back row. With Tom Rogers injured, fellow Scarlets back Joe Roberts comes in on the wing after playing 71 minutes against Scotland. "
I think the switch of Reffel and Wainwright is both obvious as well as correct. I suppose Rowlands may be kept as he would not make much impact as a sub. I don't know what would be the best call on the wing.
Numbers wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 10:46 am
Pathetic, and no-one has even mentioned the actual fucking team, no wonder this board is like a ghost town.
I guess we are all assuming the leak is as accurate as usual:
"WalesOnline rugby correspondent Ben James has revealed that Wales are set to make just two changes to their starting XV.
Aaron Wainwright is set to come in for Tommy Reffell, packing down alongside Taulupe Faletau and Jac Morgan in the back row. With Tom Rogers injured, fellow Scarlets back Joe Roberts comes in on the wing after playing 71 minutes against Scotland. "
I think the switch of Reffel and Wainwright is both obvious as well as correct. I suppose Rowlands may be kept as he would not make much impact as a sub. I don't know what would be the best call on the wing.
Anyway, we will know for certain soon.
Yeah, might as well wait for the actual announcement. No one is expecting or calling for big changes.
Difficult to assess how good England are. Humped by Ireland despite two late tries to give them respectability. Should have lost to Scotland with a last gasp kick at Twickenham. Narrowly beat France with a last minute conversion in a lack lustre performance by the French. Then ran riot against a demoralised Italy after their thumping by France.
I think, with home advantage and the fervour of the fans, this could be a lot closer than people think.
I look forward to SCW’s forecast of a sixty point thumping going steadily wrong on Saturday.
We always (well nearly always) raise our game against England. A home win would be a great end to Sherratt’s short tenure.
normanski wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 2:44 pm
Difficult to assess how good England are. Humped by Ireland despite two late tries to give them respectability. Should have lost to Scotland with a last gasp kick at Twickenham. Narrowly beat France with a last minute conversion in a lack lustre performance by the French. Then ran riot against a demoralised Italy after their thumping by France.
I think, with home advantage and the fervour of the fans, this could be a lot closer than people think.
I look forward to SCW’s forecast of a sixty point thumping going steadily wrong on Saturday.
We always (well nearly always) raise our game against England. A home win would be a great end to Sherratt’s short tenure.
If England play chuck-a-bout it could end up 45-35 with either team winning. If England go back to BorthBall they should be too organized and take with a score or two to spare.
I agree with Wainwright giving us a balanced back row.
Not really in agreement with Roberts starting on the wing. I don't think he'll let us down but he's a centre - are we really saying he's a better winger than any other available to Wales, except for Mee? Better than Hathaway, Dyer, Giles or Conbeer, Tom Bowen?
Surprised to see Tompkins involved on the bench. It would be James for me, but he seems to have fallen down the pecking order.
If we can follow a plan (unlike the first 50 minutes vs Scotland) we stand a chance. Even better if we're wide awake for 80 minutes. If we lose focus it's all over.
Buggaluggs wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 3:29 pm
If England play chuck-a-bout it could end up 45-35 with either team winning. If England go back to BorthBall they should be too organized and take with a score or two to spare.
I'd disagree - I think you'll beat us if we play stolid, safety-first, boxkickboxkickboxkick. If we refuse to play any rugby, then it stays close and boring and you'll nick it at the end because the crowd will carry you home if you're in the game with 10 to go.
normanski wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 2:44 pm
Difficult to assess how good England are. Humped by Ireland despite two late tries to give them respectability. Should have lost to Scotland with a last gasp kick at Twickenham. Narrowly beat France with a last minute conversion in a lack lustre performance by the French. Then ran riot against a demoralised Italy after their thumping by France.
I think, with home advantage and the fervour of the fans, this could be a lot closer than people think.
I look forward to SCW’s forecast of a sixty point thumping going steadily wrong on Saturday.
We always (well nearly always) raise our game against England. A home win would be a great end to Sherratt’s short tenure.
Here’s hoping.
I omitted to say in my posting that England, by far, are the red hot favourites to win this game.
In any case, we prefer to be the underdogs!
I have Wales as heavy favourites!
Buggaluggs wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 3:29 pm
If England play chuck-a-bout it could end up 45-35 with either team winning. If England go back to BorthBall they should be too organized and take with a score or two to spare.
I do t think they can. They need a BP and a decent points difference to be in with a chance and that team picked has some attacking players in it
Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 3:59 pm
I agree with Wainwright giving us a balanced back row.
Not really in agreement with Roberts starting on the wing. I don't think he'll let us down but he's a centre - are we really saying he's a better winger than any other available to Wales, except for Mee? Better than Hathaway, Dyer, Giles or Conbeer, Tom Bowen?
Surprised to see Tompkins involved on the bench. It would be James for me, but he seems to have fallen down the pecking order.
If we can follow a plan (unlike the first 50 minutes vs Scotland) we stand a chance. Even better if we're wide awake for 80 minutes. If we lose focus it's all over.
Agree on Wainwright.
Don’t eee the point of Reffell on the bench. He’s not really an impact player.
Roberts ahead of Hathaway is a kick in the nuts for the latter. I suspect there are just too many doubts about his defence. Tompkins on the bench is a bit odd I think. I wonder if it’s more the case if not wanting to bring in new players at this stage and just using available resources.
normanski wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 2:44 pm
Difficult to assess how good England are. Humped by Ireland despite two late tries to give them respectability. Should have lost to Scotland with a last gasp kick at Twickenham. Narrowly beat France with a last minute conversion in a lack lustre performance by the French. Then ran riot against a demoralised Italy after their thumping by France.
I think, with home advantage and the fervour of the fans, this could be a lot closer than people think.
I look forward to SCW’s forecast of a sixty point thumping going steadily wrong on Saturday.
We always (well nearly always) raise our game against England. A home win would be a great end to Sherratt’s short tenure.
Here’s hoping.
It’s hard to assess them. The ey have an outside chance at the title but have been in strange form.
As you say they comfortable were second best to Ireland and battered Italy. Scotland carved them open aplenty but forgot the need to kick the ball straight and the France game was very strange.
A finish high in the table would be on paper a good return for them but it’s been a funny campaign for them and they have been a long way off the best that Ireland and France have managed.
Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 3:59 pm
I agree with Wainwright giving us a balanced back row.
Not really in agreement with Roberts starting on the wing. I don't think he'll let us down but he's a centre - are we really saying he's a better winger than any other available to Wales, except for Mee? Better than Hathaway, Dyer, Giles or Conbeer, Tom Bowen?
Surprised to see Tompkins involved on the bench. It would be James for me, but he seems to have fallen down the pecking order.
If we can follow a plan (unlike the first 50 minutes vs Scotland) we stand a chance. Even better if we're wide awake for 80 minutes. If we lose focus it's all over.
Agree on Wainwright.
Don’t eee the point of Reffell on the bench. He’s not really an impact player.
Roberts ahead of Hathaway is a kick in the nuts for the latter. I suspect there are just too many doubts about his defence. Tompkins on the bench is a bit odd I think. I wonder if it’s more the case if not wanting to bring in new players at this stage and just using available resources.
I think your last point is probably correct. Sherratt no doubt feels there's more to be gained from continuity ( especially when it's only three games) than rolling the dice. Roberts played most of the Scotland game on the wing so it's as you were for England.
Anyone bold enough to make a forecast for tomorrow?
Intriguing match and it could go either way. My head says England are strong favourites to win comfortably but my heart points to a narrow win by Wales.
Head: England by16 points
Heart: Wales by 2 points
Let the sixteenth man play their part and lift the team to new heights!
normanski wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 2:44 pm
Difficult to assess how good England are. Humped by Ireland despite two late tries to give them respectability. Should have lost to Scotland with a last gasp kick at Twickenham. Narrowly beat France with a last minute conversion in a lack lustre performance by the French. Then ran riot against a demoralised Italy after their thumping by France.
I think, with home advantage and the fervour of the fans, this could be a lot closer than people think.
I look forward to SCW’s forecast of a sixty point thumping going steadily wrong on Saturday.
We always (well nearly always) raise our game against England. A home win would be a great end to Sherratt’s short tenure.
Here’s hoping.
I omitted to say in my posting that England, by far, are the red hot favourites to win this game.
In any case, we prefer to be the underdogs!
I have Wales as heavy favourites!
Well our U20s gave England a lesson tonight, 23-13.
Down by a three minute England try and absolutely mullered in the scrums, Wales kept their heads, tackled like demons forcing England back and making mistakes.
normanski wrote: ↑Fri Mar 14, 2025 9:41 pm
Well our U20s gave England a lesson tonight, 23-13.
Down by a three minute England try and absolutely mullered in the scrums, Wales kept their heads, tackled like demons forcing England back and making mistakes.
They’ve shown their seniors the way.
This U20 very fine indeed
Now the seniors need to act like this is possible for them too.
Er, I do think they have a chance, and England could easily lose it out here and find themselves in a world of pain (to paraphrase Platoon). Head says this will not happen but both outcomes are pretty possible, so predicting a score is difficult. An agonising Wales 20 - 24 England is my random guess.
I was not able to watch the u20 gave live, but have just seen the highlights. We looked very impressive. There were some good individual performances, but I guess it was a really good team performance - the highlights don't show this of course.
Graigwen wrote: ↑Fri Mar 14, 2025 10:55 pm
I was not able to watch the u20 gave live, but have just seen the highlights. We looked very impressive. There were some good individual performances, but I guess it was a really good team performance - the highlights don't show this of course.
I feared a huge score after England’s performance in the first twenty minutes, but dogged defence and two brilliant tries kept Wales in the game. England hit back in the last quarter and their ill discipline near our line cost them with a penalty reverse.
England were going for a grand slam so all credit to our youngsters.
Graigwen wrote: ↑Fri Mar 14, 2025 10:55 pm
I was not able to watch the u20 gave live, but have just seen the highlights. We looked very impressive. There were some good individual performances, but I guess it was a really good team performance - the highlights don't show this of course.
It was a very good match - I'd recommend catching the whole thing on iPlayer - if you have enough time and brownie points to spend on it.
