Team for England

[MrK]

I'll start

After today Id say

1) The front row needs to change - Id actually go Evans, Owens, Francis
2) The second row is okay but Charteris may come in
3) The backrow is okay, but Faletau will come in if fit - Warburton did enough for me to stay at 6.
4) S Davies really needs to start, G Davies distribution is still to slow.
5) The centres dont look a great balance
6) The back 3 all do their job

So, Id go

Halfpenny, North, Davies, Williams, Williams, Davies, Webb
Evans, Owens, Francis, AWJ, Ball, Warburton, Tipuric, Faletau

Bench: Baldwin, Smith, Lee, Charteris, Moriaty, Davies, O Williams, S Evans.

Im assuming Biggar has some rib damage.

[Sandydragon]

Agree with all your starting points. Today wasn't Biggars fault, but his style of play did us no favours. If he is injured then start with Sam. I definitely want a game changer on the bench, not Roberts.

On reflection, I'd start with Charteris for his counter mauling and bring ball on for impact.

[MrK]

Yeah you may be right on Charteris.

[Ross. S]

Is there any chance that in the next 5 days we could declare indipendence, anex New Zealand and ship their players and coaches up north while simultaniously trebucheting our entire coaching staff and WRU into a large, lava filled chasm some where?

No? We're fucked then....................

[ALunpg]

Looks ok ...but this is what I think they will select..it is not where I would go ...but....

Halfpenny, North, Davies, Williams, Williams, Davies, Webb
Evans, Owens, Francis, AWJ, Charteris Warburton, Tipuric, Faletau

Bench: Baldwin, Smith, Lee, Ball, Moriaty, Davies, Biggar, Roberts

This assumes that all are available .. if Biggar is completely faffed then Williams will be in if North is faffed then Steff Evans may get the bench.


However there is a more controversial back row option which would not suprise me ..
Warburton Falateu Moriarty

However I do like the williams ..williams and williams back line maybe Shane could get his boots on and get Lloyd Williams at scrum half ...ok ..thats too far ..

[Sandydragon]

I think they would rather play an off colour Biggar than 'risk' Sam Davies. I also think Roberts will be on the bench again, even though he was anonymous when he came on.

[Gog]

I was at the match and I didn't even realise the Doc came on. Only saw it when I watched the replay afterwards.

[Sourdust]

I thought Scott W had a pretty decent game today: Some strong runs & tackles and TWO excellent assists.

But I couldn't help noticing yesterday how vulnerable the English midfield looked to powerful, direct running. France made yards in contact time and time again. I fear the temptation to throw Roberts at them may be too much for Howley to resist.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Sam Davies. 10. Could it be clearer?

[Sandydragon]

I thought Scott W had a pretty decent game today: Some strong runs & tackles and TWO excellent assists.

But I couldn't help noticing yesterday how vulnerable the English midfield looked to powerful, direct running. France made yards in contact time and time again. I fear the temptation to throw Roberts at them may be too much for Howley to resist.

Agreed and I though foxy looked better than he has for a while, although I'm. It surethat is a balanced midfield. Scott carried the ball into contact with some gusto as well as the softer stuff.

I think playing outside a better distributor helped both of them in the second half. Howley take note please.

[Sandydragon]

Sam Davies. 10. Could it be clearer?

If Biggar is fit then I doubt it will be.

[Renniks]

I thought Scott W had a pretty decent game today: Some strong runs & tackles and TWO excellent assists.

But I couldn't help noticing yesterday how vulnerable the English midfield looked to powerful, direct running. France made yards in contact time and time again. I fear the temptation to throw Roberts at them may be too much for Howley to resist.

Please go for powerful, direct running.

Don't use the fact that you have some of the best running backs (and Tipuric) in the NH.

[Sandydragon]

I thought Scott W had a pretty decent game today: Some strong runs & tackles and TWO excellent assists.

But I couldn't help noticing yesterday how vulnerable the English midfield looked to powerful, direct running. France made yards in contact time and time again. I fear the temptation to throw Roberts at them may be too much for Howley to resist.

Please go for powerful, direct running.

Don't use the fact that you have some of the best running backs (and Tipuric) in the NH.

Don't worry. we wont do anything we haven't done ad nauseum since 2008. If we do pick Roberts then Haskell with orders to tackle Roberts all day will prevent all and any attacks we might launch.

If Biggar is injured then perhaps we might see some variety from our backline. Maybe.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Sam Davies. 10. Could it be clearer?

If Biggar is fit then I doubt it will be.

I fear you may be right.

I really hope the management can see what we're seeing though. It was exactly what you'd expect having watched Davies playing for the Ospreys all season long. Not miraculous, just a little quicker, sharper, more inventive, more aggressive. Ok, I accept it leaves us slightly more open to being turned over, but we just weren't putting Italy under any pressure in the first half. And that's just italy - Imagine how quickly England's defence will drive us back.

[Sourdust]

If it was up to me The Dr would be sat on a beach right now.

But if my own superficial analysis of England yields sees that weakness, you can be sure that the Howlaround axis will seize upon it as an excuse to pick Team2012.

The situation at 10 is similar. I've been a Biggar cheerleader for years - particularly when he couldn't get in the side for ages when he was obviously better than the incumbent. I thought he had a very decent half yesterday. But you would have to be Dan's mum not to see the difference Sam Davies makes to our attack.

[Sandydragon]

If it was up to me The Dr would be sat on a beach right now.

But if my own superficial analysis of England yields sees that weakness, you can be sure that the Howlaround axis will seize upon it as an excuse to pick Team2012.

The situation at 10 is similar. I've been a Biggar cheerleader for years - particularly when he couldn't get in the side for ages when he was obviously better than the incumbent. I thought he had a very decent half yesterday. But you would have to be Dan's mum not to see the difference Sam Davies makes to our attack.

England were very passive in defence on Saturday. I don't think they will be that slow off the mark next weekend. I seriously hope Howley wont revert back to Roberts, JD2 and Scott did enough to warrant another game, in fact at times they both played well. If we need a huge collision in the midfield why not bring North in for a play or 2, rather than watch him catch hypothermia on the wing?

[Stom]

Oh, I do miss Hwntw

[Numbers]

Warburton has to remain at 6 I reckon, Moriarty had his quietest game in a Wales shirt so I'd bring in Faletau for him fitness depending, Sam Davies to start and probably Francis and Evans, Charteris in for maul defence and tackle workrate if available, other than that the same.

[Sandydragon]

Warburton has to remain at 6 I reckon, Moriarty had his quietest game in a Wales shirt so I'd bring in Faletau for him fitness depending, Sam Davies to start and probably Francis and Evans, Charteris in for maul defence and tackle workrate if available, other than that the same.

Moriarty was OK, but Parisse outclassed him totally. Faletau has to start if fit, with Moriarty on the bench.

[Sourdust]

Yes, I'm a big Moriarty fan but he picked a bad time to have what I agree was his most anonymous show for Wales. Not bad, but not good enough to make you not want Taulupe back. Warbs-Fal-Tips for me, with Moriarty in the "impact" sub slot.

[Numbers]

Yes, I'm a big Moriarty fan but he picked a bad time to have what I agree was his most anonymous show for Wales. Not bad, but not good enough to make you not want Taulupe back. Warbs-Fal-Tips for me, with Moriarty in the "impact" sub slot.

Me too, if his carrying had been as good in some of the games he's played for us then I would have had him back at 6, Warburton had a very good game tho.

[Numbers]

Warburton has to remain at 6 I reckon, Moriarty had his quietest game in a Wales shirt so I'd bring in Faletau for him fitness depending, Sam Davies to start and probably Francis and Evans, Charteris in for maul defence and tackle workrate if available, other than that the same.

It appears Shane agrees with me: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugb ... m-12565272

[Sandydragon]

Yes, I'm a big Moriarty fan but he picked a bad time to have what I agree was his most anonymous show for Wales. Not bad, but not good enough to make you not want Taulupe back. Warbs-Fal-Tips for me, with Moriarty in the "impact" sub slot.

I would have said Moriarty to blindside, but Warburton upped his game and deserves another start.

[Sandydragon]

Warburton has to remain at 6 I reckon, Moriarty had his quietest game in a Wales shirt so I'd bring in Faletau for him fitness depending, Sam Davies to start and probably Francis and Evans, Charteris in for maul defence and tackle workrate if available, other than that the same.

It appears Shane agrees with me: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugb ... m-12565272

I read that earlier. Completely agree with him.

[Sourdust]

I would have said Moriarty to blindside, but Warburton upped his game and deserves another start.

Exactly. On form, we have better options at 6 and 8. Ross can proves us wrong by coming on after an hour and winning the game for us.