Squad for Wales

[Puja]

No Earl, but Curry in for Curry.
Marchant surplus to requirements, and probably Murley too

No Earl! I'd missed that.

Odd that Ben is dropped for Tom who is then dropped for Ben. Doesn't seem to make a huge amount of sense. Maybe Tom picked up a niggle?

ETA. Confirmed that Tom is out through injury:


Puja

[Which Tyler]

No Earl! I'd missed that.

Odd that Ben is dropped for Tom who is then dropped for Ben. Doesn't seem to make a huge amount of sense. Maybe Tom picked up a niggle?

Definitey niggle for Tom; but odd that Ben comes in for Earl.


Ahh,.. ninja.d by your edit

[Banquo]

mystifying stuff, though not dropping Earl. No Ford either. Surprised Murley ahead of Freeman.

Suspect Isiekwe will be on his bike, with murley and marchant.

[Puja]

No Earl! I'd missed that.

Odd that Ben is dropped for Tom who is then dropped for Ben. Doesn't seem to make a huge amount of sense. Maybe Tom picked up a niggle?

Definitey niggle for Tom; but odd that Ben comes in for Earl.


Ahh,.. ninja.d by your edit

I'm hopeful that this means 19. Lawes, 20. BCurry, rather than Lawziekwe on the bench. Willis returning meant that it was always going to be a harsh call on one of BCurry or Earl for Italy being brought in, then out, and I will glad if Ben is going to get another shot to impress.

Puja

[Oakboy]

mystifying stuff, though not dropping Earl. No Ford either. Surprised Murley ahead of Freeman.

Suspect Isiekwe will be on his bike, with murley and marchant.

Which means, presumably:

Freddie Steward, Max Malins, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Arundell, Owen Farrell, Jack van Poortvliet, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Ollie Chessum, Maro Itoje, Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis, Alex Dombrandt

Replacements: Jack Walker, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Ben Curry, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Anthony Watson

[jngf]

No Earl! I'd missed that.

Odd that Ben is dropped for Tom who is then dropped for Ben. Doesn't seem to make a huge amount of sense. Maybe Tom picked up a niggle?

Definitey niggle for Tom; but odd that Ben comes in for Earl.


Ahh,.. ninja.d by your edit

I'm hopeful that this means 19. Lawes, 20. BCurry, rather than Lawziekwe on the bench. Willis returning meant that it was always going to be a harsh call on one of BCurry or Earl for Italy being brought in, then out, and I will glad if Ben is going to get another shot to impress.

Puja

Ironically Earl’s never actually been given a starting spot for England yet!

[fivepointer]

How much game time has Lawes had this season?

The Curry for Curry call seems very odd.

Disappointed there's no Ribbans or Rodd. At least Youngs ditched.

[Banquo]

mystifying stuff, though not dropping Earl. No Ford either. Surprised Murley ahead of Freeman.

Suspect Isiekwe will be on his bike, with murley and marchant.

Which means, presumably:

Freddie Steward, Max Malins, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Arundell, Owen Farrell, Jack van Poortvliet, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Ollie Chessum, Maro Itoje, Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis, Alex Dombrandt

Replacements: Jack Walker, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Ben Curry, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Anthony Watson

I reckon Watson will start.

[Banquo]

How much game time has Lawes had this season?

The Curry for Curry call seems very odd.

Disappointed there's no Ribbans or Rodd. At least Youngs ditched.

Suspect Ribbans announcement means he may not feature- ironic, as suspect him not even being on the bench v Italy triggered the decision in the first place.

[Oakboy]

Maybe, Ewels, Hill and Ribbans are all yesterday-men. Isiekwe, Lawes and possibly even Chessum Mk2 ahead?

[fivepointer]

How much game time has Lawes had this season?

The Curry for Curry call seems very odd.

Disappointed there's no Ribbans or Rodd. At least Youngs ditched.

Suspect Ribbans announcement means he may not feature- ironic, as suspect him not even being on the bench v Italy triggered the decision in the first place.

yeah, cant blame the guy for looking elsewhere as England have only latterly looked at him and Borthwick seems decidedly lukewarm. Real pity as he's looked a much better bet than Isiekwe ever has and seems to tick a lot of boxes for an international lock.

[Banquo]

How much game time has Lawes had this season?

The Curry for Curry call seems very odd.

Disappointed there's no Ribbans or Rodd. At least Youngs ditched.

Suspect Ribbans announcement means he may not feature- ironic, as suspect him not even being on the bench v Italy triggered the decision in the first place.

yeah, cant blame the guy for looking elsewhere as England have only latterly looked at him and Borthwick seems decidedly lukewarm. Real pity as he's looked a much better bet than Isiekwe ever has and seems to tick a lot of boxes for an international lock.

In fairness Eddie was taking him on tour a while ago but he got a red card, and has had a bad back injury on and off. But thought he was an AI bright spot so surprising that SB doesn’t seem keen enough to bench him.

[p/d]

Willis, Curry & Ludlam

Ditch Malins. Back 3 of Arundell, Watson & Steward, Slade and Lawrence to keep up the good work outside the Handbrake Butcher.

[stepsider]

So Ford hasn't managed to usurp the other Smith.

Wales now 9/4 from 6/5 a week ago.

Waiting for Gatland to say that "we're very good, but sadly we didn't turn up".

[Mellsblue]

we didn't turn up".

Literally or metaphorically?

[stepsider]

we didn't turn up".

Literally or metaphorically?

The way it's going, the former. Suspect if Wales do actually decide to play, they might win as we Kadab consistently badly.

[Stom]

Well, doesn't look likely... a shame.

[fivepointer]

Game is on.

[Puja]

Thank fuck for that. We've got precious little time to bed in the Borthwick regime as it is; the last thing we needed was losing a Test.

Puja

[stepsider]

Thank fuck for that. We've got precious little time to bed in the Borthwick regime as it is; the last thing we needed was losing a Test.

Puja

As Wales have missed training sessions, they'll probably play much better than expected. Whereas we'll indulge in a Borthers boring kickfest and get beat.

[Puja]

Thank fuck for that. We've got precious little time to bed in the Borthwick regime as it is; the last thing we needed was losing a Test.

Puja

As Wales have missed training sessions, they'll probably play much better than expected. Whereas we'll indulge in a Borthers boring kickfest and get beat.

Christ, you've lapsed into pessimism early. He's only had two games so far!

Puja

[stepsider]

Thank fuck for that. We've got precious little time to bed in the Borthwick regime as it is; the last thing we needed was losing a Test.

Puja

As Wales have missed training sessions, they'll probably play much better than expected. Whereas we'll indulge in a Borthers boring kickfest and get beat.

Christ, you've lapsed into pessimism early. He's only had two games so far!

Puja

Not seen too many reasons for optimism yet!

[Banquo]

Thank fuck for that. We've got precious little time to bed in the Borthwick regime as it is; the last thing we needed was losing a Test.

Puja

As Wales have missed training sessions, they'll probably play much better than expected. Whereas we'll indulge in a Borthers boring kickfest and get beat.

word from camp is that pressure kick strategy as copywritten by FKAS is full underwritten and good to go.

[Mellsblue]

We need a thumbs down button.

[FKAS]

Thank fuck for that. We've got precious little time to bed in the Borthwick regime as it is; the last thing we needed was losing a Test.

Puja

As Wales have missed training sessions, they'll probably play much better than expected. Whereas we'll indulge in a Borthers boring kickfest and get beat.

word from camp is that pressure kick strategy as copywritten by FKAS is full underwritten and good to go.

If it's written by me then Freddie Steward on the crossfield kick will be replacing the grubber.