Great expectations, Saturday?

[Graigwen]

I agree, no pressure on us. It is a good selection to yield more information. It will be interesting to see how the three centres go.
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[pompey-zebra]

I agree, no pressure on us. It is a good selection to yield more information. It will be interesting to see how the three centres go.
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In his press conference, Gatland said he's likely to take 4 centres and 4 back three players. I think only johnny Williams will not have played of the centres after saturday ( assuming keiran Williams comes on), so it does look like a bit of a shoot out.

[MrK]

The good thing about North and Grady is that they can both also cover wing

For me I think both of those are in.

This is where Saturday becomes interesting as that means we have 2 positions left (or does it)

Tompkins has the most experience, and a good performance Saturday will see him in
J Williams is most peoples pick as 12 in an ideal, injury free team selection, but... he does appear injury prone
Kieran Williams probably hasnt had enough of a chance, I hope he gets at least 40 mins on Saturday
Roberts is another 13 so is currently behind North & Grady

So it is likely, that Williams, Tompkins, North, Grady are the 4x "Centres"
But if Roberts has a worldy on Saturday it wouldnt surprise me if we saw a Gatland curve ball and he takes Williams, Tompkins, Roberts Grady AND North selected as a winger with
L WIlliams, LRZ and Adams

[Graigwen]

The good thing about North and Grady is that they can both also cover wing

...and flanker.
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[Graigwen]

This is where Saturday becomes interesting as that means we have 2 positions left (or does it)

Tompkins has the most experience, and a good performance Saturday will see him in
J Williams is most peoples pick as 12 in an ideal, injury free team selection, but... he does appear injury prone
Kieran Williams probably hasnt had enough of a chance, I hope he gets at least 40 mins on Saturday
Roberts is another 13 so is currently behind North & Grady

So it is likely, that Williams, Tompkins, North, Grady are the 4x "Centres"
But if Roberts has a worldy on Saturday it wouldnt surprise me if we saw a Gatland curve ball and he takes Williams, Tompkins, Roberts Grady AND North selected as a winger with
L WIlliams, LRZ and Adams

I think it is something like that.

Evans is very unlikely to be in the squad, he may not get on the pitch at all in the warm ups. Roberts and K. Williams have got a lot to do this Saturday to warrant further consideration, although the experience will be useful for the future. I think J Williams will be in the squad if fit; it seems a big if.
If J Williams is not fit, then North, Grady, Tompkins and Llewelyn.

I think there is a lot to be played for by the centres this week.
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[Sourdust]

I'm very happy with the squads.

With these lineups, it will be easy for Wales to spin anything less than a total massacre as a success. There's no way in hell that a full England test side should have any trouble winning this by an innings, and everyone knows it. Our players are in a perfect position IMO - they need to perform, but they don't need to win.

[Numbers]

This is where Saturday becomes interesting as that means we have 2 positions left (or does it)

Tompkins has the most experience, and a good performance Saturday will see him in
J Williams is most peoples pick as 12 in an ideal, injury free team selection, but... he does appear injury prone
Kieran Williams probably hasnt had enough of a chance, I hope he gets at least 40 mins on Saturday
Roberts is another 13 so is currently behind North & Grady

So it is likely, that Williams, Tompkins, North, Grady are the 4x "Centres"
But if Roberts has a worldy on Saturday it wouldnt surprise me if we saw a Gatland curve ball and he takes Williams, Tompkins, Roberts Grady AND North selected as a winger with
L WIlliams, LRZ and Adams

I think it is something like that.

Evans is very unlikely to be in the squad, he may not get on the pitch at all in the warm ups. Roberts and K. Williams have got a lot to do this Saturday to warrant further consideration, although the experience will be useful for the future. I think J Williams will be in the squad if fit; it seems a big if.
If J Williams is not fit, then North, Grady, Tompkins and Llewelyn.

I think there is a lot to be played for by the centres this week.
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Apparently Johnny Williams will be available for selection for the SA game barring any setbacks, I'm not sure that's the game I would like to bring him back for however with the physicality of the SA side but I suppose it's a case of sink or swim, I think that it's a straight shootout between Williams and Llewellyn for the second 12 spot with Williams most likely to go due to his experience.

[normanski]

Both Pollard and Am are out of the SA squad for the game. Am out makes for a less aggressive Bok mid-field.

[Numbers]

Both Pollard and Am are out of the SA squad for the game. Am out makes for a less aggressive Bok mid-field.

Not sure it weakens them that much, the alternatives are Kriel and Esterhuizen.

[MrK]

Both Pollard and Am are out of the SA squad for the game. Am out makes for a less aggressive Bok mid-field.

Not sure it weakens them that much, the alternatives are Kriel and Esterhuizen.

Is that Canan Moodie a centre?

[Graigwen]

On paper, England should win this one quite comfortably given it looks close to their first xv, they're at home and Wales are still fielding a mix and- match squad. But hopefully Wales will be motivated by that and with a win last week, the pressure should be off. As in the posts above, I just hope we come through unscathed on the injury front.

I think Gatland has got the selection spot on for the two England games. We still need to look at some players and combination, that is far more important than winning this friendly.

I agree on paper this should be an easy England win, but expect it to be a very watchable game. I am still not convinced Rogers really is international standard. Also our midfield might be vulnerable. I think the player with most pressure on him is Beard, great potential but he does not always deliver. I don't think we will mess up the English line out the same way as last week. I expect Plumtree at 8 to be OK.

As you say, the most important thing is to avoid injury.
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[Sourdust]

It's weird because the usual unmanageable mood-swings are not there this time.

I'm SLIGHTLY worried that the imbalance in squads will let them post a cricket score, which would put a dampener on things. But I honestly don't expect that. And even if it does happen, I'd still rather lose this match by 40 points, than win it with Dewi Lake and Liam Williams injured.

It's hard to get up for a game where you almost suspect you might be better off losing...

[normanski]

It's weird because the usual unmanageable mood-swings are not there this time.

I'm SLIGHTLY worried that the imbalance in squads will let them post a cricket score, which would put a dampener on things. But I honestly don't expect that. And even if it does happen, I'd still rather lose this match by 40 points, than win it with Dewi Lake and Liam Williams injured.

It's hard to get up for a game where you almost suspect you might be better off losing...

There is a worry about the apparent imbalance but I have a feeling that still having to play for your place on the train/plane (Wales) against a squad with a load of old and tired warriors already chosen, will make you raise your game.

SCW has predicted a big England win today and we all know how his forecasts work out. He even forecast an England win last week.

An intriguing game in prospect.

[normanski]

It's weird because the usual unmanageable mood-swings are not there this time.

I'm SLIGHTLY worried that the imbalance in squads will let them post a cricket score, which would put a dampener on things. But I honestly don't expect that. And even if it does happen, I'd still rather lose this match by 40 points, than win it with Dewi Lake and Liam Williams injured.

It's hard to get up for a game where you almost suspect you might be better off losing...

There is a worry about the apparent imbalance but I have a feeling that still having to play for your place on the train/plane (Wales) against a squad with a load of old and tired warriors already chosen, will make you raise your game.

SCW has predicted a big England win today and we all know how his forecasts work out. He even forecast an England win last week.

An intriguing game in prospect.

[Son of Mathonwy]

England should be clear winners on paper. They're full strength (assuming those big names are still the best England has to offer), we're missing some obvious first choice players (Rowlands, Morgan, Faletau, North, LRZ) and have a few newbies/fringe players, it's at Twickers and they're smarting from last week. So we shouldn't feel bad if we lose. A decent outcome would be a good performance (and a least a number of players performing at a high level) and a competitive loss. But this is sport and surprises do happen. If they feel the must-win pressure and our players play till the death to impress Gatland . . . and we get a little good fortune . . . then anything's possible.

[MrK]

We arent really showing anything of merit here, much like the first half last week.

I think contact wise we are doing ok, but not having much ball.

If this is close to Englands first team though...they arent showing anything of merit either

[normanski]

England should win but at half time they are making heavy weather of scoring a try. We’ve got the nudge on in the scrums and mauls and for a scratch side we’re not playing too badly.

Let’s hope our fitness and cutting out errors will give us leading edge in the second half.

[Sourdust]

Well this is not quite as bad as last week, but not quite as good as something even slightly good.

They're on top, again. We look OKAY in defence, again.

Bizarre call by E to go for the 3 at the end, when the ref had explicitly said the next pen was a card. But the, can anyone explain how they got down there in the first place? Ref awarded pen advantage to W and then pinged them on the next breakdown 2s later. WTF?

[Son of Mathonwy]

Against England's first choice team we're doing pretty well at half time, unlucky not to have points with those two mauls collapsing. Really unlucky injury for Lake though.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Well this is not quite as bad as last week, but not quite as good as something even slightly good.

They're on top, again. We look OKAY in defence, again.

Bizarre call by E to go for the 3 at the end, when the ref had explicitly said the next pen was a card. But the, can anyone explain how they got down there in the first place? Ref awarded pen advantage to W and then pinged them on the next breakdown 2s later. WTF?

Totally. Pisses me off too that the commentators completely ignored it.

[normanski]

Is Lawes ‘blowing hard’? He certainly looked it.

[normanski]

Well this is not quite as bad as last week, but not quite as good as something even slightly good.

They're on top, again. We look OKAY in defence, again.

Bizarre call by E to go for the 3 at the end, when the ref had explicitly said the next pen was a card. But the, can anyone explain how they got down there in the first place? Ref awarded pen advantage to W and then pinged them on the next breakdown 2s later. WTF?

Ref seems a little out of his depth. I couldn’t understand that decision.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Is Lawes ‘blowing hard’? He certainly looked it.

Well he's getting on a bit.

[MrK]

Plumtree flattered to deceive today

[morepork]

How the arseing shyte are you losing this?