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Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2023 3:15 pm
by Numbers
MrK wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2023 2:37 pm
So if I was going to go all Lions and say Saturday team v Dirt trackers from that lot I'd go
for Fiji
L Williams, Adams, North, J Williams, LRZ, Biggar, T Williams
Domachowski, Elias, Francis, Rowlands, Jenkins, Lydiate, Morgan, Faleatau
B: Lake, Smith, H Thomas, Tshiunza, Wainwright, Davies, Anscombe, Grady
I think the backline picks itself given lack of game time for Anscombe. I think He will go with Anscombe and Grady on the Bench as between them they cover all the back line except 9
I think Gatland likes a hefty front 5, so Ive gone with that front 3 although Francis is very lucky, plus Jenkins over Beard for some dynamism, Back row - I think he will start Lydiate against Fiji and see where he goes from there.
for Portugal
Halfpenny, Dyer, Grady, Tompkins, Adams, Costelow, Davies
G Thomas, Dee, Lewis, Beard, Tshiunza, Basham, Reffel, Wainwright
B: Lake, Smith, Thomas, Jenkins, T Williams, Anscombe, North
Best performers from those 2 for the Aus match.
Domachowski is great around the park but still concerns me with his scrummaging so I'd be starting one of the other two props and have the other on the bench, he may prefer Beard's experience in the second row over Jenkins, although I can't imagine Fiji rolling many mauls so he won't be required for stopping those.
The Portugal game will be our weakest available 23 which will be more than capable of overhauling them.
Re: So. The squad after that lot
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2023 9:36 pm
by Wallpaperman
Think Domachowski has been a little hard done by. Will Stuart got away with driving across him in the first test, and Malherbe did it at the weekend (eventually getting pinged). The WoL were suggesting that the issue was more with Dee than anyone else, which is a bit odd.
Think Henry Thomas is number 1 tight head, but Gatland will go with Francis for the Georgia game. Keep Dillon Lewis away from that one.
It’s slightly concerning that there are a few players going in either injured or undercooked - Lake, Elias, Faletau, Anscombe etc. That might be why Christ has got the nod over Plumtree.
Think that Roberts looks like a good actual 13, as opposed to North and Grady. He is unlucky in my view, but it will do him no harm in the longer term to have been with the squad, and played quite well at Aitch Queue.
Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2023 10:51 pm
by Sandydragon
pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2023 12:51 pm
normanski wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2023 12:47 pm
pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2023 12:35 pm
No Hardy, either, so just 2 scrum halves
Those who didn’t make the cut are probably standing by for the call after the Fiji game - the hardest and most attritional game of the group stage.
Yeah, and at least the RWC's in France so no need to fly replacements halfway round the world if anyone gets injured
Indeed. Gatland would need to completely drop a player from his squad to get a new one, but at ,east it’s a short journey.
Gatland seems to have gone for form rather than ticking boxes in specialist positions. Hardy wasn’t great, albeit behind a completely stuffed pack.
Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2023 12:21 pm
by Graigwen
I am very worried that I feel happy about that 33.
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Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2023 1:57 pm
by pompey-zebra
Graigwen wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 12:21 pm
I am very worried that I feel happy about that 33.
.
Youre not the only one, I've been thinking since the squad was announced that I've got a bit more confidence. It looks very much a Gatland squad now, rather than the chopped and changed teams we've had in the warm ups. The injuries to some players are still a concern but if this is unfounded then we should be competitive.
Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2023 2:28 pm
by normanski
pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 1:57 pm
Graigwen wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 12:21 pm
I am very worried that I feel happy about that 33.
.
Youre not the only one, I've been thinking since the squad was announced that I've got a bit more confidence. It looks very much a Gatland squad now, rather than the chopped and changed teams we've had in the warm ups. The injuries to some players are still a concern but if this is unfounded then we should be competitive.
I agree. It very much looks like Gatland’s squad and capable of doing a good job in the group stage.
It will be interesting to see how Fiji perform against England this weekend. They were a bit lethargic (rusty?) against France, so Saturday will give us a better idea of how they will go against us.
Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2023 2:46 pm
by Which Tyler
normanski wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 2:28 pm
It will be interesting to see how Fiji perform against England this weekend. They were a bit lethargic (rusty?) against France, so Saturday will give us a better idea of how they will go against us.
Don't worry, England will help get Fiji playing with confidence and consistency
Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2023 4:34 pm
by normanski
Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 2:46 pm
normanski wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 2:28 pm
It will be interesting to see how Fiji perform against England this weekend. They were a bit lethargic (rusty?) against France, so Saturday will give us a better idea of how they will go against us.
Don't worry, England will help get Fiji playing with confidence and consistency
Without the dead hand of Farrell and Vunipola, England will perform considerably better.
Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2023 7:47 pm
by Sandydragon
normanski wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 4:34 pm
Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 2:46 pm
normanski wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 2:28 pm
It will be interesting to see how Fiji perform against England this weekend. They were a bit lethargic (rusty?) against France, so Saturday will give us a better idea of how they will go against us.
Don't worry, England will help get Fiji playing with confidence and consistency
Without the dead hand of Farrell and Vunipola, England will perform considerably better.
Maybe. How bloody long does it take to come to a decision?
Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2023 9:24 pm
by normanski
Well Farrell has a four game ban but strangely the Ireland game has been included. He gets a away with it every time.
Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2023 8:55 am
by Sandydragon
normanski wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 9:24 pm
Well Farrell has a four game ban but strangely the Ireland game has been included. He gets a away with it every time.
Can’t wait to see what the mitigations are that have reduced that outcome.
Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2023 9:59 am
by pompey-zebra
normanski wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 9:24 pm
Well Farrell has a four game ban but strangely the Ireland game has been included. He gets a away with it every time.
I havent read the reasoning for this decision, but I assumed they imposed the ban as it would have been imposed had this decision been reached at the first hearing- hence four games from last week on.
Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2023 10:04 am
by Graigwen
Sandydragon wrote: ↑Wed Aug 23, 2023 8:55 am
normanski wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 9:24 pm
Well Farrell has a four game ban but strangely the Ireland game has been included. He gets a away with it every time.
Can’t wait to see what the mitigations are that have reduced that outcome.
No on-field mitigation can be allowed, Nigel Owen was exactly right in his analysis of course.
However he is a decent chap with lots of influential friends and showed deep remorse and grief just like the last twenty times.
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Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2023 10:16 am
by Son of Mathonwy
Graigwen wrote: ↑Wed Aug 23, 2023 10:04 am
Sandydragon wrote: ↑Wed Aug 23, 2023 8:55 am
normanski wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 9:24 pm
Well Farrell has a four game ban but strangely the Ireland game has been included. He gets a away with it every time.
Can’t wait to see what the mitigations are that have reduced that outcome.
No on-field mitigation can be allowed, Nigel Owen was exactly right in his analysis of course.
However he is a decent chap with lots of influential friends and showed deep remorse and grief just like the last twenty times.
.
He's just an excitable boy.
Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2023 10:40 am
by normanski
Now Vunipola only gets a three match ban.
Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2023 12:36 pm
by Son of Mathonwy
Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Wed Aug 23, 2023 9:38 am
Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 11:53 pm
Stolen from Reddit and sort of relevant to the kicking conversation earlier, couldn’t find the original source of the stats though.
England ranked against the 10 tier one nations.
Points per 22 entry: 10th
Ruck speed: 8th
Kick metres: 1st
Line breaks: 10th
Handling errors: 10th
Turnovers lost: 10th
Metres made: 8th
I’m not sure if turnovers lost is what it sounds like.
I checked out the data linked to the Twitter article (to see how Wales compared). Actually England were only 9th at line breaks, Australia were in fact the worst.
For comparison, Wales's stats were fairly dire, particularly where speed is required:
Points per 22 entry: 9th
Ruck speed: 9th
Kick metres: 5th
Line breaks: 8th
Handling errors: 3rd
Turnovers lost: 4th
Metres made: 9th
From the English board, England looking abysmal by these stats but Wales not that much better.
https://x.com/nik_simon88/status/169374 ... MV3j-SK8yQ
Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2023 11:02 am
by Graigwen
Gatland has seen squads for past World Cups significantly weakened by injuries before they started. We seem to have come through unscathed this time, so long as news of Faletau and Anscombe is accurate.
I feel relieved we have completed our warm ups and are not playing this weekend. (I am not too bothered by suggestions some players will be "undercooked". I just want them fit.)
.
Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2023 6:56 pm
by Son of Mathonwy
Graigwen wrote: ↑Fri Aug 25, 2023 11:02 am
Gatland has seen squads for past World Cups significantly weakened by injuries before they started. We seem to have come through
unscathed this time, so long as news of Faletau and Anscombe is accurate.
I feel relieved we have completed our warm ups and are not playing this weekend. (I am not too bothered by suggestions some players will be "undercooked". I just want them fit.)
.
Assuming all those injured in the warm ups recover as hoped.
Agreed, let's just get the players recovered and fit for Fiji.
Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2023 5:42 pm
by Which Tyler
normanski wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 4:34 pm
Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 2:46 pm
normanski wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 2:28 pm
It will be interesting to see how Fiji perform against England this weekend. They were a bit lethargic (rusty?) against France, so Saturday will give us a better idea of how they will go against us.
Don't worry, England will help get Fiji playing with confidence and consistency
Without the dead hand of Farrell and Vunipola, England will perform considerably better.
Sure?
Re: So. The squad after that lot.
Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2023 6:01 pm
by normanski
Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2023 5:42 pm
normanski wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 4:34 pm
Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 2:46 pm
Don't worry, England will help get Fiji playing with confidence and consistency
Without the dead hand of Farrell and Vunipola, England will perform considerably better.
Sure?
As you well know on these boards, forecasting is not a precise art form!