RugbyRebels

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 4:41 pm Yeah, my interpretation of Coka was of someone having an anxiety attack, compounded by trying too hard. Not up to international rugby physically or mentally for now I fear. I hope he can have a good season at Bath.

I meant Malins but yes

"Jonny Hill set to play for England on Saturday given shortage of locks. Ribbans out after failed HIA. Chessum not being risked.

Porter and May also training with squad despite missing World Cup 33. Tuilagi sat out training today, unlikely for Saturday"

Oh great!

fivepointer wrote: ↑Tue Aug 08, 2023 12:13 pm "Jonny Hill set to play for England on Saturday given shortage of locks. Ribbans out after failed HIA. Chessum not being risked.

Porter and May also training with squad despite missing World Cup 33. Tuilagi sat out training today, unlikely for Saturday"

Oh great!

Smelly Bumwipe has always said this would be the case, tbf.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Tue Aug 08, 2023 12:13 pm "Jonny Hill set to play for England on Saturday given shortage of locks. Ribbans out after failed HIA. Chessum not being risked.

Porter and May also training with squad despite missing World Cup 33. Tuilagi sat out training today, unlikely for Saturday"

Oh great!

couldn't make it up even if pre warned.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Tue Aug 08, 2023 12:13 pm "Jonny Hill set to play for England on Saturday given shortage of locks. Ribbans out after failed HIA. Chessum not being risked.

Porter and May also training with squad despite missing World Cup 33. Tuilagi sat out training today, unlikely for Saturday"

Oh great!

For interest the Western Mail, based on reported injuries and being sat amongst a bunch of school kids watching an open training session, reckon the Wales team for Saturday could be:
G Thomas
Lake
Francis
Beard
Rhys Davies
Lydiate
Reffell
Plumtree
T Williams
O Williams
N Tompkins
Joe Roberts
T Rogers
L Williams

Apparently lake was swapping with Parry and Mathias on the sessions and Tompkins was swapping with kieron Williams, the latter presumably to come on if three Williams in the back line aren't enough.

Chessum, Billy V, Arundell, Ribbans, Tuilagi . . . Just how many of the 33 are not fully fit?

5?

Curry has a minor ankle injury. The important point is who is fully fit for Argentina.

Lucky the group is mostly made of opensides then.

It does make 'finalising' the squad before these games are over seem kind of pointless.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 08, 2023 3:05 pm Chessum, Billy V, Arundell, Ribbans, Tuilagi . . . Just how many of the 33 are not fully fit?

There's a clip of Arundell training on the England Rugby Instagram today. Unless it was filmed a few weeks ago, he looks okay now.

Margin_Walker wrote: ↑Tue Aug 08, 2023 4:08 pm

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 08, 2023 3:05 pm Chessum, Billy V, Arundell, Ribbans, Tuilagi . . . Just how many of the 33 are not fully fit?

There's a clip of Arundell training on the England Rugby Instagram today. Unless it was filmed a few weeks ago, he looks okay now.

I'm at the stage where I'm desperate for good news so thanks for that!!!!!

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 08, 2023 4:53 pm

Margin_Walker wrote: ↑Tue Aug 08, 2023 4:08 pm

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 08, 2023 3:05 pm Chessum, Billy V, Arundell, Ribbans, Tuilagi . . . Just how many of the 33 are not fully fit?

There's a clip of Arundell training on the England Rugby Instagram today. Unless it was filmed a few weeks ago, he looks okay now.

I'm at the stage where I'm desperate for good news so thanks for that!!!!!

What were you realistically expecting in six games. You’ve repeatedly told us that England have, at best stood, still for 3.5 years under Jones. Is Scummy Bathwater meant to have unwound all of that in seven months?
How good is this group of players, realistically? It’s certainly behind France, Ireland, NZ and South Africa, and I wouldn’t argue too much if someone also suggested the Scotland 1st XV is better.
Not that I think Strangely Breathtaking is doing a stellar job…

Scotland's first 23 certainly are a more cohesive unit.

Banquo wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 8:40 am No sure what Sloop John Borthwick or anyone got out of that muddle.

Either they can't coach or these players are uncoachable

Here is confirmation of the Welsh team for Saturday. Gatland has made a few changes - 15.

Wales: 15. Liam Williams, 14. Josh Adams, 13. Joe Roberts, 12. Nick Tompkins, 11. Tom Rogers, 10. Owen Williams, 9. Tomos Williams, 1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Dewi Lake (capt), 3. Tomas Francis, 4. Rhys Davies, 5. Adam Beard, 6. Dan Lydiate, 7. Tommy Reffell, 8. Taine Plumtree.

Replacements: 16. Sam Parry, 17. Kemsley Mathias, 18. Dillon Lewis, 19. Christ Tshiunza, 20. Taine Basham, 21. Kieran Hardy, 22. Dan Biggar, 23. Keiran Williams.
.

Solomon Burke has missed a trick to give Steward a rest this weekend and run the rule over someone else. He willl learn nothing new about Steward who is more or less a guaranteed starter now. In the absence of Watson, it would have been worthwhile looking at Daly/ Malins/Arundell to see what they might bring. In particular, it would be interesting to see Arundell operating at 15, (his usual position) with a bit of space to use his counter attacking skills. What's to lose - it's just a warm up.

He’s only played 1 game? Giving Arundell desperately needed game time on the wing (given he never plays there but we seem to determined to use him as one) and Daly is finally back in the one spot where he’s been consistently good as an international.

Giving Malins a go at 15 where he is more suited might have been a good experiment, but probably not helpful for the wingers to have an international rookie there.

I’m sure one of the wings covering 15 will get a run out next time when we’re not trialling a first XV.