Team for Wales

[Which Tyler]

England lucky to beat an injury decimated Wales. Needed the TMO to gift it to them.

...

With all the talk of the TMO decision - turn that penalty into a try, and Wales lose by 4

[fivepointer]

I'm pleased with the win and commend our generally tight defence but goodness that was a disappointing effort. Not to register a single point in the last hour of the game is pretty dreadful. Its not as if we didnt get into the Welsh 22 to give ourselves a chance of points. our attacking game just didnt get going really, though it doesnt help when your SH waits an age to move the ball.
Faz and Brown were really good today. Mako, Launch and Robshaw the pick of the forwards.

[Banquo]

Farrell had a stormer.

Now I feel dirty

He and Mikey were excellent.

[Oakboy]

Itoje is still involved in lots of things - but he looked the worst lock on the field today - I’m not worried about him starting, but I’d still change our backrow if we have fit players!

Yet, neither Lawes nor Robshaw were found wanting in any respect. Both, arguably, outplayed their opponents.

[Banquo]

I'm enjoying the ambition, i like that Farrell had been a threat ball in hand, shame about the left to right pass. Think we're lucky they didn't get the try given. We do need more heavy carriers. Mako is good, Launchbury is adequate but we really need at least one more. We've got a few that can operate well in those wider pods.

Launchbury has always struggled with restarts. Good hands and athleticism usually gets him through but his positioning is poor.

...as has been clear for...a couple of years. Billy to the rescue.

[Banquo]

Interesting stats....we conceded 10 pens to Wales extraordinary 2; we had 85% tackle count to Wales 91%. Great defence from Wales, although we were a tad inaccurate and kicky.

For all Faz did well, he also missed a huge number of tackles.

[WaspInWales]

With all the talk of the TMO decision - turn that penalty into a try, and Wales lose by 4

But if that try was allowed, Wales would've gone on to score another 4 or 5....easily.

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[Banquo]

Itoje is still involved in lots of things - but he looked the worst lock on the field today - I’m not worried about him starting, but I’d still change our backrow if we have fit players!

Yet, neither Lawes nor Robshaw were found wanting in any respect. Both, arguably, outplayed their opponents.

Navidi and Shingler put in massive defensive shifts, and Shingler also made a load of yards. Lawes was also stripped far too easily- his lineout was good mind. Lawes and Robshaw were ok out of position

[WaspInWales]

Farrell had a stormer.

Now I feel dirty

Yup, and yup.

He fully deserves his plaudits today, and deserves MotM today, possibly for the first time in an England shirt.
What makes it even harder is handing over to SCW in the studio...

7 missed tackles apparently, but yeah good game otherwise. Still not world class though.

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[Buggaluggs]

England lucky to beat an injury decimated Wales. Needed the TMO to gift it to them.

...

With all the talk of the TMO decision - turn that penalty into a try, and Wales lose by 4

Brown (who I hate) was so good today he single highhandedly deserved the win, other than him I thought Wales were better. ½P would have taken some shots at goal that were too far for Patch - but then again - england knew that and would have been more penalty stingy if ½P had been on.

Overall, not as good a game as I was hoping for.

[fivepointer]

Interesting stats....we conceded 10 pens to Wales extraordinary 2; we had 85% tackle count to Wales 91%. Great defence from Wales, although we were a tad inaccurate and kicky.

2 pens...yeah it seemed that the Welsh discipline was exceptional. They did defend extremely well too.

[WaspInWales]

Can't get over how slow Wigglesworth pass is. It has got noticeably slower than the pedestrian he managed at the height of his game.

Odd bench call from Eddie.

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[Banquo]

I'm pleased with the win and commend our generally tight defence but goodness that was a disappointing effort. Not to register a single point in the last hour of the game is pretty dreadful. Its not as if we didnt get into the Welsh 22 to give ourselves a chance of points. our attacking game just didnt get going really, though it doesnt help when your SH waits an age to move the ball.
Faz and Brown were really good today. Mako, Launch and Robshaw the pick of the forwards.

We kicked too much, and were dreadful in Wales 22, but I would take some consolation away from our pick and go work, and varying the point of attack when carrying. But we still kicked too much and were dreadful in Wales 22

[TheDasher]

on the TMO decision, watsons left hand touched the ball marginally after the Welshman's but I thought his right hand (harder to see) touched the ball down at the same time as welshies.

Care isn't the cleverest as usual though, moments before he could have knocked the ball into touch but instead went for the man who didn't even have the ball... anyone else notice that?

[fivepointer]

looked a try to me. you see them being given in the prem with that level of contact. we got away with one there, Wales were unlucky.

[Oakboy]

looked a try to me. you see them being given in the prem with that level of contact. we got away with one there, Wales were unlucky.

On that particular incident i can but agree. However, I thought the ref was iffy in his interpretation of a lot at the breakdown, almost always in Wales' favour. Some of the penalties could well have gone the other way. The statistics would have looked different then.

Oh, and George buggered up another lineout throw. My fingers were firmly crossed that Hartley would pass the HIA. I hope Taylor gets back to form quickly.

[Mellsblue]

Care isn't the cleverest as usual though, moments before he could have knocked the ball into touch but instead went for the man who didn't even have the ball... anyone else notice that?

The winger whose knee is luckily bounced off? The ball was over Care’s head and was either going to the winger or out of play. Care didcthe correct thing and the winger got lucky.

[Mellsblue]

looked a try to me. you see them being given in the prem with that level of contact. we got away with one there, Wales were unlucky.

On that particular incident i can but agree. However, I thought the ref was iffy in his interpretation of a lot at the breakdown, almost always in Wales' favour. Some of the penalties could well have gone the other way. The statistics would have looked different then.

Oh, and George buggered up another lineout throw. My fingers were firmly crossed that Hartley would pass the HIA. I hope Taylor gets back to form quickly.

I thought it was a try.

Do you really want George dropped for one poor throw?!?!

[Oakboy]

looked a try to me. you see them being given in the prem with that level of contact. we got away with one there, Wales were unlucky.

On that particular incident i can but agree. However, I thought the ref was iffy in his interpretation of a lot at the breakdown, almost always in Wales' favour. Some of the penalties could well have gone the other way. The statistics would have looked different then.

Oh, and George buggered up another lineout throw. My fingers were firmly crossed that Hartley would pass the HIA. I hope Taylor gets back to form quickly.

I thought it was a try.

Do you really want George dropped for one poor throw?!?!

No, I want him and Hartley fairly assessed for their full contributions and the others, LCD and Taylor, given a chance at some point. My prejudiced, (Chateau La Clide induced) view is that all the Saracens players are overrrated. Having said that, Farrell was excellent today. Oh, and I've never liked or rated Borthwick. I'll have another glass.

[Mellsblue]

Whoops:

[Insouciant]

Whoops indeed, if he'd managed to make contact with the ball when it was on the floor he would have scored a try. Poor finishing.

[Mr Mwenda]

I enjoyed that, an exciting game. I guess England will be irritated they never took any of their chances to land the knock out blow but Wales had something to do with that. The scoreline was a fair reflection of the play in my opinion.

Will now be singing 'Underhill, overhill, tackling free" for a little while. Not a bad contribution to make. Simmonds will have learnt a bit more about what he needs to work on. I hope Hughes can get up to speed and we can let the locks battle it out for two spots rather than three.

Wigglesworth really is a step down, I hope it's due to being so long from the international game but that feels a bit forlorn.

[Spiffy]

Farrell had a stormer.

Now I feel dirty

Yup, and yup.

He fully deserves his plaudits today, and deserves MotM today, possibly for the first time in an England shirt.
What makes it even harder is handing over to SCW in the studio...

7 missed tackles apparently, but yeah good game otherwise. Still not world class though.

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Faz still has everyone fooled with the Emperor's new clothes act. Seven missed tackles is pretty shocking at any level of rugby, but in an international..... Wales might have nicked that game but were terribly sloppy.

[richy678]

Itoje is still involved in lots of things - but he looked the worst lock on the field today - I’m not worried about him starting, but I’d still change our backrow if we have fit players!

Hughes benches for Wasps tomorrow, next week is anrest week for the 6N.
Assuming he doesn't relapse, he'll be good to go. 6.Robshaw, 7.Simmonds/Underhill, 8.Hughes

I'm not a Robshaw fan but there was one clear example today of him doing the classic flankers job of cleaning up shit ball.
He did ok today.

[Banquo]

Itoje is still involved in lots of things - but he looked the worst lock on the field today - I’m not worried about him starting, but I’d still change our backrow if we have fit players!

Hughes benches for Wasps tomorrow, next week is anrest week for the 6N.
Assuming he doesn't relapse, he'll be good to go. 6.Robshaw, 7.Simmonds/Underhill, 8.Hughes

I'm not a Robshaw fan but there was one clear example today of him doing the classic flankers job of cleaning up shit ball.
He did ok today.

He's an excellent blindside, and fair play did a good job at the base today- he has played 8 quite a bit before in fairness.