QF v Fiji

[p/d]

On the Ireland game last night, does anyone else think Faz Snr let his heart rule his head by leaving Sexton on after 60 mins. He was completely static, just passing on the ball.

[Beasties]

A lot of them were utterly spent by the end and no wonder. Beirne received the ball at the end with clear 5m in front of him and simply couldn’t run forward into the defensive line he was that knackered. NZ’s defence and discipline in that last insane series of phases was unreal.

[jngf]

Given the performance of Ireland and All Blacks tonight, England are not in the same ball park and allocation of teams to pools looks a total farce - (if) England scrape to a semi but Ireland haven’t - kids nobody

It might kid nobody but the RFU would probably find it hard to sack a coach who took England to a world cup semi final especially given the low starting point.

I’m all for Sweep Bendy on, just not the oldest quartile of his current squad

[p/d]

A lot of them were utterly spent by the end and no wonder. Beirne received the ball at the end with clear 5m in front of him and simply couldn’t run forward into the defensive line he was that knackered. NZ’s defence and discipline in that last insane series of phases was unreal.

And yet Crowley walks away with no minutes in his legs after a do or die game.

Really don’t get it.

[fivepointer]

On the Ireland game last night, does anyone else think Faz Snr let his heart rule his head by leaving Sexton on after 60 mins. He was completely static, just passing on the ball.

A bit. He was obviously spent and a new player might have injected some vigour. Taking off your talisman and captain with the game in the balance is a mighty tough call to make.

[twitchy]

Massive shame for ire yesterday. I found myself really getting behind them.

I'm in a very weird place with eng, feeling pretty ambivalent for some reason.

[francoisfou]

I'm in a very weird place with eng, feeling pretty ambivalent for some reason.

You’re not alone, twitchy. You, me and everyone else who’re swiftly losing faith in the tactics of Sans Balls and his cohorts.

[p/d]

On the Ireland game last night, does anyone else think Faz Snr let his heart rule his head by leaving Sexton on after 60 mins. He was completely static, just passing on the ball.

A bit. He was obviously spent and a new player might have injected some vigour. Taking off your talisman and captain with the game in the balance is a mighty tough call to make.

Aye, tough call. But they are the ones that need to be made. Yes Crowley could have come on and thrown an interception pass like Ed Sheeran’s lad did for Wales but that extra pace and energy against a tiring defence ….. who knows

[Oakboy]

Taking off your talisman and captain with the game in the balance is a mighty tough call to make.

Bloody hell, do you mean we might have Farrell on crutches at 12 at some point this afternoon?

[astralweeks]

OK, who wrote this letter to todays Sunday Times?

'Would Stephen Jones please explain how he rated Owen Farrell a seven against Samoa. He was poor for most of the time and could also have had an earlier kick timed out. England's play improved when Farrell moved to fly half simply because he was no longer at 12 clogging up the midfield and wider channels. The rugby World knows that George Ford is a better number 10 than Farrell.
There is a big risk that Stubborn Bastard will inflict even further embarrassment for England'

[Puja]

OK, who wrote this letter to todays Sunday Times?

'Would Stephen Jones please explain how he rated Owen Farrell a seven against Samoa. He was poor for most of the time and could also have had an earlier kick timed out. England's play improved when Farrell moved to fly half simply because he was no longer at 12 clogging up the midfield and wider channels. The rugby World knows that George Ford is a better number 10 than Farrell.
There is a big risk that Stubborn Bastard will inflict even further embarrassment for England'

Did they actually call him Stubborn Bastard? That's hilarious!

Puja

[astralweeks]

Sadly not, the actual wording is Steve Borthwick's stubbornness

[p/d]

OK, who wrote this letter to todays Sunday Times?

'Would Stephen Jones please explain how he rated Owen Farrell a seven against Samoa. He was poor for most of the time and could also have had an earlier kick timed out. England's play improved when Farrell moved to fly half simply because he was no longer at 12 clogging up the midfield and wider channels. The rugby World knows that George Ford is a better number 10 than Farrell.
There is a big risk that Stubborn Bastard will inflict even further embarrassment for England'

Did they actually call him Stubborn Bastard? That's hilarious!

Puja

That would have been brilliant. Clearly Mellsblue bottled it. Otherwise, I applaud his penmanship

[Banquo]

Sadly not, the actual wording is Steve Borthwick's stubbornness

so disappointing

[p/d]

Sadly not, the actual wording is Steve Borthwick's stubbornness

so disappointing

Mate has just sent me a video of Fijian side practising on a small concrete area just below his hotel balcony……

[Mellsblue]

OK, who wrote this letter to todays Sunday Times?

'Would Stephen Jones please explain how he rated Owen Farrell a seven against Samoa. He was poor for most of the time and could also have had an earlier kick timed out. England's play improved when Farrell moved to fly half simply because he was no longer at 12 clogging up the midfield and wider channels. The rugby World knows that George Ford is a better number 10 than Farrell.
There is a big risk that Stubborn Bastard will inflict even further embarrassment for England'

Did they actually call him Stubborn Bastard? That's hilarious!

Puja

That would have been brilliant. Clearly Mellsblue bottled it. Otherwise, I applaud his penmanship

I would never respond to a Stephen Jones column. I only read them because of the lol moments and to play bingo with how often he lauds a player due to their size and/or ‘fortitude’.

[Which Tyler]

Oh shit, Oh shit, Oh shit, Oh shit,

[Which Tyler]

From BBC reporting.

England v Fiji (16:00 BST)


Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Stade Velodrome
Boos for Owen Farrell's name being read out. Then, when we get to George Ford's name - the biggest cheer of them all

[twitchy]

Thats enough running with the ball england lets not get too excited.

[Stom]

Honestly, not bad from England so far

[TheDasher]

Great physicality from England thus far

[Galfon]

Go lumpmeister !

[TheDasher]

Which is annoying, it seems they haven't been 'up' for previous games to the same extent

[16th man]

Inside defender handily bouncing Manu around the winger there.

[16th man]

Did Curry just head on head there or was it a bad angle and I'm paranoid?