Wales v England

[Son of Mathonwy]

Having enjoyed this afternoon's match I can see no major issues* preventing us from taking down Eddie's boys in two weeks.



*we just need to play 1000% better.

[Sandydragon]

Having enjoyed this afternoon's match I can see no major issues* preventing us from taking down Eddie's boys in two weeks.



*we just need to play 1000% better.

The speed that England are playing the game is a concern, we look very cumbersome by comparison.

If we can stop them scoring in the first 5 minutes it would be a benefit, they certain come out of the blocks well.

[morepork]

If you have a 10 that can play flat I would fancy your midfield to punch some holes in them. The loose forward battle will be key.

[Hooky]

If you have a 10 that can play flat I would fancy your midfield to punch some holes in them. The loose forward battle will be key.

We do but gatland won’t pick him

[Son of Mathonwy]

I think we have a tougher defence than they've yet seen in this championship, so it won't be quite the try-fest they've enjoyed so far. But I can't see us being entirely successful in that, so we may have to do that try-scoring thing ourselves a bit. Will Gatland be able to see past Biggar's kicking accuracy and give us a chance of winning with Anscombe (or Patchell, if he recovers)? Maybe Gatland will stick to the old plan of trying to edge a low-scoring match.... can't see it working this time unfortunately.

We do need to be wide awake from the start though, not after May has scored a cheeky try.

[Sourdust]

It's not as if an Anscombe-led backline has been slicing & dicing defences, is it? Yes, we look a BIT sharper in attack with him there, but we still look a LOT less fragile with Biggar.

We always knew the writing would be on the wall if and when England somehow managed to get AND keep Billy & Manu on the field at the same time. It's been nice while it lasted but the nightmare scenario is real now and we're going to need something pretty damn special to stop them. And by "we", I don't just mean Wales.

[normanski]

I wonder if Shaun will be upping the anti on chop tackles to try to stop them behind the gain line. Our 6 will have to get in the groove of Lydiate.

One thing in our favour is that the English will be so buoyed up with their runaway wins that they may become a little reckless in going for the three minute or less try giving us an early counter opportunity.

Back three positional play will have to be top drawer.

I hope it’s not the forgone conclusion everyone is thinking this Monday.

[Buggaluggs]

We will be a tougher nut to crack that France. But I fear England have become much better than us at converting their chances into points.

And the end of the game, there may well be little between to two sides except the score!

[Sandydragon]

I wonder if Shaun will be upping the anti on chop tackles to try to stop them behind the gain line. Our 6 will have to get in the groove of Lydiate.

One thing in our favour is that the English will be so buoyed up with their runaway wins that they may become a little reckless in going for the three minute or less try giving us an early counter opportunity.

Back three positional play will have to be to drawer.

I hope it’s not the forgone conclusion everyone is thinking this Monday.

This is the sort of game where Lydiate could be a key player, at least for 60 minutes. Stopping the Vunipola brothers before they get any momentum will make England far less dangerous in attack. I suspect it will be Navidi at 6 who is no slouch in defence, although he isn’t as destructive a tackler as Lydiate can be at his best.

What’s for certain is that our front five need to massively up their game as well. Beard is a big unit but I’m not sure this is the game for him. I’d start with AWJ and Cory Hill. The line out can’t get much worse and their defence and ruck play is very good. Perhaps bring on Hill to run at tired defenders.

[normanski]

I wonder if Shaun will be upping the anti on chop tackles to try to stop them behind the gain line. Our 6 will have to get in the groove of Lydiate.

One thing in our favour is that the English will be so buoyed up with their runaway wins that they may become a little reckless in going for the three minute or less try giving us an early counter opportunity.

Back three positional play will have to be to drawer.

I hope it’s not the forgone conclusion everyone is thinking this Monday.

This is the sort of game where Lydiate could be a key player, at least for 60 minutes. Stopping the Vunipola brothers before they get any momentum will make England far less dangerous in attack. I suspect it will be Navidi at 6 who is no slouch in defence, although he isn’t as destructive a tackler as Lydiate can be at his best.

What’s for certain is that our front five need to massively up their game as well. Beard is a big unit but I’m not sure this is the game for him. I’d start with AWJ and Cory Hill. The line out can’t get much worse and their defence and ruck play is very good. Perhaps bring on Hill to run at tired defenders.

It’s a pity Faletau isn’t in the mix.

That would give Moriarty the six berth alongside Tipuric and the freedom get up early in the face of the big English ball carriers.

Gats will have to work with what he’s got and Navidi was excellent against the aggressive Italian runners.

[Sandydragon]

He was pretty good against some meaty French forwards as well, even when he looks like he is tackling too high.

[Digby]

Navidi and Tipuric have the chance to get over English ball if we run multiphase as we quickly switch from a 3 man support pod back to groups of 2. And with two opensides that could present some opportunities

Maybe England will kick a lot, but against Ireland and France they played back three units playing together for the first time ever and low on actual caps in the back three. If Wales deny England easy kicks and don't drop the bombs even if England win contact that's when the chances to exploit the 2 man pods will come

[Mikey Brown]

That Wainright guy looked very busy. Is he ready/useful or did he just have a very conspicuous game v Italy?

[Digby]

If you have a 10 that can play flat I would fancy your midfield to punch some holes in them. The loose forward battle will be key.

We do but gatland won’t pick him

Wales have been clearing out well beyond the ruck if that's allowed and they can knock a defender out of the way it's on. Otherwise it seems very high risk even before the handling in the Welsh midfield ranges from alright to clunky

[Numbers]

That Wainright guy looked very busy. Is he ready/useful or did he just have a very conspicuous game v Italy?

He looks the business, probably our best ball carrier at the moment.

[normanski]

Good news! Halfpenny and Patchell have returned to the Wales camp after full contact training.

Will be assessed and may be released tomorrow back to Scarlets for the Benetton game this weekend.

This gives EJ another tactical problem to think about. Who will be in Wales back three?

[Numbers]

Good news! Halfpenny and Patchell have returned to the Wales camp after full contact training.

Will be assessed and may be released tomorrow back to Scarlets for the Benetton game this weekend.

This gives EJ another tactical problem to think about. Who will be in Wales back three?

If Halfpenny is fit then he needs to play 15, with England's kicking game we require his superior positional play.

[normanski]

Good news! Halfpenny and Patchell have returned to the Wales camp after full contact training.

Will be assessed and may be released tomorrow back to Scarlets for the Benetton game this weekend.

This gives EJ another tactical problem to think about. Who will be in Wales back three?

If Halfpenny is fit then he needs to play 15, with England's kicking game we require his superior positional play.

If he has fully recovered and comes through Saturday’s game then, as a Gatland favourite, he will probably play.

Who makes way is another good headache for the selectors.

[Which Tyler]

Putting this here as it's not really worth a thread of its own.
Faletau needs a 2ns operation on his arm.
Sounds like the plate came loose

[Sandydragon]

That Wainright guy looked very busy. Is he ready/useful or did he just have a very conspicuous game v Italy?

He’s a very good player who has a huge future. The only issue right now for him is the amount of back row players we have, which means the next RWC might not happen for him. But I expect him to be around for a long time, injury permitting.

[Sandydragon]

If Halfpenny is fit then he must be in the starting team, probably at 15 with Liam in the wing. Harsh in Liam but England will need a good defence and I’d be inclined to drop North to the bench which might allow Liam to move to full back later on.

With the need to take points on offer, Halfpennynhas to play.

[Son of Mathonwy]

And England have lost a Vunipola.

If Halfpenny is really fit to play (albeit this match represents throwing him back in the deepest of deep ends), this is good news. But who do we drop? You'd think probably Adams, but you could make a case for any of the back three from the French match.

But Halfpenny does make it easier to start Anscombe (or Patchell for that matter, although that's not going to happen).

[Sandydragon]

I’d drop North to the bench. He did score two good tries in Paris but he has a number of defensive weaknesses and with Liam and Adams in the back three, there is some genuine pace and threat there.

All this is dependent on Halfpenny lasting a club match mind.

[Hooky]

I’d drop North to the bench. He did score two good tries in Paris but he has a number of defensive weaknesses and with Liam and Adams in the back three, there is some genuine pace and threat there.

All this is dependent on Halfpenny lasting a club match mind.

Agreed. Feels strange but North’s weaknesses are more obvious.

[Stom]

I'd be delighted if you dropped North. He's by far the better, more dangerous player.