RugbyRebels

So In the aftermath of the defeat to France, we have a simple trip to Twickenham to face an English team which seems to have remembered how to play rugby to their strengths.

North is doubtful (I’d really prefer it if he didn’t play even if he does come through the return to fitness protocols. It’s just a game and not worth brain damage).

Adams is also definitely out with a damaged ankle for the rest of the Six Nations which is a real blow.

So our back three is going to look a bit different. Assuming Halfpenny remains at full back and McNicholl is on one wing (sadly not convinced by him yet) who gets the other wing berth and who covers the back three from the bench?

Do we risk LRZ? Do we risk Liam Williams who hasn’t played for months (perhaps an opportunity this weekend to blow off some cobwebs)?

Alternatively Jonah Holmes is in the squad as too Hallam Amos.

What do we all think?

Sandydragon wrote:So In the aftermath of the defeat to France, we have a simple trip to Twickenham to face an English team which seems to have remembered how to play rugby to their strengths.

North is doubtful (I’d really prefer it if he didn’t play even if he does come through the return to fitness protocols. It’s just a game and not worth brain damage).

Adams is also definitely out with a damaged ankle for the rest of the Six Nations which is a real blow.

So our back three is going to look a bit different. Assuming Halfpenny remains at full back and McNicholl is on one wing (sadly not convinced by him yet) who gets the other wing berth and who covers the back three from the bench?

Do we risk LRZ? Do we risk Liam Williams who hasn’t played for months (perhaps an opportunity this weekend to blow off some cobwebs)?

Alternatively Jonah Holmes is in the squad as too Hallam Amos.

What do we all think?

It's a tricky one, I would play Liam Williams purely based on his experience and world class quality irrespective of game time if he's available, I agree entirely regarding North, I think we may have seen the last of him unfortunately. LRZ on the bench I reckon, he's scoring tries for fun at the moment but the worrying aspect of that is his opposite number scored four on the weekend and a fair few of his tries have just been walk ins.

Nothing to lose now, throw the kid in

I would have Amos and Halfpenny on the wings, Williams at FB if he is ready, then move Halfpenny back in the 2nd half to give LRZ a run at them

With the italy visit to Dublin postponed and the England trip to Rome in doubt the following week, it opens the possibility of a radically altered final 6N championship table.

I’ve read that the postponed games will be treated as 0-0 draws, so two points each.

I wonder if our Twickenham game could also be in doubt if the Coronavirus numbers start racking up in England.

Would any of our more numerate posters be able to work out a worst case scenario with the proviso that the Scotland game goes ahead in Cardiff

normanski wrote:With the italy visit to Dublin postponed and the England trip to Rome in doubt the following week, it opens the possibility of a radically altered final 6N championship table.

I’ve read that the postponed games will be treated as 0-0 draws, so two points each.

I wonder if our Twickenham game could also be in doubt if the Coronavirus numbers start racking up in England.

Would any of our more numerate posters be able to work out a worst case scenario with the proviso that the Scotland game goes ahead in Cardiff

That doesn't make any sense, if they are postponed they are played at a later date like when the foot and mouth outbreak was on, I have heard PRO14 games aren't going to be postponed but treated as 0-0.

newgalesurf wrote:Nothing to lose now, throw the kid in

I would have Amos and Halfpenny on the wings, Williams at FB if he is ready, then move Halfpenny back in the 2nd half to give LRZ a run at them

Liam at full back if (big if) he's ready, otherwise Halfpenny. Amos (or Halfpenny) and McNicholl on the wings. I'd love to see what LRZ can do, but this is not the game to experiment with unless forced by injury. We need centre cover... can Amos do it? Otherwise we need Watkin on the bench.

Amos was a last minute pull out for the Cardiff Edinburgh game tonight.

Buggaluggs wrote:Amos was a last minute pull out for the Cardiff Edinburgh game tonight.

He’s having some bad luck at the moment.

Numbers wrote:

normanski wrote:With the italy visit to Dublin postponed and the England trip to Rome in doubt the following week, it opens the possibility of a radically altered final 6N championship table.

I’ve read that the postponed games will be treated as 0-0 draws, so two points each.

I wonder if our Twickenham game could also be in doubt if the Coronavirus numbers start racking up in England.

Would any of our more numerate posters be able to work out a worst case scenario with the proviso that the Scotland game goes ahead in Cardiff

That doesn't make any sense, if they are postponed they are played at a later date like when the foot and mouth outbreak was on, I have heard PRO14 games aren't going to be postponed but treated as 0-0.

If the games are postponed then player release could be a real issue.

Biggar may be out. I like your bench 10, but.....

Banquo wrote:Biggar may be out. I like your bench 10, but.....

Big ask if he starts at Twickenham but there’s nothing like a baptism of fire for young players.

Could be an interesting and, hopefully, tight game. If we could get our defensive patterns right we have the back line to cause some damage.

normanski wrote:

Banquo wrote:Biggar may be out. I like your bench 10, but.....

Big ask if he starts at Twickenham but there’s nothing like a baptism of fire for young players.

Could be an interesting and, hopefully, tight game. If we could get our defensive patterns right we have the back line to cause some damage.

Hmm....not sure your back three will be that scary tbh.

Likely to be a rusty Liam Williams, Halfpenny plus
north in all likelihood. I’d prefer we played someone else but I think Privac will go for experience.

Sandydragon wrote:Likely to be a rusty Liam Williams, Halfpenny plus
north in all likelihood. I’d prefer we played someone else but I think Privac will go for experience.

No way should North be playing. He was sparked out.

Banquo wrote:

Sandydragon wrote:Likely to be a rusty Liam Williams, Halfpenny plus
north in all likelihood. I’d prefer we played someone else but I think Privac will go for experience.

No way should North be playing. He was sparked out.

I seriously hope not, but I fear that Privac will pick him if he is passed fit.

Sandydragon wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Sandydragon wrote:Likely to be a rusty Liam Williams, Halfpenny plus
north in all likelihood. I’d prefer we played someone else but I think Privac will go for experience.

No way should North be playing. He was sparked out.

I seriously hope not, but I fear that Privac will pick him if he is passed fit.

He's also just not been very good, not sure that should be rewarded with continued selection

Another option, Amos, is out for the season. His luck has been dismal.

Strewth. Think it is going to be whoever is still walking

newgalesurf wrote:Strewth. Think it is going to be whoever is still walking

Liam Williams is fit, North is most likely going to be fit and Biggar is looking very likely to be fit so not all doom and gloom, oh and Navidi is also fit.

Interesting to see that Sam Costelow has been training with the squad, he looks to have the skills. I'd like to see Kieran Williams in there soon as well, he's looked excellent for the Ospreys over the last couple of games.

Six Nations coronavirus: Mako Vunipola goes into self-isolation and is unavailable for England v Wales game.

That's a little odd.

Buggaluggs wrote:Six Nations coronavirus: Mako Vunipola goes into self-isolation and is unavailable for England v Wales game.

That's a little odd.

He's just been through Hong Kong on the way back from Tonga hasn't he?

Numbers wrote:

newgalesurf wrote:Strewth. Think it is going to be whoever is still walking

Liam Williams is fit, North is most likely going to be fit and Biggar is looking very likely to be fit so not all doom and gloom, oh and Navidi is also fit.

Interesting to see that Sam Costelow has been training with the squad, he looks to have the skills. I'd like to see Kieran Williams in there soon as well, he's looked excellent for the Ospreys over the last couple of games.

They are not seriously considering North are they? That's just irresponsible.

morepork wrote:

Numbers wrote:

newgalesurf wrote:Strewth. Think it is going to be whoever is still walking

Liam Williams is fit, North is most likely going to be fit and Biggar is looking very likely to be fit so not all doom and gloom, oh and Navidi is also fit.

Interesting to see that Sam Costelow has been training with the squad, he looks to have the skills. I'd like to see Kieran Williams in there soon as well, he's looked excellent for the Ospreys over the last couple of games.

They are not seriously considering North are they? That's just irresponsible.

Apparently he has passed all protocols and will see an independent specialist during the week for the final say so, I agree with you, I thought that being KO'd was a minimum of 3 weeks or at least that's what I remember from when I played.

Its not a one-off for him either. Repeat episodes of trauma are a different beast from a single episode.

Liam starts
North starts
Biggar starts
Navidi starts
Rob Evans starts

Faletau on bench
Jarrod on bench
Shingler on bench (Wainwright dropped)