England v Wales Tonight!

[vim_fuego]

First real test for England. I'm minded to be 'nice' about the Welsh as I'm married to one but to be honest she doesn't read the Goat...

I reckon after a spirited start by the Druids the crippling injury list will be a factor and England will wear them down.

Prediction - England 32 Wales 12

 

[Warwick Hunt]

I'm married to one too but feel no need to be nice to them. Sod 'em.

Not an easy English victory tonight, as this is the equivalent of the World Cup final for them, playing us. Five points in it.

 

[Rugby-Jock-Lad]

England win due to home advantage.

That's if Sam Burgess doesn't go for the "destructing" tackle that actually results in a Welsh playmaker taking the hit and popping the ball into the gap for a strike runner to run into Sam's position..................

 

[Norman the Storeman]

Hot tub party, bbq & England victory today. Life is good.

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk

 

[justintime129]

England win due to home advantage.

That's if Sam Burgess doesn't go for the "destructing" tackle that actually results in a Welsh playmaker taking the hit and popping the ball into the gap for a strike runner to run into Sam's position..................

Let's slag the league player. Nothing positive to say.

 

[Rugby-Jock-Lad]

I'm not slagging him. All rugby league players, old Andy Farrell included, have sublime tackling, handling and running skills. The problem they face is adapting to Union in my view and understanding subtle but significant differences like body positioning on the floor, securing the ball in a ruck, supporting in a maul and NOT going for the big hit because it looks good for the cameras.

 

[justintime129]

I'm not slagging him. All rugby league players, old Andy Farrell included, have sublime tackling, handling and running skills. The problem they face is adapting to Union in my view and understanding subtle but significant differences like body positioning on the floor, securing the ball in a ruck, supporting in a maul and NOT going for the big hit because it looks good for the cameras.

So he does this hit every match does he.

 

[Rugby-Jock-Lad]

A smart No 8., half-back pairing and/or inside center could take advantage that's all I'm saying!

 

[Tin basher]

England win due to home advantage.

That's if Sam Burgess doesn't go for the "destructing" tackle that actually results in a Welsh playmaker taking the hit and popping the ball into the gap for a strike runner to run into Sam's position..................

Or Sam Burgess goes for the "destructing" tackle that actually results in the Welsh player who takes the hit coughing the ball up and an England strike runner powers through the gap created by Sam's position to get in behind the Welsh lines.

Oh and 34- 16 England

 

[Rugby-Jock-Lad]

Or Sam Burgess goes for the "destructing" tackle that actually results in the Welsh player who takes the hit coughing the ball up and an England strike runner powers through the gap created by Sam's position to get in behind the Welsh lines.

Oh and 34- 16 England

Again bang on and a possibility. England will just have to hope his decision making is spot on!!!

 

[justintime129]

Again bang on and a possibility. England will just have to hope his decision making is spot on!!!

Ffs it's just not him playing.

 

[Tin basher]

Ffs it's just not him playing.

Quite so, there will be 29 others out there (plus numerous subs) trying for their respective countries, I just hope the game is decided by the quality of rugby played and not by a plethora of yellow cards being flashed around.

 

[justintime129]

Well what a game all those points and only 2 tries. 180 tackles made. What's that all about.

Plus MoM given to someone for kicking 7 penalties from 7. No wonder you changed the points awarded for a try, maybe they should change it again.

Lancaster made a big mistake in taking Burgess off for Ford. Wales didn't have a look in until then.

 

[vim_fuego]

I disagree. I don't think there was a place for Burgess or Farrel in the starting line up...burgess struggled to get into the game and Farrel, although he kicked well kicked out of the hand too much as did Brown.

As much as it sickens me to say it...Gavin Hastings called this upset mid-week in a paper column...he said its was a tactical mistake by Lancaster to bring in Farrel and not allow a winning team to settle down. England, especially in the second half, lacked a game plan and some on field leadership...especially when presented with the chance of a draw.

 

[justintime129]

some on field leadership...especially when presented with the chance of a draw.

I would have thought going for a win was leadership.

 

[vim_fuego]

I would have thought going for a win was leadership.

Depends on the context. A win and a draw is better than a win and a loss in the context of a tight group in a World Cup. Mentally England are on the back foot after last night and if they are feeling anything like I am currently my faith in Lancaster is a little bit dented.

 

[Ex-Bay]

What I know about the working of Rugby could be written on a postcard.
But dare I hope that the player/s who gave the Welsh side TWO Effing penalties will bee lynched ?

 

[justintime129]

What I know about the working of Rugby could be written on a postcard.
But dare I hope that the player/s who gave the Welsh side TWO Effing penalties will bee lynched ?

2 penalties Wales kicked 7 from 7.

 

[Gonterseed]

England were absolutely right to go for the line out. It was their best chance of scoring, even Farrel with his golden boot couldn't guarantee a shot from that angle. Their problem was the decision to put the ball to the front of the line out and have to maul starting closer to the touch line. A schoolboy error of the highest magnitude.

In any case, that was just a culmination of a series of tiny thoughtless errors that let Wales claw back the score-line.

For me the game changed in the second half. Wales did their utmost to keep the ball in play to avoid the set-pieces. They also had better fitness than England, allowing them to take the pressure moments and keep thinking and frustrating England at every opportunity. It worked.

I don't think it was anything to do with individuals, if it was Wales may as well have not turned up. It was a team win which required a full 80 minutes of hard play and quick thinking. Well done to Wales...