Rugby World Cup

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paul the builder Sep 2015 6:56am, 23 Sep 2015 5,078 posts	0 paul the builder We'll need to clear out rucks a lot better than the Fiji game. We were turned over plenty times there, and they didn't have Justin Tipuric (and Warburton) playing. Maybe that's behind the 10-12-13 selection?
Wriggling Snake Sep 2015 8:09am, 23 Sep 2015 10,327 posts	0 Wriggling Snake If England are picking Farrell on the idea he might kick one more Pen than Ford they are barking up the wrong tree.
Too Much Water Sep 2015 8:36am, 23 Sep 2015 5,110 posts	0 Too Much Water Ok I haven't seen the second half of Fiji or indeed much of the warm-up games due to only having council telly but the reports I've read have said Ford has gone off the boil since the 6 Nations and Farrell was good coming on vs Fiji. I didn't think much of what I saw of Ford on Friday night tbh Farrell I guess provides a more physical approach against Warrenball, has played in more big games, is a better tactical and goal kicker, and is not as uncreative as many give him discredit for. So 3 big blokes in 10-12-13 to front up and wear down the defence then put on the more nimble players near the end. We beat Wales this year despite going down points early in the game - perhaps Lancaster wants to mitigate this happening again as another comeback isn't very likely! Ford is then in theory given a break and is free to come in against the Aussies which is a different type of game potentially.
TRO Saracen Sep 2015 8:59am, 23 Sep 2015 11,412 posts	0 TRO Saracen Hope so TMW.....maybe I'm just having pre match jitters. This game is huge. We will lose against Australia, so lose this and we're out I don't like the fact that the Welsh will be able to come in as underdogs due to injuries. That makes them more dangerous. Nothing to lose. But most of all I remain unconvinced that the way to combat Warrenball....is to play Warrenball, which the Farrell-Burgess-Barritt axis seems to be. To be fair Bomber has shown himself to be a good selector over his tenure, so perhaps I should man up, keep the faith and stop fretting... It's not as if we're going to have to lost to Japan by about 5pm this afternoon or anything really catastrophic...
AngusClydesdale Sep 2015 9:39am, 23 Sep 2015 9,975 posts	0 AngusClydesdale Thing is, if my Dad was on the selection committee, I'd expect a game too.
paul the builder Sep 2015 9:40am, 23 Sep 2015 5,081 posts	0 paul the builder I'm nervous too, primarily about Warburton, Tipuric, AWJ et al turning us over at countless breakdowns. We'll have to commit more men than we did against Fiji. Barritt and Burgess should theoretically be able to clear out like a couple of extra flankers, and I quite like the idea of bringing on Ford and moving Farrell to 12 later on once it opens up. Scrums were unacceptable against Fiji too, they better have been beasting that machine this week. TRO - your jock-baiting makes me think you still bear those same scars that I do from 1990....
AngusClydesdale Sep 2015 9:40am, 23 Sep 2015 9,976 posts	0 AngusClydesdale
AngusClydesdale Sep 2015 9:41am, 23 Sep 2015 9,977 posts	0 AngusClydesdale It also shows in your deep-seated fear of playing a side with "nothing to lose"
richmac Sep 2015 10:01am, 23 Sep 2015 9,199 posts	0 richmac Bah! But I have to have faith in Bomber, and that centre grip is as strong as can be, it will be bruising. I guess you just can't have that many bath players on at once!
Wriggling Snake Sep 2015 10:13am, 23 Sep 2015 10,328 posts	0 Wriggling Snake It's going to be ugly, shame really.