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Oct 2015
10:41am, 1 Oct 2015
5,165 posts
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Too Much Water
Permutations are the sort of thing you stress about when you're struggling to get out of the group.
Must admit a Fiji win would do us a good turn though it won't prevent us needing to win in Saturday.
A backs against the wall gritty victory could be a turning point, a defeat will be the end
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Oct 2015
10:48am, 1 Oct 2015
25,037 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Why a Fiji win? I will def be supporting Wales. Scots are always accused of supporting anyone but England, but I will be supporting Eng vs Australia, def. But Wales today so that they go through. Surely all Brits would want Wales and England to be the result for your group?
Saturday is going to be awesome. Unfortunately I'm driving to Newcastle during Samoa v Japan (which matters for Scotland) and back during Eng v Aus. Hoping to listen to it on 5 Live and maybe see some highlights when I get back.
Decided that if I can get away from work I'll watch Wal v Fiji in nearby pub at 4.45! Great excuse to skive off work early!  G
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Oct 2015
10:55am, 1 Oct 2015
10,030 posts
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AngusClydesdale
I only work for an hour on a Thu, but it's from 5 til 6! Have set recorder so will watch on 'catch-up' when I get back in.
As :-)G says, Wales today, Scotland & England on Saturday.
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Oct 2015
10:56am, 1 Oct 2015
16,512 posts
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fetcheveryone
I'll be picking the boy up from school and making him run to the car
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Oct 2015
11:09am, 1 Oct 2015
6,775 posts
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KatieB
I would love to see Wales and England go through. I'd like to see Wales win today but also to have no more injuries.
Saturday will be my big nerves night and I shall be crossing everything that England win.
I'd love to see Scotland beat South Africa too.
Ooooh. Exciting few days of Rugby.
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Oct 2015
12:06pm, 1 Oct 2015
5,166 posts
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Too Much Water
So JJ in for Burgess, Barritt back to IC, Morgan for Billy V, Launchbury for Lawes. B Youngs is fit.
On to the bench. Interesting that Easter comes straight onto the bench, and that both he and Kruis are named as bench cover.I would have liked to see a 4-4 split with Easter on the bench covering the back 5. Backs are a bit sparse, no real cover for 11, 13, 14 or 15 and no dynamism on the bench. What's Jack Nowell and Slade done wrong? Danny Care might have provided a bit of zip as well.
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Oct 2015
12:13pm, 1 Oct 2015
2,674 posts
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Nelly
IMO Barritt is lucky to keep his place, as he's been poor for the past few games.
TMW - are you really suggesting only one player to cover the 2nd and back rows??? What happens if we got an injury in the 1st minute; play 79 minutes without any 2nd/back row cover/replacements against Hooper and Pocock! The cover for wings/full back is Joseph being shunted out onto the wing and Watson moving to full back. I'd agree not ideal, but you need a specialist 9 & 10 on the bench.
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Oct 2015
12:42pm, 1 Oct 2015
5,109 posts
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paul the builder
XV as expected. I would have retained Goode on the bench as Burgess really only covers one position and relies on the inherent flexibility of Farrell, JJ, Watson to cover the rest. And as TMW says, Nowell or Slade would cover more positions than Burgess. I'm not a fan of either Haskell or Easter, but Haskell would have provided more flexibility too, being at least in theory capable of covering 6, 7 and 8.
Lancaster (or perhaps the key players?) really does want Burgess involved now, obviously. Which I find odd, being as he was happy to proceed without him for most of last season.
Good to hear Ben Morgan talking about smashing breakdowns in todays press. Fires me right up. COME ON!
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Oct 2015
12:48pm, 1 Oct 2015
9,210 posts
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richmac
Massive game. and I agree with much of whats above. Glad burgess is left on the bench to come on as impact. I don't know who but SURELY we could have found a better call up than Easter, with respect he was a great player but is past his sell by date when it comes to must win internationals.
Seems that despite all the tough selection issues and an embarrasement Lancaster had when he cut the 50 odd down it all seems to be a bit pear shaped now with everyone seemingly being picked on where they can cover rather than where they are best.
hope my pessimism is unfounded.
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Oct 2015
1:19pm, 1 Oct 2015
11,469 posts
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TRO Saracen
Enormous fixture.
I wonder if Lancaster could survive a loss? I feel he's been a bit exposed, let's face it he hasn;t even managed a Premier club side, let alone won something with them. Did sterling work with the Saxons, but that's a very different level. He seems muddled and a bit diminished.
Barritt is very lucky to be involved. Was poor in the warms ups and I would have taken Burrell instead. He obviously doesn;t trust Slade. Putting Burgess on the bench is the right call, even though I think he did OK against Wales. Australia are the cutest team in rugby and they will have stuided last week's game and put plans in to pull Burgess out of position and pour through. Just a shame our only alternative, Barritt, is grossly off form - perhaps injuries too their toll, but he has not been on it.
Morgan needs a massive game, as Bill V was the main carrier vs Wales. We need to have a raging fire of intensity, without being brainless, to do this. I think it's beyond us.
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