The Rugby Thread

[Bit on the shaggies]

burgess and Barritt would be a shocking partnership.

Needs to be slade / Farrell / ford with burgess or Barritt. Slade and Barritt would be my choice, though quite like the idea of ford and Farrell interchanging with Burgess next to them.

Oh dear, it looks like we're going with this in midfield.

Good news for Wales I fear.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

burgess and Barritt would be a shocking partnership.

Needs to be slade / Farrell / ford with burgess or Barritt. Slade and Barritt would be my choice, though quite like the idea of ford and Farrell interchanging with Burgess next to them.

Agree with this Barritt/Burgess would be easy for Gatland and Cheka to come up with defensive strategies to negate their biff.

Slade on the other from the bits I have seen of him looks a cracking player, inventive and good distributor, much harder for defences to read.

 

[Tredman]

Saying that Wales's main threat is also biff - can;t see this being effective against a midfield three of farrell, burgess & barritt. If England can get brown into the line as much as possible and release the wingers then it may be a useful alternative.

If it were any other team i'd say Ford, Slade & Burgess, but the lack of experience and physicality (aside from Sam) could be a danger.

 

[Dinowolf]

With Joseph unavailable, I was expecting Slade to get his first start as a straight replacement.

However, although Lancaster doesn't announce his side until Thursday morning, all the rumours are that Farrell will replace Ford, Burgess will play next to Farrell and Barritt will move to outside centre.

If this is true, then it indicates a change of style for Lancaster, to more aggression, which probably means a start for Vunipola at No.8 too. I must say I would be slightly surprised at all this, but he can always change by good use of replacements.

 

[Sniffer]

Japan 9-2 to beat the Scots - Evens for a 16 point handicap.

How much will playing on Saturday and then again today have taken out of them?

 

[ROVERT47]

Time for a bit of the Vapors i reckon.

 

[Stan Hullis]

Just settled into a London pub for a bit of afternoon working with the rugby on

 

[Sniffer]

Japan 7-6 up.

 

[Stan Hullis]

Japan's discipline at the breakdown is going to kill them here

 

[Sniffer]

Judging by the BBC Live text Japan came back strongly later in the half, surviving with 14 men for 10 minutes quite comfortably. How does it look on the box? Will the Japanese be out on their knees for the last quarter of the game?

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

It's been quite an even (if lowish quality) game so far. I would think Scotland will come through in the end.

 

[Tredman]

Japan looking tired. Harsh playing so soon after such as massive game.

 

[Dinowolf]

Scotland looking rampant now 38-10. Game over.

 

[Sniffer]

Japan will need either Scotland or Samoa to beat South Africa to have a chance of getting out of their group.

 

[Dinowolf]

FT Scotland 45-10 Japan

Good win in the end for Scotland with the bonus point.
Early days yet but they should get through the group stages if they continue to play like that.

 

[Dinowolf]

Good scrum from Fiji.

 

[Paul]

Good scrum from Fiji.

Made me smile and nod approvingly :nod:

 

[Dinowolf]

HT 18-3 to Aussies, who are in control.

 

[Bit on the shaggies]

That is bullshit refereeing, no advantage given to Fiji, and pretty much gifts three points to Australia.

 

[Dinowolf]

FT Aust 28-13 Fiji

No bonus point so Australia go 3rd.

I think we can now see how good England's win was esp. considering the pressure that was on, opening the competition.