The Rugby Thread

[Nando]

James Hook and Gareth Anscombe in for the unfortunate Scott Williams and Hallam Amos.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Last chance saloon for Hook. Gatland doesn't trust him but he can cover a variety of positions I guess.

 

[Nando]

No Nadolo for Fiji which is great news for Wales.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

That is a MASSIVE bonus. Nadolo is a phenomenal player.

 

[Dinowolf]

Ben Youngs is doubtful for Saturday, as is Courtney Laws.
Jonathan Joseph still not recovered but is "making very good strides and ticking all the boxes", says Andy Farrell.
Ben Morgan back into full training.

Which team will Lancaster select?

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Brown



May
Hopefully not Barritt (but it will be) - I would go with Slade
Burgess
Farrell
Wigglesworth
Watson

That will be the backs I reckon

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Come on Pad - you can cheer us on this week. Us >>> Australia and you know it.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

If Australia win then Wales are just about definitely through. HOWEVER, an England win with no bonus point but Australia losing by 8 is perfect for Wales if we want to top the group. I would be delighted if you won 8-0. It all rests on how we do against Fiji on Thursday I guess. If we get the bonus point win, then 8-0 England really looks a great result for Wales

 

[Tredman]

Should be:

Brown
May
Burgess
Josephs
Watson
Farrell
Wrigglesworth

Pack picks itself with Billy out. We've got to go for it, no messing around with matching the opposing team up.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Josephs is 50:50, but this is last chance saloon. I agree with you Tredman, Lancaster needs to take the risks and get him on the field if in any way possible.

 

[Tredman]

No Josephs then we have to go with Slade.

Barritt offers nothing - think his stats from the Wales game was 4 tackles, 20m made and no passes. Burgess was miles better in every category.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Barritt was a non-entity, and I think he also may have missed a break that led to our try. Looking at what you have in the squad, and the real need you have for the bonus point, Lancaster just surely has to give Slade a go. I would possibly also consider Ford for Farrell. Yes he kicked beautifully, I won't deny that, but what did he do other than that? You need tries, and Ford is far more likely to ignite your backline.

 

[Tredman]

True, but I thought Ford was very poor when he came on, gave the ball away far too many times.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Ford - Burgess - Slade

Farrell - Burgess - Barritt

No comparison really in terms of try potential. No point in trying to shut out the Wallabies. You might as well win with four tries to three. That bonus point, if attained, could be absolutely crucial.

 

[Dinowolf]

Youngs, if not then Care - Wrigglesworth not good enough to start
Ford
May
Barritt & Joseph (or if Joseph not fit, then Slade)
Watson
Brown

Reps: Burgess, (Slade if Joseph fit, otherwise Goode), Farrell and Easter on the bench as impact subs, plus Haskell, Mako Vunipola, Webber and Brookes.

12 & 13 are different jobs and I feel Barritt is far better at 12, so he shouldn't play at 13. He broke the defensive line for Wales' try by wandering forward and taking Watson with him opening the gate down the line, which Williams used brilliantly. It has become clear that it has to be Joseph or Slade at 13, and I'd start with Barritt and bring Burgess on later.

 

[Dinowolf]

Youngs, if not then Care - Wrigglesworth not good enough to start
Ford
May
Barritt & Joseph (or if Joseph not fit, then Slade)
Watson
Brown

Reps: Burgess, (Slade if Joseph fit, otherwise Goode), Farrell and Easter on the bench as impact subs, plus Haskell, Mako Vunipola, Webber and Brookes.

12 & 13 are different jobs and I feel Barritt is far better at 12, so he shouldn't play at 13. He broke the defensive line for Wales' try by wandering forward and taking Watson with him opening the gate down the line, which Williams used brilliantly. It has become clear that it has to be Joseph or Slade at 13, and I'd start with Barritt and bring Burgess on later.

So good I said it twice

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

:icon_biggrin:

Bloody double posts! You are right. Barritt is in the wrong position. Never a 13. Not in a million years.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Good news for England and Wales this morning. Will Skelton and Wycliff Palu ruled out of the tournament for Australia. Palu especially is a quality player.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

:icon_biggrin:

Bloody double posts! You are right. Barritt is in the wrong position. Never a 13. Not in a million years.

Suppose this epitomises the mess Lancaster got himself into, after 4 years and in the most important match to date of his reign and for which he had 3 years to prepare, he had for the last 10 minutes

at fly half a relatively inexperienced (at international level) player who had just come on as sub
at inside centre - a fly half who had only played very rarely inside centre
outside centre - an inside centre who had only played outside centre once in his international career

a mess all of his own making

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Wales had a scrum half on the wing and a fly half at full back, with a winger at outside centre. None of that was of Gatland's making though! Bloody injuries.