Tonga

[jngf]

Tameifuna looks nuts. 24 stone apparently.

A back trapped in a big man’s body apparently

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/inter ... test-rugby

[Raggs]

A back trapped in a prop that had been eaten by Ben I could believe.

[Renniks]

Tameifuna looks nuts. 24 stone apparently.

A back trapped in a big man’s body apparently

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/inter ... test-rugby

I think he means that he ate one of the backs… In one sitting…

[Which Tyler]

Nowell was sprinting and Mako doing live scrummaging in training today apparently.

Everyone else available for Sunday.

Everyone?! Awesome!

Temporarily.
And available doesn't mean "fully fit"
Very good news though

[Timbo]

Nowell was sprinting and Mako doing live scrummaging in training today apparently.

Everyone else available for Sunday.

Everyone?! Awesome!

Temporarily.
And available doesn't mean "fully fit"
Very good news though

Slade trained with his knee heavily strapped apparently. Wouldn’t be surprised if he gets through the World Cup then has to have an op on it...he did an interview where he said that when he did it in camp he thought it was pretty serious.

[Puja]

Just seen this timelapse video of the stadium we're playing in on Sunday. It's an indoor stadium that's usually set up for baseball, but converts into a stadium for proper sports like so:



Looks like a phenomenal venue.

Puja

[Spiffy]

Nowell was sprinting and Mako doing live scrummaging in training today apparently.

Everyone else available for Sunday.

Surely this can't be right. Jack does not sprint, even when fully fit.

[Mellsblue]

Nowell was sprinting and Mako doing live scrummaging in training today apparently.

Everyone else available for Sunday.

Surely this can't be right. Jack does not sprint, even when fully fit.

Rumours are he’s come back quicker than ever - he came a close second to Dan Cole in a 40 yard dash.

[Timbo]

Nowell was sprinting and Mako doing live scrummaging in training today apparently.

Everyone else available for Sunday.

Surely this can't be right. Jack does not sprint, even when fully fit.

Still probably quicker than most of the Irish outside backs :shrug:

[p/d]

Nowell was sprinting and Mako doing live scrummaging in training today apparently.

Everyone else available for Sunday.

Surely this can't be right. Jack does not sprint, even when fully fit.

Rumours are he’s come back quicker than ever - he came a close second to Dan Cole in a 40 yard dash.

Yeah yeah that’s all very interesting, but what colour/style is his barnet.

[fivepointer]

England team v Tonga: Daly; Watson, Tuilagi, Farrell (c), May; Ford, Youngs; Marler, George, Sinckler, Lawes, Itoje, Curry, Underhill, B Vunipola

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Cole, Kruis, Ludlam, Heinz, Slade, Joseph

[Puja]

Interesting - we've gone pretty much full-strength for this one (at least I hope so). The only question mark is whether Lawes's excellent warm-up match form has seen him leapfrog Kruis, or if that's the one bit of rotation for the US match.

Also, either Billy's going to do 80 or we're going to learn who the third choice no 8 in the squad actually is.

Puja

[Banquo]

Looks like near enough the 1st choice to me with lock being interesting. Pujas dream is fulfilled in midfield Two centres on the bench says summat about the state of the back 3 reserves.

[Puja]

Looks like near enough the 1st choice to me with lock being interesting. Pujas dream is fulfilled in midfield Two centres on the bench says summat about the state of the back 3 reserves.

Considering we've taken 70 wingers in our squad, it's impressive that we're running out already!

I keep trying to extrapolate the USA team from that, but I can't help being worried that Eddie's just going to plough through with the same starting XV despite a 4 day turnaround to the other end of the country.

Puja

[p/d]

Bloody hell Eddie!! Good on you. Start with your best XV and repeat.

[Banquo]

Looks like near enough the 1st choice to me with lock being interesting. Pujas dream is fulfilled in midfield Two centres on the bench says summat about the state of the back 3 reserves.

Considering we've taken 70 wingers in our squad, it's impressive that we're running out already!

I keep trying to extrapolate the USA team from that, but I can't help being worried that Eddie's just going to plough through with the same starting XV despite a 4 day turnaround to the other end of the country.

Puja

He'll rotate front and second rows. Maybe give Heinz a start and Wilson with a bit of luck.

[twitchy]

I need to figure out how to use the itv player tomorrow morning (I'm not getting up at 5.45) to watch a replay of aus vs fiji without getting any spoilers.

I guess I need to bookmark the exact page it's going to be on some how. Any one looked into this?

[Banquo]

Interesting - we've gone pretty much full-strength for this one (at least I hope so). The only question mark is whether Lawes's excellent warm-up match form has seen him leapfrog Kruis, or if that's the one bit of rotation for the US match.

Also, either Billy's going to do 80 or we're going to learn who the third choice no 8 in the squad actually is.

Puja

How I'd laugh if it were Mar....oh!

[Renniks]

I’m not sure I get the decision to play this strong a team.

Side note: it’s quite fun reading Instagram comments where everyone is saying (yet again) that Ford is a liability and will cost us this RWC

[Banquo]

I’m not sure I get the decision to play this strong a team.

Side note: it’s quite fun reading Instagram comments where everyone is saying (yet again) that Ford is a liability and will cost us this RWC

I get why he's done what he has done in the backs. I expect the pack will start being changed as early as sensible.

[p/d]

Interesting - we've gone pretty much full-strength for this one (at least I hope so). The only question mark is whether Lawes's excellent warm-up match form has seen him leapfrog Kruis, or if that's the one bit of rotation for the US match.

Also, either Billy's going to do 80 or we're going to learn who the third choice no 8 in the squad actually is.

Puja

How I'd laugh if it were Mar....oh!

You know it will be

[Oakboy]

I still think Watson and Daly should swap positions.

[Puja]

Interesting - we've gone pretty much full-strength for this one (at least I hope so). The only question mark is whether Lawes's excellent warm-up match form has seen him leapfrog Kruis, or if that's the one bit of rotation for the US match.

Also, either Billy's going to do 80 or we're going to learn who the third choice no 8 in the squad actually is.

Puja

How I'd laugh if it were Mar....oh!

You know it will be

Knowing our luck, BillyV will get subbed 60 minutes in, and then there won't be a single scrum for the rest of the match to assuage our curiosity.

Puja

[Banquo]

I still think Watson and Daly should swap positions.

they may, who knows. Watson at 15 in defence, Daly at 15 in attack, eminently doable. Or possible drop Maro into the backfield when he switches to 8.

[fivepointer]

Its a very sensible selection given our schedule.
Several first choice players can be stood down for the USA game and have a decent rest leading into Argentina. Provides an extra few days for those with injuries and does allow the Curry/Underhill flanker combo another run, plus Slade comes into the 23.