SF v SA

[Puja]

If you could get away with a 8:7 split there could be a chance for you

Replacing the average starting side with another average side at half time isn't likely to help us beat the Boks.

As Joel has pointed out we are the weakest team in the Semi's. Do the basics well but do not dominate in any area. Boks to win comfortably.

I'm almost beginning to enjoy been written off.

The token Saffa at my rugby club tried to start some banter at training last night, but was fairly quickly shut down by everyone laughing at him. Nothing takes the wind out of someone's sails as firmly as everyone agreeing that their side are definitely going to batter ours.

Puja

[Banquo]

If you could get away with a 8:7 split there could be a chance for you

Replacing the average starting side with another average side at half time isn't likely to help us beat the Boks.

As Joel has pointed out we are the weakest team in the Semi's. Do the basics well but do not dominate in any area. Boks to win comfortably.

I'm almost beginning to enjoy been written off.

Yeah but what about the England team

[FKAS]

If you could get away with a 8:7 split there could be a chance for you

Replacing the average starting side with another average side at half time isn't likely to help us beat the Boks.

As Joel has pointed out we are the weakest team in the Semi's. Do the basics well but do not dominate in any area. Boks to win comfortably.

I'm almost beginning to enjoy been written off.

I'd still back us to beat Argentina again.

[loudnconfident]

If you could get away with a 8:7 split there could be a chance for you

Replacing the average starting side with another average side at half time isn't likely to help us beat the Boks.

As Joel has pointed out we are the weakest team in the Semi's.

Weaker than Argentina?

[p/d]

Replacing the average starting side with another average side at half time isn't likely to help us beat the Boks.

As Joel has pointed out we are the weakest team in the Semi's.

Weaker than Argentina?

I believe Stransky was doing SB's team talk for him.

[Oakboy]

As Joel has pointed out we are the weakest team in the Semi's.

Weaker than Argentina?

I believe Stransky was doing SB's team talk for him.

I wonder if SB can sing the Irish National Anthem(s).

[Banquo]

Smith reported to be out of squad owing to concussion. Which is handy for Seve Ballastatfullback as he must have been going for Freddie Turning Circle at 15, then does he drop Smith completely....or change Ford's role to 'water boy'.

[p/d]

It is as expected. One change to the starting XV, with Ford left unused on the bench to allow him time to work on his new role

[Banquo]

It is as expected. One change to the starting XV, with Ford left unused on the bench to allow him time to work on his new role

would have been interesting had Smith not been a crash test dummy for the Fijian's, to see what Startlingly Bilious would have said if either Smith or Ford disappeared from the squad; 'we've changed their role to being Faz's boot cleaner and fluffer'

[Epaminondas Pules]

It is as expected. One change to the starting XV, with Ford left unused on the bench to allow him time to work on his new role

would have been interesting had Smith not been a crash test dummy for the Fijian's, to see what Startlingly Bilious would have said if either Smith or Ford disappeared from the squad; 'we've changed their role to being Faz's boot cleaner and fluffer'

Demoting Arundell to fluffer’s apprentice!

[Banquo]

It is as expected. One change to the starting XV, with Ford left unused on the bench to allow him time to work on his new role

would have been interesting had Smith not been a crash test dummy for the Fijian's, to see what Startlingly Bilious would have said if either Smith or Ford disappeared from the squad; 'we've changed their role to being Faz's boot cleaner and fluffer'

Demoting Arundell to fluffer’s apprentice!

obvs why they fell out, he fluffed his loins/lines

[Spiffy]

It is as expected. One change to the starting XV, with Ford left unused on the bench to allow him time to work on his new role

Presumably an unused sub still gets the 23K pounds match fee? Not bad for sitting on yer arrse for 80 min. But, does he get a cap even if he does not step onto the field?

[rjjb]

It is as expected. One change to the starting XV, with Ford left unused on the bench to allow him time to work on his new role

Presumably an unused sub still gets the 23K pounds match fee? Not bad for sitting on yer arrse for 80 min. But, does he get a cap even if he does not step onto the field?

I believe all squad members are getting the same fixed sum for the WC campaign.

[Puja]

It is as expected. One change to the starting XV, with Ford left unused on the bench to allow him time to work on his new role

Presumably an unused sub still gets the 23K pounds match fee? Not bad for sitting on yer arrse for 80 min. But, does he get a cap even if he does not step onto the field?

You're not capped if you're not properly subbed on - if you go on for an HIA or blood cover, that doesn't count, but Tom Dunn's 20 seconds of magic do.

Puja

[Spiffy]

It is as expected. One change to the starting XV, with Ford left unused on the bench to allow him time to work on his new role

Presumably an unused sub still gets the 23K pounds match fee? Not bad for sitting on yer arrse for 80 min. But, does he get a cap even if he does not step onto the field?

I believe all squad members are getting the same fixed sum for the WC campaign.

By squad do you mean the match day 23, or the broader squad of all the players in camp? Does Arundell get paid the same amount as Farrell? And is the match fee still operating? If it's a fixed sum for the whole campaign, do you know how much?

[Mikey Brown]

It is as expected. One change to the starting XV, with Ford left unused on the bench to allow him time to work on his new role

Presumably an unused sub still gets the 23K pounds match fee? Not bad for sitting on yer arrse for 80 min. But, does he get a cap even if he does not step onto the field?

You're not capped if you're not properly subbed on - if you go on for an HIA or blood cover, that doesn't count, but Tom Dunn's 20 seconds of magic do.

Puja

Ha That feels like some sort of distant throwback now. Blooding a new hooker in case we have issues with the injury prone LCD and perpetually over-worked Jamie George? No thanks.

Agreed that Borthwick has been let off the hook having to make a decision about the 15/22/23 shirts. I really doubt there was much of a plan there, beyond saying that it shows great strength in depth to be able to drop* a player of Ford/Smith’s quality.

[Galfon]

Erasmus reasonably happy with how this team went at weekend.
Quite a useful bench to be fair.Springy Boxer can now formulate an unlikely but plausible winning line-up, involving the same mid-field as last week but tweaks in the back 3.
And Curry given a crash course on how/when to use his arms.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67148862

[Insouciant]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67154379

England: Steward; May, Marchant, Tuilagi, Daly; Farrell (capt), Mitchell; Marler, George, Cole, Itoje, Martin, Lawes, Curry, Earl.

Replacements: Dan, Genge, Sinckler, Chessum, Vunipola, Care, Ford, Lawrence.


Changes
Steward into the first XV, Smith drops out entirely
Marler starts in place of Genge
Martin comes in for Chessum

[Banquo]

Hoping the scrum can hang on for 50 minutes I suppose. Can't imagine we are going for much width with a pack containing Marler, Cole and Lawes (and George to some extent these days). Still with Lawrence on the bench, rather than the more logical back three player.

[Oakboy]

Hoping the scrum can hang on for 50 minutes I suppose. Can't imagine we are going for much width with a pack containing Marler, Cole and Lawes (and George to some extent these days). Still with Lawrence on the bench, rather than the more logical back three player.

SB seems not prepared to bet on Tuilagi not breaking. Martin for Chessum is not too surprising based on the stats from the last match. I would always start with Marler and there is more logic to it if the team starts with Cole.

It is hard to be optimistic.

[francoisfou]

No Youngs ……………… yet. Probably see him in the final

[Puja]

Hell of a call on putting Martin in. I assume it's around the scrummaging power (which is always really hard to judge from the outside), but I suppose it could be because of his strong carrying. Still, it's a hell of a call to bring in a player with 6 caps (and the majority of those cameos off the bench at back row). After getting to the semi-final, I am allowing a very small, non-ironic, IBWT - that's the kind of call that we've just got to trust the setup on and it is the kind of manouevre he used to do for Leicester and be proven right on.

Looking at the Bokke, it does feel like a mistake for them to've gone for a 5:3 bench and omitted Wiese. Not that I think we're going to get close enough for it to matter particularly, but if it was tight on 60 minutes, Wiese is a game-changing sub to bring on that would target one of our major weaknesses - stopping power runners first time, especially when we're tired. I don't think I'm as scared of Smith coming on as I would be of Wiese.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

No Youngs ……………… yet. Probably see him in the final

Well, he had a blinder in it four years ago so…

[Puja]

No Youngs ……………… yet. Probably see him in the final

Well, he had a blinder in it four years ago so…

*He played like he'd been blinded.

[Mellsblue]

No Youngs ……………… yet. Probably see him in the final

Well, he had a blinder in it four years ago so…

*He played like he'd been blinded.

He almost blinded someone in row D with one of his passes.