Team v France

[Mikey Brown]

Well?

[Mellsblue]

Same again. The big question might be which LH to call up should Marler be suspended.

[Peat]

Same again. The big question might be which LH to call up should Marler be suspended.

Mullan's in the squad - unless he's injured, I'd have thought it would be him.

[Mellsblue]

Same again. The big question might be which LH to call up should Marler be suspended.

Mullan's in the squad - unless he's injured, I'd have thought it would be him.

He would be next in line but I just doubt his test credentials. I wonder if Jones may go for a youngster. No idea who, mind.

[Oakboy]

I'd not start Ford or Youngs.

[Banquo]

I'd not start Ford or Youngs.

I'd still be starting Ford and asking him to do more- more line kicking from pens and more passing at the gainline. Faz is doing a good Brad barritt impersonation in fairness, and spot on goal kicking yesterday. Interesting that he has been a better player since his dad left.

[fivepointer]

Dont think Manu will start so its as you were. Changes will wait for the tests in Australia.

Replacement loosehead? Easy, Mullan is next in line and will do a perfectly fine job if called upon.

[bitts]

perhaps swap Care and Youngs, maybe. that's all though. Keep the same team and let France make 10 changes.

[Mikey Brown]

What is Marler getting banned for? Calling Samson Lee a pikey?

[Renniks]

- Care to start, Robson to bench (somehow!)
- Mullan to bench (Marler should be left at home regardless of the committees decision - make a point)
- Tuilagi to start, Farrell or Ford to bench (not sure which still)
- Clifford to start, Haskell to bench (regardless of how well Haskell went yesterday)

Maybe too many changes, but I think it's the steps we need to take to keep moving forward

[Oakboy]

What is Marler getting banned for? Calling Samson Lee a pikey?

4 match ban if proven, according to the BBC. Apparently, it was clear on the match soundtrack so hard to defend, halftime apology or not.

[bitts]

- Care to start, Robson to bench (somehow!)
- Mullan to bench (Marler should be left at home regardless of the committees decision - make a point)
- Tuilagi to start, Farrell or Ford to bench (not sure which still)
- Clifford to start, Haskell to bench (regardless of how well Haskell went yesterday)

Maybe too many changes, but I think it's the steps we need to take to keep moving forward

Brave to change so many before a GS game!

I'd keep it simple and bring through Clifford and Robson in Oz.

[Mikey Brown]

What is Marler getting banned for? Calling Samson Lee a pikey?

4 match ban if proven, according to the BBC. Apparently, it was clear on the match soundtrack so hard to defend, halftime apology or not.

I was joking...

That's actually likely to happen? Ludicrous. Who cares.

[Renniks]

- Care to start, Robson to bench (somehow!)
- Mullan to bench (Marler should be left at home regardless of the committees decision - make a point)
- Tuilagi to start, Farrell or Ford to bench (not sure which still)
- Clifford to start, Haskell to bench (regardless of how well Haskell went yesterday)

Maybe too many changes, but I think it's the steps we need to take to keep moving forward

Brave to change so many before a GS game!

I'd keep it simple and bring through Clifford and Robson in Oz.

You're probably right - but Youngs could easily lose us the GS game.

[Peat]

What is Marler getting banned for? Calling Samson Lee a pikey?

4 match ban if proven, according to the BBC. Apparently, it was clear on the match soundtrack so hard to defend, halftime apology or not.

I was joking...

That's actually likely to happen? Ludicrous. Who cares.

Who cares about racial slurs? Uhm...

http://www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/watch-eng ... prop/69566 - could also be cited for that; pretty clear punch.

[Mellsblue]

4 match ban if proven, according to the BBC. Apparently, it was clear on the match soundtrack so hard to defend, halftime apology or not.

I was joking...

That's actually likely to happen? Ludicrous. Who cares.

Who cares about racial slurs? Uhm...

http://www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/watch-eng ... prop/69566 - could also be cited for that; pretty clear punch.

I saw that at the time and I thought he was lucky to get away with it. He's clearly not the brightest - call someone a gypsy when standing next to the ref mic and punch someone in the act of scoring a try when you can guarantee every camera in the crowd is pointting at you. It's a shame as it was a top class performance otherwise.

[Digby]

Vunipola
LCD
Cole
Launchbury
Kruis
Itoje
Kvesic
Vunipola
Robson
Ford
Watson
Tuilagi
Joseph
Rokoduguni
Brown

Youngs
Mullan
Brookes
Launchbury
Clifford
Youngs
Cipriani
Pennell

I'm assuming no Marler, but for the forearm business, I couldn't care less if he may have offended gypsies.

[Digby]

What is Marler getting banned for? Calling Samson Lee a pikey?

4 match ban if proven, according to the BBC. Apparently, it was clear on the match soundtrack so hard to defend, halftime apology or not.

Just how far down the age grades would you need to drop before someone wasn't called much worse? If that's a ban we'll have chaos should such standards be enforced

[Peat]

What is Marler getting banned for? Calling Samson Lee a pikey?

4 match ban if proven, according to the BBC. Apparently, it was clear on the match soundtrack so hard to defend, halftime apology or not.

Just how far down the age grades would you need to drop before someone wasn't called much worse? If that's a ban we'll have chaos should such standards be enforced

It's a ban. It's no different to the Saffa player who called an opponent gay, or John Terry calling Anton Ferdinand whatever he called him. The precedent is set, use racial (or homophobic) slurs for an opponent and there's a good chance you'll get in trouble.

And, oddly enough, we haven't had chaos yet. Maybe because most people aren't stupid enough to mouth off in that fashion right next to the ref on national TV.

[Mikey Brown]

It's just not cricket.

[Renniks]

Tommy Taylor called up as a replacement for George.

Interesting choice… I imagine won't replace LCD in the match day 23 though

[Spiffy]

What is Marler getting banned for? Calling Samson Lee a pikey?

4 match ban if proven, according to the BBC. Apparently, it was clear on the match soundtrack so hard to defend, halftime apology or not.

Just how far down the age grades would you need to drop before someone wasn't called much worse? If that's a ban we'll have chaos should such standards be enforced

I remember an England/Ireland game a few years ago (think it was Twickenham) where you could clearly hear an easily-identified Irish front rower call his English counterpart a "fat cnut". Nothing came of it at the time. I wonder if it would be citable these days? (I suppose it not racist, but perhaps "cnutist"?)

[Harvey Quin]

There's a difference between a racial/sexual slur and simply insulting someone. Much as I object to political correctness, if he said it he has to serve a ban of a few weeks.

[Digby]

4 match ban if proven, according to the BBC. Apparently, it was clear on the match soundtrack so hard to defend, halftime apology or not.

Just how far down the age grades would you need to drop before someone wasn't called much worse? If that's a ban we'll have chaos should such standards be enforced

It's a ban. It's no different to the Saffa player who called an opponent gay, or John Terry calling Anton Ferdinand whatever he called him. The precedent is set, use racial (or homophobic) slurs for an opponent and there's a good chance you'll get in trouble.

And, oddly enough, we haven't had chaos yet. Maybe because most people aren't stupid enough to mouth off in that fashion right next to the ref on national TV.

Mostly it's not reported on. I guarantee there'll be many recordings of people being a fat, f**king, b**tard, c**t which seems worse to me than calling someone a gypsy boy. I'll not write what I think of the notion you can be offensive to gypsies on the basis that would almost certainly have to be pulled, and the courts in their wisdom have recognised them as race rather than absurdly anachronistic, but there is that gypsy refers to more than a race.

[Digby]

4 match ban if proven, according to the BBC. Apparently, it was clear on the match soundtrack so hard to defend, halftime apology or not.

Just how far down the age grades would you need to drop before someone wasn't called much worse? If that's a ban we'll have chaos should such standards be enforced

I remember an England/Ireland game a few years ago (think it was Twickenham) where you could clearly hear an easily-identified Irish front rower call his English counterpart a "fat cnut". Nothing came of it at the time. I wonder if it would be citable these days? (I suppose it not racist, but perhaps "cnutist"?)