England vs South Africa - RWC final

[Digby]

PSDT gets through a bucket load of work, two buckets really. He's maybe akin to a Chris Robshaw or Tom Wood in that, and if you can set an insane workrate it covers some iffy decision making.

[Stom]

Yeah, I wouldn't change much.

I like the idea of Wilson coming on again. He has that incredible mix of a cool head and insane workrate, but coupled with rare focused aggression.

I do think we need to take the same approach once again. Get a lead and never let it up. Let them run time and again into our D. Only Kolbe is a more slippery customer than Reece or Bridge.

And de Allende is better than ALB or Goodhue.

Also, if Louw plays, that's a different thing. I'm not sure I understand why PSDT is so highly rated. If he runs into Underhill, he'll soon have PTSD instead!

PSDT and Louw aren't competing for the same position, if that's what you were saying. Though they are unlikely to drop Kolisi.

De Allende is different to ALB, I rate both of them.

Well, you kinda say it...

I don't think Louw will start, because SA won't drop their (c) and like a big man.

Which is very good for England.

The difference is going to be that when SA are behind going into the final quarter, they can bring Louw and Snyman off the bench, while NZ had fuck all to turn to. We need to be able to counter that. Wilson will be important.

I think that's an interesting point. Behind the XV, the standard of squad NZ have put out this WC has been pretty below their usual standards. They have 3 locks of any quality, 3 backrows, and the back 3 options aren't so WOW as they have been in the past.

[Banquo]

PSDT gets through a bucket load of work, two buckets really. He's maybe akin to a Chris Robshaw or Tom Wood in that, and if you can set an insane workrate it covers some iffy decision making.

Plus he's a much much bigger unit than either of them.

[Digby]

PSDT gets through a bucket load of work, two buckets really. He's maybe akin to a Chris Robshaw or Tom Wood in that, and if you can set an insane workrate it covers some iffy decision making.

Plus he's a much much bigger unit than either of them.

South African innit

[Digby]

As an aside does anyone have a Scooby what the weather and/or pitch conditions will be like?

[Puja]

A couple of reminders of the last time PSTD played England:




Puja

[Puja]

As an aside does anyone have a Scooby what the weather and/or pitch conditions will be like?

Met Office says dry weather all the way through the weekend. Good news for us, you'd have thought.

Puja

[Banquo]

A couple of reminders of the last time PSTD played England:




Puja

tempting fate somewhat there...

[Which Tyler]

As an aside does anyone have a Scooby what the weather and/or pitch conditions will be like?

I'll playing tonight - apparently the pitch is about an inch above the water table right now.
Hopefully it will have cleared enough to open up the clubhouse for Saturday morning.

Oops - you meant in Japan did you?

[Digby]

As an aside does anyone have a Scooby what the weather and/or pitch conditions will be like?

Met Office says dry weather all the way through the weekend. Good news for us, you'd have thought.

Puja

50/50 maybe. A slippy ball advantage us given better skills, a soggy pitch advantage them with their extra power

[Digby]

As an aside does anyone have a Scooby what the weather and/or pitch conditions will be like?

I'll playing tonight - apparently the pitch is about an inch above the water table right now.
Hopefully it will have cleared enough to open up the clubhouse for Saturday morning.

Oops - you meant in Japan did you?

Are you really not going to open the clubhouse for a WC just because of some water?

[Which Tyler]

Are you really not going to open the clubhouse for a WC just because of some water?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/glou ... 918249.stm

[Puja]

As an aside does anyone have a Scooby what the weather and/or pitch conditions will be like?

I'll playing tonight - apparently the pitch is about an inch above the water table right now.
Hopefully it will have cleared enough to open up the clubhouse for Saturday morning.

Oops - you meant in Japan did you?

Why on earth are you playing on a Wednesday?

Puja

[Which Tyler]

1) Because we play walking rugby on a Wednesday.

[Puja]

1) Because we play walking rugby on a Wednesday.

Oh yes, I'd forgotten you did that. I thought you were doing full contact on a weekday evening!

Puja

[Digby]

Are you really not going to open the clubhouse for a WC just because of some water?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/glou ... 918249.stm

It's not tiddlywinks

[Which Tyler]

Full contact is 20 years behind me.

I'm feel safe in the knackers yard

[oldbackrow]

1) Because we play walking rugby on a Wednesday.

Are you enjoying it? I was playing touch but the average age was going down to about 40! Started walking rugby and am loving it! Still managing to get a sweat on and meeting up with guys played with 30+ years ago!

[Beasties]

A couple of reminders of the last time PSTD played England:




Puja

That game has clouded my judgement of him ever since. However he's been a completely different player this tournament. How old was he in that game? I was under the impression he was young and callow and was a lock who'd been thrown into the team as a flanker and told to get on with it at the time.

[Puja]

A couple of reminders of the last time PSTD played England:

Puja

That game has clouded my judgement of him ever since. However he's been a completely different player this tournament. How old was he in that game? I was under the impression he was young and callow and was a lock who'd been thrown into the team as a flanker and told to get on with it at the time.

He would've been 24 and been playing for SA for over 2 years then, but I think you've hit the nail on the head that he was a lock shoved in at flank at the time, amongst a poor SA side. Nowadays he's definitely a full-time flanker and a very different proposition.

I've no doubt he'll be keeping an eye out for an opportunity to munch Youngs at some point, as Lenny did make him look like a proper idiot. Might be we can use that.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

1) Because we play walking rugby on a Wednesday.

Are you enjoying it? I was playing touch but the average age was going down to about 40! Started walking rugby and am loving it! Still managing to get a sweat on and meeting up with guys played with 30+ years ago!

Loving it, generally I'm the youngest at 43, without oldest in his mid-80s.
Today, the floods and motorway closures meant that all training was disrupted, so a couple of the ladies, a U12 and a couple of U18s joined in with 3 coaches. Must have been 9 a side at one point

They really struggled with not running, not traveling after the tackle, and having an offside line, but was fun regardless. They were all surprised at getting on a sweat, and just how much pace you can put on a game with no running. All with virtually no risk of injury (though those touch tackles can end up a little... forceful on occasion)

My wife finishes her fitness class about an hour after us, and the rugby club is on her way home, so I kinda have to stay out for a bit over an hour after were done, with about 6 of us usually chewing the fat, and getting a round or two in...

[Puja]

My wife finishes her fitness class about an hour after us, and the rugby club is on her way home, so I kinda have to stay out for a bit over an hour after were done, with about 6 of us usually chewing the fat, and getting a round or two in...

How appalling. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Puja

[oldbackrow]

Loving itgenerally, I'm the youngest at 43, without oldest in his mid-80s.
Today, the floods and motorway closures meant that all training was disrupted, so a couple of the ladies, a U12 and a couple of U18s joined in with 3 coaches. Must have been 9 a side at one point

They really struggled with not running, not traveling after the tackle, and having an offside line, but was fun regardless. They were all surprised at getting on a sweat, and just how much pace you can put on a game with no running?

Yes, we're with a few Titans first team who are close to breaking a sweat! I'm 64 and there are two older than me and a few early 50's but loving it!
It's a tough life having to spend your time like that. Just don't suggest she finishes earlier or that you're enjoying yohrself!

[Tigger]

Everyone is fit so team unchanged except for Ben Spencer coming in....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50232791

[Beasties]

Great news to wake up to. No 6/2 bench split, not a fan of those.