England - the third round

[MrK]

My forecast 27 - 18 to Wales. I’ve been pretty close on my forecasts for the Ireland and Scotland games and I don’t think I’m sticking my neck out with this forecast.

Yep, weirdly Im also confident about this game, I would be more worried if England had a coach that wasnt afraid to make changes, but I think Eddie will stick with his tried and tested pack which means Lawes at 6, and Farrel at 12, How Daly is still in that team is beyond me but hey, I wont argue.

Faletau was excellent last night and LRZ was looking like international rugby has given him even more confidence. Ma Clark and Lewis Ludlow both looking a handful last night to, I wonder if Pivac will resurrect interest in those 2.

Its a real shame we lost Priestland to Bath and he fell out of favour, yes he was a confidence player but when hes on song no one nrings runners into the game like him...anyway, not to be.

On the Dragons game last night, Ben Fry had another strong game, would not be at all surprised to see him getting capped at some point in a couple of years although theres a long queue ahead of him, injuries aside, that Dragons back row is so full of talent, with Waintrwright, Moriaty, Basham, Griffiths, Fry (and Baker now who looked good last night), I also like the look of Carter in the second row for the Dragons. Their backs though just dont seem to click at all, I dont think Hewitt touched the ball at all last night and Holmes on the other wing similar. As good as Roberts is, and DIxon is a similar type of player, the outisde backs are not going to get a look in the way they play, which is a shame.

Looking forward to seeinng Jenkins, Grady and Lane today for Cardiff, Costellew and Morgan for Scarletts, Parry and this new 10 at the Os.

Back to next weekend, Im now nervous of my current non nervousness abouut that game..

[Digby]

Taking players out of international bubbles in a pandemic does seem idiotic. I understand the clubs positions entirely but from a pandemic management perspective it’s not a great idea.

Fingers crossed that we get our players back intact and uninfected.

From a pandemic standpoint the clubs would just say fine, don't call them up into your bubble and then you don't have that issue.

[Sandydragon]

Taking players out of international bubbles in a pandemic does seem idiotic. I understand the clubs positions entirely but from a pandemic management perspective it’s not a great idea.

Fingers crossed that we get our players back intact and uninfected.

From a pandemic standpoint the clubs would just say fine, don't call them up into your bubble and then you don't have that issue.

Maybe we could have altered the season so there wasn’t a requirement to return to clubs until the six nations was over, but that would have required grown up negotiation.

[normanski]

Back to next weekend, Im now nervous of my current non nervousness abouut that game..

It’s a well known condition amongst the Welsh - being nervous about non nervousness about international games.

It’s somewhat similar to bi polar and afflicts the Welsh badly at this time of year.

[Digby]

Taking players out of international bubbles in a pandemic does seem idiotic. I understand the clubs positions entirely but from a pandemic management perspective it’s not a great idea.

Fingers crossed that we get our players back intact and uninfected.

From a pandemic standpoint the clubs would just say fine, don't call them up into your bubble and then you don't have that issue.

Maybe we could have altered the season so there wasn’t a requirement to return to clubs until the six nations was over, but that would have required grown up negotiation.

Ditching the fallow weekends has a number of things going for it (as well as some problems). Beyond that it comes back to money

[Wallpaperman]

Back to next weekend, Im now nervous of my current non nervousness abouut that game..

It’s a well known condition amongst the Welsh - being nervous about non nervousness about international games.

It’s somewhat similar to bi polar and afflicts the Welsh badly at this time of year.

I am very worried that Wales supporters seem quite confident

[Hooky]

I'm not confident. England won't be that bad again, they're big upfront and will want to smash us. We haven't had enough ball in first two games. That will need to change to have a chance against england, and how likely is it that we will win that battle?

We have a chance, and things are more positive, but england big favourites for me.

[normanski]

I'm not confident. England won't be that bad again, they're big upfront and will want to smash us. We haven't had enough ball in first two games. That will need to change to have a chance against england, and how likely is it that we will win that battle?

We have a chance, and things are more positive, but england big favourites for me.

Yes England have some big forwards but some of them look out of condition or overweight. It won’t stop them smashing into us but I think our players are defending well - witness what we did to the big and dominant Irish pack.

Billy Vunipola in particular seems to have lost his get up and go and England miss that. I believe, also, that England seem to be playing disjointedly at times perhaps because Youngs and Farrell kick so much when a little ball retention might be the order of the day.

It’s going to be a really tough game but Wales take a lot of positives into the match.

We’ve had two very hard games so we’re battle hardened but have had a two week break to overcome soreness and niggles.

Our defensive line and set pieces are starting to work well.

We have returning players reinforcing the team and our bench is quite strong.

All in all I think we hold a slight advantage especially as we’re playing at home.

It’s going to be a cracker!

[Wallpaperman]

Hoping there are no fresh injuries for those who played at the weekend...

[Sandydragon]

Hoping there are no fresh injuries for those who played at the weekend...

Nothing in the Fail and they are normally pretty quick to spread doom and gloom.

We also need to hope no one has contracted covid as the French aren’t in a great place right now.

[normanski]

Hoping there are no fresh injuries for those who played at the weekend...

Nothing in the Fail and they are normally pretty quick to spread doom and gloom.

We also need to hope no one has contracted covid as the French aren’t in a great place right now.

France are claiming they caught it in Ireland. Hope it wasn’t one of their lusty lads breaking the bubble and going out for a night on the tiles!

[Son of Mathonwy]

We've come out on top twice despite not playing at our best. We have very few injuries. England have started badly and are rattled. We're at home.

My prediction: Wales 23 - 15 England.

[normanski]

We've come out on top twice despite not playing at our best. We have very few injuries. England have started badly and are rattled. We're at home.

My prediction: Wales 23 - 15 England.

Good man.

The Force is with us!

[Son of Mathonwy]

We've come out on top twice despite not playing at our best. We have very few injuries. England have started badly and are rattled. We're at home.

My prediction: Wales 23 - 15 England.

Good man.

The Force is with us!

This optimism is open to revision at any time, of course.

[Sandydragon]

We've come out on top twice despite not playing at our best. We have very few injuries. England have started badly and are rattled. We're at home.

My prediction: Wales 23 - 15 England.

Good man.

The Force is with us!

This optimism is open to revision at any time, of course.

Of course, it's entirely possible to feel joy and gloom simultaneously as a Wales supporter.

[normanski]

Good man.

The Force is with us!

This optimism is open to revision at any time, of course.

Of course, it's entirely possible to feel joy and gloom simultaneously as a Wales supporter.

Always at the back of my mind is that nagging doubt that England will come out all guns blazing and smash us to smithereens.

So long as as we can keep our starting XV intact for the first 60 minutes I think we have a good chance of pulling off a narrow win.

England have not looked good so far and if confidence is low in their camp and we can put some early points on the board then a third win is entirely possible.

[Sandydragon]

This optimism is open to revision at any time, of course.

Of course, it's entirely possible to feel joy and gloom simultaneously as a Wales supporter.

Always at the back of my mind is that nagging doubt that England will come out all guns blazing and smash us to smithereens.

So long as as we can keep our starting XV intact for the first 60 minutes I think we have a good chance of pulling off a narrow win.

England have not looked good so far and if confidence is low in their camp and we can put some early points on the board then a third win is entirely possible.

Its quite possible they will destroy us up front in the first 50 and we are then playing catch up. But if we can put them under pressure and Farrell does his headless chicken impersonation then I think we can do alright.

I'm more confident of a competitive game than I was in the Autumn thats for sure!

[normanski]

WoL reporting that JD2 is going to start at 12 with North outside him. Biggar gets the nod with Hardy and Davies and Sheedy on the bench. Liam moves to FB and Adams replaces him on the wing.

Not sure about Foxy coming in without any hard game time but he does have class and perhaps he been showing good form in training. Just hope that with just minutes to play he finds touch and doesn’t gift the ball to dippy Daly who scores a spectacular match winning try.

[Son of Mathonwy]

WoL reporting that JD2 is going to start at 12 with North outside him. Biggar gets the nod with Hardy and Davies and Sheedy on the bench. Liam moves to FB and Adams replaces him on the wing.

Not sure about Foxy coming in without any hard game time but he does have class and perhaps he been showing good form in training. Just hope that with just minutes to play he finds touch and doesn’t gift the ball to dippy Daly who scores a spectacular match winning try.

If Halfpenny's not fit then I agree with starting Biggar. As you say, hope this means JD2 has been spectacular in training, because nothing he's done recently warrants this instant return to centre, AND in a less familiar position. Don't see the Biggar/JD2 combo being able to distribute the ball well enough.

Assuming Sheedy will be on the bench.I'm happy otherwise.

[Sandydragon]

Fail are reporting the following as the likely team:

Pack no change except Navidi in if fit.
Hardy
Biggar
JD2 and North in the centres
LRZ and Adams on the wings
Liam Williams full back

[Wallpaperman]

Davies must have gone really well in training then. He looked a bit slower, and missed some tackles over Christmas. He’ll be less exposed at 12, I suppose, and will be able to coach North if needed. He also has a good left boot on him. He has been a brilliant player for Wales, and it seems ridiculous to be a bit nervous about his inclusion in the team. Picking Biggar at 10 and Davies at 12 is a solid combination rather than a more attacking combination of Sheedy and Williams or Halaholo.

It would be a huge achievement for Wales to pick up a triple crown this year given what went before. I would have preferred that Pivac pick a younger, more attacking 10 - 12 combination, both with regard to the style of play and with an eye to the future, but I’ll be singing his praises as much as anyone if Wales win on Saturday.

[Wallpaperman]

Happy with the rest of the side, by the way

[Sandydragon]

Davies must have gone really well in training then. He looked a bit slower, and missed some tackles over Christmas. He’ll be less exposed at 12, I suppose, and will be able to coach North if needed. He also has a good left boot on him. He has been a brilliant player for Wales, and it seems ridiculous to be a bit nervous about his inclusion in the team. Picking Biggar at 10 and Davies at 12 is a solid combination rather than a more attacking combination of Sheedy and Williams or Halaholo.

It would be a huge achievement for Wales to pick up a triple crown this year given what went before. I would have preferred that Pivac pick a younger, more attacking 10 - 12 combination, both with regard to the style of play and with an eye to the future, but I’ll be singing his praises as much as anyone if Wales win on Saturday.

Im not surprised by Biggar as we will need our 3 pointers. I will be a bit surprised and perhaps a bit disappointed if JD2 is picked; its not like he was in great form before his last injury.

[Wallpaperman]

Davies must have gone really well in training then. He looked a bit slower, and missed some tackles over Christmas. He’ll be less exposed at 12, I suppose, and will be able to coach North if needed. He also has a good left boot on him. He has been a brilliant player for Wales, and it seems ridiculous to be a bit nervous about his inclusion in the team. Picking Biggar at 10 and Davies at 12 is a solid combination rather than a more attacking combination of Sheedy and Williams or Halaholo.

It would be a huge achievement for Wales to pick up a triple crown this year given what went before. I would have preferred that Pivac pick a younger, more attacking 10 - 12 combination, both with regard to the style of play and with an eye to the future, but I’ll be singing his praises as much as anyone if Wales win on Saturday.

Im not surprised by Biggar as we will need our 3 pointers. I will be a bit surprised and perhaps a bit disappointed if JD2 is picked; its not like he was in great form before his last injury.

I would like to see Wales playing attacking rugby, as they have the players to do it. Biggar and Davies are preferred for their kicking prowess and their physicality which says to me that Wales are going to kick the ball a lot, and expect once agin to be making a lot of tackles. I’m with you re Davies, but if Wales keep it tight for most of the match and then score some points in the last 20 to win, Pivac will be vindicated.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Davies must have gone really well in training then. He looked a bit slower, and missed some tackles over Christmas. He’ll be less exposed at 12, I suppose, and will be able to coach North if needed. He also has a good left boot on him. He has been a brilliant player for Wales, and it seems ridiculous to be a bit nervous about his inclusion in the team. Picking Biggar at 10 and Davies at 12 is a solid combination rather than a more attacking combination of Sheedy and Williams or Halaholo.

It would be a huge achievement for Wales to pick up a triple crown this year given what went before. I would have preferred that Pivac pick a younger, more attacking 10 - 12 combination, both with regard to the style of play and with an eye to the future, but I’ll be singing his praises as much as anyone if Wales win on Saturday.

Im not surprised by Biggar as we will need our 3 pointers. I will be a bit surprised and perhaps a bit disappointed if JD2 is picked; its not like he was in great form before his last injury.

I would like to see Wales playing attacking rugby, as they have the players to do it. Biggar and Davies are preferred for their kicking prowess and their physicality which says to me that Wales are going to kick the ball a lot, and expect once agin to be making a lot of tackles. I’m with you re Davies, but if Wales keep it tight for most of the match and then score some points in the last 20 to win, Pivac will be vindicated.

Pivac's selections won't really be vindicated if we only take control of the match after Biggar and JD2 are replaced.

Having said that, who cares about vindication if we win?