England V Wales

[Mikey Brown]

Anybody know much about the Scottish ref, Adamson?

There will be opinions about him following the match, I’ll tell you that much.

[Oakboy]

Anybody know much about the Scottish ref, Adamson?

There will be opinions about him following the match, I’ll tell you that much.

Quite. I just wondered if he has any reputation re scrums. The Welsh props seem to be good wind-up merchants. I don't like Genge and Sinckler both starting in case they bite. Marler seems to have more humour in him (as well as being our best scrummager).

[Mellsblue]

Anybody know much about the Scottish ref, Adamson?

There will be opinions about him following the match, I’ll tell you that much.

Quite. I just wondered if he has any reputation re scrums. The Welsh props seem to be good wind-up merchants. I don't like Genge and Sinckler both starting in case they bite. Marler seems to have more humour in him (as well as being our best scrummager).

I haven’t seen Genge or Sinckler react poorly to wums, or at least poorly enough to affect their game/be sent off, for a very long time.

[Stom]

I suspect more and more teams will have a centre capable of playing 10/15 to be honest. 50/22 law has forced 2 players to be back at all times basically, often even 3. It's very easy to not have a winger/fullback available (just been tackled etc, or tackled), then the next pair are putting in another kick chase, and you do end up with centres in the back field. Seen it in a few games.

Well there is Slade. And Daly and Nowell and Malins and Watson… so it’s not as if we’re short of centers and wings who can play 15

[FKAS]

There will be opinions about him following the match, I’ll tell you that much.

Quite. I just wondered if he has any reputation re scrums. The Welsh props seem to be good wind-up merchants. I don't like Genge and Sinckler both starting in case they bite. Marler seems to have more humour in him (as well as being our best scrummager).

I haven’t seen Genge or Sinckler react poorly to wums, or at least poorly enough to affect their game/be sent off, for a very long time.

Genge did have his moment Vs Wasps. Not sure Marler has a better temperament though, he got sin binned last month for an unnecessary and blatant stamp and he's got previous Vs Wales for his testicle pinch. If you're playing in the front row you need a bit of edge at the end of the day.

[Galfon]

Anybody know much about the Scottish ref, Adamson?

There will be opinions about him following the match, I’ll tell you that much.

S Jones tweet after last month's close Quins-Castres encounter:
“Referee for Quins v Castres was alarmingly poor, Castres may as well not have bothered coming..".

It's only the ref's opinion that counts on the day of course. He got 2 matches this 6N so he's getting a chance to step up.

[Raggs]

Adamson has had some poor euro matches. Think he was OK in the first round 6n though? I wouldn't have been putting him in Eng Wal though. Think he's being rushed ahead due to being Scottish.

[Banquo]

Folks seem to be mostly wanting Manu at 12 and Slade at 13 which is interesting; Whilst I’m a dull advocate of positional specialities and nuances in midfield, this is a pairing which imo lends itself well to mixing up what they do in both attack and defence depending on phase and field position, and how the oppos set up. IF they start, I’d hope to see that play out.

Strange isn't it, especially as Slade seemed to be playing first receiver for a lot of the last two games. Tuilagi certainly isn't doing that.
Doesn't really matter what numbers they have on their back though, I think this is probably the most balanced midfield we can play. Until Manu gets injured again of course.

It normally does matter a lot where a centre defends from first phase especially, though both are now very experienced in the 13 channel; I'm not convinced by Slade's defending at 12 though, so that might be where they mix up most.

[francoisfou]

Anybody know much about the Scottish ref, Adamson?

There will be opinions about him following the match, I’ll tell you that much.

Quite. I just wondered if he has any reputation re scrums. The Welsh props seem to be good wind-up merchants. I don't like Genge and Sinckler both starting in case they bite. Marler seems to have more humour in him (as well as being our best scrummager).

Too right! Remember the Samson "Pikey" Lee incident six years ago!!!

[Scrumhead]

Anybody know much about the Scottish ref, Adamson?

There will be opinions about him following the match, I’ll tell you that much.

S Jones tweet after last month's close Quins-Castres encounter:
“Referee for Quins v Castres was alarmingly poor, Castres may as well not have bothered coming..".

It's only the ref's opinion that counts on the day of course. He got 2 matches this 6N so he's getting a chance to step up.

He is awful. For the game vs. Castres, he’s remembered for awarding a decidedly dodgy try for Dombrandt with the clock in the red, but he’d been terrible for the whole game with all sorts of bizarre decisions.

He shouldn’t be within a country mile of reffing this level of game.

[Timbo]

Maybe famous last words, but I’d suggest Adamson as ref is advantage England. He’s generally weak and seems a bit insecure, so the pressure of a full Twickenham will get to him I reckon.

[kk67]

Anybody know much about the Scottish ref, Adamson?

There will be opinions about him following the match, I’ll tell you that much.

Yup.

On the subject of Launch', I don't think I'd have ever called him particularly mobile but I do love watching that Fella play.
There is something mesmeric about watching a 6'5 Teddy Bear strolling around the pitch and suddenly causing havoc.

[Danno]

There will be opinions about him following the match, I’ll tell you that much.

S Jones tweet after last month's close Quins-Castres encounter:
“Referee for Quins v Castres was alarmingly poor, Castres may as well not have bothered coming..".

It's only the ref's opinion that counts on the day of course. He got 2 matches this 6N so he's getting a chance to step up.

He is awful. For the game vs. Castres, he’s remembered for awarding a decidedly dodgy try for Dombrandt with the clock in the red, but he’d been terrible for the whole game with all sorts of bizarre decisions.

He shouldn’t be within a country mile of reffing this level of game.

+1. I am not a fan. And I am a Quins fan that recognised that decision as horrible at the time.

The Welsh will likely be the antsy ones though

[Scrumhead]

Maybe famous last words, but I’d suggest Adamson as ref is advantage England. He’s generally weak and seems a bit insecure, so the pressure of a full Twickenham will get to him I reckon.

Possibly, but his decision-making has been under the microscope recently which might make the other way.

[Oakboy]

Per BBC website:

"England forward Courtney Lawes has been declared fit to face Wales in the Six Nations next Saturday.

Lawes, 32, has yet to play in this year's Championship because of concussion.

But he came through training on Friday and is now in line to make his return against the Welsh at Twickenham on 26 February.

"Courtney trained fully today, which is really good news," said England assistant coach Anthony Seibold.

"He's had a good preparation this week and a really thorough return-to-train protocol in place."

Lawes, who has 90 caps, has become one of England's key leaders in recent years, and stood in to captain the side in the autumn when regular skipper Owen Farrell was injured.

However, a concussion suffered for Northampton Saints in mid-January ruled him out of the first two Six Nations matches, with Tom Curry leading the side in his and Farrell's absence.

"The autumn series was the first time I worked with Courtney and he took over from Owen and did a tremendous job," added Seibold.

"He leads by his actions and I'm super impressed with what he does on both sides of the ball, but defensively in a lot of ways he is a real leader for us.

"So to have him back in the group training today significantly raises our standard because we have a highly intelligent defensive player who is full of effort."

After being beaten by Scotland in round one, before dispatching Italy a week later, England have some major reinforcements for the pivotal Wales clash.

As well as Lawes, centre Manu Tuilagi is back in the squad and is expected to start after proving his fitness, while lock Joe Launchbury is also in line for a return after not featuring since the autumn of 2020."

[SDHoneymonster]

England getting some big guns back going into the sharp end of the tournament, Wales missing tonnes of key players, inconsistent at the set piece, uncertain of their best combinations and struggling to put together a decent all-round performance... this has all the ingredients of a famous Wales win that Wales Online will never shut up about written all over it. I have The Fear.

[Oakboy]

England getting some big guns back going into the sharp end of the tournament, Wales missing tonnes of key players, inconsistent at the set piece, uncertain of their best combinations and struggling to put together a decent all-round performance... this has all the ingredients of a famous Wales win that Wales Online will never shut up about written all over it. I have The Fear.

Stop it. The Fear can deteriorate to The Dread!

Tuilagi injured again in the 5th minute. Ford comes on from a 6:2 bench . . . Smith implodes . . .

The RFU won't give a toss as long as Twickers is a sell-out.

[Mr Mwenda]

Wales are Raeburn shield holders, right? After England lost it to Scotland.

[francoisfou]

I’m beginning to look forward to next Saturday’s game and just hope for once Eddie selects players in their accustomed positions and goes all out to attack Wales, but let’s not hold our breath!

[Mikey Brown]

Who do we reckon loses out if Manu and Nowell are both fit? Presumably between Marchant/Daly/Malins.

Malins’s USP when he appeared seemed to be versatility but I’m not sure there’s any situation he’d actually be trusted at either 10 or 15. Hard to say if he’s been a success of not, he’s a classy player but not seemed to have a lot of ball to work with.

[Which Tyler]

Wales are Raeburn shield holders, right? After England lost it to Scotland.

Yep

[Oakboy]

Who do we reckon loses out if Manu and Nowell are both fit? Presumably between Marchant/Daly/Malins.

Malins’s USP when he appeared seemed to be versatility but I’m not sure there’s any situation he’d actually be trusted at either 10 or 15. Hard to say if he’s been a success of not, he’s a classy player but not seemed to have a lot of ball to work with.

I'd still start Tuilagi on the bench with Slade/Marchant at 12/13. I also would pick Daly on the wing. That leaves the other wing spot between Malins and Nowell. I suspect Wales would rather face Malins so I'd pick Nowell.

[Timbo]

Who do we reckon loses out if Manu and Nowell are both fit? Presumably between Marchant/Daly/Malins.

Malins’s USP when he appeared seemed to be versatility but I’m not sure there’s any situation he’d actually be trusted at either 10 or 15. Hard to say if he’s been a success of not, he’s a classy player but not seemed to have a lot of ball to work with.

My feeling is that Malins is probably the second choice fullback after Steward.

[SDHoneymonster]

Malins and Marchant I suspect, with Malins dropping to the bench to facilitate a 6-2 split? Not a bad way to attack Wales at the moment IMO given even with a full strength side they tend to lack depth in the tight five.

[Mikey Brown]

Malins and Marchant I suspect, with Malins dropping to the bench to facilitate a 6-2 split? Not a bad way to attack Wales at the moment IMO given even with a full strength side they tend to lack depth in the tight five.

One utility back on the bench with a team containing both Tuilagi and Nowell? That’s just asking for trouble, unless Eddie is actually planning to put some of his ‘hybrid’ stuff in to practice.