RugbyRebels

Oakboy wrote:Am I allowed to mention the howling reception that Jones got when his face came up on the big screen at the Aus v Wales match? Such vitriol might not suggest that we have the best head coach. Or, it might suggest that we have, I suppose.

Jones was there to assess our possible QF opponents, I read. I think we might have to adapt to cope with the turnover potential of either back row. Curry/Underhill or Wilson/Curry for the job? I hope that Jones makes a decision on that and sticks to it for the remaining pool games. They need to be sharp and practised together.

Mind you, I still maintain the lack of cohesion in our XV through Jones not getting it fixed before the warm-up games could cost us dear. It is a gamble to only finalise his best team at this stage.

Oakboy wrote:Am I allowed to mention the howling reception that Jones got when his face came up on the big screen at the Aus v Wales match? Such vitriol might not suggest that we have the best head coach. Or, it might suggest that we have, I suppose.

Jones was there to assess our possible QF opponents, I read. I think we might have to adapt to cope with the turnover potential of either back row. Curry/Underhill or Wilson/Curry for the job? I hope that Jones makes a decision on that and sticks to it for the remaining pool games. They need to be sharp and practised together.

Mind you, I still maintain the lack of cohesion in our XV through Jones not getting it fixed before the warm-up games could cost us dear. It is a gamble to only finalise his best team at this stage.

Banquo wrote:Poor old Wilson.

Danno wrote:Grauniad hints at it, but I thought everyone was available. It means Billy for 80 again and I haven't the faintest idea who is covering him.

Puja wrote:I think dropping Wilson is a mistake, but aside from that I can't really argue with that team. Great to see Mako and Nowell back fit as well.

Puja

fivepointer wrote:Surprised Wilson isnt even in the 23.
Back row aside, this is the team I expected to see.
Bench contains 3 players - Mako, Slade and Nowell - who have played virtually no rugby for months. Not ideal, but if they were included in the squad now is the time to introduce them.

Banquo wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Surprised Wilson isnt even in the 23.
Back row aside, this is the team I expected to see.
Bench contains 3 players - Mako, Slade and Nowell - who have played virtually no rugby for months. Not ideal, but if they were included in the squad now is the time to introduce them.

This. Slade and Nowell are very strange calls, given Slade looked shaky last time, and Nowell has had zero rugby. Ah well, such is Eddie.

Banquo wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Surprised Wilson isnt even in the 23.
Back row aside, this is the team I expected to see.
Bench contains 3 players - Mako, Slade and Nowell - who have played virtually no rugby for months. Not ideal, but if they were included in the squad now is the time to introduce them.

This. Slade and Nowell are very strange calls, given Slade looked shaky last time, and Nowell has had zero rugby. Ah well, such is Eddie.

Renniks wrote:Wilson is the most notable missing player

It’ll be interesting to see if and how Big Joe and JJ are involved come the QFs — and whether the starters and bench swap much

Until then I think EJ is sorting out players missing game time and getting them up to speed which makes a lot of sense - even if it feels risky to get them all in at the same time

Overall - happy - and expecting a solid win

Puja wrote:

Banquo wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Surprised Wilson isnt even in the 23.
Back row aside, this is the team I expected to see.
Bench contains 3 players - Mako, Slade and Nowell - who have played virtually no rugby for months. Not ideal, but if they were included in the squad now is the time to introduce them.

This. Slade and Nowell are very strange calls, given Slade looked shaky last time, and Nowell has had zero rugby. Ah well, such is Eddie.

I don't expect Argentina to genuinely test us (famous last words) - they're good enough that we'll have to take them seriously, but this should be a comfortable 15 point win. And if we want to use Slade and Nowell at any point this tournament, then we have to get some game time into them, for which this is the last real chance.

Puja

Stom wrote:

Banquo wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Surprised Wilson isnt even in the 23.
Back row aside, this is the team I expected to see.
Bench contains 3 players - Mako, Slade and Nowell - who have played virtually no rugby for months. Not ideal, but if they were included in the squad now is the time to introduce them.

This. Slade and Nowell are very strange calls, given Slade looked shaky last time, and Nowell has had zero rugby. Ah well, such is Eddie.

I thought Slade looked good technically at FB. But he looked a little iffy fitness wise.

Perhaps the extra time off has helped him along. If it hasn't, he shouldn't be there, which is a shame as I suddenly thought he looked really good at FB.

Slade, England's James O'Connor, without the alcohol fuelled rampages.

jngf wrote:

Renniks wrote:Wilson is the most notable missing player

It’ll be interesting to see if and how Big Joe and JJ are involved come the QFs — and whether the starters and bench swap much

Until then I think EJ is sorting out players missing game time and getting them up to speed which makes a lot of sense - even if it feels risky to get them all in at the same time

Overall - happy - and expecting a solid win

Through no fault of his own, Wilson may well be in danger of being perceived as a back row jack of all trades and not necessarily a first choice in any - post RWC he may be well advised to forget about covering 7 and 8 at test level and really focus on developing himself into the automatic selection at blindside for England?

Banquo wrote:

Stom wrote:

Banquo wrote: This. Slade and Nowell are very strange calls, given Slade looked shaky last time, and Nowell has had zero rugby. Ah well, such is Eddie.

I thought Slade looked good technically at FB. But he looked a little iffy fitness wise.

Perhaps the extra time off has helped him along. If it hasn't, he shouldn't be there, which is a shame as I suddenly thought he looked really good at FB.

Slade, England's James O'Connor, without the alcohol fuelled rampages.

He was ok going forward, but hardly tested all round.

Stom wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Stom wrote:
I thought Slade looked good technically at FB. But he looked a little iffy fitness wise.

Perhaps the extra time off has helped him along. If it hasn't, he shouldn't be there, which is a shame as I suddenly thought he looked really good at FB.

Slade, England's James O'Connor, without the alcohol fuelled rampages.

He was ok going forward, but hardly tested all round.

I know not tested, but I just had an impression of..."hang on a minute, he looks to the manor born there!"

Would be interested to see it again.

Banquo wrote:

Stom wrote:

Banquo wrote:
He was ok going forward, but hardly tested all round.

I know not tested, but I just had an impression of..."hang on a minute, he looks to the manor born there!"

Would be interested to see it again.

He has played there before in an England cameo and looked similar going forward. But as we all know, 15 is a position anyone except Watson can just pick up.....