England vs Australia - Sat 3.10pm

[Danno]

Pretty strong Australian side. However, worth mentioning that their win rate is still hovering around 40% and a couple of big results are putting a significant bit of gloss on the Schmidt era.

They beat us last time out tbf

Mind, that was mostly because TCurry got a freak head knock and it completely unbalanced our back row play. We were giving them a good doing over before he left the pitch.

Puja

Aye, and they only got us in the final play of the match.

My point remains valid!

[Beasties]

Bit underwhelmed by Steward at 15 tbh.
With the options available in the tombola for back 5 places I’m disappointed Arundell hasn’t been pulled out. Was half expecting Tommy at 15 and Arundell starting/bench. Still, there are other matches in the series for when it doesn’t quite work on Sat.
Not looking forward to a hooffest.

[Danno]

Bit underwhelmed by Steward at 15 tbh.
With the options available in the tombola for back 5 places I’m disappointed Arundell hasn’t been pulled out. Was half expecting Tommy at 15 and Arundell starting/bench. Still, there are other matches in the series for when it doesn’t quite work on Sat.
Not looking forward to a hooffest.

It really shouldn't have to be one. It's light rain in the morning but all gone by the afternoon.

Arundell at FB would worry me more at this point to be honest. He's looking very sharp, but his defence still seems a bit iffy and he hasn't played there since L Irish went under.

I'd prefer Lawrence 13 / Freeman 15 as well but our depth at 15 is a bit slim now that Furbank is very crocked and the Marcus experiment seems to have been binned.

[Beasties]

Bit underwhelmed by Steward at 15 tbh.
With the options available in the tombola for back 5 places I’m disappointed Arundell hasn’t been pulled out. Was half expecting Tommy at 15 and Arundell starting/bench. Still, there are other matches in the series for when it doesn’t quite work on Sat.
Not looking forward to a hooffest.

It really shouldn't have to be one. It's light rain in the morning but all gone by the afternoon.

Arundell at FB would worry me more at this point to be honest. He's looking very sharp, but his defence still seems a bit iffy and he hasn't played there since L Irish went under.

I'd prefer Lawrence 13 / Freeman 15 as well but our depth at 15 is a bit slim now that Furbank is very crocked and the Marcus experiment seems to have been binned.

If we need to chase the game I’m struggling to see how our 22 and 23 are gonna do that.

[Danno]

Yeah Spencer is quite reputable for slowing a game down off the bench.

I don't hate the side but I don't love it either.

[Captainhaircut]

Bit underwhelmed by Steward at 15 tbh.
With the options available in the tombola for back 5 places I’m disappointed Arundell hasn’t been pulled out. Was half expecting Tommy at 15 and Arundell starting/bench. Still, there are other matches in the series for when it doesn’t quite work on Sat.
Not looking forward to a hooffest.

It really shouldn't have to be one. It's light rain in the morning but all gone by the afternoon.

Arundell at FB would worry me more at this point to be honest. He's looking very sharp, but his defence still seems a bit iffy and he hasn't played there since L Irish went under.

I'd prefer Lawrence 13 / Freeman 15 as well but our depth at 15 is a bit slim now that Furbank is very crocked and the Marcus experiment seems to have been binned.

If we need to chase the game I’m struggling to see how our 22 and 23 are gonna do that.

What change would you propose at 22?

[twitchy]

[Oakboy]

Is this SB being thorough in preparation, getting his whinges in early or manipulating his favourite ref, Amashukeli? According to the DT: 'Incidentally, two of England’s most notable victories under Borthwick – victory over Ireland in the 2024 Six Nations and France in the 2025 edition of the championship – have both been with the Georgian on the whistle.'

[Which Tyler]

It's the press noticing a thing that happens ahead of every test for the last 20-odd years.

Remember "truck and trailer" in 2003? Same thing

[morepork]

This is shaping up to be a great game. Hope the Crims bring it and go for it.

[Scrumhead]

The video is wild though. Genuinely mad how they appear to have getting away with absolute murder with side entries. Wilson in particular.

[FKAS]

The video is wild though. Genuinely mad how they appear to have getting away with absolute murder with side entries. Wilson in particular.

Stop when the ref tells you to I suppose. If you're looking for an edge you sometimes have to chance your hand.

[paddy no 11]

Theyd to go to 3 different matches to find those? Doris would rack up 3 of those in a half

[Which Tyler]

The video is wild though. Genuinely mad how they appear to have getting away with absolute murder with side entries. Wilson in particular.

Stop when the ref tells you to I suppose. If you're looking for an edge you sometimes have to chance your hand.

Yup, it's only cheating if the ref notices

[Danno]

I've said it many times but Richardson is such a fucking hack. Just barely one level below Fissler

[Beasties]

It really shouldn't have to be one. It's light rain in the morning but all gone by the afternoon.

Arundell at FB would worry me more at this point to be honest. He's looking very sharp, but his defence still seems a bit iffy and he hasn't played there since L Irish went under.

I'd prefer Lawrence 13 / Freeman 15 as well but our depth at 15 is a bit slim now that Furbank is very crocked and the Marcus experiment seems to have been binned.

If we need to chase the game I’m struggling to see how our 22 and 23 are gonna do that.

What change would you propose at 22?

It’s not the 22 as such particularly, more the fact that we’ve lumbered ourselves with only 2 back replacements and both are half backs. We’re expecting a lot to go well and not given ourselves a chance to try something different. It might work, it might not.

[Danno]

Where is Banquo dammit

[Oakboy]

Where is Banquo dammit

He's not deserted us but may be off the scene for a while.

[FKAS]

Where is Banquo dammit

He's not deserted us but may be off the scene for a while.

I hope he's well and will be back soon.

I'm sure he'd be delighted that Dingwall is at 12 and Coles is on the bench covering lock.

[twitchy]

Sending all the goodwill to banquo. Get well soon.

[Mellsblue]

‘The Times understands that during a 14-minute Zoom call, Borthwick showed the referee eight clips of Australians coming in at the side of breakdowns, to block opponents illegally, throughout the Rugby Championship. Highlighting his fears over the breakdown was designed to put pressure on Amashukeli to be hot on them in today’s Autumn Nations Series Test at Twickenham.

Wilson, the No 8, was highlighted in the England video package, and he responded yesterday by saying: “Firstly, I’d like to question how many of them are illegal. To say they’re dangerous, I know they’re definitely not dangerous.

“To think that we’re getting coached that way, there’s no way Joe Schmidt would coach a team to be illegal at the breakdown. I think we’ve had over 2,000 rucks this year and for them to cherry-pick a couple of rucks out of it, it’s quite amusing.

“We try to get in there square early, beat the threat and try to make sure we’ve got quick ball. For us, the refs have a lot on their mind. They’re under the pump. We just want to try and make it as easy as we can for them by trying to be as square as possible, so there’s not too much whingeing about it.”

The Times understands that World Rugby has privately taken a dim view of England’s pre-match tactics, which could unsettle Amashukeli’s officiating team, but the referees themselves are unfazed by the protestations, which were part of the normal exchanges between teams and officials before internationals.

Tom Harrison, England’s scrum coach, tried to distance himself from Borthwick’s stance. Asked if he felt England had an issue with Australia at the breakdown, he said: “I wouldn’t say that is accurate. In every game there’s always controversial issues around breakdowns, scrum, lineout, offside.

“Nika is an outstanding referee. He’s strong in his approach. One of his strengths as a referee is the breakdown. So we are fully looking forward to that.”

Pushed as to why England raised the issue in the first place if they had no problem with Australia’s rucking, Harrison appeared to suggest that it was not highlighted by Borthwick.

“I haven’t said it was raised,” Harrison said. “Steve has conversations with the referees. And I’m not involved in those meetings. You can respectfully say those meetings are kept private.”

[Mellsblue]

Sending all the goodwill to banquo. Get well soon.

He’s fine. Just has other stuff to deal with.

[twitchy]

Sending all the goodwill to banquo. Get well soon.

He’s fine. Just has other stuff to deal with.

Fair enough.

[Danno]

Sending all the goodwill to banquo.

Likewise

Thank you for the update Dors+Mells

[Mikey Brown]

Pouring one out for Banquo. A true soldier.