Team for England

[Digby]

You think we actually have a plan????

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Granted I've not watched every second of your games, but yes I think very clearly you're going higher in the tackle and then if possible looking for the choke. Similarly the very straight line advancing in defence we used to see does now have have more people flying up to apply pressure, whether the 9, Tips, JD.... In both instances it's been a mixed bag, but I'd be astonished if these weren't shifts based on an actual plan because it's repeated so often and with set defence and not just in a scramble.

We've had rush runners for ages, it's why Gareth Davies is persevered with so much as he is the prime component of this, it's probably a good idea with England playing two playmakers as we won't want to be giving them too much time on the ball. Of course if our pack are going backwards then that negates the effectiveness of a rush defence.

I rather confess to not being a fan of Davies, in attack or defence. I have in mind before you might have picked certain players or roles to target, now it's more akin to England where there's more of a thought that if you see a chance to go apply pressure you've got licence to push up. Again I've not watched it all, but my impression it's less rush runners and more speeding up the rush.

And for sure at the moment the rush is overall defeating handling skills

[Graigwen]

...Granted I've not watched every second of your games, but yes I think very clearly you're going higher in the tackle and then if possible looking for the choke....

I'll admit Navidi is good at this....but he is not playing. (Also AWJ fairly good, they work best as a pair.)
However I don't think we will have the skill (yet) or the strength to use it effectively for more than odd moments tomorrow. Personally I don't think it is a good long term strategy.

The trouble is that we are forced to put a rather unbalanced team on the pitch without enough training in new styles of play. I don't think this will be a long term problem, but it is likely to be a problem for 80 minutes tomorrow. There will be a lot of learning going on for our youngsters tomorrow.

We certainly have not got the trick of rushing out of the defensive line mastered yet (apart from Gareth Davies...who is not playing).

If I was a gambling man, I would put money on one or two of our lineout throws sailing completely over the whole line into the arms of an English centre.

We really are a work in progress at the moment.

.

[Digby]

I agree there are some seeming personnel issues with the plan to tackle high, I just think it's a clear shift and can only imagine it is (or has been) part of the plan. And Davies is hit and miss on his rush, he's by no means a master of the art, he's more an Owen Farrell of the art.

If you do throw lineout ball direct to our centres start dropping to cover the kick!

[Graigwen]

I agree there are some seeming personnel issues with the plan to tackle high, I just think it's a clear shift and can only imagine it is (or has been) part of the plan. And Davies is hit and miss on his rush, he's by no means a master of the art, he's more an Owen Farrell of the art.

If you do throw lineout ball direct to our centres start dropping to cover the kick!

We tend to do it a few yards from our line, and may well concede a try.

.

[Sandydragon]

I agree there are some seeming personnel issues with the plan to tackle high, I just think it's a clear shift and can only imagine it is (or has been) part of the plan. And Davies is hit and miss on his rush, he's by no means a master of the art, he's more an Owen Farrell of the art.

If you do throw lineout ball direct to our centres start dropping to cover the kick!

With Elias throwing in, theres every chance Halfpenny will get it at Full Back anyway and save your centres the effort!

[Graigwen]

I agree there are some seeming personnel issues with the plan to tackle high, I just think it's a clear shift and can only imagine it is (or has been) part of the plan. And Davies is hit and miss on his rush, he's by no means a master of the art, he's more an Owen Farrell of the art.

If you do throw lineout ball direct to our centres start dropping to cover the kick!

With Elias throwing in, theres every chance Halfpenny will get it at Full Back anyway and save your centres the effort!

We do have a wonderful range of ways for things to go wrong today. It is just as well this game does not matter much. It will I am sure be an entertaining game and we will be able to look back in years to come and remark how much some of our promising youngsters learned from it. It will still irk me to lose to England. I just hope tries against us are scored by Johnny May not some of the less appealing English team members. I have almost finished operating electrical equipment so can switch from weak beer to strong beer in preparation for what is to come....

.

[normanski]

I agree there are some seeming personnel issues with the plan to tackle high, I just think it's a clear shift and can only imagine it is (or has been) part of the plan. And Davies is hit and miss on his rush, he's by no means a master of the art, he's more an Owen Farrell of the art.

If you do throw lineout ball direct to our centres start dropping to cover the kick!

With Elias throwing in, theres every chance Halfpenny will get it at Full Back anyway and save your centres the effort!

We do have a wonderful range of ways for things to go wrong today. It is just as well this game does not matter much. It will I am sure be an entertaining game and we will be able to look back in years to come and remark how much some of our promising youngsters learned from it. It will still irk me to lose to England. I just hope tries against us are scored by Johnny May not some of the less appealing English team members. I have almost finished operating electrical equipment so can switch from weak beer to strong beer in preparation for what is to come....

.

The scene is set for one of the great turnarounds in Wales rugby history. Nothing can go wrong Sandy!

An overconfident England will kick and kick early on but our back three will return the ball with a vengeance.

Mako Vunipola will have a torrid time against our Samson giving away three early penalties for Halfpenny to slot home from over 50 metres. Elias will throw high and straight to our jumpers and a rejuvenated AWJ and Jake Ball will dominate and nullify Itoje and Launchbury in the loose and line outs. Wyn Jones will effect turnovers all over the pitch and come off evens with Sinckler in the scrums.

Faletau will regain his form of recent years and our two tyro flankers will come of age to nullify the England back row.

With Williams whipping away the ball from the set pieces and breakdown, it will give Biggar’s ageing brain an extra millisecond to decide where to kick or pass. Both Williams and Tompkins will come of age and destroy Farrell and Slade.

Wales 21, England 12!!!!!

[Puja]

I agree there are some seeming personnel issues with the plan to tackle high, I just think it's a clear shift and can only imagine it is (or has been) part of the plan. And Davies is hit and miss on his rush, he's by no means a master of the art, he's more an Owen Farrell of the art.

If you do throw lineout ball direct to our centres start dropping to cover the kick!

We tend to do it a few yards from our line, and may well concede a try.

.

It's adorable that you think Farrell wouldn't still kick the ball even if he received it 2m from the tryline.

Puja

[Digby]

Both Williams and Tompkins will come of age and destroy Farrell and Slade.

Wales 21, England 12!!!!!

I like the idea you could destroy the opposing centres for a win by 9 points. Nobody seems to rate either side's ability to score points

[Buggaluggs]

Both Williams and Tompkins will come of age and destroy Farrell and Slade.

Wales 21, England 12!!!!!

I like the idea you could destroy the opposing centres for a win by 9 points. Nobody seems to rate either side's ability to score points

Would nice if Wales could secure the BP in the first half - then really open up in the second.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I agree there are some seeming personnel issues with the plan to tackle high, I just think it's a clear shift and can only imagine it is (or has been) part of the plan. And Davies is hit and miss on his rush, he's by no means a master of the art, he's more an Owen Farrell of the art.

If you do throw lineout ball direct to our centres start dropping to cover the kick!

We tend to do it a few yards from our line, and may well concede a try.

.

It's adorable that you think Farrell wouldn't still kick the ball even if he received it 2m from the tryline.

Puja

I'll see your Farrell and raise you a Biggar.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Both Williams and Tompkins will come of age and destroy Farrell and Slade.

Wales 21, England 12!!!!!

I like the idea you could destroy the opposing centres for a win by 9 points. Nobody seems to rate either side's ability to score points

Would nice if Wales could secure the BP in the first half - then really open up in the second.

That's a strategy I can get behind.

[Wallpaperman]

Eddie Jones has been quite complimentary about Wales this week. He must be very confident.

[normanski]

Eddie Jones has been quite complimentary about Wales this week. He must be very confident.

Yep! Wait till his post-game comments.

[Graigwen]

With Elias throwing in, theres every chance Halfpenny will get it at Full Back anyway and save your centres the effort!

We do have a wonderful range of ways for things to go wrong today. It is just as well this game does not matter much. It will I am sure be an entertaining game and we will be able to look back in years to come and remark how much some of our promising youngsters learned from it. It will still irk me to lose to England. I just hope tries against us are scored by Johnny May not some of the less appealing English team members. I have almost finished operating electrical equipment so can switch from weak beer to strong beer in preparation for what is to come....

.

The scene is set for one of the great turnarounds in Wales rugby history. Nothing can go wrong Sandy!

An overconfident England will kick and kick early on but our back three will return the ball with a vengeance.

Mako Vunipola will have a torrid time against our Samson giving away three early penalties for Halfpenny to slot home from over 50 metres. Elias will throw high and straight to our jumpers and a rejuvenated AWJ and Jake Ball will dominate and nullify Itoje and Launchbury in the loose and line outs. Wyn Jones will effect turnovers all over the pitch and come off evens with Sinckler in the scrums.

Faletau will regain his form of recent years and our two tyro flankers will come of age to nullify the England back row.

With Williams whipping away the ball from the set pieces and breakdown, it will give Biggar’s ageing brain an extra millisecond to decide where to kick or pass. Both Williams and Tompkins will come of age and destroy Farrell and Slade.

Wales 21, England 12!!!!!

I was with you until you entered fantasy land..."Elias will throw high and straight to our jumpers "

Actually he may throw high...that is the problem.

.

[Buggaluggs]

Aww shit. That'll piss them off.

[normanski]

Well 7 - 5. That’s a turn up. We’re tackling better.

[Buggaluggs]

Commentary claims Biggar taken out in the air. Was he?

[Sandydragon]

Commentary claims Biggar taken out in the air. Was he?

Yes. Clearly. The TMO called it and the ref ignored the call. England score a try a couple of minutes later after multiple phases.

[normanski]

Commentary claims Biggar taken out in the air. Was he?

Didn’t see it but Daly just took Adams with a shoulder to the head. Wyn Jones penalties killing momentum.

[Sandydragon]

And a very dubious tackle by Daly on Adams ignored.

[Sandydragon]

Commentary claims Biggar taken out in the air. Was he?

Didn’t see it but Daly just took Adams with a shoulder to the head. Wyn Jones penalties killing momentum.

Apparently it was an attempted tackle.

[Sandydragon]

England look the stronger but we’re giving them a fight.

[Sandydragon]

Another scrum penalty against us. Set piece again a
Real issue.

[normanski]

Another scrum penalty against us. Set piece again a
Real issue.

I wonder if Francis will make an early appearance?