England’s Twickers in a twist!

[Son of Mathonwy]

Fairly strong team, considering availability. Really glad to see that back row.

Would start Anscombe, not Biggar. (Never gonna happen)
Would start LRZ or McNicholl rather than Cuthbert.
Would bench Wainwright rather than Morgan. (We're unbalanced if Moriarty or Faletau come off)
Hardy vs Davies, who knows?? (Would prefer Webb, but I am from Ospreylia)

[Son of Mathonwy]

I'm confused now!

6-Moriarty 7-Basham 8-Faletau B-Morgan
Morgan covers 6 & 7, Moriarty covers 8. Where's the issue?
Mori off: Morg, Bash, Fal
Bash off: Mori, Morg, Fal
Fal off: Morg, Bash, Mori

The only difference I can see is that Wainwright (arguably) covers all 3 positions, but that's a bit of a stretch.

My point is that in 2 out of 3 scenarios we end up with Morgan playing at 6, which is not ideal (or alternatively, Basham moves to 6, Morgan to 7, which is also - as we have seen - not the best). Wainwright is the better bench cover in those scenarios. Only if Basham goes off would Morgan be the ideal bench cover.

Also, Faletau and Moriarty are coming back from injury, so less likely to last the full 80 minutes than Basham, which makes those two scenarios even more likely.

Seb would cover 6

He could (although it's questionable if he can play 6 to this standard). But that's only if, or until, we need 2nd row cover.

[Sandydragon]

Interesting. With Morgan on the bench it looks like we want to up the pace with two open sides later on. That’s fair and we need to hope that we are still in touch at that point.

[normanski]

Interesting. With Morgan on the bench it looks like we want to up the pace with two open sides later on. That’s fair and we need to hope that we are still in touch at that point.

I hope Faletau can last the distance. It would be a helluva shame if he was crocked early.

Our back row looks more balanced with him in the side but would have liked Wainwright on the bench. Is he injured?

[Hooky]

Tuilagi out. Thank fuk for that.

[Sandydragon]

Tuilagi out. Thank fuk for that.

Strewth. Now he gets injured before the game not just five minutes in.

That is helpful.

[Buggaluggs]

He's a bit of pansy isn't he?

[normanski]

Tuilagi out. Thank fuk for that.

Strewth. Now he gets injured before the game not just five minutes in.

That is helpful.

This game is bubbling up nicely. I don’t know if Tuilagi is a loss to England or not. He can be a liability. I remember a game in Cardiff when England were going for a certain try but Tualagi spilled the ball - danger averted!

[Sandydragon]

Tuilagi out. Thank fuk for that.

Strewth. Now he gets injured before the game not just five minutes in.

That is helpful.

This game is bubbling up nicely. I don’t know if Tuilagi is a loss to England or not. He can be a liability. I remember a game in Cardiff when England were going for a certain try but Tualagi spilled the ball - danger averted!

His win rate against us is pretty poor. But I’m genuinely happy that he won’t be running at our midfield on the back of a stroking English pack performance

[normanski]

Stroking England pack performance - are we back to Marler stroking AWJ!!!!

[Sandydragon]

Stroking England pack performance - are we back to Marler stroking AWJ!!!!

Everyone who is anyone is desperate to big up the challenge!

I just hope we get a decent start and don’t give away an early try. The England team are great at doing that, less great if they are under pressure from the start.

[normanski]

We are always terribly slow starters in the first 6N game and only start to perform better as the championship progresses.

We could do with a ‘fortunate early try’ (like the Biggar/Adams one) to take the wind out of the Twickenham crowd. Our front five seem to be gaining momentum each match they play and I’m confident that with a better balanced back row we can more than hold our own up front. Just need Elias to get his throws on target.

A couple of interception tries would help too!!

[Sandydragon]

I'd be a lot more comfortable if we looked like we knew how to score some tries. Compared to last season we look very one dimensional again.

[Sandydragon]

Stroking England pack performance - are we back to Marler stroking AWJ!!!!

More of a caress surely?

[normanski]

Stroking England pack performance - are we back to Marler stroking AWJ!!!!

More of a caress surely?

Ha,ha! Didn’t one of Marler’s front row colleagues ask him at the time who his new ‘squeeze’ was.

[Sandydragon]

Let’s hope the U20s isn’t a premonition!

[Son of Mathonwy]

Let’s hope the U20s isn’t a premonition!

We'll be lucky to start as well as they did.

But we'll finish stronger.

[Sourdust]

Despite the reality of Tuilagi's record against us, his inclusion had England cock-a-hoop, so having him yanked away again can only hurt them psychologically... how much, is up for debate. On a personal level, I feel for him, but I can't pretend I'm sorry.

I'm not entirely without hope this time, but we all know where the smart money is. To win at Twickenham we're going to have to score at least 2 tries, probably 3+. That's a LOT of lucky bounces, unless we have a previously unseen plan to actually create tries ourselves. Fierce, disciplined defence, while certainly required, will not be enough.

England 28-16 Wales

[normanski]

Despite the reality of Tuilagi's record against us, his inclusion had England cock-a-hoop, so having him yanked away again can only hurt them psychologically... how much, is up for debate. On a personal level, I feel for him, but I can't pretend I'm sorry.

I'm not entirely without hope this time, but we all know where the smart money is. To win at Twickenham we're going to have to score at least 2 tries, probably 3+. That's a LOT of lucky bounces, unless we have a previously unseen plan to actually create tries ourselves. Fierce, disciplined defence, while certainly required, will not be enough.

England 28-16 Wales

Sadly I think you’re right and probably spot on with the score line.

Our only hope is that our midfield find some form and creativity. At least Watkin is pretty sound defensively.

Interesting to see if Basham and Moriarty can do a number on Randall and Smith closing down the time they have to play their tricks.

[Son of Mathonwy]

We can win this, but England are favourites at home, especially while we're still missing key players.

England 25 - 19 Wales

NB my score implies that we can score at least 1 try. Not completely sure where it's coming from, though!

[normanski]

We can win this, but England are favourites at home, especially while we're still missing key players.

England 25 - 19 Wales

NB my score implies that we can score at least 1 try. Not completely sure where it's coming from, though!

Probably Cuthbert making an interception during a sweeping England back move which comes unstuck!

[Wallpaperman]

Have England named their team yet ?

Can’t say it is a vintage Wales side, England will probably have the more attacking line up, and they have home advantage so have to start as fairly strong favourites.

If the Welsh front 5 can play as well as they did for the last hour v Scotland there could be some chances for Wales, which they must take. It’s winnable for Wales but I think England by about 10 points.

[Sourdust]

Bloody hell... France.

I suppose this takes a bit of pressur off today. This is just a mid-table clash, lads...

[Wallpaperman]

Bloody hell... France.

I suppose this takes a bit of pressur off today. This is just a mid-table clash, lads...

Yep, France and Ireland are well ahead of the rest.

[Sandydragon]

Bloody hell... France.

I suppose this takes a bit of pressur off today. This is just a mid-table clash, lads...

Yeah. Its their grand slam to lose you feel