England - the third round

[normanski]

Well, well, well!

Who would have thought we will be going into the third round unbeaten.

Wales are getting meaner and meaner with that wonderful knack of closing out tight games where the odds were on them losing. A priceless attribute. And Pivac is getting closer to finding his first choice side even with the injuries we’ve sustained with key players.

England aren’t going to be an easy ride because they can’t play as badly as they did against Scotland and as flat as they did against Italy yesterday. Hopefully EJ will keep the same basic team.

I keep thinking this championship is very much like 2019 (game dates reversed of course) where we grew slowly through the competition and then in the final GS game put Ireland to the sword, nilling them until the 81st minute.

Let’s take a little time to enjoy this position and then hope Ireland beat France this afternoon.

[MrK]

I think we may have stumbled into knowing what our best team looks like yesterday

The front row remains, although Francis got penalised before the Brown substitution, he is our top TH at this point.
England will try and maul us, the second rows should stay
That finishing backrow yesterday should be our starting backrow against England, our old friend PhilBB posted some Optastats on Bothams contributions at rucks in the week, and he made a very positive contribution when he came on, for me, its a better balance than with Wainwright.

I know its England, i know they are "inexperienced" but Id also now stick with Hardy and Sheedy to start, SHeedys kicking aside (and hes usually top class for Bristol) there was a definite shift in shape and emphasis when they came on. When we were doing well with Anscombe at 10, we used Biggar as the "finisher", I think thats what we need to get back to

THeyve not played together yet, but North, running lines off Halaholo with his offloading skill could be exactly what we need, both are in form, its tough on Watkins but id go Willis and Geroge in the centre, they'll be up against Farrel and Slade, this would be an a good contest. Tompkin has gone backward, and whilst I think Watkin is a good player, I just fancy this combo.

Back 3, LRZ obviously keeps his place, regardless of whether 1/2p recovers, id go for Liam at 15 and bring Adams back in on the other wing. For me, both of these (Williams and Adams) are a yellow card waiting to happen, but that back 3 has exactly what we need to expolot what I think is a weak in defence England back 3 of Daly (who was terrible again yesterday, Watson and May)

So, for the Triple Crown encounter I would go

Williams, LRZ, North, Halaholo, Adams, Sheedy, Hardy
Jones, Owens, Francis, Beard, AWJ, Botham, Tipuric, Faletau

Dee, Carre (although likely to be RJ), Brown (who did well yesterday), Rowlands, Navidi, Williams (Davies is off form), Biggar, Watkin

I'll be interested to see if Eddie makes changes, I hope that win against Italy means he sticks with the same team.

[Buggaluggs]

Tough games out of the way, now on to the easy pickings games!

[Sandydragon]

Botham had a big impact yesterday and should be on the bench for England. I would bring Navidi in for Wainwright who went missing a bit yesterday and we need big players against England. I’d make no changes to the front five or their replacements.

[normanski]

Tough games out of the way, now on to the easy pickings games!

Oh how you and I wish that were true.

Ireland did a reasonable job of containing France but a few snatches of Brilliance just kept them on top and put the game beyond Ireland.

That’s a tough final game.

[Sandydragon]

Any news on how long we will be without Jonny Williams?

[Wallpaperman]

Any news on how long we will be without Jonny Williams?

Wales Online have just speculated on the team for the England team, and name Williams, on the assumption that he has recovered from concussion.

They went for the same pack as Saturday, other than putting Navidi in at 6, and their outside backs were Liam Williams, LRZ, North, Johnny Williams and Adams. So far so good, but their starting half backs are Gareth Davies and Biggar.

I watched the game again this morning, and on 20 minutes (with the score at 10-3) Wales win a lineout on the Scotland 10 metre line, and Davies passes the ball to Biggar. He has time and space with the Welsh backs lined up outside him, but kicked the ball high into the Scotland 22. What a contrast when the half backs were changed.

[Sandydragon]

Any news on how long we will be without Jonny Williams?

Wales Online have just speculated on the team for the England team, and name Williams, on the assumption that he has recovered from concussion.

They went for the same pack as Saturday, other than putting Navidi in at 6, and their outside backs were Liam Williams, LRZ, North, Johnny Williams and Adams. So far so good, but their starting half backs are Gareth Davies and Biggar.

I watched the game again this morning, and on 20 minutes (with the score at 10-3) Wales win a lineout on the Scotland 10 metre line, and Davies passes the ball to Biggar. He has time and space with the Welsh backs lined up outside him, but kicked the ball high into the Scotland 22. What a contrast when the half backs were changed.

I’ve just read the same article. If fit I would go for Jonny Williams and North in the centres with Halaholo on the bench, the latter offering real impact at the 60 minute mark.

I think it’s time we started Hardy and Sheedy and perhaps had Evans on the bench. Maybe that will be for the Italy game but at least have biggar on the bench for this one and if we need him to close the game out then so be it.

[Sourdust]

I’ve just read the same article. If fit I would go for Jonny Williams and North in the centres with Halaholo on the bench, the latter offering real impact at the 60 minute mark.

I think it’s time we started Hardy and Sheedy and perhaps had Evans on the bench. Maybe that will be for the Italy game but at least have biggar on the bench for this one and if we need him to close the game out then so be it.

I'd worry about JW/N! not being the most balanced centre pairing? I know we never really play with a distributor at 12, but this really feels a bit "Morecambe & Eric" to me.

Presuming Tomos is fit then him & Sheedy for me. I'm yet to be convinced by the latter but we need to change something up. Biggar on the bench for when it goes Pete Tong. Any fit 9 should start ahead of Davies, and I include Lloyd Williams in that.

[normanski]

I’ve just read the same article. If fit I would go for Jonny Williams and North in the centres with Halaholo on the bench, the latter offering real impact at the 60 minute mark.

I think it’s time we started Hardy and Sheedy and perhaps had Evans on the bench. Maybe that will be for the Italy game but at least have biggar on the bench for this one and if we need him to close the game out then so be it.

I'd worry about JW/N! not being the most balanced centre pairing? I know we never really play with a distributor at 12, but this really feels a bit "Morecambe & Eric" to me.

Presuming Tomos is fit then him & Sheedy for me. I'm yet to be convinced by the latter but we need to change something up. Biggar on the bench for when it goes Pete Tong. Any fit 9 should start ahead of Davies, and I include Lloyd Williams in that.

Isn’t it great to be discussing the selection conundrums with two wins under our belt.

My choice, even though England are the opponents, is to start Sheedy, with Biggar on the bench to close out the game if necessary.

The old adage, if you’re good enough then you’re old enough, rings true here. LZR, for example, has taken to international rugby so confidently. I think Sheedy with 60/70 minutes from the start will grow into game and make the position his own.

[francoisfou]

I can see you going to Paris on March the 20th for the Grand Slam decider! Now who’d have put money on that?

[Sandydragon]

I can see you going to Paris on March the 20th for the Grand Slam decider! Now who’d have put money on that?

Reading the media report, no one. Even now it’s because we haven’t played 15 opponents. Fine by me, let the underdog status continue.

[Numbers]

If Halfpenny is fit then I would have him at 15, Adams or Williams can sit it out, another moment of stupidity from Williams could have cost us Saturday. this takes the pressure of goalkicking away from Sheedy, if it's a choice of playing Halfpenny or Biggar it's going to be Halfpenny every day of the week for me.

[normanski]

I can see you going to Paris on March the 20th for the Grand Slam decider! Now who’d have put money on that?

The pity is we can’t travel to see the game in the Paris spring sunshine. Thanks for your vote of confidence but we can only take one game at a time and the next one is a biggy!

It would be nice to win against England but i can’t believe they will be as dire again as the first two rounds and they are always fired up against us.

I hope we don’t have to rely on a red card for us to win the game. Just waiting for Sir Clive to make his forecast of a steamroller England win. That always goes down well with us Welshies.

[Ross. S]

Reading the media report, no one. Even now it’s because we haven’t played 15 opponents. Fine by me, let the underdog status continue.

Be yet another devalued grand slam then

[Ross. S]

I hope we don’t have to rely on a red card for us to win the game..

If they do get a red card please please please let it be faz the younger, then again atm hes doing more damage to england on the feild than he would getting sent off

[normanski]

I hope we don’t have to rely on a red card for us to win the game..

If they do get a red card please please please let it be faz the younger, then again atm hes doing more damage to england on the feild than he would getting sent off

Ha. Ha! If it was Faz he would find it would be a fitting end to his international career.

Seriously, no one wants games affected by red cards. Mind you, if Wales so frustrate their opponents to the extent they commit foul play, then so be it.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I hope we don’t have to rely on a red card for us to win the game..

If they do get a red card please please please let it be faz the younger, then again atm hes doing more damage to england on the feild than he would getting sent off

Ha. Ha! If it was Faz he would find it would be a fitting end to his international career.

Seriously, no one wants games affected by red cards. Mind you, if Wales so frustrate their opponents to the extent they commit foul play, then so be it.

It won't happen to Faz jnr. His greatest skill is to tackle clumsily/brutally and yet avoid a card, much in the manner of Captain No Foul (see Not Offside Man, Viz #302).

[morepork]

I'm a fan, but when was the last time Halfpenny scored a try?

[Son of Mathonwy]

If Halfpenny is fit then I would have him at 15, Adams or Williams can sit it out, another moment of stupidity from Williams could have cost us Saturday. this takes the pressure of goalkicking away from Sheedy, if it's a choice of playing Halfpenny or Biggar it's going to be Halfpenny every day of the week for me.

If there's any doubt about Sheedy's kicking then I agree about Halfpenny. This is England, we can't afford to waste penalties.

I can imagine that slightly iffy moment by Sanjay might have an influence over which winger gets to start..Having said that, Sanjay covers full back, Adams doesn't. It really is a tough call. If only Liam could calm it down a bit.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I'm a fan, but when was the last time Halfpenny scored a try?

Stick him on the wing, it might happen.

But then, we used to have Mark Jones in the wing. Fantastic player but he couldn't score tries either. Still played an important part in Grand Slam 2008.

[bruce]

I doubt Halfpenny will be fit. Last time he had concussion he was out for about 6 months. In which case if Sheedy starts he needs to sort his kicking out or let Sanjay take the kicks at goal.

[paddy no 11]

I'm a fan, but when was the last time Halfpenny scored a try?

Stick him on the wing, it might happen.

But then, we used to have Mark Jones in the wing. Fantastic player but he couldn't score tries either. Still played an important part in Grand Slam 2008.

Scored a hatfull of spectacular trys just usually the ref had the whistle blown long before he dotted down

[Numbers]

If Halfpenny is fit then I would have him at 15, Adams or Williams can sit it out, another moment of stupidity from Williams could have cost us Saturday. this takes the pressure of goalkicking away from Sheedy, if it's a choice of playing Halfpenny or Biggar it's going to be Halfpenny every day of the week for me.

If there's any doubt about Sheedy's kicking then I agree about Halfpenny. This is England, we can't afford to waste penalties.

I can imagine that slightly iffy moment by Sanjay might have an influence over which winger gets to start..Having said that, Sanjay covers full back, Adams doesn't. It really is a tough call. If only Liam could calm it down a bit.

I suppose it'll also depend on JD2's fitness, if JD2 is deemed fit enough to play I would think we'd have to accommodate North on one of the wings as he is the form winger in Wales at the moment, LRZ is nailed on for the other wing which leaves Adams out in the cold from what I can make out, it would be harsh for Halaholo not to get the bench at least.

[Numbers]

My team for England pending fitnbess would be this:

Wyn Jones
Ken Owens
Tomas Francis
Adam Beard
AWJ
Josh Navidi
Justin Tipuric
Taulupe Faletau
Tomos Williams
Callum Sheedy
George North
Johnny Williams
John Davies
LRZ
Halfpenny

Rhodri Jones
Elliott Dee
Leon Brown
Will Rowlands
James Botham
Gareth Davies
Dan Biggar
Willis Halaholo

I could be persuaded to play Liam Williams instead of Halfpenny but only one of them gets into the squad, don't forget we also lose the long range kicking option without Halfpenny but tbh I can't remember the last time he went for anything beyond halfway.