RWC 2015 - build-up thread

total former

England were supposed to be announcing their first round of cuts this evening but no sign yet.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

total former wrote: »

England were supposed to be announcing their first round of cuts this evening but no sign yet.

Bit strange to make cuts before even playing one warm up? Unless you're 100% sure on players who aren't making the final squad.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Bit strange to make cuts before even playing one warm up? Unless you're 100% sure on players who aren't making the final squad.

andymx11

Reports of Chris Ashton being cut..

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/rugbyunion/article4519775.ece

Scythica

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/33829760

Ashton cut.

"Fellow wings Marland Yarde and Semesa Rokoduguni also miss out, along with scrum-half Lee Dickson and centre Kyle Eastmond.
Prop Matt Mullan and flanker Matt Kvesic are the two forwards dropped as England cut their squad to 39 players."

No real surprises there, I rate Eastmond but don't think he had a proper shot, Semesa I guess (injury he had right?) came at the wrong time. Others were looking sharper.

awec

Won't have to suffer any of those swan dives at least.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

No Ashton, No Hartley..... I'll have to focus all my hate on Owen Farrell.

leonard7

I've always disliked chris ashton, more than most but I have to admit I do feel for the guy. In recent interviews he comes across as actually quite a down to earth guy that has reigned it in since when he was at his most hateable...can't imagine what that fall from grace must feel like... being the best then considered in the same level as yarde and rokoduguni with nowell and johnny may ahead of you. grim.

The Pheasant2

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

No Ashton, No Hartley..... I'll have to focus all my hate on Owen Farrell.

Sure there's always Mike Brown as well

The Pheasant2

Is English Lurker around? I'd like to hear what he makes of these cuts

total former

I've never understood the dislike of Ashton. Seems like a decent bloke.

pickarooney

Nor I Mike Brown. Has he got some previous or is it just the scowl?

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

The Pheasant2 wrote: »

Sure there's always Mike Brown as well

pickarooney wrote: »

Nor I Mike Brown. Has he got some previous or is it just the scowl?

Other than his whinging about England not winning the 6 Nations this year I don't know he's ever done anything to put him up there with Hartley and co.

total former

total former wrote: »

I've never understood the dislike of Ashton. Seems like a decent bloke.

Yeah he comes across sound enough but the swan diving in instances like the connacht game a season or so ago when they were 8 tries up really makes him look like a proper Wang Ker.

He also unfortunately suffers from punchable resting face, not to be confused with bitchy resting face and I think we all had a kid in school we hated that had that same stupid head on them.

It certainly doesn't help that he bares a slight resemblance to that other bell end Dylan Hartley and finally he plays for Saracens... say no more.

The Lost Sheep

In only other game today Namibia had a 46-13 win over Kenya in Windhoek today....

andymx11

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

In only other game today Namibia had a 46-13 win over Kenya in Windhoek today....

Ah the old classic!

Stheno

Dunno if it's been posted but Jean De Villiers suffered a fractured jaw in the SA vs Argentina game.

stephen_n

Wonder what the recovery time for that will be.

Stheno

stephen_n wrote: »

Wonder what the recovery time for that will be.

At best four weeks according to the BBC

stephen_n

I'd say he's praying for the best, would be a big loss for the saffrrs!

Stheno

stephen_n wrote: »

I'd say he's praying for the best, would be a big loss for the saffrrs!

And for him too, wasn't he going to retire after the RWC?

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Stheno wrote: »

And for him too, wasn't he going to retire after the RWC?

Yeah.

He can still do most of the training with the team, they've said. Obviously not any contact stuff.

I don't know that he'd be looking at anything more than a spot on the bench anyway. Kriel and de Allande have been really good in the centre for SA so far.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Yeah.

He can still do most of the training with the team, they've said. Obviously not any contact stuff.

I don't know that he'd be looking at anything more than a spot on the bench anyway. Kriel and de Allande have been really good in the centre for SA so far.

I think rightly or wrongly Meyer would have picked him, but tbh I think the SA team is better off without him.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Waylon Millions Rubber wrote: »

I think rightly or wrongly Meyer would have picked him, but tbh I think the SA team is better off without him.

He should probably be in the squad that travels, assuming he's fit, even just for his leadership and experience but to think he can step right back into the starting lineup is a bit too much. As I said Kriel has been phenomenal at 13 for them and he seems to have a good thing going with de Allende beside him. JdV stepping in there in either position would kill any momentum they had.

South Africa are lucky in that they have a relatively easy group. Samoa will probably be a physical match and Scotland might challenge them a bit but realistically they should be finishing top of their group and by the time their last match (USA) comes around they should be able to give their main players a rest. So it's not inconceivable that JdV could get a decent run out at the WC but I can't see how he could be anything other than back up really.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

He should probably be in the squad that travels, assuming he's fit, even just for his leadership and experience but to think he can step right back into the starting lineup is a bit too much. As I said Kriel has been phenomenal at 13 for them and he seems to have a good thing going with de Allende beside him. JdV stepping in there in either position would kill any momentum they had.

I don't disagree with any of this. I'm not trying to make an argument for him to start. I'm saying I think Meyer would have picked him.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Waylon Millions Rubber wrote: »

I don't disagree with any of this. I'm not trying to make an argument for him to start. I'm saying I think Meyer would have picked him.

I know what you're saying, sorry, I was just expanding on my thought process

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

England have brought forward naming the team to play France to tomorrow. No idea why. Maybe they want France to go easy on them.

English Lurker

Clearly diversionary activity to stop everyone getting worried by the news that Australia now have a pack.

English Lurker

English Lurker wrote: »

Clearly diversionary activity to stop everyone getting worried by the news that Australia now have a pack.

Has to be said, Australia's performance yesterday has added a bit of extra bite to that group. Whilst Wales were dire on Saturday, they are a first choice 15 team with poor depth but their first choice 15 is much more solid and could well turn Ireland over in the Aviva in two weeks time and if they do it cements that group as perhaps the toughest group in World Cup History.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

I was worried about Australia after their first two Rugby Championship matches, they won them, but there was a bit of luck involved. They looked very good against NZ though. Still need to sort out their backs though, 9/10 in particular.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

England team for France match.

sydthebeat

:mad::mad: calum clark :mad::mad:

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

sydthebeat wrote: »

:mad::mad: calum clark :mad::mad:

And here I was worried there's be nobody left to hate with Hartley and Ashton gone.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

And here I was worried there's be nobody left to hate with Hartley and Ashton gone.

Doubt he makes the plane tbh so wouldn't worry too much!

freyners

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote:

And here I was worried there's be nobody left to hate with Hartley and Ashton gone.

Meh if worst comes to worst you can focus on farrell.

Ashton may just act like a dick. Clark is nothing but a thug

Stheno

sydthebeat wrote: »

:mad::mad: calum clark :mad::mad:

Jaysis lads ye are indoctrinating me well

I saw the name and went "isn't that the arm breaker"

stephen_n

The Burgess experiment continues.

stephen_n

stephen_n wrote: »

The Burgess experiment continues.

Didn't he convert to blindside flanker for Bath?

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Deleted User wrote: »

Didn't he convert to blindside flanker for Bath?

He was tried at 12, I think, for a bit but didn't work out, has been playing flanker most of the season, quite well too by all accounts. Apparently Lancaster only wants him at centre though, not interested in him otherwise.

Sangre

Decent pack. Not so sure about the backs though.

English Lurker

Deleted User wrote: »

Has to be said, Australia's performance yesterday has added a bit of extra bite to that group. Whilst Wales were dire on Saturday, they are a first choice 15 team with poor depth but their first choice 15 is much more solid and could well turn Ireland over in the Aviva in two weeks time and if they do it cements that group as perhaps the toughest group in World Cup History.

You say extra bite; I say it's as welcome as opening the door to see your mother-in-law on the doorstep with her suitcase in one hand and a gimp on a leash in the other.

I was blithely confident in the belief we could beat up Australia and Wales up front and neither has the backs to have a really good crack at it once that's happened. If we can't do that to Australia, then we're probably going to lose the breakdown, and we can't kick because of Folau and our shoddy kickchase, and all of a sudden the result looks very much in doubt.

As for Wales, I'm not really paying attention to them yet, we'll see when the big boys come out - as you say, they could turn over Ireland in the Aviva, although probably odds against. Their front row is not a blessing at the moment. Be interesting to see how they defend the blind side next time... no, wait, sorry, *whether* they defend the blind side next time.

Tough group? Bah. DO NOT WANT.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

He was tried at 12, I think, for a bit but didn't work out, has been playing flanker most of the season, quite well too by all accounts. Apparently Lancaster only wants him at centre though, not interested in him otherwise.

Burgess was started at 13 - didn't do great; was switched to 12, then to blindside.

His last game at 12 was pretty good by most accounts. He's definitely looked better at blindside - but then his understanding has progressed too. It's possible he'd have looked as good at 12 if he'd continued there - Ford definitely seemed set on blindside for him. So far he's looked vindicated, but we'll see.

Lancaster is definitely only interested in him at centre. He says its because he can't jump in the lineout; plausible, but Lancaster always allegedly wanted him for inside-centre, and you can see why as the situation is quite, quite dire. Any port in a storm, even if Burgess looks more like he might be a stony shore with cannibals dancing on the clifftops. 50-50 on whether it will work.

English Lurker

English Lurker wrote: »

Tough group? Bah. DO NOT WANT.

If it's any consolation - I'm going to really enjoy watching all the matches in the group.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Australia still haven't sorted their 9/10 pairing as far as I'm concerned. Phipps getting binned and not coming back on was what won Australia the match at the weekend. A smarter person than I could probably figure out a way to exploit that. Given their poor kicking too bonus point's could play a big part in deciding the group.

molloyjh

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Australia still haven't sorted their 9/10 pairing as far as I'm concerned. Phipps getting binned and not coming back on was what won Australia the match at the weekend. A smarter person than I could probably figure out a way to exploit that. Given their poor kicking too bonus point's could play a big part in deciding the group.

That the Kiwi back row weren't able to do more against such mis-firing halves didn't help them at all either in fairness. Phipps and Foley were poor but they were never really made pay for it. I would imagine though that their performances alone on the day would be enough to convince Cheiks that they shouldn't be anywhere near the starting line-up for the RWC.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

molloyjh wrote: »

That the Kiwi back row weren't able to do more against such mis-firing halves didn't help them at all either in fairness. Phipps and Foley were poor but they were never really made pay for it. I would imagine though that their performances alone on the day would be enough to convince Cheiks that they shouldn't be anywhere near the starting line-up for the RWC.

The problem is though they've tried quite a few different pairings there and none of them are working well. Nic White looked more impressive in his 16 minutes than any of the rest of them have looked over 3 matches. I'd love to see White/Toomua get a start in Auckland this weekend. I doubt it'll happen though.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Samoa have named their final WC squad. First team to do so, I believe. (pretty annoying that they didn't click "ignore all" on spellcheck before releasing this)

total former

No Census Johnson anyway, or his brother indeed. Still, the bones of a good team are there.

thomond2006

If I'm a Scot I'd be very afraid of that squad.

sydthebeat

surprised peter saili not making the squad... must have been cack in training

sydthebeat

total former wrote: »

No Census Johnson anyway, or his brother indeed. Still, the bones of a good team are there.

census is retired (*ahem stood down by his club ahem*)