International Friendlies this weekend

[3me]

Results
England 43-9 Wales
Scotland 47-15 Italy

We probably don't really care about those games in NH from a SH perspective.

One thing for sure, England and New Zealand are at top of the rankings in terms of abundance of quality players.

As for the Scots, hard to say at the moment, if they were playing against a top 5 rugby nation, then I'm sure it will be a true indicator of where they are at the moment.

[Lloydxmas111]

I for one would like to see how an All-Blacks second string would cope with that powerful England reserve side. Completely demolioshed that full-strength Taffy side (mind you that aint no real achievement to write home about) at the moment.  

[Laney]

Completely demolished? They ran away with the game in the last 20 minutes!

Wales, while outplayed, were well in that game for 60 minutes until they were broken and the flood gates opened.

Compare with the recent AB performance where you hardly noticed there were any Welshmen on the field after 10 minutes (except when they had to be stretchered off).

[England Jim]

Mnnn Laney - strange sense of different game sydrome here but then I did watch it on S4C (Welsh language TV)  

The first 10 minutes by England were almost the most impressive - certainly there was a want and ambition in that period (albeit marred by nerves and mistakes) which seemed to drift into routine until the last 10.

England lacked killer instinct outwide and at lineouts and Rhys Williams caused problems for Noon from time to time, but England were ruthless in their victory.  Not only were Wales out played for 80 minutes they never looked in the game.  If not completely demolished then certainly comprehensively flattened.  England second XV are now at least at the stage England first XV were about 18months ago.  

Cant really compare with anything I'd have thought Laney.  Different England team, different Welsh team, different ground, different meaning.  

3me I agree it will have raised few pulses in the SH despite being cracking little game to watch.  But Mitch should go look at the video - it was a very impressive display of strength in depth.  I am completely confident now that with the exception of Wilko and Johnson any player lost to the England team through injury can by easily replaced.

For Wales a sad day - I never thought they would give up their more wins over England claim so easily. 49 - 49 now and looks like the first to 50 will be us!

[England Jim]

England team to play France:

I Balshaw (Bath); J Lewsey (Wasps), O Smith (Leicester), M Tindall (Bath), B Cohen (Northampton); P Grayson (Northampton), A Healey (Leicester);

G Rowntree (Leicester), D West (Leicester, capt), J White (Leicester), S Borthwick (Bath), D Grewcock (Bath), M Corry (Leicester), L Moody (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps).

Replacements: S Thompson (Northampton), J Leonard (Harlequins), S Shaw (Wasps), A Sanderson (Sale), A Gommersall (Gloucester), D Walder (Newcastle), J Noon (Newcastle).


interesting to see Lewsey on the wing (great full back and maybe quick enough to restrict Howlett/Rocoko (Robinson isnt unless they run down his throat) and returns for Healey and Balshaw (both bollocks players looking for a lucky break).  Only Cohen, Lewsey, Tindall and Grewcock
 are certs to make the squad.  The back row is very sharp.  Anyone know the French team yet?

[ugly ref]

Interesting to see Woodward resting all the old bastards and JW, esp the starting loose trio.

I think Back needs some game time, as he needs to show CW why he is a better player than Moody.

England really wore down the Welsh, it was one of those results reminiscent of AB teams in the late 80s, the Welsh just ran out of steam constantly having to tackle ENgland runners, and battle the clean outs in ruck and tackle time, England very good in that area.


the Taffs would be gob-smacked about their scrum, that is one area where they rate themselves, but they don't reckon on the tight forwards having to make 10 tackles in the first 60 minutes.
 
Interesting Grayson gets a run, after Alex King's 'mare with the boot, it would make sense to have a Mr Reliable backing up JW.

Pommie Jim, do you think he'll play JW at Twickers? I bet Betson is just waiting for the chance to bite his ankles, remind him of a certain day last year at Stade de France.

As good as this England A and a 1/2 team is, it takes a great team to win in Marseille vs FRA, they do 5 Nations a great favour playing their 6 NATS games in Paris.

FRA by 9 whoever they start with.

ugly

[England Jim]

I think Wilko at twickers depends on the Gray-man and Walder at Marsaillles.  If they've decided to take Grayson (i bloody hope not) then Walder will get the last 15 in Marsailles and Wilko will start in London.  Otherwise god-knows - maybe Walder to start or bring King back to see what he can do with a couple of decent centres.

Agree entirely about Marsailles - amazing place.  Hopefully it'll be a full on firework banging flare lighting chicken fighting affair!  FR by 7 or less unless Healey tries to win it by himself in which case FR by 15.

[Fumble]

I think its probably unique to this board, but for some reason all the English guys here are all too reasonable at the moment and seem to talk Englands chances down. There is nothing wrong with a bit of one-eyed drum banging. As such I am pleased to announce that, this weekend, England will demolish the much vaunted French scrummage, expose the over-rated French backline and win by 20 points, thus confirming their number one world ranking and World Cup favourate status.

[ugly ref]

Go Fumble, you parochial bastard!

Did you realise they FRA rugby boys have arranged the guy from the movie Taxi to drive the England bus to the ground?

You fellas are in trouble
fugly

[Fumble]

Its funny, as a game gets closer and closer I get more and more optimistic, until about 24 hours before the game kicks off, by which time I am absolutely convinced that victory is a certainty. Then, just as I arrive at the very peak of confidence I find that it all evaporates and I suddenly realised that we are doomed, DOOMED I SAY! and I'm pitched into the very depths of despair by the icy black futility of it all. And now only way to get leveled out is to drink huge quantities of beer very quickly, and this just sets me off on the emotional roller-coaster once again.

[Laney]

The first 10 minutes by England were almost the most impressive - certainly there was a want and ambition in that period (albeit marred by nerves and mistakes) which seemed to drift into routine until the last 10.

I missed the first 10 or so minutes so that probably accounts for my differing opinion.

Not only were Wales out played for 80 minutes they never looked in the game.  If not completely demolished then certainly comprehensively flattened.

With a little luck they were holding on, just... by their fingernails. They were in touch on the scoreboard until 26-9.

Cant really compare with anything I'd have thought Laney.  Different England team, different Welsh team, different ground, different meaning.  

Well, shall we play all games at the same ground with unchangeable teams from now on? Teams are always fluid, and even if personell stay the same the character of their play is always changing. We can still try and compare performances. (Although home and away does affect things, and we played a few more 1st 15 players than England)

I'm interested in comparing a win which you consider a demolition job vs one I think is a demolition job, against the same opposition a couple of months apart.