Pre WC fixtures - Sat 25th - En v Fj 15.15 - Sc v Ge 17.30 - Ir v Sm 19.45 - Sun Fra v Au 16.45

[JM2K6]

Joe Worlsey's done a solid job down in Bordeaux for years, but it's a bit premature to be putting him on a list of England's best coaches.

Best = shorthand for quite odd how England have coaches better than the coaching team they have picked, coaching other teams. Farrell at Ireland another. Edwards at France another.

The three of those together would be a good coaching team.

Part of the problem is that chucking Eddie when we did meant that there were very few coaches available when we needed them. Anyone good was already signed up somewhere else. The RFU are also bad at making their selections and offers. Sean Edwards has gone on record saying that in the past they weren't prepared to offer him a four year deal and France were, so he chose the team that seemed to believe in him and were willing to give steady employment.

Eddie seemed to prefer working with people who were not best in class - either rookies who would not challenge him or older ones who weren't flush with offers. These people were easy to keep under his thumb until they got fed up and left. That means none of his existing deputies were in a position to step up to fill his role as we see happen with many other countries.

Ehhhhh Scott Robertson was available and keen

[TheNatalShark]

Georgia scrambled very well for the Harris break, completely shut off the Horne option.

[Slick]

And if anyone is confused why Harris is no longer first choice, there you go

[Slick]

Georgia scrambled very well for the Harris break, completely shut off the Horne option.

Nah, Horne worked his arse off to remain an option, Harris fucked it

[TheNatalShark]

Georgia scrambled very well for the Harris break, completely shut off the Horne option.

Nah, Horne worked his arse off to remain an option, Harris fucked it

Maybe, will need to rewatch it, whilst Horne hasn't been peak himself didn't feel he would have got in there

[Slick]

Georgia scrambled very well for the Harris break, completely shut off the Horne option.

Nah, Horne worked his arse off to remain an option, Harris fucked it

Maybe, will need to rewatch it, whilst Horne hasn't been peak himself didn't feel he would have got in there

I’ve made my decision

[TheNatalShark]

I’ve made my decision

And that's fair enough



Could do with a couple of forwards tries here

[sockwithaticket]

Best = shorthand for quite odd how England have coaches better than the coaching team they have picked, coaching other teams. Farrell at Ireland another. Edwards at France another.

The three of those together would be a good coaching team.

Part of the problem is that chucking Eddie when we did meant that there were very few coaches available when we needed them. Anyone good was already signed up somewhere else. The RFU are also bad at making their selections and offers. Sean Edwards has gone on record saying that in the past they weren't prepared to offer him a four year deal and France were, so he chose the team that seemed to believe in him and were willing to give steady employment.

Eddie seemed to prefer working with people who were not best in class - either rookies who would not challenge him or older ones who weren't flush with offers. These people were easy to keep under his thumb until they got fed up and left. That means none of his existing deputies were in a position to step up to fill his role as we see happen with many other countries.

Ehhhhh Scott Robertson was available and keen

See "The RFU are also bad at making their selections and offers".

That said I'm pretty sure that the moment the RFU showed any serious interest in him the NZRU would have stuck a contract in front of him for the ABs job. At which point there's no doubt which option he would have chosen.

[Tattie]

How did Georgia avoid a yellow today?

[Ymx]

Part of the problem is that chucking Eddie when we did meant that there were very few coaches available when we needed them. Anyone good was already signed up somewhere else. The RFU are also bad at making their selections and offers. Sean Edwards has gone on record saying that in the past they weren't prepared to offer him a four year deal and France were, so he chose the team that seemed to believe in him and were willing to give steady employment.

Eddie seemed to prefer working with people who were not best in class - either rookies who would not challenge him or older ones who weren't flush with offers. These people were easy to keep under his thumb until they got fed up and left. That means none of his existing deputies were in a position to step up to fill his role as we see happen with many other countries.

Ehhhhh Scott Robertson was available and keen

See "The RFU are also bad at making their selections and offers".

That said I'm pretty sure that the moment the RFU showed any serious interest in him the NZRU would have stuck a contract in front of him for the ABs job. At which point there's no doubt which option he would have chosen.

Yeah, that’s how I saw it playing out. But more importantly, he was under contract with the NZRU until 2024. They would not have released him.

[_Os_]

I reckon Scotland tried to play conservative in the first half and keep their cards close to their chest, just shifted the ball wide and hoped. Wasn't going to get them over the line, so in the second half they brought their short passing game. By the end they were showing some cards, carrying close in and using short passes to runners taking the ball at pace, then shifting the ball wide to the wings as fast as possible (miss passes/kick passes). That gets stopped by the defence winning the contacts before the ball gets sent wide.

Georgia are more complete than Fiji, but Georgia are also lower quality than Fiji. By that I mean Georgia are technically strong in the set piece/defence/kicking and have a backline now, but they don't have athletes to take it all up another level. Fiji should beat Georgia (not going through the schedule and seeing which side could be tired etc). Wales could be struggling against Georgia, the areas where the Welsh are weakest are the areas the Georgians are strongest. Wallabies should have no problems against the Georgians, but there's been recent matches where if a pack really turns up the Wallabies fall apart, it's not impossible but would be a freakish match if Georgia beat the Wallabies, Fiji have more of a chance against the Wallabies.

I can see Wales not making it out of Group C.

[Ymx]

Which UK channel is the Ireland v Samoa on ?

[Ymx]

Says it’s on prime. Must have missed it.

[Ymx]

Found it hiding off to the right.

Didn’t realise Umaga was coaching Samoa.

[Biffer]

May have been asked already, but where’s the Ireland game being played?

[fishfoodie]

May have been asked already, but where’s the Ireland game being played?

Bayonne

[Slick]

Hope Healy is OK, looked bad

[Slick]

Who is the female commentator, she’s absolutely rubbish

[Biffer]

May have been asked already, but where’s the Ireland game being played?

Bayonne

Cheers.

I take it the intention is to acclimatise to the French weather a bit. Because they don’t get any pishing rain in Ireland.

[Slick]

Ireland looking a bit peaky

[Ymx]

Tier 2 really giving Tier 1 a working.

First SA yesterday, then Fiji, now Samoa

[TedMaul]

Welcome to the bathtub of bleach.

[fishfoodie]

May have been asked already, but where’s the Ireland game being played?

Bayonne

Cheers.

I take it the intention is to acclimatise to the French weather a bit. Because they don’t get any pishing rain in Ireland.

That, & the opening game of the US College Football season is being played at Lansdowne Road right now

[_Os_]

How close to first choice is this Irish side?

Ireland now in a similar position to Scotland, allows a direct comparison between them this half.

[Slick]

How many times are Ireland going to be allowed to have a second bite at a ruck, slow the ball, then stick their hands in the air, it’s really frustrating and right in front of Barnes

[fishfoodie]

How close to first choice is this Irish side?

Ireland now in a similar position to Scotland, allows a direct comparison between them this half.

I think I counted ~6 players in the starting side, & another 2-3 in the subs

[Biffer]

How close to first choice is this Irish side?

Ireland now in a similar position to Scotland, allows a direct comparison between them this half.

I think I counted ~6 players in the starting side, & another 2-3 in the subs

Scotland had 8 or 9 starters, none on the bench.

[Ymx]

Blatant jump in to that tackle by Ireland.

[Slick]

The Samoan 5 has got through an incredible amount of work

[fishfoodie]

The Samoan 5 has got through an incredible amount of work

All the Tier 2 sides today look incredibly well conditioned this time around, which isn't easy when they aren't getting the games the top sides do.

[Ymx]

Come on Samoa

[Flockwitt]

You can see the template SA will have to beat Ireland - direct muscle.

[Slick]

Get the fucking card out Barnes!!

[Ymx]

Bad timing for an injury

[Ymx]

Oh well. They pushed them

[Biffer]

Samoa have fucked this.

[Ymx]

Soapy ballsed up that pen kick.

They got another go.

But ballsed that up too

[fishfoodie]

Samoa have fucked this.

Lost their composure at a few critical moments, but they had a bloody good game overall, & another needed kick up the arse for Ireland.

Just hope the injury list tomorrow isn't any wrose than a few bruised ribs

[tabascoboy]

[_Os_]

How close to first choice is this Irish side?

Ireland now in a similar position to Scotland, allows a direct comparison between them this half.

I think I counted ~6 players in the starting side, & another 2-3 in the subs

Scotland had 8 or 9 starters, none on the bench.

On these performances Scotland look more able to take full points out of Tonga and Romania than Ireland. Can't select the best every match. Getting every point possible is going to be crucial.

I reckon the Boks will start the squad and bench players, have XV players on the bench.

Samoa I'm placing 2nd out of the PI sides behind Fiji.