We’ve made it through some lean months, but finally the rugby bumper crop has arrived. This weekend saw Six Nations, Aviva Premiership, Guinness Pro 12 and Top 14 rugby played across Europe, with Super Rugby also returning to our screens.
Grand Slam dream still alive for England
England continued their Six Nations winning streak by beating Ireland 21-10 in their stiffest test of the competition so far. Amidst a teacup-sized media storm surrounding some of Eddie Jones’ comments during the week, the sides put on a thrilling first half that somehow yielded a meagre 6-3 half-time scoreline, with Owen Farrell kicking two penalties to Jonathan Sexton’s one. Conor Murray crossed for the first try of the game just after the break, but England were able to play large sections of the second half in Ireland’s 22, resulting into tries for Anthony Watson and Mike Brown giving England a 21-10 lead that they never surrendered. Both teams had tries disallowed, with varying degrees of credibility, but England seem to have taken a huge step in the right direction with standout performances from George Kruis and Billy Vunipola in particular. Ireland did see some positive impact from youngsters Josh van der Flier, Ultan Dillane and Stuart McCloskey.
Scotland have had to wait a while for their first win of the Six Nations, but they looked convincing in their 36-20 victory over Italy. Stuart Hogg was on phenomenal form to set up Scotland’s first and last tries for John Barclay and Tommy Seymour, with John Hardie scoring the other. Italy kept themselves in touch until the last 15 minutes, with tries from Leonardo Ghiraldini and Marco Fuser, but a late penalty from Greig Laidlaw (who was on sparkling form to provide 21 points from the tee) along with Seymour’s try finished off the Azzurri.
France produced another unimpressive performance although this time ended up losing to Wales by 19-10. Dan Biggar was Wales’ main source of points kicking four penalties and a conversion of George North’s comedic try just after half-time. The try in question saw North chase up a Jonathan Davies kick and completely miss the attempted kick on, only for Jules Plisson to knock the ball back into North’s path for the try. As fortunate and untidy as it was, Wales were owed a try after Maxime Medard prevented an earlier Liam Williams score by a matter of centimetres. France’s Guilhem Guirado scored his side’s only try and was a lone bright spot for Les Bleus.
Six Nations Star Man: Billy Vunipola
Gap narrows between Chiefs and Saracens
Saracens and Sale’s 36-36 draw may well end up being the match of the season, as the teams scored five tries apiece to finish honours even. Sale started the match with a frankly ridiculous flurry of three tries inside the first 15 minutes through Sam James, Johnny Leota and Tom Arscott, with all three coming from long-range. Sarries’ first offering was decidedly less flashy with Jim Hamilton rumbling over in a driving maul.
Chris Wyles then added a quick-fire double for Saracens to give them their first lead of the game, that they held until the break going in 22-17 ahead. Nick Tomkins and Mike Ellery seized on Sale mistakes to score twice and hand Sarries a 36-26 lead that looked unassailable; however, it proved to be anything but with TJ Ioane scoring four minutes later and Tom Arscott finished a long stint of Sale pressure with a 79th minute try. Danny Cipriani continued a miserable day from the tee by missing the potentially game-winning conversion.
Exeter forced out a win in their West Country derby against Bath, 26-17. The unfeasibly reliable boot of Gareth Steenson built up a points cushion for Exeter, before James Short burst free from his own 22 and set up Ian Whitten for a phenomenal try. Bath found they were able to lean on their pack for points, as Amanaki Mafi scored twice, either side of half-time to bring the score to 17-16 to Bath. Both sides closed the game down and the forwards were the focus as the clock ticked on, and it was an Exeter rolling maul that widened the gap once more, with Kai Horstmann touching down for the final try.
Elsewhere, the buzz around Wasps refuses to die down as the Coventry club beat Harlequins 42-10 while Leicester were able to bring an end to their losing streak with a 47-20 victory over London Irish. Northampton gave Worcester a tonking with a 38-18 victory at Franklin’s Gardens and Gloucester brought Newcastle back to earth with a bump by racking up a 32-6 win.
Aviva Premiership Star Men: The Piutau brothers
Connacht extend hot streak
Connacht fought off Ospreys to stay atop the table for another week, winning 30-22 at the Sportsground. Matt Healy, Bundee Aki and Alan MacGinty scored the tries for the Irishmen, with Craig Ronaldson adding 15 points. Rhys Webb, Dan Baker and Ben John provided the scores for Ospreys but had one crucial try chalked off for double movement.
Edinburgh kept themselves in contention for postseason rugby by defeating Scarlets 24-23, with Aled Thomas missing a last-minute penalty that would have won the match. Phil Burleigh scored early for Edinburgh, who had lost four consecutive matches prior to this, and had another try turned down as Edinburgh started quickly. Scarlets were equal to the task however and replied with three first-half tries from James Davies, Steffan Evans and Hadleigh Parkes. Blair Kinghorn chipped away at the deficit for the Scots before Ben Toolis’ late try earned the victory for Edinburgh who now lie fifth in the table.
On Thursday, Glasgow beat the Dragons 18-15 at Rodney Parade, while Sunday saw Cardiff record their sixth win of the season, 23-13 over Ulster. Treviso came close to beating Munster with the Irishmen sneaking by 16-13 and Leinster were more convincing in their 27-10 victory over Zebre.
Guinness Pro12 Star Man: Matt Healy
Racing stumble in title pursuit
Toulon produced a near carbon copy of their last fixture, winning 44-15 over Brive. They were awarded an early penalty try and also had Josua Tuisova cross, with Benito Masilevu scoring for Brive before half time, keeping the Toulon lead narrow but the home side kicked into gear right on the break, with Delon Armitage scoring a try to open the floodgates. Romain Taofifenua, Tom Taylor and Drew Mitchell also added five-pointers in the second half with Jonathan Pelissie contributing 14 points. Toulon went four points clear at the top of the league with this victory.
Racing 92 contributed to Toulon’s lead by losing their first home game of the season against Castres, 13-9. Dan Carter kicked all of Racing’s points but Castres wing Julien Caminati scored the game’s only try after half an hour, giving Castres a league double over the second-placed side.
Toulouse were unseated by Montpellier 31-29 as the teams around them all grabbed victories, with Clermont winning 44-16 over Oyonnax and Bordeaux holding off Pau 15-3. In the bottom half of the table, Stade Francais fell to Grenoble 18-33 and Agen snapped a seven game league losing streak by beating La Rochelle 31-27.
Top 14 Star Man: Morgan Parra
Jaguares christen new dawn for Super Rugby with a win
The return of Super Rugby saw plenty of surprises and one of the biggest was the Jaguares winning their Super Rugby debut against the Cheetahs 34-33. The Argentinian side went behind early on as the Cheetahs scored three tries through Francois Venter and Torsten van Jaarsveld along with a penalty try. The Jaguares also lost fly half Nicolas Sanchez to the sin-bin, followed quickly by Martin Landajo and when William Small-Smith scored another try for the Cheetahs after 24 minutes putting them ahead 24-3, the Jaguares looked set for a wretched opening result.
On his return from the sin-bin however, Landajo scored his side’s maiden try in Super Rugby and the comeback was sparked. Agustin Creevy and Rodrigo Baez scored either side of half time before Landajo finished off a show-stopping score started by Matias Orlando. A late Sanchez drop goal put Jaguares ahead 34-30 before Niel Marais brought the Cheetahs to within a point, with the scoreline remaining at 34-33 until the final whistle.
As thrilling as the Jaguares first win was, the marquee matchup of Super Rugby’s opening round was the Blues’ 33-31 victory over the Highlanders. The tries came thick and fast with Ben Smith kicking off proceedings with an eighth minute score for the Highlanders. The Blues replied through Melani Nanai who took the killer pass from Lolagi Visinia to score, and flanker Blake Gibson followed up seven minutes later with a try of his own. Last year’s top try scorer Waisake Naholo pounced to grab his first five-pointer of the season just before half-time but the match was decided by a late exchange of tries, Patrick Tuipolotu scoring for the Blues and Ben Smith burrowing over in the left hand corner for the ‘Landers, with Hayden Parker’s 78th minute conversion bring up the final score of 33-31 to the Blues.
Friday’s other match saw the Brumbies demolish the Hurricanes, 52-10, and Saturday brought about more big score as the Stormers overcame the Bulls 33-9, the Sharks smashed the Southern Kings 43-8 and the Waratahs put a 30-10 scoreline on the Reds. The Sunwolves weren’t able to win their debut match, falling 26-13 to the Lions and the Chiefs and Rebels also notched opening weekend victories, 27-21 over the Crusaders and 25-19 against the Western Force respectively.
Super Rugby Star Man: Reece Hodge
Try of the Week: I’m going to pick two joint winners this week and they are Exeter’s length of the pitch effort finished by Ian Whitten and Martin Landajo’s scorcher for Jaguares. I would also urge you to seek out the highlights of the Sale v Saracens match, with Sale’s opening three tries all coming from the top drawer.
Video credit: pablo giglio
Hero of the Week: England winger Jack Nowell is the chosen one for his try-saving tackle on Robbie Henshaw – check it out below.
Villain of the Week: France have been vilified for their foul play so far in the Six Nations but England verged on dirty at times with James Haskell’s late and high tackle and Danny Care’s cynical penalty at the breakdown the key examples. Come on fellas, keep it clean.
By Fraser Kay (@fraserkay)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
42 replies on “Best of the Weekend: England slam still on; Super Rugby returns”
Harsh to point at Haskell there. He tackle was only high because of the angle Murray ended up at as he was about to hit, and it was late by a split second. It was only in slow mo that is looked like it was really late. For me, a penalty was needed there by the yellow was unbelievably harsh. Throw in the fact that outside of that he had a really good game in defense and at the breakdown and to cast him as a villain seems strange.
On Care, whilst cynical was absolutely the right thing to do. If I was Jones and he had quickly rolled out of the way at that ruck, I’d have gone mental at him!
Jacob, was it just me or did you think Care’s yellow was a bit harsh as well? By the time the ref blew the whistle it seemed to me that both Care and Haskell were not interfering with the play of the ball. Reddan had his hands on it, and was about to pass it unheeded.
By the time the ref blew the whistle the damage was done. In top class rugby it’s about fractions of a second. Care knew what he was going, took one for the team, wasn’t surprised to get a card.
“Took one for the team” – love it. Bo**ocks.
Personally I thought Care’s yellow was correct. But I don’t think he was a villain for doing so – he stopped an almost certain try and delaying the ball for several seconds. Even if the ball did eventually come, the offense was already committed.
Haskell’s however I did think was wrong.
Good weekend to be a Wasps and England fan. Wasps look to be going along really well, Robson at 9 has been brilliant in Simpsons absence.
On England, largely encouraged by this weekend. Yes the execution was poor, but at least they are trying! The main difference from the side we saw under SL is that we can see they are trying to make the right decisions in attack; they are trying to go wide when it is on and keeping it tight when it isn’t.
For the Wales game, I worry about the breakdown. Again, Haskell and Robshaw in tandem looked a little slow. I’d like to see Haskell move to 6 and Clifford come in against the Welsh. If Launchbury is fit I’d have him in for Itoje, but other than that no changes.
I think we (Wales) are missing Gethin. Competing over the ball at the breakdown improved markedly when he came on.
It is the right think to do, to start Evans as he is the future, but we’ve definitely lost a threat at the breakdown for the first 60. (He may also be out of the England fixture with a tweaked calf).
I’d love to see Gethin start, I’d expect Cole to really dominate him at scrum time if he did. Cole has been very good in that area this 6 nations.
I think with Lydiate and Warbs, not to mention AWJ, Wales really have the edge in this area.
That being said. Wales seem to have no interest in going wide and finishing off tries in that way, which I think has been a bit different to England making the right decisions and failing to execute. If it stays tight, I expect Wales’ superiority at the breakdown to win out in the a very similar game to the WC. Hopefully though, England can get the a ball wide and attack in the way they did on Saturday. Execute better and we may well have enough to win.
I think if Launch is fit, he starts, but would be tempted to start Itoje at 6, with Haskell at 7, Robshaw and Clifford on the bench. Launch, Itoje and all the back row, are very good over the ball, along with Cole (although he does get penalised out a lot more).
Wouldn’t mind that, but I just think Haskell is a 6. He’s doing the work of a 6 brilliantly, but he is more of a stop gap in the 7 shirt. Clifford has the pace to ensure we are not isolated at the breakdown off first phase and should help then a) speed up ball and b) lessen our penalty count.
If Rob Evans is Injured (I doubt that he’ll be out of the match though) I’d like to see a call-up for Rhys Gill. Anyone who saw Saracens destroy Leicester up front will take my point! As he’s signed up for Cardiff Blues now, Gtland may be prepared to consider him. He’s an excellent loosehead, and ‘fills the age-gap’ between Gethin and Paul J. amd the younger props.
I’m curious to see if you would omit Itoje all together as I thought he played excellently and if he is to step aside for Launchbury I feel Robshaw should step aside for Itoje as I think he had an excellent game.
I don’t think Itoje is available for the Wales game? He’s got 2 days down to bring peace to Syria and then he has that whole Ebola thing to cure. A busy month.
So that’s how you got your name! Brightening up my dull Monday, love it!
The ‘tackling’ for that Landajo try was absolutely dreadful. It would be an insult to call it schoolboy
And is James Short currently the most in-form winger in England?
On that note, did anyone watch the weekend’s Premiership games? If so how did Wade, Ewers and Tuilagi get on?
Wade showed some really nice touches, looking close to back to his best. Ewers carried a lot but looked like a man that’s been out for a while – he’ll need a bit more time. Tigers game wasn’t televised so this is all I can say about Tuilagi: http://sport.bt.com/video/tuilagi-flattens-rival-with-monster-hit-91364043328998. Oosh!
‘Oosh’ sums that up pretty nicely. Got to hurt…
Ooof. Was that Blair Cowan getting smashed? If so, he’s taken some punishment recently
Thanks for the info Jamie. On Wade, do we think EJ is the type of coach to ignore his defensive issues for the attacking ability he adds?
Agreed. I thought Wade was brilliant yesterday and didn’t make any glaring defensive errors. I do think he positioning in defense can be a shambles, but I hope Jones at least calls him up to have a look at him. Watson at 15 with Wade and Nowell would be one hell of a back three.
Saw the highlights of the Prem matches, and I would say that Wade was the most impressive. Finished one off, and provided a break for another, but the best thing about his performance for me, was a try saving tackle!!!! Yes you read it right, he made a tackle which saw the opposition have a try disallowed because he positioned himself between the player and the floor!! Has to be seen to be believed.
Have to agree about James short!! The way Brown is playing, I would be tempted to get Short in and have Nowell, Short and Watson back three!?
Watched the highlights last night. It was a spectacular tackle from Wade. Also somewhat suprised by just how rapid Walker is
Other things that stood out:
– James Short is in serious form and a call up would not be silly. He’s fast, elusive and powerful
– There are some decent centres coming through in Tompkins, James and Mallinder – even if they are a little young and green at the moment
– Cooper-Wooley looks a good prospect
In defense of the Landajo try, both teams were trying to keep the ball in play as much as possible and were running from everywhere on the field. Everyone was absolutely out on their feet by this point in the game. So yes, the tackling attempts weren’t great, but that was a result of the Jaguares trying to run the Cheetahs off the pitch.
On “villain of the week” there was an excellent candidate in the Wal Fra U20s match with a France winger red carded for two horrendous challenges. However, for me it has to go to Clancy for denying the Ospreys the winning score through some unfathomable decision making that led to a try being denied – have a look and let me know why it should be denied… (from about 1:38 on).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsS8jK3bKUU
Fantastic to see Cardiff come back in the last 20 against Ulster. WRU chief has been on Twitter saying they are going to take up the issue of Pro 12 officiating – who knows if it is bias but two Wal v Ire games this weekend, two Ire refs, two bunches of awful decisions that seemed to help the Ire side. Trying hard to not turn this into a ref moan, just pointing out that the WRU chief is pretty open on Twitter about wanting to see this tackled. Impartial refs must be the order.
It’s going to be a tough 2 weeks if you want to avoid some of the hyperbole, for both sides, that we are going to see for this “crunch game”. I’m happy some England fans think a “big win is on the cards” 🙂 At the mo I’m comfortable – can see us losing or winning, not seen anything from England to scare us BUT as the big day looms I will no doubt go into full on pessimism mode.
Blimey who are these England fans that you speak to!?
‘I’m happy some England fans think a “big win is on the cards”.’
Who are these people and have they watched any rugby recently?
Benjit, on the “rate the match” thread:
“Cut out the errors and we will put Wales to the sword.”
“If England can cut out the errors there is the potential to win big in 2 weeks.”
Wow I hadn’t read much of that thread. As much as I do think England are attempting to play a more expansive game than Wales have any intention to, and therefore am optimistic that long term we are going in a better direction – Wales are way too good at the breakdown and the set piece, plus their defense – meaning they almost never get put to the sword by anyone.
Benjit – surely you can’t think that?
I also think that overplaying errors is a trap too easy to fall into – Wales made plenty of errors on Fri night – two howlers were when Davies should have passed to Williams after his break, and later Williams pass should have stuck. Those passes go and we’re on 5 men overlaps, certain tries. They weren’t scored because we didn’t execute and I don’t think we’ll suddenly have an error free game and turn those chances into tries. That’s before even considering the knock-ons, pens, forward passes and bad decisions that were made by good French defence as opposed to being totally in our own hands. It seemed to me like Ire were well into Eng and hence not all of the errors were 100% self inflicted.
On the expansive game – I’ll try and be careful discussing that one as it always gets treated like me dissing England. Eng fans can see an Eng team attempting to play an expansive game – when I see that game itself is when I will understand the optimism. Right now I see a team playing to it’s forward dominance strengths through a fantastic yard-eating number 8 trucking it up the middle, a 6/7 that throw themselves at the ensuing mauls to ensure recycling but not necessarily quick ball, and (and the key aspect of any decent team nowadays) some top class 2nd rows.
However, I also see JJ go for annoying grubbers in the same way as JD now tends to. Wings overrunning passes. I see a slightly stilted scrum half (ditto Wales) and an up/down in form outside half – I don’t see a well oiled expansive machine and, given it’s a lot of the same players, nor do I yet see the emergence of one. It could happen though, but I don’t see it yet. I personally.
I don’t think journalists know much more about rugby than the rest of us, or even some ex-players, but I’m heartened to see enough “stodgy” type appraisals of Eng (and Wales, I’m not denying that, but this isn’t supposed to be a Wal v Eng comp of who is the least stodgy) to know it’s not simply my supposed one-eyed-ness.
Ireland could have also had a couple more scores on the weekend – the fact they didn’t is testament to England for stopping them, but it’s worth noticing that it was a tough and tight game despite Eng having the ball for most of the first half. Rugby is a game where often the team with less possession still wins so it can be too rosy to assume all that possession would have been points if execution had worked – that’s when a better defence wins a game.
I mostly agree with all that you’ve said there, but the only difference for me is intent.
Wales seem quite happy to use a strategy where they’ll truck it up. Not executing seems to be from an intent to truck it up constantly. Always runners round the corner. I don’t think Biggar has the ability (especially without another playmaker around) to do all that much damage outside of that.
Whilst England have been equally poor at executing overlaps, it doesn’t look (to me) as though it is for a lack of intent. More a lack of skills/understanding which can be developed. Yes Vunipola is being used heavily, but England used several attacking scrums in Irish territory to launch attacks with their backs when I believe Wales wouldn’t have done that , either Fale would have picked or off the base straight to Roberts.
None of that means that England are more likely to win next week mind you. If we continue to execute skills poorly and Wales dominate the breakdown, I expect to see us lose.
I was screaming at the telly for Vunipola to pick one of those scrums up from the base. The way he was playing he would have carried three men over the line.
England are being let down by their accuracy, but I think that the Brown try is an example of how they want to play
A couple of runs up the blindside to tie in defenders and open up the pitch. Quick ball from the breakdown, spread wide rapidly by first Ford then Farrell, leaving Brown and Nowell wide open to finish it off
It did show the benefit of having 2 playmakers in the back line.
Completely agree Pablito. The difference between England and Wales is exactly that. We appear to be trucking it up with the intent to then spread play. Wales appear to be trucking it up just to truck it up again.
Well now that Brighty has appointed me the sole representative for all England fans, I’d better clarify.
Quote 1 was written after a few much happy juice on Saturday evening, however insert the words “if” and “could” into the statement, then yes I stand by it.
Quote 2: again, yes I do believe that England has the POTENTIAL to win big. We may not, but my reasons for being hopeful (something those who have read my posts over the past 4 years cannot usually accuse me of being) are as follows:
1) I think England are making big strides in each game and another 2 weeks in camp will hopefully help us cut out some of the unforced errors
2) Our defence has been excellent, and I think Wales’s attack has been quite predictable
3) We’re at home and Wales tend not to play that well at Twickenham. Yes they beat us in 08/ 12 and at the world cup, but I would hardly say they great performances (great wins/ results yes).
4) For once Wales may not own the “passion” stakes. Given the ignominy of being beaten by Wales in our own world cup, I imagine and actually expect England to be REALLY up for this. No doubt Jones will be using this for extra motivation
However England need to cut down the penalties. Most people on here seem to blame both the tactics and selection for our world cup loss, but indiscipline was just as important. Penalties will be given away, but senseless penalties near the half way line really killed England, not just in the world cup, but also in the last 6n at Twickenham. By rights we should have beaten Wales well that day, but kept giving Halfpenny opportunities to keep the score close. Same too with Biggar in the world cup. This is the number one area of concern for me, and I hope we can improve.
After 4 years of inconsistent dross, I am finally excited about England and can see signs of progression and hope for the future. Sorry Brighty if that offends delicate flowers and fans from other teams, but I am entitled to my opinion, just as you are to disagree. Taking 2 posts out of context from one person to insinuate that England fans are losing the plot and expecting a big England win, is frankly the kind of pathetic, chippy response I expect from people like Enoch.
Yeah, sure – “a big win is on the cards” I’m quoting from the papers about another England/Wales fixture a couple of months back. Bring on the Great SAM BURGESS – oh hang on,. he’s gone; ok, bring on the Great MANU TUALAGI, he’ll do. All this stuff about having the same centre partnership for more than two games in succession is just nonsense, isn’t it 😉
Just watched it wotpout sound. The only think I can think is that he didn’t give it for a double movement. But it seems clear that he wasn’t held in the tackle. Bit of a poor decision.
That Sam Davies lad looks pretty decent Brighty
England Wales will be v close and probably a bit of a slugfest. Don’t know anyone who thinks England will walk it
yeah it says in the article above it was disallowed for a double movement… which it clearly wasn’t as he was not held
He does look very good Pablito – has leapfrogged Patch (I find it painful to say this) into contention for the seniors and for me he should have been in the squad ahead of Anscombe. However, he is now getting a rare run of games with the Os so perhaps the best for him and us in the long run (by the way, he is Nigel Davies’ son, the ex-Gloucs/Llanelli/Wales coach).
Yes – given for a double movement but as you say, he wasn’t held so was just bounce down and up so no double… It’s this one that had the WRU chief acknowledging on Twitter that something needs to be done. This was a match changing decision and having impartial refs just takes away any bad feeling that comes from seeing an IRFU employee make a bad decision that helps the IRFU owned province win the match.
Eng v Wal – this is why we watch it. I’ve felt a bit rugby jaded recently – overload after the world cup, euro cups, etc. and actually found myself not overly bothered at the start of this 6 nations, was more annoyed by Cardiff momentum being stopped and further not helped by the low quality rugby. Now though it’s a big one – a probable (I fancy France mind to have a say in Paris in the last game, just because that’s their way) champ/slam decider and I can feel the excitement coming back. Even if it is a slugfest it should be a top quality one given the sluggers on both sides. Loads of subplots – the south sea cousins against each other in the backrow, Mike Brown and his temper, will JD2 pass a ball instead of kicking it, will Cuthbert ever look like a rugby player again, Marler and his sideways scrummaging, Gethin binding on the arm, two coaches with big mouths trying to keep themselves quiet, Farrel picking fights with Warburton … perfect.
Totally agree with the absurdity of having IRFU refs adjudicating games which involve Irish provinces!
Thanks for the injection of excitement re Wales England!
Surprised that Haskell got villain of the weekend – I wholeheartedly nominate that ‘gobshite’ Mike Brown.
Hear, hear!
Villain of the week …. Mike Brown, how the TMO could call that accidental is beyond me, worth a yellow card minimum, nobody could persuade me he didn’t mean it.
Couple of Welsh guys put in great performances in the Pro 12, Patchell never put a foot wrong & ran the game & James Davies for the Scarlets was terrific & thats his first game back after 12 weeks out. Both should be well on Gatlands radar.
Have to agree with Brighty on the refs issue, so many times I have seen Irish refs in particular be more than fair to Irish teams in the Pro 12 ….. on the other hand I hate to see Nigel Owen reffing in a Welsh match, he seems to be so worried about apperaring biased he actually ends up biased against the Welsh team !!.
Agree with putting Itoje at 6 instead of Robshaw for the Wales game! That would speed up england ball hopefully and give a heavier scrum to boot (EJ did say he wanted a dominant pack)
The Wade to wing idea mentioned on here with Watson reverting to 15 I’d definitely be in favour of. That would be a back four to terrify even the AB’s let alone Wales!
Bring it on!
PLEASE GOD DON’T LET US LOSE TO WALES AGAINNNNNNN!
That’s what the England boys are thinking, let Eddie the Oz say what he likes! They will be pooing their pants – but it’s a big test of character, and if they come through will deserve massive credit (as well as grand slam!)