Comments on: Farrell, Burgess, Barritt: Lancaster’s dream midfield gets its chance

By: Toby Goodman (@Damage_13)

Toby Goodman (@Damage_13) — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 10:32:29 +0000

JRWC winner, key playmaker for the Chiefs in the premiership..inexperienced..? really. I don’t think so

By: brighty

brighty — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 10:17:29 +0000

Still need that “like” button.

By: Leon

Leon — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 10:14:55 +0000

Throw Slade in over Barritt and all of a sudden it looks like a good back line
To use the cutley analogy above
Slade the Knife, Burgess the spoon and Farrell the spork
Instead we have a spork and two spoons and Wales are not made of soup

By: Anarky

Anarky — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 07:06:29 +0000

Personally I think it’s a big ask for Burgess to be 100% in his positioning for 60-80mins. He’s up against 2 seasoned internationals, in what? his 4th or 5th game?

Burgess/Barritt will also be the first time they’ve played together… 4 or 5 phases in to a defensive set, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some positional mistakes. I’m not sure the Wales centres will have to come over ‘all Australia’ to exploit them.

Having said all that, I think the bosh v bosh will, for the most part cancel each other out, and that it’ll be decided in the forwards. England’s haven’t been setting the world on fire of late, and the Welsh are made of glass.

Latest from BBC – Jarvis is fine. Lee and James still being monitored, with Lee slightly ahead of James. They can delay sending home/calling up until 24hrs before kick off.

It seems likely then that the starting pack for Wales is going to be Melon/Baldwin/Francis AWJ/Charteris Lydiate/Faletau/Warburton

By: teecee

teecee — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 23:53:46 +0000

The word is similar to cunning…………………………………….!

By: teecee

teecee — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 23:50:01 +0000

For once Enoch,I agree with you. Don’t underestimate the number of England fans who would love to say “adios” to Lancaster.

By: teecee

teecee — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 23:42:09 +0000

Absolutely and utterly agree Benjit . Only Lancaster could consider this combo a dream midfield.Safety,safety ,safety with a little bit of nepotism/cronyism thrown in for good measure.

It all comes back to his selection policy and his personality,(one mirroring the other obviously.) I despair I really do. OK,so there’s a reasonable chance that Roberts will be nullified but after that what? Burgess will inevitably get caught out of position at some point,Barritt will bring no attacking spark, and no kicking game,Slade will be wondering why he wasn’t trusted to do a job and Ford will be suffering a crisis of confidence.

Please Lancaster,whenthis sorry debacle of a world cup (for England) is over, leave and take your second rate coaching staff with you.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 22:30:45 +0000

Apparently Morgan is unfit so Haskell comes into the bench with BV starting…

By: Benjit

Benjit — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 22:16:37 +0000

Goode on the bench is because of a lack of back three cover in the 23. With Joseph you had wing cover. Of course you could have Nowell (covers wings, fb and 13) and Slade (covers 10,12,13), but neither fit the bill (don’t play for Sarries, aren’t northern,,ex league or played for Stu at Leeds).

By: Benjit

Benjit — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 22:12:56 +0000

If only. If anyone will be called up it will be Burrell. Northern. Played league. Coached by Stu at Leeds and for the Saxons. I was staggered that Slade got in ahead of him tbh.

By: Benjit

Benjit — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 22:09:49 +0000

Credit in the bank. Although it appears easier to open an account at the Bank of Lancaster for some.

By: Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 19:47:05 +0000

Sometimes when I watch I wonder if they are trying to play North through the middle or if he get’s frustrated and throws himself in, he is the sort of player who wants the ball and wants to push the line whether its a run of 10m through the middle of the full length on the wing, he wants to get involved.

Whilst we can all see this isn’t an ideal English lineup, we all know it’s not going to be an ideal Wales lineup either, odds are we will be setting up to counter specific threats both ways to keep it a close game, but at the same time doing that creates openings, you have to plan for any eventuality whilst preparing for the most likely. I would imagine the players we haven’t seen much of will be the most impressive in the game.