Rate the match between England and Wales in the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham, and leave your thoughts on the game in the comments section below.
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Rate the match: England vs Wales, RWC 2015
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I haven’t laughed so much in a long time. England what a bunch of arses!
DDD
” Stille nie Aran! ”
Die verkeerde regmaak – veg vir geregtigheid – KAAPOW!
Spoken in the true spirit of rugby you knob.
Stop trolling. Go to a game and express these sentiments (and others you post) and see how you get on.
seriously just piss off, england were much the better side but some stupid penalties and terrible captain decisions cost us, congratulations to wales even though i dunno how they are gonna fare now with virtually they’re whole back line being injured.
lets just congratulate both teams on a decent match, and stop having pricks like u comment on how we deserve to lose, which is becoming so tedious now
Hey dumbass – You deserved to win – I never said you didn’t – you shot yourselves in the foot. That’s what I found so funny.
DDD
” Stille nie Aran! ”
Die verkeerde regmaak – veg vir geregtigheid – KAAPOW!
No excuses from me. Wales passion and character incredible. There are no words. One inconsolable Englishman crying in his beer.
Engand lost at the breakdown, Robshaw is not good enough as openside flanker. Tom wood should be openside and Robshaw on the blindside. he is not the best opensid in england, wood and armitage are bye a mile better
Well done Wales. What a response.
Lancaster. I have said for the last 3 years he is is joke. King of the nearly men. He should resign. England will be honest losers under him. No more.
I feel very low. Gloat all you want DDD. Your a c*nt.
B
I might be a cunt but I’m an honest cunt. You threw it away with unnecessary replacements. Then had a brain fart………….
DDD
” Stille nie Aran! ”
Die verkeerde regmaak – veg vir geregtigheid – KAAPOW!
Yes we threw it away. No need to act like an arse.
I look fwd to Irelands loss to France. And another quarter final exit .
F*ck you.
And I’ve no problem with you looking forward to Ireland losing- it’s your prerogative. I just won’t go whinging about it.
DDD
” Stille nie Aran! ”
Die verkeerde regmaak – veg vir geregtigheid – KAAPOW!
“Wait Long By The River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By”
DDD
” Stille nie Aran! ”
Die verkeerde regmaak – veg vir geregtigheid – KAAPOW!
Ding Dong Dickhead, lol.
I find the rating 1’s quite insulting, regardless of result that game was immense.
We had v.close game throughout, first half one way then turn the other, last minute drama, half a dozen injuries that made me think the world cup could be over then rally and hold on.
Just hoping that Australia can succumb to both of us and we can repeat this in the finals :D
Mate I rated it 8, and I’m f*cking crushed.
I rated it 6 for the quality of the rugby (bit disjointed at times) not the result (though as an England fan I am beyond gutted).
Hear hear to both of us beating Australia!
What about the cynical deliberate penalty Wales conceded under their posts knowing we would take the 3 points, instead of the 7 we were looking like taking which would have put us on 29!!! No-one notices that.
it happens mark. it happened in march when england did the same thing to ireland in the early stages of the game. no yellow card. if you do it right you can get away with it
You still had a chance to tie the game and refused it. You had 6 free points from Garces with marler driving at 45 degrees as well.
That being said, I thought melon was worth a yellow the. He took one for the team.
Should also add here that I thought the best team lost.. I do love a smash and grab tho!
I have no idea what Gethin was doing there. We had that under control. The ruck was slow, England were having a good long think about what to do, then he dives in. It wasn’t a cynical “give away 3 pts to stop 7” as the 7 had not been won. It was just daft from Gethin. However, he did win the penalty that sealed the match.
On the subject of penalties … Been hearing and reading a lot about how England ground penalties out of Wales but then gave away penalties to Wales. Sort of a one sided way of looking at it, surely? I thought our breakdown performance was immense, England were desperate and we forced pens out of those situations. Our scrum however was a barely walking disaster so England forced pens out of us. The difference is that we then decided to play a game with as few scrums as poss but England couldn’t stop there being a breakdown.
So I guess in a roundabout way I am not convinced England were the best or dominant team. The stats from the match are fairly balanced. The scores at the end are extremely close. England had the first half we had the second. Yes, any team 10 pts up with 15 to go would expect to win a match like that but we took it to them and pulled a win out of it through sheer heart and determination and I genuinely think what looked like superior fitness in the last quarter.
Too many errors, too disjointed, too much enthusiasm rather than intelligence. England at their frustrating worst.
Taking the last five minutes – the decision not to kick for points was stupid. The decision to then throw the line-out to the first man was stupid as it meant being pushed out was inevitable.
Credit to Wales, they did amazingly. The Fiji game will be interesting with a weakened team. And Australia then await.
For England it’s a nightmare. No other way to describe it.
The defeat doesn’t really hurt that bad. I think we are one step closer to getting rid of Lancaster. I am not going to blame Ford for the line out but why did robshaw call for it. It should’ve gone down to the middle not the front.
Well done Wales showed a lot of character to come back in the 2nd half. England were terrible can we forget about the Farrell Burgess experiment. What must Ford and Slade be thinking we would have been out of sight at half time had they been playing
Here here. We needed sound heads . Lancaster and Robshaw are potato heads.
Not quite sure what to type really. AS an England fan I’m bloody furious at the debacle of the last quarter. As a rugby fan I have to say what a game! Firstly,well done Wales. You deserved the win for keeping your heads and Faletau was Immense.
Where do England go from here? Out of the tournament most likely as the pressure on them is absolutely immeasurable now. The bloody annoying thing is we knew this would be a tight game that would be decided by fine margins.
A draw would have sufficed. So what happens? Petulant child Farrell drives us back fifty yards with his customary restraint and then Robshaw has the world’s biggest brain fart, comes over all “death or glory” and Donald ducks it in royal style.
Lancaster has to go after this WC. He has gone as far as his talent will allow. Robshaw proved tonight that he is not an international class captain. Being a jolly decent chap with a heart of oak is all well and good but having a head of oak too knackers the job .
Ahhh, f–k it, I can’t be bothered to carry on right now. BOLLOCKS!
Ironically I thought Burgess provided a solid wall in midfield. The issues for England started when they made the wrong subs at the wrong time. And the injuries to Wales forced North to 13 – suddenly two big men running at a smaller one… Brown’s temper got the better of him and Wales stood up to be counted. Fabulous display of backs against the wall mentality. The exact reverse of Cardiff in the spring.
Feels good to be Welsh. .. at least until Fiji take advantage of our 3rd string team on Thursday.
Absolutely crushed, we threw it all away. We were in control before the substitutions. Moments of madness.
Why should we be surprised. Under Lancaster we have been nearly men, nothing more. Some of us realised this, but hoped we were wrong.
Whiskey is my friend tonight.
Apologies for some iffy posts from . now on.
Anyone want to offer suggestions as to who might replace Lancaster? Come the 6N I hope.
Could we poach Joe Schmidt?
Mike Ford? He promotes a positive, attacking brand of rugby that many England fans crave.
He’s also yet to be successful. Can we please have a head coach with a proven track record.
Surely it’s time to pop off to see Eddie Jones with a blank cheque in hand?
Looking at the other international coaches available most of them are available because they have already failed with another team.
So assuming that we want a English coach with a track record of doing well with the resources available to them then the list would include
Rob Baxter – Has done wonders at the Chiefs
Jim Mallinder – Took Saints from Championship to premiership champions in 7 seasons
Mike Ford – Heading up the exciting revolution in playing style at Bath
None of these has a truly proven track record though
Looking at other club coaches at the top of their game you have
Mark McCall – Very effective playing style at Sarries has won the league twice
Gregor Townsend – Made Glasgow into title contenders and finally took the pro 12 title last term
Jamie Joseph – Took the highlanders to the super rugby title
Chris Boyd – Coach of the Hurricanes loosing finalist in super rugby
What a game!
Cannot believe that Eng went for the corner and then threw to the front, odds are always that you get bundled into touch.
Surely quick ball off the middle or back to stretch the welsh substitute backs was the right call…
Unbelievable effort from the team in red, bravo Wales.
Fiji is going to be tough, cant wait for Eng v Oz…..
Get hooky in!
Rob Baxter
Re the game. Bugger. Look up ‘stealing a win’ in the dictionary now and there will be a pic of Wales scoring their try.
BTW who was at fault there?
Some questions
1. Can someone please explain the logic of taking Burgess off and putting Ford on?
2. Was Ben Youngs injured?
3. Why did we consistently kick off long when it was clear Faletau was playing well?
4. Forgetting for a moment whether or not we should have taken the penalty, why did we a. throw short and b. try to maul it when Wales were in disarray in their backs through injury and our back 3 was looking pretty dangerous?
5. What was the point of A Goode on the bench?
On the plus side I thought Burgess, Youngs and Vunipola were very good. Shane they all came off
Very much hoping the Welsh injuries aren’t serious, although they looked it. If they are, who on earth will that put out for their next couple of games??
And finally. Well done Wales
Hi Pablito.
1 No. 2.Maybe. 3.Because we’ve been doing it for the last four years. 5.A Good question.
Baxter should certainly be considered ,as should a couple more of his Exeter players.
Anyone else want to offer a name or two?
Gutted. Inconsolable. Well done Wales. England threw it away.
brilliant game that most english will not admit , as not what they expected , Done a good job of kicking us out though regardesss, i cant see waes beatin fuji wiv a second string or going further if we quaify , england got no chance v aus , same for waes So may come to bon pts
Forgot another question. What is the point of Lawes if he isn’t contesting restarts or constantly keeping the opposition fly half under pressure? He’s mediocre in the lineout, doesn’t clear rucks well, doesn’t carry the ball and is too light to be locking Dan Cole
Dave Attwood should be there
cant beat a Welsh second string at twickers ! , Wales got no chance with half the 1st team out , but omg that win was sweet , weve all had a guts full of the pro england tv campaign , as usual , pride comes before a fall , …when will england ever learn ? ,…shut up and play the game !, reap what you sow , love it , … so prejudice if you got freeview , deserved a beating for mouthing off as usual
I’m now actually a Wales fan. I get them now. The heart, the Welsh rugby tradition is real. I love their character. My second favourite team in the world after my own Ireland.
Some of the subs could not be helped T.Youngs cramping all over the field, B Youngs crocked or nearly crocked, Lawes Crocked.
Wiggleworth was terrible, slow to ruck encourages other team to counter ruck, also during that try wiggleworth showed how slow he was being outran by the other 9 when he was miles ahead.
Watson no idea what he was doing going to sleep which lead to that try, Though barrit & farrell must take blame for that barritt slightly charging out, though nothing barritt could do as the gap is too big, only option would’ve blitz.
And lastly still wonder why we went for a catch and driver, we could’ve gone for diamond formation, we had ford and farrell who can pull that off.
For the Welsh try I’m not sure you can blame a winger when the whole line was a dog leg, it was just poor defensive organisation. If struggling, drift and hold, might concede metres but gaps should close. The worst choice is for two defenders to blitz alone
And Lancaster scapegoating Robshaw is terrible. Reminds me of Freddie Burns being scrapegoated
Wondered when that would get a mention. We learn more in defeat than in success. I think we just found out that Lancaster has a cowardly streak a mile wide. Absolutely astonished that he was so quick to distance himself from what happened. I hope the players have duly noted that . The man is a ioke.
Just on the unnecessary replacements front. They were all injury replacements with the exception of the front row and Ford for Burgess. Really just one dodgy replacement call and I don’t think that was where the game was lost.
Well done Wales. Not sure what back line you can patch together for the rest of the tournament as all 3 injuries looked bad.
Thanks. I wondered cos Youngs looked OK. Hope none of them were serious especially Youngs and BV.
I think you’re wrong about the replacement call though. Farrell was managing the game well, Burgess was solid in defence and always made the gain line in attack (although he needs to be told never to kick the ball). It made no sense to move a fly half playing well into the centre and not only compromise the centres in defense but make them criminally under paced in attack.
It’s no coincidence that the Welsh scored their try almost immediately after that substitution
Also, thunk Watson’s positioning was badly exposed a couple of time. I probably bring in Nowell for aus
Yes Youngs was hobbling all the way through and it was a much earlier switch than the usual choreographed scrumhalf exchange.
I’ll concede that Ford coming on didn’t have a positive effect and there was more Wales front foot ball in midfield.
I just think the game was lost from 3 areas.
1) The infringements we made at the breakdown. The breakdown has been a problem for some time now and while it was at least secure on our own ball this time the discipline on opposition ball was poor. This allowed Wales to stay in the game.
2) That try due to Barritt’s howler in pushing the line up and Watson falling asleep. 2 bad mistakes in defence and good execution by Wales.
3) The lack of clear heads under pressure amongst the ‘leadership group’ demonstrated on those 2 fatal calls to kick for touch and taking it short and the aforementioned decision by Barritt.
12stocks, potential Wales back line for Fiji.
Gareth Davies, Dan Biggar, Jamie Roberts, Tyler Morgan, George North, Alex Cuthbert, Rhys Prietland (full-back – has played there lots). Could go ok. Bench is the problem.
England should have had it won by half time. They were much the better side. But they coasted through the 2nd half & wales got lucky. England can still qualify but I can’t see this Wales side going very far in the tournament.
Yes England were great – what a side! Pretty well the only slight advantage Wales had was better players and superior management. Other than that, just can’t work out how on earth England contrived to lose this one, it’s a mystery. Perhaps the Twickenham factor?
Ha ha. A perfect burn Tali. Well said.
Don’t be silly. All it would have taken was for Robshaw to have pointed at the posts and we’d have probably had a draw. Or for Lloyd Williams not to have been on the pitch or his kick to have bounced slightly differently and Wales would have lost.
As BOD said on ITV today and he looked like he enjoyed saying it – it was absolute daylight robbery.
Stop trying to rewrite history. It was a bloody good win but you still admit that it was England’s game to lose.
Pablito it’s a tail of two halves, Rugby is an 80minute game not a 40minute one. At half time England were ahead, if they played with composure they would likely have won, but they didn’t, they crumbled and Wales took advantage and won it.
Whilst you mention the “bounce” the same can be said for multiple points within the first half, the bounces that led the ball to brown’s feet for example, bounce slightly different and it’s a forward pass and go back for the scrum.
We can all look at games and say “it was x to lose” but well, they lost it. Maybe if they chose post’s they’d have made the kick, maybe he’d have missed. They made a decision and it didn’t work out, when they run on the wing whether they offload or drive it themselves can be the difference between a knock on, a turnover or a try. The game is made up by so many of these decisions, the outcome is just that – the outcome.
Wales kept it close, England game undone, Wales took advantage, that’s all their is too it. If England can’t close the game out, that’s a player problem & a coaching problem – look to fix it, don’t blame the opposition for taking advantage of a weakness!
BOD still hurts from being dropped by Gatland for Lions. That smile was gritted teeth. Gatland looked quite pleased though; can you blame him?
The whole coaching team has to go and we have to start all over again for the 95th time.Get the best experienced coach in the world by paying them a fortune-and not English.Robshaw has to go as well.We sre at best 1of 4 top NH teams.Biggest budget and player base-disgraceful.I have paid my last visit to Twickenham
Journeymen fanboys like you are the problem Hartlequin. England should probably put less emphasis on rugby and have a more solid, reliable core rugby base instead of the likes of you. Robshaw wasn’t wrong to kick for touch, if a try came from it. It was ridiculous that they couldn’t even win their own maul off the lineout and got forced into touch – feeble. England were great in defence but Wales started to get solid line breaks on them in the 2nd half and suddenly they weren’t so confident. Lancaster had no choice in his mind but to distance himself from Robshaw’s call because of the media and people like you Harlequin. This is why people don’t support England as a neutral – this cockiness, sore loser streak, that you have a divine right to beat the other home nations, and nothing is ever good enough for your holier than thou sweet chariot. Give your players and your coach a break and stop being a dick, in all your sports..
Well done on missing the point completely Mitchell. Before we go further,might I enquire as to your nationality?
i cant afford it either !
Great game-had all the tension of a World Cup Final. Looking forward to the Australian games. Fitness seemed to be lacking in the England camp-too many weights? Wales looked strong in the final fifteen minutes.
Magic smash and grab. Always close bar the stupid defensive error for the English try but I didn’t actually think we’d do it. We don’t do things like this. We have them done to us, mostly by the Aussies. Every single Welsh player stood up and went forward, hard yards. Stinking, stinking hangover right now but still have the biggest grin on my face. What a night.
England subs looked crazy, if they were not forced then SL is a pillock. As soon as Wigglesworth came on I thought we had a chance. Couldn’t believe all of the luck handed to us by England – Ford on but for Burgess? Throwing to the front for a drive when we have Charteris on?
Legends Wales.
When the fog clears I’ll start cleaning my boots. Unlikely we will get a strong team together for the rest of this comp but we went out with a hell of a bang.
Don’t be so pessimistic brighty. You won…Fiji next will be challenging but it’s yours to lose really.
For a neutral a great game! Why England never kicked penalty is beyond me and then to throw to front of line out was just stupid!Well done Wales!
I’m not completely sure what happened. It was mad, completely mad. I had my head in my hands when they kicked for a lineout and not the posts.
My first contribution here. I do wonder at the fickle English supporters. Had “that” last line out succeeded, ie driven the Welsh forwards off the ball ( which incidentally England had managed at least three times during the game) the headlines and the posts here would have been so very very different. Robshaw would be hailed a national hero, a man of steadfast courage under fire….. The intent was great the execution weak, there is immense talent in this England team and when not “if” the execution and intent finally phase together, watch out!!!! Next Saturday we will carry these guys on shoulders high as proclaimed heroes. Get behind the team.
No Steve, as I said to the bloke sitting next to me – this is only a good idea if we score a try, otherwise it’s a disaster. Too much riding on the game. It’s not like Japan, who were (a) on the ascendancy and (b) had nothing to lose really. Will still be watching and supporting next week but p+++ed off that we lost a game that we should have won, and then had a chance to draw, which I think would have been enough to qualify. That’s after all the requirement out of this group.
Hi Steve. Given that you are new to the site I’d reserve judgement on how fickle England fans are TBH. Stick around and you’ll find that disenchantment with SL, Robshaw, stupid decisions,and a whole host of other things have been concerning us for a long while now.
Nice to have you on board though.
I really think SL takes the blame for this with his substitutions – the Ford for Burgess change cost us the game I think and was un-necessary. I can only assume he was trying to stop Wales getting the BP by scoring again, but all he did was weaken the team in the only area Wales remained strong!
Thought the decision to take line out was poor, 1st priority was not to lose at that point and they had to level the scores up before going for a last minute effort.
Have to comment on Burgess – thought he played well and did what he was there to do. i actually think he should start against Uruguay again but with JJ out for Aus too I wonder what SL will do next week…Slade is the ginger step kid it seems so guess he might go with same again?
Lastly, well done Wales but not sure you have enough players left to go past quarters.
Stupidity cost England the game. Stupid infringements, stupid decisions; throwing to the front of the line, seriously? At international level I’m afraid that’s beyond stupid. The Welsh back line was decimated, surely the plan should have been to go wide. The character of the whole Welsh team tho was epic.
We now have a World Cup final against the Auz…..If…..if, we can stop the indiscipline, it’s winnable. Do I think we can, at the moment no, but who’d of thought we could reach a final after getting thumped 36-0 against the Boks? The Fiji game for Wales is going to tough too, and who knows, the Auz lost bonus point against Fiji might just come back to haunt them….
Firstly gentlemen, and I am using the term with tongue-in-cheek, this a blog age and not a vehicle to so that you have a limited vocabulary. As a game it had every and more and regardless of the score it was a 10. I have managed to watch the match a second time and England were, imo, the better side tactically. Woeful kicking by Wales letting brown and co to run back back into unoccupied space. England should have won this game and perhaps that’s were the problem lies, Wales believed and wanted it, and did it, England expected to win. As a very happy Welshman I am about too watch it again. As a foot note I really want England to smash Australia and see England and Wales go through to the quarter finals and beyond.
Decided now that I’ve slept on it, and reflected I would come back with some thoughts. For all of the prematch and post announcement talk we have heard how Wales were definitely going out in the group of Death, how England would win the world cup. This happens continually and whilst I got no problem with supporters supporting your team n all I think it’s about time everyone excepts these teams are balanced.
We have different strengths and weaknesses but on the day either one can win, their is no point saying Wales are so much greater or England are so much better, look at the IRB rankings, we sit next to each other almost constantly, their isn’t a huge gap their. I don’t know the math but when it updates I think we may switch and Wales go 3rd England 4th but we’ll always be within 2slots of each other (atleast for the current squads career time).
People have jumped on Lancaster but seriously, his plan worked for 40minutes, discipline is what hurt y’all in the end, and that is often down to player temperament, when all the injuries kicked in Wales stepped forward instead of stepping off and that probably took the lads by surprise, which with tiring bodies has impact. As was posted above, if England’s lineout worked and they fell over the try line they would be getting hailed as heroes. They took a shot and backed themselves, it didn’t come off but sometimes that happens. They put it all out there though give them credit for that.
I know Gatland has been with Wales for 8years now but he has shown he can handle the big game and make the calls, the fact he is delivering with an injury infested squad is extremely impressive. In the event we go out in the group I wont lose any faith and hope he signs another 4year contract. If you look at the pure number of injuries we have around 8, many would be first stringers (or rotation based on opponent) so if he pulls us out of this group which is still a big ask, he deserves all the credit in the world for it. He said many years ago to rate him on this world cup, already he has shown his talent.
I think a lot of that ‘England are going to win and Wales are going out’ comes from a section of the English media that doesn’t know what they’re talking about and know a bit of jingoism sells papers. The considered fan who knows their rugby knows that there’s very little between 2 in the world and 8 in the world and everyone in between. In particular England, Wales and Ireland are very close to each other.
Well said Twelvestocks. As stated in other posts over the last couple of days – it’s not right to judge the rest of us on the basis of the “lunatic fringe” of journalism.
The English need to address that. Guess who I’ll be supporting in the Aus Eng game. Aus! I love sensational news for one. and 2, I just can’t support these England fans that attack their coach and players at every chance. Never really not humble in defeat, not in reality at least. They’re all screaming bloody murder already when what they need is to leave the team alone and let them regroup. It’s about the players and I like that England team. They deserve better than the shit demanding English fans, that are only there for the good times and always ready to pounce on their players. They have too many of those fans.
Mitchell
I and many other long term English supporters have suffered many false dawns and hot air coming out of the English camp as they consistently over promise and underdeliver.SL has won nothing in 3 1/2 years and last night was another example of failure.He’s done a lot culture wise and is a very decent man as is Robshaw(same club as me) but neither is world class and need replacing in due course.We are very very proud English supporters who desparately want to feel proud of our team but winning is the object and we are not very good at that.
Mitchell,I can only assume you are new to the game. Fine but perhaps YOU ought to display a little humility instead of telling us all how we should and shouldn’t react.
If you were an England supporter you would understand the frustrations being expressed here are long standing ones stemming from repeated stupidity/incompetence and naivety.
No one is pissed off that England lost per se, it’s the manner of the defeat that is galling to we “Shitty England fans ” Thanks for that. Now P–s off.
can’t agree there , i don’t kno what it is with the English , they like to build themselves up to the heavens be it soccer or rugby , they actually belive the hype the media feed them leading to the famous English arrogance we all kno too well , it will never change , the fact england are the biggest rugby playing nation on earth they have little to be proud of results wise, Ok they are past WC winners , and so they should be , but can you imagine if Wales were 55 million strong with the same resources as England ? , we would be up there with the AB/SA , where as England have beaten Wales only 1 more time in the 100+ meetings , they lack pride, passion and identity , the arrogance factor doesn’t help their cause either , they only seem to win something if Wales are having a bad time of things like the introduction of profesnalism , took Wales an era to adjust , England were already being paid well before hand , if we fail to qualify it will be down to the fact that we dont have strength in depth like England ,nz,sa,aus ,, the proof is in the pudding ,…any successful lions side would have failed if you take the Welsh out of the equasion , and woodward mouthing off about gatland ? at least gatland won a lions series , i expect if he was England coach the result would have been a different one yesterday !
Christ. The only arrogance here is coming from you Osiboy.
Amazing how all these new commenters appear when England lose isn’t it?
Unless it’s just Enoch with different user names…
No Pablito this is someone other than I.
I have been hung over all day and incapable of leaving my bed until the very late afternoon.
Still I am going to get my copy of House Of Lancaster-they’ll be going quite cheaply now
‘Stuart Lancaster – former burger-flipper, PE teacher and the novice Saxons coach – was tasked with turning a failing team around.
The transformation was astounding. Now Lancaster’s side has the work ethic, humility and resolve to compare with that World Cup-winning team. Much of this is down to their coach, but with so little international experience, how did he bring about this renewal?
Part biography, part examination of leadership, The House of Lancaster pulls apart the England rugby machine and looks at how it has been put together. Filled with exclusive interviews from the leading protagonists, players and coaches, as well as containing unprecedented access to Lancaster’s methods, The House of Lancaster shows how the vision, personality and leaderships skills of one driven man can turn a team into genuine world-beaters.’
Now there is arrogance for you in the description of England as Scottsih Stu’s side World beaters. He has not won anything of note….ever in 4 years.
And the pub I was in cheered, and sang where you can stick the F+++++g chariot long into the night.
As Osiboy says it is the way the media behave that explains why so many non-English people always always want England to lose.
This week the anti-Welsh coverage will all be about Fiji 2007 RWC Wales went out blah blah yes and within a few months of that won the 2008 GS but that gets airbrushed from history. Notice how the BBC said nothing about the game on the late news.
Nice to see the LITTLE BROTHER putting the big brother in HIS place as one of YOUR England internationals said.
Sam……Sam who????
Stu…..Stu who????
I was very proud of the lions win and supported it whole heartedly. However, that aus side was nothing against 05 nz.
Arrogance? I don’t see any England fans claiming the lions would lose without us.
And if you think the lions come down to the individual talent of one nation you don’t understand rugby. You could take any two of the four nations and you’d have more than enough talent. It is about. Gelling, bonding and learning to play together.
I think we can all be glad the players aren’t like you or we’d never win a lions tour!
Losing at home in a WC means you’ll take around 2.6 off of us. You’re now breathing down Australia’s neck for 2nd whilst we’ve dropped to 6th factoring in SA’s drubbing of Samoa, which will gain them around 1.5 points.
We now have to beat the 2nd best team in the world, the current SH 4N Champions, most of which will have had a 2 weeks break from the Fiji game to avoid embarrassment.
In the cold light of more sober day, I fear that neither England nor Wales will make it beyond quarter finals. England because we’re just not good enough and Wales because of their horrendous injury list. What’s the odds on Hooky telling Gatland to bugger off when he calls? Not convinced that win was down to Gatland, as I think it was due to the Welsh players hearts and nothing more. Oh well let’s hope Aus fall apart and we both qualify.
Hook will accept the call, and it’s likely to be made. I’m not sure on the injuries yet but it sounds as though Liam is ok, he posted on twitter he’s alright just a saw head so possibly just concussion tests n stuff, Amos could be anything with his arm from minor to major, so holding my breathe, Scott looks more serious but we have less pacy cover so change of plan maybe.
Anyone else think we need an “injury tracker” just 1 website dedicated to injury news, save us having to hunt the interest all day to find out?
We need to ‘clone’ scot wiliams , hes become a world class center , his tackling, passing and pace is immense , i cant see Jon Davies gettin his place back if scott is fit , he really makes wales tick imo , a HUGE loss to Wales , all the injuries are such a shame , WHY NOW !? , It has to be hooky surely , hope the give mighty mouse mathews a second half v fiji , the wee guys a magician , only other guy i can think of is steve shingler , what was all the argument over the shinglers for if they just get ignored ?
Wales need two injury replacements. Hook must be in and I have heard Hensons name bandied about in the press.
Staggy, England & Wales will not both make the quarter finals lol
Van Dieman as far as I am aware, we both can make the quarters if we both beat Aus, however if we do and in our case that is a big if, we won’t make it further. However I’d like a rematch in the final if possible!
This is not being traitorous by the way, merely realistic. If you look at our starters, how many are even in the conversation for a World 15. Less than most other top 6 or 7 teams. This is why I have generally been a supporter of SL, more so than most others on here. He has had us punching above our weight in my opinion. Why are we not producing world class players given our playing resources? No idea, but probably down to coaching somewhere along the line. Maybe it is SL. Will review after the tournament – I have always said judge him on this and will continue to do so until we’re out or we’ve won.
I think we’re still feeling the effects of the 2004-2010 black hole. There are a lot of players coming through with world class potential, they just need to be given time and chance for development.
Through the junior world cup wins and finals there is real talent.
Same old problem positions though- 7 and 9.
Whilst it was an exciting game we are constantly disappointed with England’s concentration on trying to thump and lump their way to the try line when they do not have a first class pack. There is also no point in having fast wings if you have a midfield that cannot get the ball out to them quickly. The game was only exciting because England made such a mess of it by incompetently conceding penalty after penalty. A penalty in your own half is a gift of three points to your opponents. Contrast the masterly virtuosity of Cipriani’s orchestrated symphony of rugby against the Barbarians with last night’s stolid incompetence. Then we have to say again Lancaster does not like talent and virtuosity. He should go if we loose against Australia.
I don’t disagree with your points about conceding stupid penalties – stand up Dan Cole – but it’s lunacy to compare a Barbarians game with a key World Cup game against extremely well trained and drilled opponents
i have to agree with Simon tho , i would prefer to play an england with farrell than Cipriani all day , hes a rare talent
Well done Wales.
It is often said games are won or lost up front. I believe games are won or lost up top. The top two inches cost england the game, poor decisions and poor discipline.
Robshaw has to go, he is not bright enough to be captain. IMO Parling for captain, midfield of Burgess / Slade, Goode to be injured and Cipriani (harsh for Goode as I am probably only one of a handful of people who rate him, prior to the tournament I would have binned May but he has impressed me) to be called up for a place on the bench, ditto for Haskell and call up Armitage and put him straight in the team. Too many forwards living up to the tag of being thick. Perhaps they should have a pint of Brains SA for breakfast.
Firstly well done Wales. There play in the final quarter was outstanding. As for England there lack of leadership at key points in the game remains a huge problem as does there lack of a world class open side. Players not selected in the squad leave more questions than answers. SL should have done more to get Armitage back from France. He offers as much if not more to the side than Burgess, who actually had a pretty decent game. Ewers would also offer something to the side which lacks options outside of Morgan and Vinipola as ball carriers. Both look as they are injured. A young forward at Sarries who has all the qualities to play top class international rugby should also be in the squad. Slade should have picked, but SL’s version of Warrenball has to prevail and the only person who must take responsibility is SL. Yes England can beat Australia but whatever the outcome England’s huge pool of rugby players can be coached and selected in a manner that gets better results on the field. SL is always more concerned about stopping the opposition and less about the attacking threats his own players offer.
I hope everyone here is cheering for a good Uruguay performance, we can all pray they win but reality is they could avoid shipping a bonus point if Aus don’t play well
News – According to Shaun Edwards, Scott Williams & Hallam Amos are long term injury concerns, Liam Williams just had to go through concussion protocols, according to this twitter he’s fine just a knock.
Good news about LW – good player, have enjoyed watching him, albeit less so yesterday!
Well done Wales . You took advantage of a side that was in the ascendancy hung in there and deserved your win on spirit alone. Ivor talked about winning teams having a steel and level of south confidence before . England just don’t have it . All the wishing and heart felt support will not change the fact that we had our hands around there throat and took them off. Not their first rodeo. Plenty of players here have played in tight games and got over the line. It’s inexcusable.
These aren’t inept players overnight . There is a psychological weakness in this team that isn’t being addressed-I think its the management. If we do raise our performance level against Australia, we won’t sustain it. We can’t seem to build ans sustain momentum. God help us
I just don’t think this england team and many who have gone before are good enough. Too much time in the gym lifting big weights not enough time honing skills with the ball, too many coaches and I mean throughout the country and at all levels coaching the ability to think for yourself and play what is in front if you out of players. Coaches don’t like gifted players like cipriani, he threatens what they are all about – control freaks with limited horizons.
Trio – good points – I was asking the same question earlier and that is as comprehensive an answer to it as I can see.
Trio – having been on a couple of tours to Eng with my son’s team I couldn’t agree more. The praise we get for being “dancing pixies” when we’re just doing what rugby is – passing – is constant. We often lose because we play massive lads who drive through us up the middle. This works well at junior level but junior level isn’t meant to be about winning games, it’s about getting read to play rugby.
A couple of weekends ago my son’s school won the Rugby League trophy at Wembley. We don’t even play rugby league, just had a lash this year to have a go at this tournament. Trounced proper RL schools, huge win at Wembley as the pitch gave us all the space we need to just outpass and outrun the monstrously direct kids we were playing against.
Ironically, as many have pointed out, Wales play more of a direct game than our development sets us up for (I’d like to see more width) but when it came down to it we had the ball skills throughout the backs to cope with the carnage. Obviously way, way too simplistic to draw any conclusions from just 1 match but to me it seems like a trend – SL reverted to Eng type on Sat night and there is a long history of weights and gyms being the Eng training pitch.
I would hope that SL has learnt to pick a team to win, instead of picking a team not to lose, but I suspect Barritt will still be there despite another poor performance. Burgess and Slade put in the best performance out of the 5 or so combinations tired thus far. I am not holding my breath on that though. I would also drop Cole, as he seems incapable of not giving away stupid penalties, although not alone on that front he seems to be the most persistent.
In the sober light of day, am wondering if this is a blessing in disguise. Surely the coaching teams’ ineptitude cannot be ignored.
Barritt’s one proper talent, his tackling, is negated at 13 because he’s too slow. He’s fine at 12 tackling forwards and big inside centres, on the outside though he is consistently exposed for pace
Added to that his inability to distribute to a plainly dangerous back three and you have to question the thinking that saw him selected there.
If he’s played at 13 against Aus, we will be ripped apart time and time again
You have to get over this. When Wales pushed England into touch, they didn’t just push the team into touch. They pushed that button. The “England aren’t allowed to lose to Wales” illogical button that nothing good can come from. Grow up and get behind your team England…
Wow Mitchell. You win today’s prize for the most pointless comment
Shall we assume that good ol’ bomber will have learned next to nowt from this? Then we aren’t going to be disappointed come next Saturday. Just to add some more lustre to the day, the aussies got a bonus point and a hatful against Uruguay.
For what it’s worth Benjit, injuries permitting, my team for nxt wk: Brown, Watson,May,Barritt,Slade, Wilson, T youngs,Marler, Robshaw, BV,Wood, Kruis, Parling. I love JL but he’s not fit for the full 80 and neither is Lawes now presumably. Cole shot his bolt last night and Slade is in because we need some brains and craft in the backline.
Keep the faith mate. SL might be out of a job come November!!
I honestly wouldn’t have Barrit anywhere near the team. Would rather have Burgess and Slade. At least it’s been tried and relatively successful. Another new untried centre partnership? No thanks.
I really hope you are right and that this inept coaching team is given the boot. Only in England, 4 years out from a home world cup would an untried untested, inexperienced manager be given the top job. I said it was lunacy 4 years ago and see nothing to change my mind.
Firstly well played Wales, I hate losing to you but you deserved the victory so well played.
Secondly its such a hugely frustrating game to lose because much of it the selections were vindicated, I thought Farrell was top notch and Burgess got involved a lot also. momentum seemed to shift when Youngs and Vunipola came off injured. That shouldn’t be an excuse though, Wales had far more injuries before the game and some during the game to key players also, and the bench was outstanding for England against Fiji. Biggar was brilliant, and a deserved man of the match, first time iv watched him and thought he was the real deal.
Where do England go from here? As someone pointed out, we may beat Australia, though I wouldn’t count on it, but well probably play a terrible game somewhere along the way, later in the tournamant. Our scrum looked great, linnet good, breakdown was good for large parts of the game, where did it go wrong? still scratching my head at that one. Switched off again, this time for 25 minutes, but that doesn’t take away the fact that Wales really came to life in the second half also.
As for Wales, It would be really harsh if Wales weren’t to qualify from this group just because of your injury crises, well see how you go against Fiji and Aus, but Il be supporting you.
Still in shock.
Nice post Banastre, i cant see wales or england beating oz , question for Wales is can they beat fiji with a second string backline , if we do were thru but cant see wales progressin any further , this is the worst injury crisis in welsh history , sad cos i recon we could av made the final with a full team now that england have been put to the sword
Nice trolling Osiboy! Good to see you making a positive contribution to the site
Just got home & still haven’t watched the game again so some of my comments are emotion based.
1. It was a fantastic spectacle to watch.
2. England threw it away with poor discipline – the coach cannot be blamed for this. All he can do is drop the worst offenders from the first 2 games, Coles and Barritt I hope he does impose those changes. Without the ill discipline we would have won at a canter.
3. England fans should get real, we have a good side who could do better & hindsight is a wonderful thing. I thought the call for a lineout was surprising, the call to go to the front was poor & quick ball taken off the top would have prevented the Wales rush which I need to see again as I thought it was illegal (sore loser)
4. Replacements are made based on what the coach is told and what he sees, we as fans have no idea what was the actual reason for X replacing Y so stop inventing crap.
5 Just applaud Wales for a fabulous win.
6. Move on this group is still wide open, Wales have 2 extremely hard games they would do well to win, same for Australia & England only have 1. The permutations are endless & only 1 is certain win the next 2 and you are through no matter which team you support so you could say England have the easier finish so some optimism is called for.
Your point 6 is key, Col. if Wales beat Fiji and Oz beat England then that’s the group decided. But likely that England will still beat Oz, and (hate to show little faith but…) Oz will likely beat Wales. So for Wales it comes to getting the bonus on Thursday, and as a minimum a losing 2 point bonus a week later. Is that likely? To me, it still seems that England and Australia look to have the greatest chance of progressing. Of course, as I say, it could be all settled this time next week… but Fiji will be licking their chops at the thought of charging a tired and injury hit Welsh backlkne.
England lost this game at the break down due to not having a pure openside flanker, Wood is by far the better No7, and Armitage is the best english No7. To many penalties at the break down due to Robshaw not doing his job.
What are you smoking? Wood isn’t and never has been a 7.
OMG, just read the first post, not sure how I missed it first time around, what an inbreed, FFS this is a rugby blog, just feck off and troll some where else you absolute tit. I was gutted for 1/2p and Webb when they missed out on their WC dream, as all Rugby fans were, regardless of Nationality, and just so impressed by the Wales resolve……..if only you had a tiny modicum of the character of your team….
Still dumbfounded at the the throw to the front of the line out. Why bring the attacking Ford on and then effectively isolate him from the move….as said somewhere, Robshaw is a captain by his actions, when what you need is a captain to calmly rationalise, seek opinion without prejudice and make the right decision. It’s becoming obvious that what appeared to be naivety is in fact endemic confusion and the constant infringement is mystifying. How can you get to National level, train and and be told time and time again and then stil infringe. Please some one tell me, It drives me nuts. If I was that obstinately stupid I would be sacked with no come back, no recourse, no reprieve. Has no one told them there’s more cameras than loose balls, there’s no hiding, take the yards and not the points for ffs. England’s insane yo yo form indicates a good un is to come but it’s no way to progress in a once in a 4 year tournament, and by god I don’t think I can cope with losing to the Auz as well as Wales in one week……
Burr, that troll is Irish. In no way am I letting anyone forget that. He’s not, I’m afraid to say, a unique example either.
Can’t decide on SL. On the one hand he tried to out Wales the Welsh. Big centres, Warrenball, call it want you want. It’s rare a coach makes such a blatant “it’s not about us, it’s about you” statement in selection. I’ve also been reading about this “Englishness” film. After 30-3 Stu commissioned it as he felt that was the difference Wales had. The pride, the passion. It’s a a terrible idea. We only beat England that day because of some crowd noise and a bit of Hwyl? A patronising idea even. Even if you go along with it, you can’t teach that stuff. It’s about playing rugby for your village team from th age of 7 and knowing a bunch of guys have spent their severance pay to watch you get your first cap. It’s like the old Munster effect. The team is the crowd and the crowd is the team. If rugby is a minority sport by miles in your country then it’s just impossible to duplicate so why try? Play to your own strengths. But SL wants to be Gats and he wants England to be Wales. I think he’d make a great HR manager.
However – it was the narrowest of wins. For me the difference was the cool heads under pressure and that comes down to the preparation so despite what some think I say a huge thanks to Gats for his masterful head coaching job. Those cool heads meant we executed better than England in the last 20. We were fitter and more cohesive.
So with such a narrow loss how can it be a disaster forged by SL? Is it because some expected England, even with a different team, to beat Wales comfortably? Hubris in the extreme if so.
As said by others above – Eng, Ire, Wal, Fra all beat each other regularly. So why such an expectation that SL should do it this time? And if not such an expectation then calling for him to be sacked has no basis. So which is it?
I kind of get all that Englishness thing. It goes back to what he inherited after the 2011 fiasco, the bad behaviour and the apparent lack of pride shown by the players in playing for England. Contrary to the arrogance tag I think a lot of English people get a little embarrassed when it comes to being patriotic about being English. Probably because everyone hates us! I don’t think it’s patronising to Wales. I think he’s saying that there’s something there that Wales do better than us. In top level sport it’s about all the little incremental differences you can make in different areas.
You’re quite right about Wales having cooler heads under pressure. Finding leaders has been a real problem for England over the last 4 years and it’s one reason Barritt and Burgess were in. Robshaw and Wood are both found wanting as leaders. In fact they’re found wanting in several areas and the era of a 6 and a half either side of the scrum has to end.
I think Lancasters controversial midfield selection was vindicated and nobody was picking a much different pack. Tactically no one is complaining and so we’re left with the execution, the error count, and the decisions made on the field. The coaching team can only do so much about this. Lancaster is culpable for one dodgy replacement call, but I don’t think that was the point of difference on the game.
I meant patronising in the sense of pinpointing that as any key difference in the result of that match because it diminishes the simple fact that our players and gameplan were way, way better on that night.
I still don’t get the whole thing about teaching people to have pride in the shirt. He had some old knobs in his squad – simple, sack them and get young hungry lads in. Job done. It’s what Gats did after 07. You don’t need to commission a movie about Englishness. Personally that sort of stuff leaves me cold. All of that self help management goobledygook- lord knows what effect it had on some of the more straightforward guys in the squad. Also, in the pubs I watch these games in and where I work (in England) nobody ever seems to have the slightest reticence to be proud of being English, so I don’t get where this idea that there is some shyness there comes from.
Good call on the subs, I’d forgotten and I actually think he is more to blame because of that Ford for Burgess thing. As soon as that change was made Wales were roaring up the midfield. Stupid, stupid planned substitution. I think my mate hit it on the head – England had a bench to make a difference in a tight game, not to hold on to a ten point lead, but SL made the changes anyway. For those reasons I can now understand the clamour to see him gone.
Brighty,
Gethin was yet exposed again at scrum time.
Lloyd Williams was pure class with that kick. Thank God we didn’t have that idiot Phillips on the bench or the try would never have been scored.
I also believe we need to start with Ken Owens and Charteris and for the Aussies Tips and Sam in the back row to combat Pocock and Hooper.
Never really trusted Scott Baldwin at this level.
Hope you had a great night on Saturday.
I’ve been hung over most of the day as a result.
I had a fabulous night thank you Enoch.
I think you and Garces are of the same opinion of Gethin – that first pen where Gethin ended up on top of the flopping English player and yet the own goes against him? A total mystery to everyone in the pub and the commentators.
I too would start with Ken Owens. I wonder if it was a stroke of genius from Gats to actually have some better players on the bench than starting? Keep the score tight, bring on the quality for the last 20. That could be one reading of it as it worked.
I’m not looking at Aus yet. A win on Thursday and a loss for Eng next Sat is all I want. On the latter that’s not anti English, it’s just a simple fact that if we beat Fiji and Aus bt Eng then we’ve qualified. I wouldn’t care who was playing, I just want the result that gets us through.
I am not a huge SL fan precisely for the reasons you are praising Gats Brighty. I understand he cannot make the calls on the pitch but it is his responsibility to ensure Robshaw and co are armed with the tools to make sure calls are right under pressure. In 4 years he should have armed Robshaw with the decision making/problem analysis models he needs.
A lot has been made of England’s fitness camp prior to RWC but have they looked noticeably fitter than any team yet? In his tenure England Fans would struggle to identify a game plan that has developed or that the coaches have introduced coherent patterns/ideas to take the team forward.
I do think he has done a very good job with the image and moral framework of the team but, for me, he has not proven his ability to implement and develop the technical, tactical side of it all – take the Burgess/Ford substitution, no need and reduced the effectiveness of his team.
This may be a odd question given all the calls over SL’s head but Gatland has been with Wales for 8years now, I think he’s done an amazing job and would love to see him sign on for another WC but what y’all think. Will he stick around for over a decade or will he bow out after the WC?
If so no who, but what type of head coach do you think we need? what type of game should we be trying to play with the newer stars coming through etc.
Michael, I have never been a fan of Gats – I think he is as stubborn coach only interested in playing in a certain way, and I think he has wasted the talented backs that you have. However having said that he does seem to have created a cohesive team spirit which shone through last night and overall his results haven’t exactly been sloppy. Bearing in mind where we are, you could do much worse. As Brighty knows, that is serious praise for the man from me!
Staggy is in the Gats fan club now! ;-)
Cue gritting and gnashing of teeth…..!????
‘Every nation is eventually held to account for the windows broken by its press’
Otto von Bismarck
Wales did to England in the RWC 2015 what England did to Wales in the 6n. On each occasion the home side underestimated the injury ravaged opposition and thought they could win the match b 4 it took place.
There was even the same laser and lights show b 4 kick-off.
But as one English thread said…Robshaw is just seems to be too dull to be a captain at this level. My mate pointed out had Robshaw not played rugby he would have ended up a low ranking army officer at the Sandhurst Training Academy.
Having watched the footage whilst sober I just loved the screen shot at the end of the two Welsh fans singing their hearts out whilst two identikit England fans sat in the rows behind looked on.
The 2 England fans looked like they had just walked out of Conservative Central Office. Barbour jackets and sneering looks a plenty. And that is why we love it when Wales beat England or for that matter when anyone beats England.
I’ve ordered my Aussie flag and hat for Saturday, just in case.
come on Fiji, simple reply to a welsh sheep Sh*****sure you must have been eating too much radioactive meat in your time….stupid generalisation isn’t it & not what this blog is about.
Most England fans at the ground congratulated the welsh supporters on their result despite their own disappointment so get over yourself.
Wales will not win the next 2 games so you would be better off cheering England on & then we both have a better chance of going through
Just watched Andy Robinson in Scrum V and I’m afraid he has convinced me to call for SL to go.
Number 1 – he said it was inconceivable that you don’t tell your captain what to do in a hypothetical situation like that and I think he is right. It’s pretty simple – listen Chris, if it’s 2 mins to go and it’s a pen for the draw, kick it. Looks like SL hadnt done that. Too busy making Englishness Part 2 perhaps (yes, the very idea of that film just baffles me).
Number 2 – he threw his captain under the bus in his post match. It doesn’t matter what you would have done there SL. You back your captain in public and in private you tear strips off him. Shameful way for the coach to act.
And to stop going on about Eng for a second – Dan Biggar. Wow. What a talent and what a self made man. He has turned himself from a gobby and erratic ten into a world class lynchpin – so good we didn’t even miss the Worlds Best Kicker. Biggar was the only man from 30-3 not to make the Lions squad and it seems to have spurred him on to greater heights. Biggar/Sexton for the Lions 10 is a fascinating battle.
Off to listen to Bowie’s Heroes now for the umpteenth time today.
I think whether SL has to go is not a question that can be answered yet. The tournament is not yet over for England. If we beat Australia and get out of the group then he’ll probably go on, if we go out at the group stage then he has to consider his position and your points definitely come into it and I think he will be forced to go.
Hmmmm do feel a told you so moment coming on (although in a pyrric victory sort of way!). When you were questioning FH selection 18? months ago, I did say that I thought Bigger was your best bet. Didn’t get a huge amount of support at the time. Now wishing I’d kept my mouth shut!
He’s surprised us all Staggy. Not particularly liked in Wales before because his mouth was way, way ahead of his talent. He’s worked hard to turn down the former and improve the latter. The perfect example of proving all the doubters wrong. I hope he can keep it up.
One last thing (cannot stop thinking of this match) – Englands lack of composure perfectly exemplified by the return of idiotic Angry Mike Brown and the increasingly petulant cheap shots from man child Farrell. Both went too far past controlled aggression and gave a perfect insight into what the pressure was doing to these boys. Burgess by contrast was a model or big game composure, twice hauling Brown away from the altercations. What a stupid substitution when he went off.
I still have hope Wales have had a lot of injuries and are going into a Fiji game with a 4 day turnaround and Fiji have scored tries.
Plus I will not give it up until Australia have been played by both sides.
Lancaster got the selection wrong and Robshaw got the penalty call wrong a bit more attacking flair and more discipline would have given a different result but the group is very much alive and Eglnads two bonus points could be telling.
I lot of uneccesary verbal abuse going on around here.
When the last penalty was awarded I thought a draw would have been a fair reflection of the game. Then when we opted for the corner, instead of being excited about going for the win, I felt an impending sense of doom.
Now both teams are in a very tight spot as Wales are rapidly running out of backs with a tight turn around against Fiji and England must win against Australia to have any chance of getting out of the pool. Australians are the biggest winners out of this game
We threw the game away with unnecessary replacements and bad decisions. Didn’t see the point of bringing Ford on when we were struggling for decent ball, and Farrell had it under control. Unless Ben Youngs was out on his feet, Wiggy should’ve stayed on the bench. Tom Youngs was out on his feet, but Webber brought no impact at all off the bench (although his darts was straight).
I can only assume that Ford was given the kicking duties when he came on, but Farrell could’ve nailed that penalty. Guess that was Robshaw’s decision to go for the corner, and it could’ve worked except for a poor execution of a drive. We’d just brought our attacking fly half on, Wales have three backs playing out of position, and we try and drive from the lineout against a pack we’d struggled with all night? Seriously? Get the ball out to Ford and let the lad show what he can do, otherwise why bring him on?
Rant over. I just hope Morgan is fit for the Aus game, because I think Billy V is out.
Well done to Wales. They took their chances and they showed real passion. Looks like Henson may be right because they will struggle against Fiji’s physicality with so many backs injured.
Given the tone of some of the comments on here I found this amusing:-
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/sport-headlines/rugby-game-proves-sweeping-national-stereotypes-20150928102387
Very amusing. I can imagine Enoch reading it and thinking “where’s the joke? This is just a literal description of the game”
I’ve now watched the highlights, to refresh my memory of what actually happened.
Basically 23 men chased an oval ball around for 80 minutes and at the end Wales had three more points than England and therefore won the game. It was brutal, the atmosphere was like nothing I have ever experienced before and when the final whistle went, Wales were deserving winners. I was gutted to see them take so many injuries, as it really makes it tough for them going forward.
Having been in the lead for most of the game, it’s understandable to feel like England ‘threw it away’ but the truth is the game is 80 minutes long and that’s when you need to be in the lead. Wales did that and deserved to win. I would have liked England to kick for goal for the draw as the line out seemed like too much of a risk, as it proved.
After the game many fans hung around in the bars, English and Welsh together, chatting happily about what they had witnessed and what it meant for the coming games. This WC group is very much alive and is far from over yet.
Good post Matt.