Match thread

sparky

TMO again. A neck roll apparently.

Jet

1/6th of the players sent from the field today.

Bones

@Jet said in England v Wales:

1/6th of the players sent from the field today.

Go watch football fella

sparky

England's bench not really having the predicted impact.

Mediocre second half from them after the fireworks before the break.

sparky

England need to get Arundell in the game more.

sparky

Pollock knocks on, but the ref says fine.

Bones

Ref is way outta his depth

MiketheSnow

Put LRZ in white and England score 100

MiketheSnow

Better second half from Wales

Considering how many cards we’ve had and despite the points differential this is a better result than our last meeting

So progress 😉

MiketheSnow

England have looked great and poor

sparky

@MiketheSnow said in England v Wales:

England have looked great and poor

Alex Mitchell is so important to them. They've had the handbrake on a bit since he went off.

sparky

George Ford MOTM. Fair call.

MiketheSnow

England will need to do much better to beat the mighty Scots

sparky

Freeman in, very good finish.

sparky

All over. England 48 Wales 7.

sparky

England 8-9-10 axis is world class, their lineout is second to none and they have pace to burn out wide these days.

But some of their players make strange decisions around the park.

sparky

Wales showed character and resilience in the second half.

But in terms of physicality, they are way off Tier One Test standard. They might need to find a few Saffas with Welsh grannies.

MiketheSnow

@sparky said in England v Wales:

Wales showed character and resilience in the second half.

But in terms of physicality, they are way off Tier One Test standard. They might need to find a few Saffas with Welsh grannies.

We did

Plumtree
Penalty and YC magnet

MiketheSnow

I’m a Big Ben Thomas fan but not in this set up

Hawkins in for the next match

pooler fan

@sparky we need to go back to basics somewhat I think. Decisions have been made to not select someone like Ross Moriarty for instance who thrives on smashing people from the 6 jersey. He's only 31, if he's still your best option pick him. The RWC is only what, 18 months away.

Victor Meldrew

@Bones said in England v Wales:

Why would Pollock want to be known as such a pillock?

Dyslexia?

Bones

@sparky said in England v Wales:

England 8-9-10 axis is world class, their lineout is second to none and they have pace to burn out wide these days.

But some of their players make strange decisions around the park.

I can see them losing to Ireland and France. Their current buoyancy is based on dismantling a team that was already in pieces and I'll always come back to one thing.

Borthwick is just a sane Robertson.

pooler fan

@MiketheSnow what's the point in us having a playmaker at 12 when we're rarely ever on the front foot?
We should be going back to basics and put someone like Harlequins centre Bryn Bradley at 12 & tell him to run down the 10/12 channel all day. At least then we may get some go forward.

Victor Meldrew

That must have been awful for a Wales supporter. Just hope they show some improvement, any improvement would do, this year

Bones

@Victor-Meldrew said in England v Wales:

That must have been awful for a Wales supporter. Just hope they show some improvement, any improvement would do, this year

3rd Vs 2nd.

Let's not get carried away.

Screenshot_20260207-190311.png

Dan54

@Victor-Meldrew said in England v Wales:

That must have been awful for a Wales supporter. Just hope they show some improvement, any improvement would do, this year

Yep, I feel for Welsh supporters to Victor. Much as I cheering for them, they really seem to be missing so much. At no stage of test did they look to be doing anything but hanging on.
It even kind of showed with the crowd, there seemed quite large area of empty seats, whether it from Welsh not bothering to travel from Cardiff, just not something I noticed at 6Ns game before .

MiketheSnow

@pooler-fan said in England v Wales:

@MiketheSnow what's the point in us having a playmaker at 12 when we're rarely ever on the front foot?
We should be going back to basics and put someone like Harlequins centre Bryn Bradley at 12 & tell him to run down the 10/12 channel all day. At least then we may get some go forward.

Hawkins can do both

pooler fan

@MiketheSnow he can but sometimes thinks tackling is optional.

MiketheSnow

@pooler-fan said in England v Wales:

@sparky we need to go back to basics somewhat I think. Decisions have been made to not select someone like Ross Moriarty for instance who thrives on smashing people from the 6 jersey. He's only 31, if he's still your best option pick him. The RWC is only what, 18 months away.

Yep

Moriarty, Mann, Wainwright
Deaves

If Reffell is fit, get him in

pooler fan

@MiketheSnow a Moriarty/Reffell/Wainwright backrow would be a huge improvement on what was selected today.

Catogrande

What to say for Wales? Well, they showed some real spirit at times and did some decent goal line defence but lack physicality in most areas of the field. That seems weird to me as they do have some physical, committed guys but rarely seem to pick them. Back row a case in point. I really feel sorry for guys like Lake and Wainwright, who must think what the fuck am I doing here in this shit show?

In regards to England, I’m not sure how positive we should be. Sure we won by a lot but we made hard work of it at times. Gave away too much ball with non-contestable kicks and bad decisions. Centres still a worry, as is full back and in this game at least, use of the bench. Pollock should have had at least 35 minutes, the game was crying out for his energy. Spencer is not a replacement 9. By all means change the game and start him, but he is no impact player. As for M Smith, same as ollock really. Needed more time and Steward was not firing at all.

Could not understand Ford getting MOM, thought his game management and kicking was way below his normal standards.

MiketheSnow

If England play like that against Scotland they could get turned over

Against France they will get hammered

MN5

@MiketheSnow said in England v Wales:

If England play like that against Scotland they could get turned over

Against France they will get hammered

Sigh, if only.

I feel Scotlands pluck and luck against England has run out and they're due a fucken hiding.

pooler fan

It's going to be a France vs England slam decider in march I think.
Can't see any of the other sides getting close enough. They both have too much pace, power and most importantly depth.

sparky

@pooler-fan said in England v Wales:

It's going to be a France vs England slam decider in march I think.
Can't see any of the other sides getting close enough. They both have too much pace, power and most importantly depth.

Most probably, but Scotland have made a habit of tipping over England in recent time. Next weekend's game at Murrayfield is not a certainty.

France seem to have one dud performance away from home in every championship. Be interesting to see if Wales and Scotland can seize the situation if that happens.

Catogrande

@MiketheSnow said in England v Wales:

If England play like that against Scotland they could get turned over

Against France they will get hammered

Could. But unlikely I feel. Scotland seem to have regressed somewhat and the coaching and selection looks muddled to me. Has Townsend most lost the dressing room? There’s certainly a few mutterings going on. But you can never say never.

As for the tournament itself, it is France’s to lose. Ireland and England at home and playing well, with great strength in depth.