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Venue: Principality Stadium
Time: 15:15 CAT (SA, GMT+2)
So every time England play Wales in Cardiff the Wales online lot make a huge story about England being cowards and afraid to face the hostile crowd with the roof closed. Now Jones has said let's close the roof so of course now the Wales Online crowd are saying how dare he say the roof should be closed, keep it open. You couldn't make it up. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/eddie-jones-asks-wales-close-16754170
Slades not fitThoughts on England team for this Saturday:
Forwards: 1. Marler 2. George 3. Sinckler 4. Launchbury 5. Kruis 6. Lawes 7. Ludlam/Underhill if fit 8. Wilson <--- Could have 3 6's in the backrow.
Backs: 9. Youngs 10. Ford 11. May 12. Francis 13. Slade 14. McConnochie 15. Watson
Subs: 16. Singleton 17. Mako 18. Cole 19. Itoje 20. Billy 21. Hienz 22. Farrell 23. Tuilagi
Still think Mako, Itoje, Farrell and Tuilagi should be wrapped in cotton wool as major key players. But who knows with Eddie
I think the likely (Eddie's favourite) first XV will be played to prove a point, with any maybes benched to give them about 160seconds of gametime and to **** with giving anyone a rest.
Marler (Mako out, atm)
George
Sinkler
Itoje
Kruis
Shields, wait no Wilson
Ludlam
Billy
Youngs
Farrell
May
Tuilagi
Francis
Watson
Daly
Genge
LCD
Cole/Williams
Lawes
Launch/Ewels, doesn't matter as long as we end up with four locks playing at some point
Heinz
Ford
Joseph
Edit: I'm ignoring Kvesic's call up, but assuming he's not simply cover for any training injuries he might be benched over Joseph
Does anyone know what type of side Wales are putting out at all?
Marler has to start at tight head if we expect him to play there in the WC.
It will be a big dent in wales' wc hopes if they lose this one. If they bounce back they can remain confident as a group and continue their role. Otherwise it's start from square one. We've seen how much difference it makes when a team gets on a roll and just lives off the momentum of confidence and the extra unity that brings. It makes a big difference and had been the key to many a successful run. Wales, Ireland before that, England before that, all blacks severally times, springboks at some point (09?), etc.
If wales lose this then no team will really be on a streak. You could almost argue the Boks have started a streak, and if they beat the all blacks in wc game one they may just have gained enough confidence momentum to go all the way.
It's different in a World Cup though I guess; World Cup nerves can trump almost any level of confidence.