[RWC2019][Pool C] Round 2 - England vs. USA (26/09/2019)

[Ferrari333SP]

Japanese TV explaining rugby positions using... animals Look about right?

 

[ncurd]

Gotta love the disparity in reporting

England beat Tonga whilst misfiring in attack with four tries but allowing zero trys.

"England start world cup with scrappy win"

Wales score 6 trys against a hapless Georgia but allow them to score 2 trys and have lesser margin of victory the England

"Wales make statement of World Cup intent"



Eh despite the handling areas I'd rather not let teams score.

 

[bushytop]

Japanese TV explaining rugby positions using... animals Look about right?

I ****ing love Japan!

 

[bushytop]

Eh despite the handling areas I'd rather not let teams score.

It’s funny that when we are usually the more ‘miserly’ team, the English would rather look like scoring more tries.

You, me... and everyone else will always view things through a somewhat subjective perspective, no matter how objective we claim to be.

 

[ncurd]

It’s funny that when we are usually the more ‘miserly’ team, the English would rather look like scoring more tries.

You, me... and everyone else will always view things through a somewhat subjective perspective, no matter how objective we claim to be.

Oh I want us to score 3+ tries a match but I also want us to restrict opponents. We've blow away teams in the opening 10 the past year or so and let them score too much in return and blown leads.

Honestly I think the England headline is more accurate representation. If Wales had carried on the second half like the first it would fair shake but they only managed parity with Georgia in the second half. Thats not really making a statement.

 

[g6mcg]

Think it’s a mixture of people expecting Georgia to be better than Tonga (remember, they’re definitely better than Italy and should be in the Six Nations!), and Wales getting the job done early.

 

[ncurd]

Think it’s a mixture of people expecting Georgia to be better than Tonga (remember, they’re definitely better than Italy and should be in the Six Nations!), and Wales getting the job done early.

I mean that's a perception thing according to rankings there more difference between Wales and Ireland than there is between Tonga and Georgia. I put no real stock in these but they do give some indication where teams roughly are.

Italy are shite but they are better than Georgia https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/italy-vs-georgia/87074 which why again don't take too much in world rankings.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

It's trying to make headlines where there isn't one because of the occasion innit! Imagine it was club level and Leinster opening their Heineken cup campaign with a 30-3 win v Benetton and Sarries beat Ospreys 45-15, with the same amount of tries as these games - The headlines would be runners-up and champions off to strong starts/open with BPs and there's be no conversation.

 

[MarkyH]

Billy meltdown incoming.......

I hope the physios, doctors think this is best for him. I'm in the 'rest Billy camp' but what do I know eh...

 

[MarkyH]

England starting XV

15 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 34 caps)
14 Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby, 1 cap)
13 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 43 caps)
12 Piers Francis (Northampton Saints, 8 caps)
11 Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 8 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 60 caps) C
9 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 5 caps)
1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 63 caps)
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 16 caps)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 90 caps)
4 Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 61 caps)
5 George Kruis (Saracens, 36 caps)
6 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 14 caps)
7 Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 46 caps)

Finishers

16 Jack Singleton (Saracens, 2 cap)
17 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 13 caps)
18 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 26 caps)
19 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 76 caps)
20 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons/ Sale Sharks, 15 caps)
21 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 90 caps)
22 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 74 caps)
23 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 37 caps)

 

[ncurd]

Worried we might be flogging Curry/Vunipola when one could of rested for Wilson.

Other than that its the 2nd string side I fully expected.

 

[Reiser99]

Hope Billy gets a bit of a rest, but otherwise happy with that. Good rotation, but still a strong side. Cokanasiga should be coming into the middle off his wing quite a bit.

 

[MarkyH]

I don't mind the rotation, good side. Would replace BV with Wilson, and Lawes for Curry in the 2nd half. Shame it's not the other way round

 

[spartan32]

Can’t see the sense in playing Billy again?! I know USA are improving but we’ve always turned them over quite comfortably in the past, not sure we need to risk him for this one.

Shame Slade is out again. Not looking good for him. Only a slight knock against Tonga. Could be they are holding him back for the latter stages, but he’s had so little game time now not sure how much use he’ll be. If he doesn’t get some decent minutes against France and Argentina I think that may be his WC essentially over unless in dire need.

Good to see Big Joe back in. Would be good to see him put in a massive physical challenge to his opposite number. Just take the ball right into him at pace the first couple of times, a la Jona, and rattle him. Would also be good to see if McConnochie can start living up to the hype. Otherwise I think he’ll be done this WC too with Nowell set to return.

As an aside I can’t believe that both Young’s and Cole will now match Saint Johnny, on 91 caps. Just seems wrong, especially in Young’s case. Just can’t believe that England have been unable to find and bring through and better 9 in 12 years!!

Anyway. England should be looking for the bonus point, but before that just settling into the game. Controlling the tempo, going through the phases, not kicking straight away (unless something is clearly on). With a steady game we should manage 4 try’s. we don’t need to score them all in the first 20 minutes off first phase ball.

 

[bushytop]

Oh I want us to score 3+ tries a match but I also want us to restrict opponents. We've blow away teams in the opening 10 the past year or so and let them score too much in return and blown leads.

Honestly I think the England headline is more accurate representation. If Wales had carried on the second half like the first it would fair shake but they only managed parity with Georgia in the second half. Thats not really making a statement.

Headlines, schmeadlines... anyone who’s anyone knows it’s a BP win for both teams against tier 2’s and lots to work on.

 

[Which Tyler]

Pretty much as expected, with the exception of Billy starting (which was kinda expected, but hoped against).
Looks like Mako, Underhill, Slade and Nowell must be injured though.
I don't recall SU looking to be in any trouble when he came off, and I just don't see why you'd take him off early otherwise if it isnt to start this one.



Beginning to wonder (again) why we even took Nowell in the first place. Slade and Wilson got fit in time; and Mako is that important to us, that it's worth it if he's fit in time for a QF - but is Nowell enough beter than May & Watson, or at all better for that matter? Is he neough better than Coka to have been worth the gamble?
I understand taking a gamble on a definitive first choice starter (Mako) or someone who is fit to play by arrival in Japan; but for someone who's may not even be in the match-day 23 come the knock-out stages? This mistake is then doubled by also (seemingly) including his injury replacement in the original squad at the expense of a THP/SH.
I think he just bottled the Slade/Francis decision; and the Nowell/McConnochie ones - and took all 4, despite none of them being first choice starters

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I ****ing love Japan!

There’s no place like it. Would defo recommend a trip if you have never been.

Can’t see the sense in playing Billy again?! I know USA are improving but we’ve always turned them over quite comfortably in the past, not sure we need to risk him for this one.

.

Binny needs to play according to Jones because he doesn’t like training and would choose to eat 10 bacon rolls instead.

 

[bushytop]

There’s no place like it. Would defo recommend a trip if you have never been.

I genuinely plan on it at some point.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Can’t really argue with much of that.

On the Binny issue, we’ve had the “he needs games” argument. Well he’s certainly getting them but didn’t tear up any trees in the warm ups or against Tonga.

I do wonder if we won’t see the best of him unless or until Mako is back. IIRC he’s said something similar in the past and that it was as much on an emotional level as anything else.

 

[Goodey]

So I was wrong about Faz but right about Billy. They are going to have him play 80 minutes of every game.

My gut feel is that Curry and Ludlam are the wrong way around but I'm not fussed at all there.

Daly and Watson given another chance to score tries after dropping a few which I like.

Has Slade been hooked?