Pre-RWC test matches
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@sparky Ireland peaked too early?
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@taniwharugby said in Pre-RWC test matches:
@sparky Ireland peaked too early?
Sure seems like it, they were imperious in the long winning streak and beating ABs etc. But last 6N and now, not so much. But I find it so hard to read into these games, look at ABs v Oz, and Sco vs Fr, and Wales v Eng - different results a week apart. Quite different in the case of some of them.
Still if Ire and Wales share their next 2 tests, we'll be rightfully on top of the rankings
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So, wait and see, whether his case is similar to that of Patty T, or whether he has taken something. Innocent until proven guilty (by his B sample).
South Africa wing Aphiwe Dyantyi, who won world rugby's breakthrough player award in 2018, says he has failed a doping test. Dyantyi said in a statement he tested positive for a banned substance at a Springboks training camp in July. He denied taking "any prohibited substance, intentionally or negligently, to enhance my performance on the field'' and has requested his `B' sample be tested. The substance was not named.He last played a test in November and has been limited by injury this season. He wasn't expected to be included in the Springboks' Rugby World Cup squad, which will be named on Monday. In his statement, Dyantyi said: "I believe in hard work and fair play. I have never cheated and never will. "The presence of this prohibited substance in my body has come as a massive shock to me, and together with my management team and experts appointed by them, we are doing everything we can to get to the source of this and to prove my innocence. "Taking any prohibited substance would not only be irresponsible and something that i would never intentionally do, it would also be senseless and stupid. I underwent a drug-test on June 15 2019 (only two weeks prior to the July 2 testing) which did not return any adverse finding." -
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@mofitzy_ said in Pre-RWC test matches:
@sparky
Interesting that England played 2 opensides.Even with this result they still have a slight chance of not making it out of their pool (France and Argentina).
Not on that performance.
And if France have another second half like yesterday they'll get dispatched as easily as Ireland.
Eddie is in a nice place having to select two from Curry, Underhill and Ludlum.
My backline would be
Heinz, Farrell
Tuilagi, Joseph
May, Watson, DalyYoungs, Ford, Cokinasinga
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@MiketheSnow said in Pre-RWC test matches:
@mofitzy_ said in Pre-RWC test matches:
@sparky
Interesting that England played 2 opensides.Even with this result they still have a slight chance of not making it out of their pool (France and Argentina).
Not on that performance.
And if France have another second half like yesterday they'll get dispatched as easily as Ireland.
Eddie is in a nice place having to select two from Curry, Underhill and Ludlum.
My backline would be
Heinz, Farrell
Tuilagi, Joseph
May, Watson, DalyYoungs, Ford, Cokinasinga
Heinz? I haven't seem him play in England but find it hard to believe.
The dual 10s (Ford/Farrell) and dual 7s might be similar to what the ABs are looking at - duals 7s there is an element of getting the best players on the park regardless of position, and playing to their strengths in the case of Barrett and Farrell.
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@MiketheSnow said in Pre-RWC test matches:
@mofitzy_ said in Pre-RWC test matches:
@sparky
Interesting that England played 2 opensides.Even with this result they still have a slight chance of not making it out of their pool (France and Argentina).
Not on that performance.
And if France have another second half like yesterday they'll get dispatched as easily as Ireland.
Eddie is in a nice place having to select two from Curry, Underhill and Ludlum.
My backline would be
Heinz, Farrell
Tuilagi, Joseph
May, Watson, DalyYoungs, Ford, Cokinasinga
Even though I think Heinz form is very good I think he is more suited to closing out the game than Youngs.
There’s some big units in the English backs that will take some stopping if they get good ball.
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@mofitzy_ said in Pre-RWC test matches:
@sparky
Interesting that England played 2 opensides.Even with this result they still have a slight chance of not making it out of their pool (France and Argentina).
England showed their hand yesterday. Heinz might replace Youngs, Mako might start, Slade or Watson might come in for Daly but that was more or less their side and game plan for the RWC knockouts.
Use Itoje to disrupt the opposition lineout, use the dual openside flankers to dominate the breakdown and win quick ball, two play makers to move the ball to the two 12 channel quickly or kick long, have their 4 ball-carriers (Itoje, Billy V, Tuigali and Cok: dubbed the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse by one newspaper) smash the 12 channel hard, repeatedly and relentessly, make the speed and footwork of their wings if they get 1 on 1s. Very effective indeed against most opposition. They showed to make the rush defence redundant.
How to stop it?
Be stronger at set piece, be better at the breakdown, have big men up (BBBR!!!) and ready in the 12 channel to make dominant tackles on their massive units, pressure their playmakers, none of their back three are especially good defenders so force them to make 1-on-1 tackles.
England are a very strong side, but I would still back the All Blacks or Boks against them.
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@ACT-Crusader Yeah - Tuilagi is huge and Cokinasinga is even bigger - Jonah-sized.
We need to have someone like Tony "Trampled" Underfoot to mark him....
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Navidi set to get the captain's armband for Wales v Ireland this Saturday
The son of an Iranian wrestler who is now set to captain Wales
Josh Navidi is set to be handed the honour of captaining Wales
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Great to read about his background.
That's one of the standouts for me with a RWC - with so much media coverage, there's always a couple of players you learn more about than you ordinarily would have.Congrats to Navidi. Great honour to captain your your country.
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Obviously a meaningless friendly that means nothing in their build up to their first world cup game against Japan who must still be on a real high after dispatching South Africa in the last tournament. If they were taking it seriously then things are not looking good at all for them.
