RWC QF: England v Fiji
-
England team to face Fiji
England: Smith; May, Marchant, Tuilagi, Daly; Farrell (capt), Mitchell; Genge, George, Cole, Itoje, Chessum, Lawes, Curry, Earl.
Replacements: Dan, Marler, Sinckler, Martin, Vunipola, Care, Ford, Lawrence.
So Borthwick has finally realised what everyone else has known since RWC final 4 years ago - the Ford-Farrell axis does not work. Consequently he dumps the best game controller we have got, to select not the best attacking threat we have but the guy who is the second best game controller and has no attacking threat. Well at least we have a proper centre partnership now. Next step - give them some ball in space.
Not. Holding. Breath.
We continue to pick wingers with no pace, signalling that they will be there as kick chasers only.
Marchant aside (and Smith to a degree), where is our pace?
Vunipola the busted flush. The five year busted flush, is on the bench again. For the life of me I cannot see why. As much as I rate Underhill, why not pick an out and out 8 as a replacement? Good flankers, we have. No 8s not so much.
Arundell's reported fracas with Farrell seems to have been the excuse to cast him to the wind. He's off to France next season and there is yet another real talent for England that will get nowhere near his potential.
It's criminal.
-
@Catogrande I thought May was quick...or is "was" the important word there?
Bizarre borthwick just can't let Fozzie get the limelight on his own. But hey at least the bench looks like it will have more impact than the starters.
-
Whilst he’s no slouch, he has lost that out and out speed he had. Not frightening pace anymore unfortunately.
-
@Catogrande said in RWC QF: England v Fiji:
Whilst he’s no slouch, he has lost that out and out speed he had. Not frightening pace anymore unfortunately.
That was pretty much all he had to give him an edge, so yeah I see your concern.
-
@Catogrande said in RWC QF: England v Fiji:
Whilst he’s no slouch, he has lost that out and out speed he had. Not frightening pace anymore unfortunately.
He's more furious than fast nowadays
This is a very distant memory unfortunately
-
@MiketheSnow it's fucking not for me. That's the last time I went down the club to watch the ABs.
-
-
@Bovidae said in RWC QF: England v Fiji:
That Fijian team looks weaker than the one that played Portugal. Matavesi >> Ikanivere.
Matavesi only just returned from his Dad’s funeral
He’ll bring it from the bench don’t worry
-
@MiketheSnow I've noticed that the Fijian lineout turns to shit when Ikanivere comes on.
-
Stuck on a bus in rural Wales with too weak a signal to watch live
Got the radio at least
Radio 5 Live
Abysmal
Two toffs and Matt Dawson
Orgasming every time England has the ball -
They have looked way better to be fair so far
-
