Pre-RWC test matches

[MiketheSnow]

@Bones said in Pre-RWC test matches:

@MiketheSnow interesting to see McConnochie there on the wing - I had assumed when watching him play 7's that he was a loosie. Good sized winger!

With Cokanasiga to come on

[sparky]

@MiketheSnow said in Pre-RWC test matches:

OK Here we go

England v Wales
Sunday 11 August 2019

England XV:
Elliot Daly; Ruaridh McConnochie, Henry Slade, Piers Francis, Anthony Watson; George Ford (C), Willi Heinz
Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dan Cole; Joe Launchbury, Charlie Ewels; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola

Subs:
Jack Singleton, Joe Marler, Harry Williams, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam
Ben Youngs, Joe Marchant, Joe Cokanasiga

Wales XV:
Liam Williams; George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams; Gareth Anscombe, Gareth Davies
Nicky Smith, Ken Owen, Tomas Francis; Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (C); Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty

Subs:
Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis, Jake Ball, Aaron Shingler
Tomos Williams, Dan Biggar, Owen Watkin

Experimental backline for England, almost full-strength team for Wales.

Going to be interesting.

Anscombe better have his kicking boots on.

Wales by 6-9

England picking two very short opensides indeed as their two flankers. Real backrow diddly men. More height in the England wings these days than their forwards. Wales should dominate at the lineout and hammer them with the driving maul.

[Stargazer]

[Stargazer]

In the mean time, Japan have won the Pacific Nations Cup after a convincing 34 - 20 win over the USA.

Fiji beat Samoa 10 - 3.

Final standings:
1 Japan
2 Fiji (better points differential than USA)
3 USA
4 Samoa
5 Tonga
6 Canada

[Machpants]

@Stargazer England can't count. Wales will be all over them, cementing their place as number one team in the world

[sparky]

Ireland 29 Italy 10

Rugby

Joey Carbery injury overshadows facile Italy win

Outhalf a concern for World Cup after suffering injury at the Aviva Stadium

[Kruse]

@Machpants said in Pre-RWC test matches:

@Stargazer England can't count. Wales will be all over them, cementing their place as number one team in the world

Only time ever I'm actually supporting the English Rugby team.
Even then, when I think about it... is the #1 Ranking THAT important... that I'd cheer England?

[Chris]

England are smashing Wales 14 -0 after 14 min
Totally dominating the Welsh pack
Heinz playing very well at HB and LH Curry having a stormer for England

[Chris]

Wales very ordinary in the first 20 min
Missing lots of tackles dropping heaps of ball
Getting dominated in the Forwards.

[Chris]

Brilliant individual try by Welsh HB Gareth Davies 14-7

[Chris]

England starting to drop off tackles Wales getting more ball now and looking more dangerous.

[Chris]

Tom Curry off injured

[Nepia]

@Chris said in Pre-RWC test matches:

Brilliant individual try by Welsh HB Gareth Davies 14-7

That was a great try and Wales have been getting the rub of the green from the ref, a knock on missed, an off side pick up and then a forward pass.

There's some good expansive rugby in this match.

[Chris]

Anscombe off with a knee injury

[Chris]

Wales gift England a try from a defensive line out terrible throw by the Welsh Hooker
HT England 21-7

[sparky]

England 21-7 up at half time. Anscombe's knee looks crocked.

[Bones]

Vunipola showing some very ordinary defensive skills for both Welsh tries.

Edit: 24-14 after North easily goes over with a pick n go.

[sparky]

@Bones Vunipola is very lazy on defence.

[sparky]

Wynn Jones with a try. Wales right back in this.

[Bones]

@sparky said in Pre-RWC test matches:

@Bones Vunipola is very lazy on defence.

Who was that he combined with to let Wales in for third?

24-19