Rugby 2020: No Gatland or Schmidt

[Antepli Ejderha]

Looks like I'm wrong, Davies is just training as Biggar is apparently going to be fit.

[jefe]

So Major League Rugby's started again in February with 3 new teams, in New England, Atlanta, and the previously announced expansion team in DC (partially owned by the Scottish RU). Austin has given itself a stupid name, hired Todd Clever as director of rugby, and started playing at the stadium built at Circuit of the Americas for the lower division Austin soccer team.

The Americas Rugby Championship starts again in summer
8/15 USA v CAN in Glendale, CO
8/21 USA v Chile in Austin
8/29 USA v Uruguay in Houston
at Brazil and Argentina the next 21 weeks

[ursus arctos]

I've seen portions of a number of matches and San Diego appear to be in a league of their own

[Ray de Galles]

Wales team to face England


15. Leigh Halfpenny (88 Caps)
14. George North (94 Caps)
13. Nick Tompkins (3 Caps)
12. Hadleigh Parkes (28 Caps)
11. Liam Williams (62 Caps)
10. Dan Biggar (82 Caps)
9. Tomos Williams (19 Caps)
1. Rob Evans (38 Caps)
2. Ken Owens (65 Caps)
3. Dillon Lewis (25 Caps)
4. Jake Ball (45 Caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (C) (137 Caps)
6. Ross Moriarty (44 Caps)
7. Justin Tipuric (75 Caps)
8. Josh Navidi (23 Caps)

Replacements:

16. Ryan Elias (12 Caps)
17. Rhys Carre (7 Caps)
18. Leon Brown (9 Caps)
19. Aaron Shingler (26 Caps)
20. Taulupe Faletau (75 Caps)
21. Rhys Webb (32 Caps)
22. Jarrod Evans (6 Caps)
23. Johnny McNicholl (3 Caps)


Liam (on the wing) and Navidi back (they can't be fully match fit), North and Biggar remain (they can't be fully fit), Evans comes in at loose head with Carre, Shingler and Webb in on the bench, Gareth Davies out of the 23 completely.

[Antepli Ejderha]

No second row on the bench either. Lots of players with little or no match fitness. Hmmmm.

[Ray de Galles]

Shingler will be the second row cover, of sorts.

[Walt Flanagans Dog]

Italy P-P England

[Ray de Galles]

Parisse has now had two farewell games shot from under him, after the final RWC game against the All Blacks was cancelled last year.

[Ray de Galles]

Actually, who was the Italian prop who was also meant to be bowing out after the NZ World Cup game and broke down in tears when it was cancelled? Did he carry on to get his farewell too?

[ursus arctos]

Leonardo Ghiraldini, and it appears that the answer is no

[Ray de Galles]

Of course! They should give him 20 minutes of whichever of the rescheduled 6N games ends up later. Italy can't get a fucking break at the moment, still think they should be hosting 2023 too.

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

No second row on the bench either. Lots of players with little or no match fitness. Hmmmm.

We are so stuffed. I'm very worried about this game. Also - North match fit? I seriously worry about his long term health.

[Ray de Galles]

With Sam Davies travelling for Twickenham as "24th man" there is a lot of speculation that Biggar isn't actually fit to start but Wales are keeping it under wraps before making a late switch to Jarrod Evans at 10 and Davies on the bench.

I'm not sure that there's much benefit to that, if true, except maybe keeping some external pressure off Evans.

[Antepli Ejderha]

I don't think anyone believes Biggar is fit, the only thought is he might make it onto the pitch.

Shingler covering second row is crazy, Hill and Rowlands have made impacts coming off the bench.

I'm thinking that I'm more of a pessimist than VT. Tomorrow could be very unpleasant.

[Ray de Galles]

Shingler came on at second row in the RWC games against Georgia, Australia and Fiji but I would certainly rather have a specialist and I think Rowlands deserved more match time (isn't Hill injured again?).

There's clearly a tactical decision been made regarding his place on the bench and I suspect it's related to the breakdown.

[Antepli Ejderha]

Yep, Hill still injured, Beard not making an impact and a clear tactic but England are on a 6-2 split and have a stronger pack so we're at a disadvantage anyway. Very bizarre.

[Eggchaser]

I'm now accepting of Jones' plan, beat the crap out of the opposition pack and kick the leather off it, preying on mistakes but it's the total lack of any alternative, or the leadership skills from our captain or anyone else for that matter, to change things if it's not going to plan.

We're two tries down against France and Farrell is just stood under the posts watching the kick. I can't for a second see Johnson, Carling, Dallaglio, Hartley or even the (much unfairly) maligned Robshaw doing that.

I don't like the bench split, we're a couple of injuries or someone having an absolute mare from having to put a backrow in the back like.

I expect we will beat Wales, but it's not a vindication of selection if we do.

On the other hand, I am going tomorrow thanks to the magic of Business Development so come on England, fucking stuff them!

[Antepli Ejderha]

Former Wales rugby star Matthew J Watkins dies at 41

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...wsApp_AppShare

Terribly sad news this. RIP MJ.

[Tony C]

Very good early try from Watson after an excellent switch pass from Curry. Of course Farrell can't help giving Wales three points back with a silly late hand on North.

[Sean of the Shed]

So Major League Rugby's started again in February with 3 new teams, in New England, Atlanta, and the previously announced expansion team in DC (partially owned by the Scottish RU). Austin has given itself a stupid name, hired Todd Clever as director of rugby, and started playing at the stadium built at Circuit of the Americas for the lower division Austin soccer team.

To be fair most of those teams have stupid names. Very disappointing that Austin didn't go with Allegros as their new name.

[Antepli Ejderha]

Saw from the 50th minute and bizarrely if there was another five minutes we'd have won despite everything. Lots of injuries, again, but miraculously Biggar wasn't one of them.

Rowlands apparently took a knock playing for Wasps last week so wasn't available.

Tompkins looks decent but I'm not sure about McNicholl.

If the Scotland games goes ahead we need to play some of the squad players, it means nothing now result wise.

[Antepli Ejderha]

Unsurprisingly Uncle Eddie didn't think it was a red, his player did judging by his reaction.

I wonder what Uncle Eddie thought of Joe Marler grabbing AWJ's testicles?

[Cesar Rodriguez]

I've said it before on this thread - Marler is an embarrassment. He's a juvenile.

[Ray de Galles]

I'm now accepting of Jones' plan, beat the crap out of the opposition pack and kick the leather off it, preying on mistakes but it's the total lack of any alternative, or the leadership skills from our captain or anyone else for that matter, to change things if it's not going to plan.

We're two tries down against France and Farrell is just stood under the posts watching the kick. I can't for a second see Johnson, Carling, Dallaglio, Hartley or even the (much unfairly) maligned Robshaw doing that.

I don't like the bench split, we're a couple of injuries or someone having an absolute mare from having to put a backrow in the back like.

I expect we will beat Wales, but it's not a vindication of selection if we do.

Not much to add to this given Eggchaser called it exactly accurately the day before the match.

Anyone seeing the score and a clip of our first try may be fooled in to thinking it was a good game but it was pretty dreadful display of rugby all round.

A three point margin flattered us immensely and yet still we could have won had our game management been better when we had some momentum and numerical advantage. That lack of game management reflects poorly on AWJ, even if it seems like heresy to point it out but it was the same against France.

After being the most structured & focussed side in world rugby we are currently a strange vague mishmash with very little identity or direction. There is not much defensive plan on display apart from leaving the wings almost completely unattended.

Some great individual performances for us, Tompkins, Navidi and a Man of the Match turn from Tipuric where again he showed himself to be the most complete rugby player in the world. The announcement of Youngs as official MOTM was clearly trolling - what halfwitted ITV pundit came up with that?

Parkes has to be dropped for Scotland, he's never been the best ball player but is atrophying. He had feet for hands yesterday and was lucky to avoid a yellow card for high tackling. Tompkins needs to move to 12 and we need to find a fit outside centre somewhere.

North still desperately needs a break, even moreso after being targeted by that shithouse cunt Tualagi - who hopefully won't be given the opportunity to fake being a rugby player again for quite some time. It'll be heartening to see Marler's current tiresome "epic bantz" campaign stymied by a ban too.

[Antepli Ejderha]

Great posts by both of you.

Marler should get 12 weeks minimum according to the rules.