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The various stats sources seem so varied don't they! According to the ESPN, Wood made only 9 tackles.openclashXX wrote:Official RFU @Official_RFU
Back row @tomwood678 was in typically abrasive form v Scotland, making most tackles (16) and hitting a huge 45 breakdowns #workrate #stats
ESPN also seem to adjust their stats within a couple of days of the games as well.JM2K6 wrote:Yeah, think the RFU includes tackle assists.
Thought I'd update it for the brilliant Italian lads todayWendigo7 wrote:IRB 6N Ratings changes:
1. New Zealand 90.08
2. South Africa 86.94
3. Australia 86.87
4. France 85.07
5. England 83.90
6. Ireland 81.31
7. Samoa 78.71
8. Argentina 78.71
9. Wales 77.19
10. Italy 76.24
In the 2 games, no changes were seen in the England vs Scotland game as the gap was too big, whilst Ireland gained a point against Wales and Wales lost 1.2.
Here are the possibles for the Italy/France game:
France can gain nothing if they win
Draw - Fra -1 Italy +1
Italy - 1-15 pt - 2 pt increase
Ita by 15 or more - 3 pts increase
: Hope he's ok. Played his best game by a mile against Scotland on Saturday. More of the same please Ben.geordie_6 wrote:Morgan to be assessed today. 31 players gathered at the training base yesterday, nobody different to those prior to the Scotland game.
He was good, but I'm not sure it was his best. He was excellent in last season tournament.Wendigo7 wrote:Hope he's ok. Played his best game by a mile against Scotland on Saturday. More of the same please Ben.geordie_6 wrote:Morgan to be assessed today. 31 players gathered at the training base yesterday, nobody different to those prior to the Scotland game.
England side for Ireland:
1. Marler
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Launchbury
5. Parling
6. Wood
7. Robshaw (c)
8. Morgan/Haskell
9. Youngs
10. Farrell
11. Brown
12. Twelvetrees
13. M. Tuilagi
14. Ashton
15. Goode
Same here.JM2K6 wrote:I could see Toga's Tuilagi dream coming true (for one match only).
Would much rather see Vunipola in the #20 shirt, and Tuilagi starting at 13 with someone with pace in the #23.openclashXX wrote:16. Hartley
17. Vunipola
18. Wilson
19. Lawes
20. Kvesic
21. Care
22. Flood
23. Tuilagi
Please.
Can we stick to what we know are the options? Fraser's been called up, and as far as I know Kvesic is still with the Saxons.openclashXX wrote:16. Hartley
17. Vunipola
18. Wilson
19. Lawes
20. Kvesic
21. Care
22. Flood
23. Tuilagi
Please.
Kvesic has been training with the senior squad since Johnson got injured. Fraser is below him in the pecking order.JM2K6 wrote:Can we stick to what we know are the options? Fraser's been called up, and as far as I know Kvesic is still with the Saxons.openclashXX wrote:16. Hartley
17. Vunipola
18. Wilson
19. Lawes
20. Kvesic
21. Care
22. Flood
23. Tuilagi
Please.
Tuilagi should be used as an impact sub, aside from the stellar performances of 12T and Barritt last weekend, imagine Tuilagi coming off the bench with 25 minutes to go, running at tired Irish bodies, a very appealling prospect.geordie_6 wrote:Would much rather see Vunipola in the #20 shirt, and Tuilagi starting at 13 with someone with pace in the #23.openclashXX wrote:16. Hartley
17. Vunipola
18. Wilson
19. Lawes
20. Kvesic
21. Care
22. Flood
23. Tuilagi
Please.
openclashXX wrote:Tuilagi should be used as an impact sub, aside from the stellar performances of 12T and Barritt last weekend, imagine Tuilagi coming off the bench with 25 minutes to go, running at tired Irish bodies, a very appealling prospect.geordie_6 wrote:Would much rather see Vunipola in the #20 shirt, and Tuilagi starting at 13 with someone with pace in the #23.openclashXX wrote:16. Hartley
17. Vunipola
18. Wilson
19. Lawes
20. Kvesic
21. Care
22. Flood
23. Tuilagi
Please.
He did everything that was asked of him and nothing that warrants his dropping, particularly given the great role he has played in England's midfield for the last few matches. Tuilagi is also not quite match fit, he hasn't played in almost a month by my count.geordie_6 wrote:openclashXX wrote:Tuilagi should be used as an impact sub, aside from the stellar performances of 12T and Barritt last weekend, imagine Tuilagi coming off the bench with 25 minutes to go, running at tired Irish bodies, a very appealling prospect.geordie_6 wrote:Would much rather see Vunipola in the #20 shirt, and Tuilagi starting at 13 with someone with pace in the #23.openclashXX wrote:16. Hartley
17. Vunipola
18. Wilson
19. Lawes
20. Kvesic
21. Care
22. Flood
23. Tuilagi
Please.
Barritt was solid, certainly not stellar.
Tuilagi is a far greater attacking weapon, Barritt offers little in attack.openclashXX wrote:He did everything that was asked of him and nothing that warrants his dropping, particularly given the great role he has played in England's midfield for the last few matches. Tuilagi is also not quite match fit, he hasn't played in almost a month by my count.geordie_6 wrote:openclashXX wrote:Tuilagi should be used as an impact sub, aside from the stellar performances of 12T and Barritt last weekend, imagine Tuilagi coming off the bench with 25 minutes to go, running at tired Irish bodies, a very appealling prospect.geordie_6 wrote:Would much rather see Vunipola in the #20 shirt, and Tuilagi starting at 13 with someone with pace in the #23.openclashXX wrote:16. Hartley
17. Vunipola
18. Wilson
19. Lawes
20. Kvesic
21. Care
22. Flood
23. Tuilagi
Please.
Barritt was solid, certainly not stellar.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/fe ... nd-irelandThe Saracens flanker Will Fraser has been called up as injury cover for Morgan while Wasps No8 Billy Vunipola was undergoing a fitness test on his ankle injury at Twickenham this afternoon.
What sort of message would it send to the squad that you can play well consistently over several test matches and win against the world champions, and then have your place taken from you by a youngster who puts in one good performance against Scotland?geordie_6 wrote:Tuilagi is a far greater attacking weapon, Barritt offers little in attack.openclashXX wrote: He did everything that was asked of him and nothing that warrants his dropping, particularly given the great role he has played in England's midfield for the last few matches. Tuilagi is also not quite match fit, he hasn't played in almost a month by my count.
It's a hard 1 to call. The Rugby Paper thinks hell pick 36 and Tuilagi. Personally I can't see it. Tuilagis been struggling for a month with a niggle. Barritts played well. Keep the combo, drop strettle and bring Tuilagi onto the bench. Kvesic potentially as 8 cover for Haskell.openclashXX wrote:What sort of message would it send to the squad that you can play well consistently over several test matches and win against the world champions, and then have your place taken from you by a youngster who puts in one good performance against Scotland?geordie_6 wrote:Tuilagi is a far greater attacking weapon, Barritt offers little in attack.openclashXX wrote: He did everything that was asked of him and nothing that warrants his dropping, particularly given the great role he has played in England's midfield for the last few matches. Tuilagi is also not quite match fit, he hasn't played in almost a month by my count.
Barritt should not be dropped.
For the sake of moving the team forward and developing he should be. He has done well, but is a stop gap.openclashXX wrote:What sort of message would it send to the squad that you can play well consistently over several test matches and win against the world champions, and then have your place taken from you by a youngster who puts in one good performance against Scotland?geordie_6 wrote:Tuilagi is a far greater attacking weapon, Barritt offers little in attack.openclashXX wrote: He did everything that was asked of him and nothing that warrants his dropping, particularly given the great role he has played in England's midfield for the last few matches. Tuilagi is also not quite match fit, he hasn't played in almost a month by my count.
Barritt should not be dropped.
Almost but not quite as awful as the Ireland's Call one.Wendigo7 wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au-OI0ESvFY - Brilliant
Our England boys doing ... BMW proud :S
Luke Cowan-Dickie in the background, the U20 side?
Dunno, he's not averse to a gamble here and there.DragsterDriver wrote:A one cap player and one coming back from injury?
He'll play 12t and barritt with tuilagi coming off the bench.
Crazy talkDragsterDriver wrote:For a change i'll trust the coaches judgement
Official RFU @Official_RFU
Stuart Lancaster has retained 25 players, including Billy Vunipola and Thomas Waldrom, to continue preparations for #IREvENG #rugby
Catt has hinted that Tuilagi will be on the bench so it seems logical to assume that Strettle will not be in the match day 23.geordie_6 wrote:It does raise the question once again, why Strettle?
Time will tell, as they've also hinted about Tuilagi coming straight back in.openclashXX wrote:Catt has hinted that Tuilagi will be on the bench so it seems logical to assume that Strettle will not be in the match day 23.geordie_6 wrote:It does raise the question once again, why Strettle?