Case closed. Independent Top-Level Independent referee confirms that AWJ is a consummate gent to deal with and that Eddie is a hypocritical plum who needs to wind his neck in.

Doesn't get more conclusive than that.

Bet old patchy alopecia head wasn’t expecting that!

Not fit enough yet. 1 game for your boys and he'll be back after the inevitable 'drop half the team' talk after we get beat comfortably

Here you go, Keith. From the Daily Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/ ... ong-worst/

You're welcome.

I’m disappointed he wasn’t brought straight in for HP if he’s fully fit. It would have been the bold and confident call.

I fear that HP getting on the end of a couple of sitters is going to see him stinking up the 15 shirt for a while longer now.

I love the approach of the 6N. Such anticipation. Then it starts and things like this thread appear...

No expectation on us. We're expecting to get beat easily and the bookies have it right. Well done England in advance

This place is an absolute abortion, mind

Huge game. I'm recording it overnight to watch over breakfast on Sunday and I hope no bugger divulges the score.

I hope Wales win. I doubt they will though.

I was more thinking of the pages of tedious shitfighting over press statements by the coaches and people quoting half a page of someone else's half page newspaper extract.

Roll on the game. Let us to it pell-mell. If not to Heaven, then hand in hand to Hell.

Clapton’s tears in Heaven would have been a more appropriate quotation to end that post with.

Agree, Wales can afford to go and have a really good go in expansive Scarlets style without worrying too much if they lose.

I hope Kaplan's new leather jacket keeps him nice and warm.

In fairness it does show that the Welsh have good connections, getting refs to write on their behalf.

This was a rebuilding season, new team, new tactics.
Just give either a lash. We are going to lose by a dozen or so we may as well go down playing with a bit of flair.
The Saes bench will be too dynamic.

England: Brown; Watson, Joseph, Farrell, May; Ford, Care; M Vunipola, Hartley (capt), Cole, Launchbury, Itoje, Lawes, Robshaw, Simmonds.

Replacements: George, Hepburn, H Williams, Kruis, Underhill, Wigglesworth, Te'o, Nowell.

Wales: Halfpenny; Adams, S Williams, Parkes, Evans; Patchell, G Davies; Evans, Owens, Lee, Hill, AW Jones (capt), A Shingler, Navidi, Moriarty.

Replacements: Dee, W Jones, Francis, B Davies, Tipuric, A Davies, Anscombe, North.

Anyone fancy doing a head to head?

Let's see if all these Welsh doom-sayers can bring themselves to commit to England players being individually better.

I said before the tournament began that Wales would be very pleased with a return of 2 wins in this year's tournament.

With the victory over the Scots, it looks like we will surpass that with bankers over Italy and France.

It means against Englañd and Ireland, Wales can just go out and play. Whatever happens happens. There is no expectation. We expect to lose.

Gatland has been in charge for ten years. Anyone would think a new coaching staff had just been appointed.

So if you win you will be disappointed? That's logic is that, see.

A Lion = AWJ (3 separate tours)

Which makes Eddie a sheep, I guess...

Said the Welsh rugby player to the animal right activist.

Come on now, you must at least try for the sake of coal, water, steel, houses, rape, control, and punishement

What roof?

Yeah it's been stale for years. However a leopard can apparently change its spots. This change has been forced by injuries and the Scarlets success. England are too settled to strong and just too Saes.
England by 15

We know our place, hopefully you'll take it easy on us sir

If only

I think (hope) cb was taking the piss

Behind the sneering humorous facade there is always a degree of truth about Tarquin's real thoughts opinions and haughty aloof snobbery.

You think our players are better than yours?

I'll bite. Disclaimer - English, not Welsh.
Brown vs 1/2Penny: In my view, 1/2Penny. Close, as I think Brown will bash his head through walls rather than lose, but 1/2Penny is a good defender too, has flashes of inspiration and a better boot. If Watson was here for England I would go for him. Shame L Williams isn't around.
Watson vs Adams. Watson. Scoring tries, solid, seriously put forwards recently as the best wing in the NH. Adams unproven as yet.
Joseph vs S Williams. Joseph. Great try scoring record, great defence. Not the best hands and not a smasher but quick and clever. S Williams a few years ago may got closer, but the Welsh seem to think he has lost his pace.
Farrell vs Parkes. Farrell. In most world XVs a few months ago. Not everybody's cup of tea. Doesn't seem to excel at any one element of 1st 5/8 play, but is pretty decent at all of them. Up against a newbie.
May vs Evans. May. Too fast, plus running great support lines these days instead of crabbing. While not a FB, has learned from being played there.
Ford vs Patchell. Actually bloody close here. Ford has not been playing in a good Tiggers team and Patchell looks excellent. Ford however has far more experience. Probably shades it but I am not sure.
Care vs G Davies. I would probably take Davies. Unless Care has one of his 'on' days I just don't think he is great at SH basics.
M Vunipola vs S Lee. Mako. Lee has never convinced, however strong he is. Mako has been better in the scrum, definitely a better link man.
Hartley (capt) vs Owens. Owens. Hartley always seems a bit beige as a player. Good thrower though... Owens just about.
Cole, vs Evans. Cole. I have been a big critic but actually against Italy he was great. If he plays like that again he may get back to the rock we remember.
Launchbury vs Hill. I would take Launchberry over pretty much anybody. Just everywhere. Strong in the scrum.
Itoje vs AWJ. AWJ. On last year's form, Itoje, but he hasn't been as dynamite this year. AWJ is always absurdly good against England, its like they press a button in his brain.
Lawes vs Shingler. Tough. Probably 50/50 Lawes is good but I still think a bit too slow to turn and get up. But he is a quality player and a better carrier.
Robshaw vs Navidi. Robshaw. Captain reliable. England don't want a fetcher, don't need one.
Simmonds. vs Moriarty. Until last week I would have said Moriarty all day, but now, Simmonds. Play like he did last week and he should be our starting 7 when BV comes back.

Benches:

England by a distance. Tips and North are threats, but Wales pretty callow otherwise, particularly front row. Underworseley and Teo will improve defence and attack respectively. Nowell is looking really, really good.

So what is that: England 10, Wales 5, with England winning the bench, Wales maybe get +1 for Scarlets understanding.

Yes both wings, mid field and no. 10. The front 5 as a unit.
We may shade you in the back row however given you will have a dominant front 5 our platform will be poor. I hope that clarifies my position. You have a better coaching set up as well atm.
I think I have made my point quite clear.

Good man, Molesworth

Let's see if any Welsh agree

There we have it folks. We have no hope.

You are a good poster, c69

Your taxes paid for my education (it shows).

Think it'll be a one score game either way and Welsh fans are either genuinely underrating their team or doing the classic over pleasing of the mockers.

You are such a cowardly deadbeat

The game will he won in the front 5. You have the better international unit by far.
Your bench is very good and I feel you will pull away from a knackered Wales in the last 15. If we had our best 15 on the pitch then it would be close on a dry day.
If it's raining and cold then your forwards will deliver a platform for Ford and Farrell to kick to the corners and control the game. Patchell and Davies won't be able to play a controlled game in such conditions and we don't have a decent catch and maul defence against your line out close to the line

I think we're taking a pretty pragmatic approach to it. We're balancing the fact that we played well last Saturday, against the fact that it was one of very few good performances in the last couple of years, and that England have a great home record, and good form. It's not false modesty - we're genuinely the under dogs, but we know we've got some good players there, just a question of whether they can produce under even greater pressure. We believe in our players and think we can win, but I went into last week unable to call it, because there was no form to point to...but after one good performance our hopes are up, it doesn't mean we're suddenly able to just turn up against the No 2 side in the world and knock them over at home. Cautious optimism is about what we're stretching to at the moment.

Pretty decent there molesworth. One quibble is that I'd take navidi over robshaw at 7. Maybe not at 6, but definitely at 7

I genuinely believe Wales have a chance, and a decent one. It’s just simply that England are more likely to win. Aside from the draw, the way it will go will be:

1) Narrow welsh win
2) Narrow English win
3) Welsh sphincters left gaping

I don’t think that’s an unreasonable assessment, and I’m not saying we have no chance.