The Rugby Thread

[jimbo]

Under 20 Rugby World Cup final on YouTube this evening Ireland v France

6pm here’s the link

LIVE Rugby | Ireland v France | World Rugby U20 Championship Final

#WorldRugbyU20s SUBSCRIBE to World Rugby on YouTube!Keep up-to-date on all things rugby by following World Rugby on social media @WorldRugby

www.youtube.com

Hoping this will be the teams for the adult men's final as well in a few months time.

 

[UncleBuck]

Under 20 Rugby World Cup final on YouTube this evening Ireland v France

6pm here’s the link

LIVE Rugby | Ireland v France | World Rugby U20 Championship Final

#WorldRugbyU20s SUBSCRIBE to World Rugby on YouTube!Keep up-to-date on all things rugby by following World Rugby on social media @WorldRugby

www.youtube.com

Excellent thanks for that seeing as cricket is off tonight, keep the kids entertained for a bit

 

[tototoner]

France too strong for us

 

[midoshairband]

this is a seriously poor England side.

 

[UncleBuck]

Awful. I know we had a few out but Borthwick has got some proper work on his hands.
That Pumas game is going to make or break us even with a fully functioning first XV, have to say I’m not holding out much hope of us getting out of the group.

 

[jimbo]

I know I was sceptical about sacking Jones for Borthwick, but I'm really not seeing the exciting squad selections and free-flowing attack that seemed to have been promised. I expect an England win today, they have to win really, but I also expect it will come off the back of a lot of kicking and forward grind. Continuity of the Jones era basically, Serge Blanco era France it ain't - more of a rich man's Georgia.

Dull, efficient, percentage rugby is what the RFU seem to favour going back to Barnes vs Andrew so it's nothing new I guess, and England are very efficient at it so maybe it does present the best hope for a competitive World Cup campaign. Time will tell if the game has moved beyond that, I suspect it will still work well enough against all but the very top sides. England to have too much for Wales today either way.

 

[jimbo]

I am really looking forward to the RWC, especially France vs New Zealand in the local on a Friday night.

Who are we backing to lift the trophy? I've gone with France and Ireland as my relatively safe bets and Argentina as my highly unlikely dark horse, just because I quite like Argentina - that opening game against England on the Saturday could be epic. I might have to go the pub two days in a row.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I think it's safe to say neither England or Wales will be worrying the latter stages of the World Cup.

Although I think England are in a much worse spot to be honest.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Argentina and Japan will be linking their lips at this England performance

Pretty sure Argentina would beat this Wales team at a canter and Japan would give it a much better go than us

 

[jimbo]

I mean, no arm, direct to the head - that’s got to be a red. More than that, what a brainless thing to do.

 

[jimbo]

Argentina and Japan will be linking their lips at this England performance

Pretty sure Argentina would beat this Wales team at a canter and Japan would give it a much better go than us

Beat them maybe, but at a canter? Definitely disagree based on what I’ve seen from the two games against England.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Beat them maybe, but at a canter? Definitely disagree based on what I’ve seen from the two games against England.

I meant this particular Wales XV.

This is effectively Wales B today.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Farrell simply isn't worth the Red card risk anymore for England.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Well at least we won't have the Farrell selection headache for the World Cup now

 

[dirtyh]

Regardless of the result, England are terrible. So one dimensional.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I was pro Jones going and Borthwick was the right choice based on his previous successes.

But it's very hard to see any significant changes since he came in.

 

[dirtyh]

Wales threw that away completely. Either side up against nz or sa and it would be a bloodbath.

 

[jimbo]

I meant this particular Wales XV.

This is effectively Wales B today.

Oh, well in that case I see what you mean.

Overall, I think Wales need to do some urgent work on their line out, but there are some promising signs among the younger players that makes me wonder why they didn’t integrate them sooner. Experience is so important at this level and I think they’ll be short come the World Cup. QFs at best depending on how the Fiji game goes.

England though look to be in serious trouble, more questions than answers from these two games and with a group of players that have more experience for the most part. They needed to win this, and they did, but aside from Daly that is the only positive I can see from it, and England really should win at home against pretty much anybody. The handling errors in particular should be a massive concern. Though even with a defeat against Argentina I’d expect them to qualify from the group but like Wales it’s hard to see them getting beyond the QFs - the difference is I’m not sure that’s really good enough for England.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Wales threw that away completely. Either side up against nz or sa and it would be a bloodbath.

Yep two very poor teams

 

[jimbo]

Wales threw that away completely. Either side up against nz or sa and it would be a bloodbath.

I agree, but I think Wales will improve with experience and time - too late for the RWC but there is hope there. For England, I think it’s back to the drawing board - they should be much better than they are showing. Maybe it will come together in a months time, but it’s hard to see it.