Comments on: Rugby World Cup 2015: Australia team to play England

By: Paddy joe

Paddy joe — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 22:02:53 +0000

I was right, wasn’t I

By: Jacob

Jacob — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 07:42:15 +0000

Think it is an awful situation but not one I can bring myself to blame on SL (even though I have turned on him slowly dating back tot he Hartley situation).

Kvesic looks bang average at Prem level, and just because his style is that of a fetcher it doesn’t make him a better 7 than Robshaw. There aren’t any genuine options. Fraser may have been, but injuries are wrecking his career. Clarke maybe, but we all know the issues he has had over the past few years.

Develop a distributing centre? Who? Slade? Would love to see Slade at 12 definitely. But to play him there, JJ can’t play at 13. We just wouldn’t get over the gainline enough. Much like Australia use Kurindrani outside Giteau, we’d need a similar blend. Then who do you go for? With the emergence of JJ, it made picking Slade next to impossible.

Slade and Tuilagi in the future does sound like something I’d enjoy watching though.

By: PJ McDermott

PJ McDermott — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 23:36:18 +0000

England has 2 chances – slim and none

By: Staggy

Staggy — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 19:28:10 +0000

But sadly note how the Fijian scrum routed Wales, so Wales may not be a good benchmark for us up front. Please Rowntree earn your money on this one.

By: Matt B

Matt B — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 12:01:36 +0000

I like your optimism. Finger’s crossed Poite reads the scrum in England’s favour.

By: Benjit

Benjit — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 11:59:19 +0000

Self inflicted to some extent Jacob. SL has had plenty of time to develop an openside and distributing centre. He has the latter in the squad but refuses to select him, even from the bench. afew more caps for Kvesic, instead of Haskell, with CR at 6, might have at least provided an option or alternative.

By: Sharpy

Sharpy — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 11:52:24 +0000

I think we can forget about getting anything other than parity upfront,if we are lucky.
Our pack has done nothing to show me otherwise .Australia by 10

By: kit

kit — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 10:51:05 +0000

I expect the first line on the team talk notes to read ‘must dominate first scrum’

By: kit

kit — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 10:50:00 +0000

They also lost a few scrum to the Fijians if I remember correctly, I know we did as well but we were much improved against Wales.

So I still reckon we may just do a number on them come scrum time.

By: Egg Chaser

Egg Chaser — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 10:42:39 +0000

Much improved against other SH sides. Let’s see how they go against a NH pack.

By: bazzwhelan

bazzwhelan — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 10:02:34 +0000

The key name here may actually be Romain Poite.

By: Matt B

Matt B — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 09:45:04 +0000

With the Aus scrum much improved I think England will have to play out of their skins to beat this team.