Just away from the point what has happened to the boks, u must be miffed your lot couldn't turn them over a few months ago, that loss I think was worse than the Japan one

Don't agree on the ref, contentious calls for both sides. Fekitoa got binned for exactly the same thing Sexton did when he "successfully defended" behind the try line. I also thought Smiths card was harsh as there was no ruck. Henshaw was unlucky as he spun into that, I thought a penalty was fair. Pass seemed flat to me at the end.

It's a sad day though, this quota nonsense has destroyed one of the great sporting nations and I really feel sorry for the SA fans. Congratulations to Italy though.

I thought England were poor, we have to improve for Argentina and Australia or we might lose.

Caught the second half of Georgia v Samoa, it was a real battle. Happy to see Georgia get the win!

Will watch Wales Japan at some point, Joseph is a quality coach I really hope he can make them competitive for their WC.

South Africa as a country has fallen apart in the last 20 years, not just at rugby.

Something of an ethical conondrum.

The Japanese only know how to win. Now that they have an interest in rugby, I can't see them accepting anyhing less than reaching the knockout stages in 2019, and think they'll be a major force not long after that. Beautiful and amazing country.

My ass is disproportionate to my body

England has the 2001 feeling about them atm.

Grand slam, winning game after game, 2nd team capable of beating most teams.

Reckon it might take a good all blacks side to stop england 2019.

And gatland would have to majorly screw things up not to get a very good shot of a series win with the Lions next year.

JWinks

I salute your indefatigability and I wish you well.

Launchbury (probably our best player this AI) has been cited......ugh. We might have strength in depth as Show will no doubt tell me but this is getting bad now.

I suppose you will have to bring in Attwood. What a shame, Attwood would be our first reserve, not our 5th.

And if Launchbury is lost through his own thuggery, then hell mend you. No sympathy here.

@@@@ing hell.

If there's two players we couldnt afford to lose it's launchberry and robshaw.

Odds of robshaw picking up a knock in training ?

In brighter news :

http://www.englandrugby.com/news/kruis-joins-england-camp-ahead-argentina-clash/

Ach well, it's all good then, crisis over.

Just because he is training doesn't mean he will be in any condition to start. He may make the bench, I'd be very surprised if EJ chucked him straight into the XV.

Bit of a battle for Ford going on atm, apparently he being offered 850k! by both Bath and Leicester. I really like Ford but that's a big chunk of the cap for one guy.

Demus

Toulon will top that if we wants to forsake international duty.

Anyone starting regularly for England isn't going to France.

Roko has been dropped from match day squad. Bit rough, but I think he did look a but vulnerable with his positioning so not a huge surprise for me. I just hope we can throw it around this weekend a bit, it's been a little lacklustre compared to the outstanding 3 tests we played vrs Aus.

comment by Aristodemus (U3765)
posted 2 minutes ago
Roko has been dropped from match day squad. Bit rough, but I think he did look a but vulnerable with his positioning so not a huge surprise for me. I just hope we can throw it around this weekend a bit, it's been a little lacklustre compared to the outstanding 3 tests we played vrs Aus
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9 tries not throwing it around enough !!!!!!

Fiji are not a good side. After watching their performance v the BaaBaas I expected more, we haven't come close to any one of those three games we played in the summer. I've no doubt losing Maro has hurt us but we haven't performed like we can.....yet.

Demus

Top assessment mate. It can't all be down to Itoje not being there. If it was, then you'd have a massive problem.

You have played two rubbish sides and not really looked that great in either game. I told you Boks were poor and they proved that again in Rome. The Fiji result is pretty meaningless really.

Compared to the 6N and the Australia tour I'd actually say England have gone backwards, or at least they are very much a work in progress. Not even sure if the Argies will be that much of a real test by which to measure. They haven't really been up to snuff this time. I mean, even we beat them in a turgid match.

because he is training doesn't mean he will be in any condition to start. He may make the bench, I'd be very surprised if EJ plays him from the off

Nothing to add or you just being a Richard?

comment by theresgonnaebeashow - El Presidente Trompeta es un hombre muy loco. (U5686)
posted 1 day, 5 hours ago
Demus

Top assessment mate. It can't all be down to Itoje not being there. If it was, then you'd have a massive problem.

You have played two rubbish sides and not really looked that great in either game. I told you Boks were poor and they proved that again in Rome. The Fiji result is pretty meaningless really.

Compared to the 6N and the Australia tour I'd actually say England have gone backwards, or at least they are very much a work in progress. Not even sure if the Argies will be that much of a real test by which to measure. They haven't really been up to snuff this time. I mean, even we beat them in a turgid match.


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I lok forward to you telling us that you thought the all blacks werent up to much, and in spite of the win england looked pretty terrible and like theyre going backwards

It's a fair comment. I thought we were decent in the 6N but were absolutely brilliant in Australia. This AI hasn't been great, simple as that.

Sounds like Eddie's got Daly down as a winger from here on, and that he's pretty keen on him.

Could this lead to a long term back 3 of Daly, May, Watson ?

1st choice : Daly, May, Watson
2nd choice : Nowell, Rodrugani, Brown
3rd choice : Yarde, ?, Goode

Would make sense as it would free the options for the centres up a bit :

farrell, jospeh, teo, slade, tuilagi ++

Nowell is the best winger we have by a distance for me, I'm hoping he takes over from Brown at FB in the next year or so.