Rugby Union Summer International Thread

MikeTheNative

MikeTheNative

MikeTheNative

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17 Jun 2012
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South Wales
With the England V Wales game kicking off the start of the summer internationals on Sunday what do people think of the home nations chances? I hope Wales don't get pummelled to be honest, giving NZ a game would be nice but I'm not confident at all. I think this England team can do well and they definitely have a good chance of taking the series. Ireland seemed to have regressed during the 6 nations and an away tour to SA is never going to be easy, I think they will probably lose all the games but go close. Finally Scotland, I know Japan showed they can beat top sides at the WC but I don't see anything else than a win for an ever improving Scottish side.
 
Teams for Sunday

England:

Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Luther Burrell, Marland Yarde, George Ford, Ben Youngs; Matt Mullan, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole; Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes; Teimana Harrison, James Haskell, Jack Clifford.

Replacements: Tommy Taylor, Ellis Genge, Paul Hill, Dave Attwood, Matt Kvesic, Danny Care, Ollie Devoto Elliot Daly.

Wales:

Liam Williams (Scarlets), George North (Northampton Saints), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Hallam Amos (Dragons), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester), Dan Lydiate (Capt - Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Josh Turnbull (Cardiff Blues), James King (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues)

I don't see the point of having both Priestland and Anscombe on the bench, they are both a similar type of player and cover the same positions. I would have liked to see Tyler Morgan get a run out but it's good to Scott Williams back although I doubt he will start over Davies or Roberts in the Tests. England's team is very strong even without a number of first choices players, hopefully everyone gets through this with no injuries.
 
TheMightyTen said:
A fairly workman like win for England there, 5 tries is always good and with supposed 2nd and 3rd stringers in certain positions.

I really worry for Wales, if they face the Kiwis in that form they are going to get absolutely trounced. I think we saw two teams playing that are very much going in opposite directions at the moment, I did say to a Welsh colleague at the end of the World Cup that it really is time for Wales to get rid of Gatland as he has been well and truly worked out by the World class coaches now, needless to say the colleague laughed in my face, what with him being full of the joys of putting England out of their own WC even though I did point out being a good team involves more than just beating England, there are in fact 3 much better teams above them in the World rankings ;)
Click to expand...

I agree with you that Gatland has had his time. It seems that the WRU are happy with a 2nd/3rd place and the occasional win in the 6 nations than to take any risks. Wales have quite a few young talented players who don't even get considered as the aren't 6'2 and 15st +. I feared a thrashing (to NZl) before the England game but now I think it might be a massacre, or Wales are trying there best to look crap and lull them into a false sense of security. :p England played very well and I still think they can take a game over in AUS.
 
Wales team to face New Zealand: Liam Williams (Scarlets), George North (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, captain), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Rob Evans (Ospreys), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets)


New Zealand team to face Wales: Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Ryan Crotty, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read (captain), Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano; Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.

Replacements: Nathan Harris, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Seta Tamanivalu.
 
I have never understood the 6-2 split, just one injury then your under severe pressure. Glad to see Patchell fancy get his chance under Gatland, however I imagine the ABs aren't going to be anywhere near as rusty as last week and expect them to win by 20+.
 
Well done to England thoroughly deserved their series win, shame it's the Lions next year as I would have liked to see them have a crack at a NZL tour. More of the same for Wales and giving up playing for 20 mins, this time it was 50-70 minutes, the pace NZl play at is ridiculous. Although I thought that Wales were meant to be fit! Unlucky for Ireland but it was good to see SA actually play some rugby in the 2nd half, they were awful last week.
 
What an awful performance to finish the tour for Wales, didn't seem to offer anything. Well done to england for their 3-0 win, haven't seen the game but got the highlights recorded and judging by the score should be a good one.
 
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