Official England vs Wales match thread!!
Twickenham has never traditionally been a happy hunting ground for the Welsh with their victory there in 2008 - in Gatland's first game in charge - their first win in South West London in 20 years.
Only three players have survived from that side - Adam Jones, Mike Phillips and Alun Wyn Jones - but Gatland has even more confidence in the new generation that sweptWales to within a whisker of the World Cup final.
But while the pressure is mounting after back-to-back victories against Ireland and Scotland, Gatland is confidentWales can harness the strain that accompanies their favourites tags against the defending champions.
England Form Guide
Date Team Score Team
11/2/12 Ita 15 - 19 Eng
4/2/12 Sco 6 - 13 Eng
19/3/11 Ire 24 - 8 Eng
Wales Form Guide
Date Team Score Team
12/2/12 Wal 27 - 13 Sco
5/2/12 Ire 21 - 23 Wal
19/3/11 Fra 28 - 9 Wal
Lineups
Ben Foden 15 Leigh Halfpenny
Chris Ashton 14 Alex Cuthbert
Manu Tuilagi 13 Jonathan Davies
Brad Barritt 12 Jamie Roberts
David Strettle 11 George North
Owen Farrell 10 Rhys Priestland
Lee Dickson 9 Mike Phillips
Alex Corbisiero 1 Gethin Jenkins
Dylan Hartley 2 Ken Owens
Dan Cole 3 Adam Rhys Jones
Mouritz Botha 4 Alun Wyn Jones
Geoff Parling 5 Ian Evans
Tom Croft 6 Dan Lydiate
Chris Robshaw (capt) 7 Sam Warburton (capt)
Ben Morgan 8 Toby Faletau
Replacements
Rob Webber 16 Richard Hibbard
Matt Stevens 17 Paul James
Courtney Lawes 18 Ryan Jones
Phil Dowson 19 Justin Tipuric
Ben Youngs 20 Lloyd Williams
Toby Flood 21 Stephen Jones
Mike Brown 22 Scott Williams
UPDATES
3mins-What a start!! North finds the gap from a beautiful reverse pass, Ashton tackles him by a great tap tackle. Then the chipped ball goes out in Englands tri zone.
Comment, debate, discuss!
(admins, do your magic whatever it is)
England vs Wales
posted on 2/3/12
Hopefully there'll be a scrum half playing better than he has been recently. Phillips is not a lions scrum half - believes in his own hype now and his delivery too slow.
posted on 2/3/12
Phillips = step, step, step, hospital pass.
posted on 2/3/12
That, or the fact he has the worst case of try-line fever I ever saw.
posted on 2/3/12
MonDieu
Completely agreed, has he ever passed the ball without taking a step first?
posted on 2/3/12
His size allows him to take a step though. thats the benefit of being big. he always looks for a break, a hole or a sloppy flanker not in the correct defensive position at the ruck.
Thats does not necessarily make him a bad SH. It's just his style and the same style for any big SH who can take a tackle and not get turned over.
Not defending philips just pointing out the subtle differences and the line between being bad and being good are blurred with him.
On a personal note i would prefer as plain and simple passing SH. From the base to the FH in one moment. Especially as the Lions looks likely to be a pretty good back line we will need really quick ball to make the most of it and give the runners space and most importantly TIME to build up momentum. Enter George North! U give him time to build up a head of steam and i don't think any of the Australian defenders could stop him.
posted on 2/3/12
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posted on 2/3/12
Dwayne Peel, was very very good, before injuries took there toll
posted on 2/3/12
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posted on 2/3/12
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posted on 2/3/12
Last Lions blair was probably the best scrum half choice, but now? that guy is the very definition of blows hot and cold.
I think your spot on though. no stand out performers. Redden is probably the closest to being your classical SH. passes very well always from the ground out. but, and im irish, there is just something about redden that i dont buy into. cant put my finger on it.