La composition de l'Angleterre contre l'Australie

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The number of Irish body parts and limbs offside and/or laying about the rucks, or slowing rucks is definitely strategy. Andy Farrell is definitely coaching them to hug the line - despite what he says.

If you want to be objective though you have to look at it. Going too far the other way is looking for excuses. Finding the right balance is the way.

In many ways it doesn't really matter, much like the daft team rankings that they keep going on about. The very fact that 3 out of the 4 are Boks is great (and fully justified) and a bit like the Academy Awards - being nominated is the important thing.

A Welshman whose team has no Welsh heart would say that

SA has a much tougher task in learning how to play with Tony Brown's influence IMO but in the same respect they can raise their game so much more if their attack becomes as influential as their defence/control. That will certainly shut.. everyone up!

Which people exactly?

No he was on his uppers and out of contract when Saracens came calling, and he was the fourth ranked second row when he joined them. It was his last chance saloon as a pro player. and he had to fight for his place for the first time in his career. Nothing to do with money.

The opening loss to Argentina by 38-30..

Was anything but fine margins, the scoreline was flattering for that game. They were beat in every margin but most emphatically be effort of Argentina. They were slow and likely arrogant in their prep following the England series. You can see the effect on the selection and poor messaging all the playmakers started receiving from the coaching setup there after.

Otherwise though there was also a lot of really good stuff that can too easily be labelled as lucky by people intent on making a point. The team was far from certain and clinical though and the best that can be said of their losses was that they were largely due to some atrocious decisions with cards twice against SA and the neckroll last weekend (you can't take away the 14 point try, that is typical French rugby and to be expected).

This team is good enough to be able to cope with those sorts of difficulties if they could just execute a bit better (but only as well as they have traditionally mind you). Sound selections aside. Some good positivity in this article but we know it's not going to be easy as the ABs have just been trying to return to their DNA after Fosters control but countries like Aussie have a much bigger task in that respect and SA is even trying to change their DNA (again). Those two opponents (along with France obviously) are going to provide some tough competition in seeing who can lead into the 2027 RWC with the best prospects and form behind them.

Well he's had four this season, mostly they can be numbered on the fingers of one hand per season. Rare birds.

Gustard got promoted to head coach at Stade Francais so maybe he wanted to stay in France?

I'll leave it to the 'diggers' and 'exclusive-hunters' Ed!

No thanks! If you cannot see the diff between a defence that conceded 12 tries at home in their last three home games, and 17 in 7 on Jones' watch [five of those away] it's your problem, not mine. Go work it out.

…which probably tells you something about SB’s decision making!

all.rugby

IDK I feel the 'best' team for this week would have included fresher faces.

Not enough injuries!

Errrmmmm…..isn’t that your job?! 😉😂

Ratima? He needs to get some good coaching, for sure, he should get that back at the Chiefs though and can at least come in roaring again next year. Hopefully Razor's team has it's messaging sorted by then (as it's obvious they don't know what they want from their halves atm).

they have chosen to leave NZ rugby for pay days.

They've done better than a lot of recent retired greats who forced themselvse on the ABs by staying too long.