England can make big statement in Cardiff - Andy Goode
All the expectation is on Wales in front of their own fans at the Principality Stadium today and England have the chance to make a big statement with a win.
Wales took a bona fide first team to Twickenham last weekend and were expected to win by 10 or 15 points really against an England second string and on the back of claiming a Grand Slam just a few months earlier.
However, they lost by 14 points and, with just three changes to each starting XV, the scenario is largely the same in Cardiff. Of the England starters today, only Elliot Daly, Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola would currently be in the first choice line-up.
As a result, Wales have to be sizeable favourites going into the game and an away victory for England would lay down a real marker, even if it is only a warm-up match.
Warren Gatland said he tried to do things a bit differently last week but they were lacklustre and, despite the Grand Slam and a run of 14 straight wins until Sunday, there will be a few question marks if that display is replicated and they suffer another defeat.
On the flip side, many will be surprised that Eddie Jones hasn’t opted to bring in a few more of his big names and that means getting a win in Cardiff would send out an even bigger message to the rest of the world.
In terms of the selection, I think Jones is looking at the two opening pool games of the World Cup when there is a four-day turnaround and is giving the various combinations in this team more of a chance to get used to working together.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the line-up for either the Tonga or USA game looks pretty similar to this one, with a starting XV closer to the one that was used for much of the Six Nations put out in the other.
I think this front row will start together in one of those games and then you have the perceived second choice halfbacks, centres and wingers all starting alongside one another again today.
There’s no doubt the likes of Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Mark Wilson, Jonny May and Manu Tuilagi will start against Ireland next week and then it’ll be interesting to see what Eddie does against Italy in terms of whether one start is enough for some of them.
Jones knows his first choice side but it isn’t a closed shop given they didn’t finish the Six Nations in sparkling fashion and the perceived second team have started the World Cup warm-ups strongly, so there will be a few believing they can play their way in.
Of course, neither coach will be getting carried away about the results in these games as it’s about giving players opportunities to stake their claim and combinations the chance to gel but momentum is important in sport.
Keeping the feel-good factor going would be a real bonus for England and there’s no hiding the fact that it’d deliver a bit of a blow to Wales if they lost both of these encounters having gone full noise in both in terms of their selection.
There is also the added extra that one of these teams could be number one in the world come Monday morning. That’s an interesting angle for the fans and media but, believe me, none of the players or coaches will be giving that a second thought with the spectre of a World Cup looming large.
Comments on RugbyPass
RIP big man 🙏
1 Go to commentsThe GB coach. “Just because we don’t get together as much as other teams we don’t use that as an excuse for performances when we don’t hit the mark”. Why mention it at all then?
1 Go to commentsNo mention of the yellow card for Harlequins which really cost them.
3 Go to commentsThought you’d left us Nick. Good to have you back writing for us. So hunter ikitau works? I reckon wright kellaway as two of the back 3. Tim Ryan and Toole looking good for strike winger but I still want the power of korobeiti and figure our forwards still need him to help them out. Million dollar question is who plays 10? I’m thinking Noah for his kicking and combo with wright. Reckon the pair adds up to an attack and kellaway will help. Can you comment on Zac Lucas in Japan? How is he going?
1 Go to commentsMack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to commentsInstead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
3 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
5 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
3 Go to commentsThe game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
3 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
8 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
3 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
3 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
3 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
5 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
5 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
5 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
16 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
16 Go to comments