Watching Eng is like watching Ireland in 2019, using a very limited game plan (with no plan B) that the opposition have figured out and can essily counter. I dont think Eng have the quality of previous teams but they are much better than the limited tactics being imposed by Borthwick
@@leeofdoom4452 There may be some lions in there but some are well passed their best. And I think you’ll find quite a few who featured last weekend will be named ahead of a few of those you’ve mentioned. With the exception of a couple, they don’t look that much better tbh.
Can see Wales maybe behind in some pool games at half time but will grind out wins second half with their fitness. AWJ, Tipps and the sheriff knew they'd never cope with the training so stood down to make way for younger guys. Respect to them.
Seems a few people agree with me. I'd like to add this isn't the first time I've seen this.......let's be polite and call it a 'lack of intensity' in the last few years.
Those stats are from England circa 1983 in the darkest days of the old Five Nations when we couldn’t pass, carry, tackle, catch etc and we were so disappointing in that first 1987 WRC tournament. Really interesting what was said about Rassie having the same amount of time as Steve Boxkick and being able to run out RWC winners in that same time period. Despite having all those highly capped players we just looked lost in attack and creatively. No coaching identity, pedestrian drills, Goody is absolutely spot on with all his analysis.
Jesus Christ, selecting a squad based on how versatile each player is, is madness! You need to pick the best players in each position, specialists, not utilities. Caden Murley is class and a specialist winger. Malins and Watson; pick one, not both, they can both play wing or fullback. It used to be that a lack of specialism would go against you now it's a requirement!
Good to see a podcast / expert recognising that whilst wales have been dog turd last few years, they have a group of players who are actually very talented and warren Gatland is a coach who has more experience at tournaments (3 world cups, 4 lions tours) than any other coach. Wales will prove a lot of people wrong this World Cup
It wasn’t poor…it was fucking awful. The Welsh team played better, but that’s not saying much. Either team would get absolutely shat on by Ireland, SA, NZ or Aus and probably Argentina and Scotland would absolutely feel they could slap us about too. It almost reminds me of the 90s in football with a load of very very talented footballers that were more interested in their club matches than representing their country. The passion just isn’t there
@@StopTheRot how is anything I said deluded? I’m saying our national side is crap at the moment and most teams would probably roll us over. What more is there to say? Regardless or having world class players or not…
The comment about Wales lineup being close to their starting 15 is wrong, Mason Grady is yet to play Liam, Toby, the whole front row was second choice Beard is yet to start, josh Adams Wainwright is not nailed on only Jac Morgan in the pack with Rowlands and LRZ North in the backline are nailed on starters, these are trail games, and you need a strong squad of players to get through a WC, Wales looked better than England by miles.
The lack of consistent selection in key positions is going to cost Eng. No sign of a set 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. Bit like France under Marc Lievremont, great players but multiple different combos each game meant no familiarity or consistency. Freddie Steward is the only exception but what is the plan? Changing one or two players due to injury, fine but not having set combinations by this stage is madness.
I do agree with Jim and Goodey on the strength of the English pack and the power in the backline (on paper) but what they failed to mention in this clip is the all-important 9-10 combination that links everything. Unless our scrum-half play drastically improves and they are able to allow Farrell to be the World Class 10 he is, then having a strong pack and a good back line counts for nought. A man might have huge biceps and powerful forearms, but if he's crippled with elbow tendonitis he won't be able to curl shit.
These guys are delusional. Even with the big names to come back Manu Farrell Ford Watson Itoje - I dont fancy them to beat a well-drilled Cheika's Argentina
I'm trying to remain optimistic here, but there are shades of the Robinson era and the lack poor quality of basic rugby on Sat from England does not bode well. People have spoken about the lack of a new-coach bounce but for me, listening to the post-match with Gats and SB it was the difference between a world-class coach and someone running the best hits of the Eddie era. Given that SB will likely want to play a more complete WC squad next weekend you would expect to see a marked improvement, although I can't stop thinking about the woeful 6N showing and how this is essentially the same team. Maybe they can find some form going into the group but that said, I don't think I would be entirely shocked if England fail to get through. Really hope I way off the mark here.
Once you actually bother to go through them, Goody is right. Blamire - would be 4th choice behind Cowan/George and walker Dan - 5th choice hooker Martin - 4th choice lock Pearson - not in the squad Ribbons - 3rd Slade - not in the squad Dombrandt - not in the squad Coka - not in the squad Care -3rd choice Smith - 3rd choice Malins - 3rd choice Porter - not in the squad Rodd - 3rd choice Hill - 3/4 Willis - not in the squad
@@Gilescowdemdem Hill starts, care starts and Smith all first choice. Youngs and VP are awful, and Farrell plays 12 outside Smith. I'll give you Blamire, Martin is 3rd/4th, it's crazy Slade doesnt travel, hes a starter IMO
@@leeofdoom4452lol what? Maro and Chisholm start Young's or JVP obviously start It's very likely to be a Farrel/ford combo or Farrell starts at 10 with ford behind him. Just because you don't like a player doesn't change the actual pecking order.
@@leeofdoom4452lol so why would Hill start if he looked worse? I didn't mention Stewart who snckler replaced, think he's first choice now and Slade isn't in the squad. What is your point exactly?
Wales werent far away from being fully loaded... Debuts both props, 2nd choice hooker went off after a few mins for 4th choice hooker. Returning lock from injury and a kid with 3 caps. Morgan a new starter granted, Tsiunza new and Wainwright out if position. Davies 3rd choice 9, Costelow definitely top 6 fly half for Wales lol. New caps in the centre, old man plugging a gap at 15 and Rio the semi pro Dyer. I have it as Wales started 5 first teamers, Rowlands, Morgan, Wainright, North, LRZ. England arguably played a similar side, a few starters, a few new caps and some fringe players
@@eazyollie9370 that's what people said last week lol. I think Wales go for a big number of changes, England have to go fully loaded and England may edge it
@@leeofdoom4452 Nah I didn't expect that team we selected to win in Wales that was always a tough ask, that was a genuine last look at players and their poor performances have cost themselves a place on the plane. Our first XV will have way too much pace and power for Wales. I hope we pick a back row of Willis, Earl and Curry, let them manhandle your little back rowers.
@@eazyollie9370hahahaha cost them, 15 of that 23 are going to France lol Genge, Sinckler, Hill, Ludlam, JVP, Smith, Ford, Marchant, Steward might all start v Argentina That's half your best 15
Samoa are going to cause a huge hiccup for Pool D. They’re flying under the radar massively. They have arguably the best centre in Top 14 UJ Seutini. Theo McFarland who was the best player at Saracens prior to injury. Chris Vui who is captain at Bristol. Luatua who is a work horse and Charlie Faumuina who was one of the best props in his time. Can’t forget Christian Leali’ifano. Then you have X Factor players like Jordan Taufua, Lima Sopoaga, Ben Lam. Samoa are in a great place under Seilala Mapusua - they know how they want to play and aren’t just the ‘big hitters’ anymore - they’ve become more well rounded and vastly improving. Samoa never have a problem winning the physicality battle, just ask the Springboks! That is something England have struggled with. I’m not saying Samoa WILL win but given their vast improvement on their overall game - could cause a huge upset as their greatest strength is England’s biggest weakness. If England lose to Argentina, it’ll open Pool D right up. I wouldn’t go past Samoa beating Wallabies or Wales in QF either. ‘Warrenball’ isn’t as effective v Samoa as history has proven. 17-10 win in 2011 for Wales in a highly competitive game then the following year a 26-19 loss to Samoa in Cardiff. The Wallabies are woeful but Samoa beat them in 2011 and beat Australia A couple weeks back with a few of the current starters in there. I’m hoping England and Samoa go through. SB squad isn’t exciting but exciting rugby doesn’t always win RWC’s. Springboks ‘19 and England ‘03 come to mind. The players just have to be well drilled with the game-plan down to a tee. England certainly have the players to do it - it’s just wether they do it.
@@REX4340 The coaching staff is more then capable. Seilala Mapusua, Tana Umaga, Tusi Pisi and Mahonori Schwagler have years of playing experience almost similar to Borthwick, Wigglersworth and Sinfield. Then have experienced coache’s in Andrew Goodman and Tom Coventry running attack and forwards. The seperating factor between the two are the resources available and the player selections. England having far more quality.
@@bulltraderpt Willis is better surely. Underhill is a great tackler but not as dynamic at the breakdown or carries as Willis. I think there’s a lot of questionable selections in this squad and lack of depth in positions but we’re absolutely stacked at openside
Especially after the 2nd game against wales, we defo dont beat the pumas and im getting more and more worried about Japan and samoa, both decent teams these days. Wouldn't be shocked if we lose all 3 of those games atm wales simply arent good atm and they were still comfortably better than us whilst still being shite themselves 😂
@@MadMarchTaffyI think your right. Only true specialists like front rows can be replaced if banned and there's only 1 option left. If you have enough to make a match day 23 then no.
In the Rugby Championship a red carded player can be replaced on the Field after 20-minutes playing time a trial law introduced 2022 but unsure if that applies to the RWC 2023. I would assume it does. A yellow carded player must sit out 10 minutes of playing time, if the game time is stopped, the 10 minute clock is stopped & started when time is back on. if the player returns to the game and incurs another yellow it's an automatic red card and he can't be replaced until after 20-minutes, playing time, as a red card offense.
Why oh why did Borthwick finish his selection before the friendly fixtures? Is Danny Care the only scrum half in the squad that knows the importance of speed of delivery from the ruck? Why is Ford in the squad. Smith will get smashed if he plays.
Come on guys, that was not Wales fully loaded team 😂 there was 5 uncapped players, first time as captain, so 6 players who have never had that exposure. Our 10 was 22 years old with 3 caps, Mason Grady and a few others with Just 1 or 2 caps! Far from a main squad, I’d say Englands stronger than the welsh considering they’ve kept 75% of the players. This weekend will be a bigger test for us Welsh though but we have a more experienced squad but with 3 uncapped players so if England don’t win then either Wales are in a very good place or England are just making us look good!
I think you’ll find England will be fitter come RWC.It’s a process when you hit a hard few week’s training then decrease it slowly towards the WC.It’s obvious coming from an Ironman background it’s how it works.Having said that their skill set really needs to improve dramatically
As an England fan I’m absolutely shitting it for the rwc as we look awful and don’t seem to have a plan b. We will be lucky to get out the group and will get destroyed by the southern hemisphere teams 😢😢
Let's be fair England will always be rubbish until they actually have a decent manager and start playing their hearts out and believe they can win. Such a shame. Yet another game we invented but are now rubbish at as we don't believe.
Why Malins? Too slow and ponderous. Why Youngs, Care…..too old, too slow and play bad kicking game. Go for broke, have exciting players like Randell and Thacker. Not saying old players are necessary bad, May might not be as fast as he was but gives his all regardless of how the team is playing.
Blunderwicks squad is a shambles 1 8 who's never fit and is post op, 3 9's two of who shouldn't be in squad as Mitchell & Spencer are better and a wasted shirt with Bouffant which should have gone to Slade.
Is there a possibility that some teams that have the luxury of a large player pool regarding selection are not too concerned with these lead up games and perhaps don’t want to reveal their game plans before the games that really matter?
England didn’t field a proper openside flanker and lost 23 turnovers, it’s no surprise. Borthwick fielded 3 blindside/utility back rows because it was possibly his only chance to see them all out on the pitch. Good to see T Willis and Pearson have a run out but they’re not ready yet.
I would LOVE to see a back row of Willis at 6, Earl at 7 and Curry at 8. That would offer crazy pace and dynamism and they're all great at stealing the ball back.
@@alexandervanderpluym5400 Makes sense to me, Curry, Willis, Earl and Ludlam aren't going anywhere anytime soon. I'm praying Borthwick gives Earl a chance, he offers the complete skillset in terms of pace and power rather than being just super physical like the other 3.
@@alexandervanderpluym5400 we definitely have enough 7s. 6 is the key position IMHO. It has been the missing link for a few years. We played two 7s in RWC 2019. And for the last few years we have tried all kinds of people at 6 (Lawes, Simmonds etc.). If we had better depth at 6 then we might even be able to use some of the more exciting 8s like Mercer and Simmonds and I think Dombrandt would shine more. I’m surprised Brad Shields didn’t make a comeback post 2019 given his skill set at 6. I think the best bet is to start Willis (7), Curry (6) and hope Billy V can still perform at 8.
I do love the way a lot of the nations right off wales . Got to laugh when they get it wrong every time. Wales 🏴 got up keep their feet on the ground
Maybe this is wrong but the wry smiles and lack of frustration at the handling errors really irked me. You should be fuming if you drop that ball that often.
Isn't it worrying how bad our 2nd 3rd team are so bad,we nearly lost to the French 3rd team 3 years ago,the other teams on sat were not full strength and would hammer us worse than wales did
The biggest issue with selection is lack of a dynamic scrum half. Care was so slow he made JVP look fast, which is saying something. We have no hope with those two. Mitchell desperately needs to be in. He's so exciting, and fast. In the game England had no attack at all. Just passing to forwards for 80 mins. Was like an amateur team. Wales were miles better. They had an attacking structure. Well deserved win. I also thought LRZ got that down, and I'm English.
I do agree with you but speed isn't the only factor. Yes Mitchell is fast but is he feeding the ball to the right man at the right moment. Would JVP/Care be faster if they had the personnel around them in the right spots. I think it's more complicated than fast=good. However, you're right that Eng lack any depth at SH we need some good IQ scrum halves with speed and physicality.
@@gh_pics yeh I agree speed isn't everything, you need a clever SH too. Although the stats show that the better teams have faster ruck speed, so it is v important. Yeh I thought that too. I wondered whilst watching the game that because the team was a bit random, if players around the SH aren't setting up quick enough for the SH. But it wasn't the case. They were ready and Care just seemed slow. I was so excited for him to play too, but he didn't live up to the rapid cheeky SH I wanted, like Mitchell, or Randall, or Quirke. We could say it's an unfair test of Danny Care (and Smith) given the random team, and no attacking structure at all. Hopefully next game will be more interesting! 🤞
I've said this multiple times too about Mitchell. His ruck speed is so quick and accurate, we desperatley missed that. But one thing about Mitchell too, he makes the correct pass a high percentage of time.
I don’t understand why so many of the older players are still there ..wouldn’t we rather have bold selections ,exciting rugby that may of course lead to failure but perhaps a glorious one that would unearth A new vibrant young England …Arundel is world class but will he ever get the ball ..he would if he played for France or New Zealand …
You have to ask if we have the players for that and I’m not sure it’s even in English rugby’s dna. England are traditionally good at certain things and the thing that gets me is we’re really bad in those areas currently. Our scrum is really weak, mauling pretty poor, line out awful. You’d think with Borthwick the set piece at least would be working well.
@@mikescudder4621 get behind what? the sofa? Where is Mercer, Murley, Northmore? There's very little new about this squad. A few with one or two caps and a load with 100, little in between. No balance, no consistency. Who are the starting 9 and 10? Which centre combination is best? God knows there's enough of them to choose from. Why select backs based on their versatility rather than their specialism. Tuilagi is like having an extra prop, does the same job as Genge.
A semi final is probably in reach for Wales. Probably wouldn't be saying that on the harder side of the draw but that just the way the cards fall sometimes. You still have to win two finals against France/Ireland/SA/NZ etc to actually win the thing. It will be interesting to see how the next few games shake out. Likely to select a much stronger tight 5 for the reverse fixture and expecting some more players to put their hand up at twickers
Wow, I've not heard some much guff in ages. It was like listening to the Beeb trying to provide a weather forecast. Where are England's World Class players? Itoje isn't half the player he was when he was playing alongside Cruz and when he plays he's likely to be the one most penalised. Sinckler hasn't had a good game since he got broken by the Boks in the 2019 WCF. Rapava-Ruskin was the best English(?) Tighthead in the Premiership last season, why's he not in the squad? Cokanasiga??? He only gets anywhere because he's a nine foot tall winger. Very average. And so are Dombrandt and Blamire. And Vunipola had a good season??? When??? At best he was alright. If you lot had bothered to watch the U20's you'd have heard the crowds every time Cunningham-South got the ball. He should be in the squad, not Billy. 4 Quins and it was as if they'd never met. Even with his buddies on the pitch Smith was hopeless, with all the skill and verve of someone with 2 left hands and 2 right feet. And it appeared to be Ludlam's turn to be the jackler. France, NZ, SA field teams full of the bl**dy things, and we can only field one at a time? Pedestrian and plodding with - as someone here already said - only one game plan. And, when that game plan is to constantly go down the middle France, SA and NZ (never mind Wales and the Argies) will toast England on both sides. I still have my Jonny Wilkinson "The Moment" coffee mug, and when England won the WC we were the best team in the world at that time. Any player in this current England squad - apart from perhaps Tom Currie - would struggle to get in that squad. As shameful as I find it, I wouldn't even have England to get out of the rounds. Shame on the RFU for holding on to Eddie for too long and dropping Borthwick into this mess. We should have got hold of Scott Robertson and let Borthwick develop into a coach with more than one game plan.
@@ashleysoudah its different too when a player excels in France vs the prem IMO. It shows they can hold their own in a very strong league. Amazed he isnt rated.... but then neither was Simmonds. I think England feel they need a battering ram at 8 and ignore the more rounded / skillful players. But with 2 powerful centres they could surely have sacrificed some bulk at 8.
3rd team? I thought that England team had a large number of first choice players in it. It was a fairly terrible game to watch but Wales will be absolutely delighted.
@@GilescowdemdemNot even that many, Ludlam isn't in our first XV or he shouldn't be. Genge is a definite and Stuart should start from now on. I can see Borthwick picking Daly at 15.
@@leeofdoom4452Our best XV not squad players. George, Itoje, Lawes, Curry, Willis, Earl, JVP, Farrell, Tuilagi, Lawrence, Watson, Daly, these are first XV players
I find it funny how big joe has a shocker and plays himself out of the squad yet Martin arguably had an even worse game and couldn’t catch a cold yet he’s still in the squad, there’s a huge Leicester and Sarries bias from Borthwick
Yeah feel the same. Joe has been great nearly every time he plays for England has one shocker gets dropped. But Dombrandt didn't have a single decent gand for England while wearing the white shirt and yet kept being selected. Port-a loo hasn't had a single decent game for England but has been given chance after chance while others have been completely ignored and yet he's been selected unbelievably. A lot of nepotism going on with Borthwick. Really gone off him
Who would you have instead of Martin? Also Leicester and Sarries are the only English teams to win anything and compete in Europe (more of a gauge imo) sale are mostly South African and harlequins have no defence and would get destroyed at test level (Northampton similar) you can’t rlly on a few “star players” in test rugby. You need ppl like Martin who do the yards. All the international sides outside of NZ and maybe AUS will kick loads and that’s just how you win. I don’t get why people complain abt England kicking loads we just need to kick better. Just my take on things
Why did England fan's expect that their team would do any good at the world cup in the first place. Prior to Eddie coming along, England were bang average for a very long time. Eddie is gone now, and it's normal programming resuming.
Thought the disallowed Rees-Zammit try was harsh - could only see millimetres of separation when you slowed it down ten times... in real time the human eye could see no separation. What a try! Should’ve stood! England very pedestrian...
How's it harsh if there is seperation it doesn't matter how small or big the serperation and that's what the TMO is there for. If it was the world cup final 20-20 and that was the last play of the game, would it be harsh not to give the try just because it was almost a spectaluar try?
@@hithere3035 I think they should ban slowing it down... pause, yes, zoom in, yes but stop slowing the footage down - it’s not a real sense of things - it distorts true nature! It’s even worse for tackles et al
@@dannyboywhaa3146 I don't agree with your logic at all, not seeing it in real time or slowing down doesn't change the FACT there was seperation. Just because you didn't see something doesn't mean it didn't happen. Referee wasn't sure, he asked the TMO for help, that's what it's there for. It's no different to VAR in football or Tennis, pausing, rewinding and slowing down allows them to get the correct decision. I'm an England fan but just a huge rugby fan in general, i love to see amazing tries regardless. i'll watch any 2 teams play, doesn't have to be England and that try didn't change the outcome of the game and everybody deep down wanted it to be a try because of how amazing it was. But we are not the TMO.
@@hithere3035 well you may have a point on the try - but if they hadn’t slowed he footage down they’d have given the try, right? However, for the tackling it’s beyond ridiculous - never would Steward’s red have been given in only shown in real time. As I said, it DOES distort reality... in terms of physics I’d be willing to bet that it is impossible to not incur separation when pushing down on a ball already travelling downwards - if you slowed it down enough, you will always see separation!
When Eng took a kick for posts in the first 5 mins... from the half way line... you knew england had no belief. And just to confirm their lack of belief some mins later they kicked for posts again.
AB's Boks and the Wallabies have tight forwards that can throw cut out passes in close and out wide. Particularly the AB's forwards that have serious skills. I think that team cohesion will determine the results and the Southern teams have buckets of this. Watching England and Wales from NZ, it was hard to gauge as to how the form in the north is progressing. Hopefully the riots in Europe will stop soon
Earls is a very good flanker but isn't a world class 8 at international level. Mercer should be the 8 and been one of the best forwards in top 14 last couple of years and still only 23 years old.
@@ashleysoudah I agree up to a point, ithink Earls blend of power and dynamic pace is ideally suited to the 8 position, my choices are based on who is in the squad and not who I might prefer to be in the squad that is a much longer list altogether
@martynslinn6607 well mercer should be in. u look at no..8s of NZ France Ireland Australia SA and England are picking Billy V is not the player he once was and whoever replaces him currently in the squad can't get u over the gainline consistently in heavy traffic like mercer can. Borthwick gave Tom Willis a chance vs Wales when it should have been mercer...I think he would have helped to get England going.
Is it all about energy and aggression - there needs to be more clever running from the backs - some outside breaks - curving runs to draw the defence into trying to break the head on tendency - like rugby league . The standard head on needs to be varied. Too many ex forwards as coaches.
It is nothing short of unbelievable how a Country like New Zealand given the size of its population consistently time and time again remain in the frame as potential winners at every WC - it’s just embarrassing for England in particular - but I think France will win anyway this time around
@@craigweideman6194 oh sorry - that explains it then - I didn’t realise circa 50 million people lived in those islands Some of them must be very large - you’d think they would have their own team 🤪
I think this is the best rugby commentary available. However, Goodes constant impressions of Borthwick are both insulting and detract from his point. He just comes across as bitter and holding a grudge towards Borthwick that h he just can’t let go of. You’ve made your personal feeling clear Andy, just stick to your point because it’s a good one!!
As an Exeter resident and fan I'm gutted Henry Slade is not in. But when, in the last 2 years, have England put together any form of backline move in which he could show how skilful he is. In the long run I think he's better off not being associated with this group of abject mediocrity.
Billy Vunipola is a big lump at 125 kilos. He's bigger and meaner than Mercer. Against monsters like Thor & Etzebeth you need guys like Billy Vunipola. Mercer would get wrapped up by the Boks. Billy has vast experience against the South Africans.
I’m worried England won’t get out of the group, look at the facts! Can’t score many tries but concede 3/4 more, 3 average scrum halves, 1 international hooker, 1 natural 8, daly/ Malins arent elite at any position, first team looks ok, after that we ‘re in trouble!! Plus talking about faz at 12! I really can’t see England doing well at all! We’re hoping but in reality, we should be cohesive and ready, but not even close!!
If you know rugby forget players think team. Sadly Mr Borthwick appears to me to be the least inspiring individual to lead England I a very long time and from what I have seen so far there isn't the hunger passion and desire that the Welsh lads displayed. Saying that it hasn't been present in England teams since RWC 2019.
I think that Borthwick had 99% chosen his 33 before the game, and used the 80 mins to confirm who he was leaving behind.....fully expecting not to win.
Who would be the first choice England 23 based on Borthwick's selection? And what would your 23 be if you could pick any? Also keep the impressions going!
The 23 picks itself. Stuart George Hence Itoje Chessum Lawes Curry Willis JVP Farrell Tuilagi Lawrence Watson Stewart Malins Sinckler Dan Marler Martin Earl Youngs Ford Daly
That trophy ain't going to the Northern Hemisphere, mate. Either NZ or SA will win. These Northern hemisphere teams are always overconfident before world cups. You don't have what it takes to win.
There just warm up games the only games that count are at the world cup ,don't be to down about it ,Wales were in a right mess 3 months ago different side now ,this weekend will be a proper test for both sides .this world cup any country can beat anyone just depends on the day.all the old myths of invincible teams are over , you play for the 80mins you can beat anyone
What is he talking about Wales are fully loaded? Has he taken to many bangs to the head ? We were missing shite loads of first team players pretty much half the lions squad 🤣
By your logic, did you think Beaumont also gave England the hardest possible draw in the last World Cup, i.e. playing France and Argentina in the Group, Australia, then NZ and SA in the final. No, didn’t think so.
@@jonesyjones7626 The 2019 draw wasn't made three years out from the competition. It was done in a timely fashion resulting in two even halves. None of Beaumont's reasons for the early draw hold water. At the very best it highlights what an average chairman he has been. Plus neither France nor Argentina were anywhere near the teams they are today back in 2019. England beat France 44-8 in that years 6-Nations! France finishing 4th to England's 2nd place behind Wales. If you don't believe England has been handed a gift of a draw then you are in a very small subset indeed. And btw it's kinda obvious that quarterfinals and semifinals are going to be progressively harder by their very nature.
Look England were very poor but I'd wait at least till we see the first XV to be picked before making too many assumptions. That was very much England's B team and now a lot of that squad aren't even going. Frances B team lost in Scotland as well, everyone just needs to calm down.
15 of that 23 are going, 7 of which are nailed on starters. There time for calm, then there time to look at the fact 50% of englands squad, and 50% of their starting 15 just got pumped by Wales 3rds. And Scotland played a first team v France, that's the difference
These guys are in denial as both teams were crap and will be lucky to get to the last 8. only a soft opposition in the draw might save them. Who would trust Farrell not to get a red card at a crucial time in an important game.
