The official KUMB Rugby Union Thread

[Tenbury]

That side is just about right........England +20. .

:lol:


Available by pm for all the best tips for the upcoming Cheltenham festival.

[dave_l]

Robshaw is a 6 all day long, always has been. Lawes is a second row all day long too. Hughes didn’t look fit at all. Dan Cole looked really off the pace today. Things to sort out for England for sure but I hope the press and pundit reaction isn’t too over the top.

[Toulouse_Iron]

........France by 5 and Ireland to win the tournament this weekend.

OK, I was 1 point out.....

[The Old Man of Storr]

Well done , Ireland and congratulations to all our Irish Posters on here .

[djbubbles]

Well done , Ireland and congratulations to all our Irish Posters on here .

Thx very much, and although its great, next week is massive. We have spoiled Englands party a few times. You just never know when its England v Ireland.

[Patito]

Fair play to Ireland they have deserved it.

Next week could get very embarrassing....

[Tenbury]

Err..... England +20.

[sendô]

We owe the Irish next week, no way can we allow them to take the Grand Slam at Twickenham, especially after they've stopped us a couple of times in recent years over in Dublin.

[Toulouse_Iron]

This one, I just don't know. Ireland are a very good side who just don't make mistakes, who have a game plan and stick to it, who have the right players in the right positions and who are very hard to destabilise. To beat them you have to be more than 7 points ahead with 5 seconds to go.
England have 2 forced changes in Hughes and Lawes, which might lead to us picking a proper and mobile back row.
15 penalties conceded against France is unforgivable. That and the 10 turnovers gave the ball back to them needlessly 25 times during the match. Repeat this against Ireland and we will lose. Heavily.
We must not give Ireland the ball. They will keep it and hurt us. Our set pieces are good but we don't use them efficiently as launch pads for incisive attacks. Panic sets in if things don't move on after 3 or 4 phases and we ping it wide too soon.
Erase the impatience and ill-discipline and we may have a chance. Go out for revenge and they will be out of sight before the hour mark....

[hammerdivone]

I will enjoy the hospitality Guinness and the game, think we will put out a changed side to start, but with something to prove think we might just edge it

[Loftyhammer]

Don't know if any of you listen to it, but EJ was on the BBC Rugby pod this week. When asked if he wanted to re-assess his "only off by 2-3%" comment; he said he thought England were actually even closer...

I know some of this is mindgames....but after the last two performances, they don't go down so well! Unless he really believes that....and we're f*cked if he really does!

[Patito]

He's made some really strange comments all week has Eddie. I hope he knows what he's doing!

[Patito]

Plenty of changes this weekend...

1. M Vunipola
2. Hartley (c)
3. Sinckler
4. Itoje
5. Kruis
6. Robshaw
7. Haskell
8. Simmonds
9. Wigglesworth
10. Farrell
11. Daly
12. Te'o
13. Joseph
14. May
15. Watson

[Patito]

George, Marler, Cole, Launchbury, Armand, Care, Ford and Brown make the bench.

[Loftyhammer]

Plenty of changes this weekend...

1. M Vunipola
2. Hartley (c)
3. Sinckler
4. Itoje
5. Kruis
6. Robshaw
7. Haskell
8. Simmonds
9. Wigglesworth
10. Farrell
11. Daly
12. Te'o
13. Joseph
14. May
15. Watson

Does make more sense with Care off the bench....he's so much better in that finisher role. Personally think Itoje is the one that's off form...maybe Launchbury a little unlucky?

Still think we'll lose comfortably...by 9 min

[Patito]

Does make more sense with Care off the bench....he's so much better in that finisher role. Personally think Itoje is the one that's off form...maybe Launchbury a little unlucky?

Still think we'll lose comfortably...by 9 min

As much as I like watching Care play, I have to agree he's got to be a finisher for England. Launchbury is unlucky but I think you have to stick with Itoje as he's such a talent and it could be of benefit to him to play through a relatively difficult period for England. Hartley is the one I'd have left out.

[sandbanks]

Marius van der Westhuizen, who was due to officiate as an assistant referee in the England v Irelend game, has been stood down. He took part at an England training session where he refereed a match earlier in the week.

He has been replaced by Nigel Owen.

[DasNutNock]

He has been replaced by Nigel Owen.

30+ to Ireland, then.

[Tenbury]

Otoje?......ask ANY All Black fan who ,if anyone ,from the Northern hemisphere would walk straight into a New Zealand team. He maybe off the boil,but he's the best England forward in years.
Hartley?.....I'm even starting to bore myself with my opinions of him in front of George.

[jacko]

Don't know if any of you listen to it, but EJ was on the BBC Rugby pod this week. When asked if he wanted to re-assess his "only off by 2-3%" comment; he said he thought England were actually even closer...

I know some of this is mindgames....but after the last two performances, they don't go down so well! Unless he really believes that....and we're f*cked if he really does!

It's funny becuase I don't think he's wrong. We just haven't quite clicked this year. I'm not convinced we are a million miles away from being back at our best. I think the results have made him consider his options and that's exactly what we needed but he never bothered changing becuase we have been so succesful through his tenure.

Let's see, if we win tomorrow with a good performance I think we would have learnt a lot and be in a decent position leading up to the world cup.