Rugby Word Cup 2019 thread.

[Gofer Blue]

Josh Navidi out of the World Cup with hamstring injury. Big loss.

Agree, that is not good news. Feel sorry for the lad.

[Pearcey3]

Agree, that is not good news. Feel sorry for the lad.

It’s a real shame but Moriarty will now start and I suspect Shingler will come onto the bench so still strong options.

[surge]

The injury setbacks we've had have primarily come from dropping down the rankings pre-draw and having to gear up for a series of really tough tests. Although we had a break between Aussie game and Fiji game, it also seems that weather and scheduling has meant we've played more rugby and in a shorter space of time than the other three.

Regardless, teams who want to be world champions are challenged and find a way to come through. It may even help us: New Zealand tactics in the opening game against SA were to use their 10 and 15 as play-makers on either side of a central scrum (spreading out the SA defensive line) and then to use a kicking strategy to get past the rush defence from the SA wingers, and doesn't Patchell frequently play as a full-back for the Scarlets which would give us the same options? SA are also facing more of an unknown now in terms of our attacking play which considering the extensive work their head-coach does to plan for every possibility may also advantage us/make things more even.

[Pearcey3]

The injury setbacks we've had have primarily come from dropping down the rankings pre-draw and having to gear up for a series of really tough tests. Although we had a break between Aussie game and Fiji game, it also seems that weather and scheduling has meant we've played more rugby and in a shorter space of time than the other three.

Regardless, teams who want to be world champions are challenged and find a way to come through. It may even help us: New Zealand tactics in the opening game against SA were to use their 10 and 15 as play-makers on either side of a central scrum (spreading out the SA defensive line) and then to use a kicking strategy to get past the rush defence from the SA wingers, and doesn't Patchell frequently play as a full-back for the Scarlets which would give us the same options? SA are also facing more of an unknown now in terms of our attacking play which considering the extensive work their head-coach does to plan for every possibility may also advantage us/make things more even.

Do you think Gatland will chose Patchell at 15 instead of Halfpenny? Not a bad shout.

[surge]

Do you think Gatland will chose Patchell at 15 instead of Halfpenny? Not a bad shout.

The risk would be that if, and it's a fairly large if, it did come off then we could easily lose one of them to injury late in the game and be even weaker for the final. At this point I think you have to go for it and if we end up getting embarrassed in the final then at least it's a final rather than 3rd/4rth place game.

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Do you think Gatland will chose Patchell at 15 instead of Halfpenny? Not a bad shout.

I'd like to see him throw the dice, not that it'll happen. Biggar will start at 10 and we'll have two centres held together with gaffer tape.

Williams out is out only real threat of making serious yards from broken play.

I'd like to see Patchell start at 10 with Owen Watkin at 12. He's a good 1-1 defender and is a 12 not a 13.

North needs to offer something this weekend or I'd give him the hook at half time and get Lane on.