RWC15 England vs Fiji

[Dave Cahill]

England have named their team for their first outing in the RWC

15. Mike Brown (Harlequins, 39 caps) 14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 11 caps) 13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 13 caps) 12. Brad Barritt (Saracens, 23 caps) 11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 16 caps) 10. George Ford (Bath Rugby, 13 caps) 9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 49 caps)

1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 33 caps) 2. Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 24 caps) 3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps) 4. Geoff Parling (Exeter Chiefs, 25 caps) 5. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 40 caps) 6. Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 38 caps) 7. Chris Robshaw (captain, Harlequins, 39 caps) 8. Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby, 29 caps)

Replacements 16. Rob Webber (Bath Rugby, 13 caps) 17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 23 caps) 18. Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints, 12 caps) 19. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 24 caps) 20. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 19 caps) 21. Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 23 caps) 22. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 31 caps) 23. Sam Burgess (Bath Rugby, 2 caps)

[johng]

Looks remarkably like what played v us.....

[blockhead]

So no one rested for the first game, or presumably the 2nd v Wales or the 3rd V Aus. They can put out their 2nds against Uruguay for the last match of the group but then its full metal jacket from there on in. Assuming of course they get out of the group. If oul blighty win this WC then they will have done it the hard way.

[IanD]

http://www.the42.ie/alain-rolland-fiji-2328381-Sep2015/

Fiji are getting a helping hand for the World Cup by a former Irish referee

WITH AUSTRALIA, WALES and England all in the same pool, it’s likely that Fiji will be most Irish people’s second team for the World Cup.
And it looks like Alain Rolland will also be rooting for them, after Fiji’s head coach John McKee confirmed he’s been giving them a helping hand in recent months, as they look to cut back on their penalty count.
McKee said that he sought the advice of Rolland during their Pacific Nations Cup title during the summer, and the results have been so good, he was brought back in to help prepare for their final warm-up game against Canada last week, as well as next Friday’s World Cup opener against England at Twickenham.
“At this level a high penalty count can be very costly,” said McKee.
“In the Canada game our penalty count was only seven which was a significant decrease from what we had before.
“It’s just one of many things that we do to make sure that players are very clear in the requirements of the game.”
Rolland was with the Fijians during their training session in Surrey on Friday.

[simonokeeffe]

am amazed theyre keeping Burgess at 23

[paddyor]

am amazed theyre keeping Burgess at 23

Big hits for the Fijians and arse pats for the English. IMPACT!

[simonokeeffe]

am amazed theyre keeping Burgess at 23

Big hits for the Fijians and arse pats for the English. IMPACT!

its all a ruse to get the northerners to put down their flat caps and ferrets to watch the games

[nc6000]

am amazed theyre keeping Burgess at 23

Isn't he taking the all the attention\pressure off the rest of the squad. Not much talk about how bad Youngs' throwing in is or George Ford's placekicking.

[Vamos los azules]

am amazed theyre keeping Burgess at 23

Isn't he taking the all the attention\pressure off the rest of the squad. Not much talk about how bad Youngs' throwing in is or George Ford's placekicking.

There might be by 10pm on Friday night

So, do we think the Burgess returning to league rumours are conveniently arising this week from the Aussies who would benefit hugely from England getting turned over by Fiji?

[Dave Cahill]

LONDON, 16 Sept - Fiji head coach John McKee has named his team to face England in Pool A in the opening match of RWC 2015.

1. Campese Ma’afu

2. Sunia Koto

3. Manasa Saulo

4. Apisalome Ratuniyarawa

5. Leone Nakarawa

6. Dominiko Waqaniburotu

7. Akapusi Qera (Captain)

8. Sakiusa Masi Matadigo

9. Nikola Matawalu

10. Ben Volavola

11. Nemani Nadolo

12. Gabiriele Lovobalavu

13. Vereniki Goneva

14. Waisea Nayacalevu

15. Metuisela Talebula

Replacements:

16. Tuapati Talemaitoga

17. Peni Ravai

18. Isei Colati

19. Tevita Cavubati

20. Peceli Yato

21. Nemia Kenatale

22. Joshua Matavesi

23. Aseli Tikoirotuma

[Benji]

Oh, Thats a match commentators nightmare waiting to happen.

[Fireworks]

England will need to be awake for this one. I can see then trying to strangle the life out of Fiji. I would love to see it level going into the final 10min.

[Benji]

I think with the nerves pressure and everything Fiji plus 26 is the bet. Fiji are are better side than 4 years ago and wont be afraid to have a cut of England.

[simonokeeffe]

the good news for the neutrals is with a SH ref, albeit probably the best one, there (hopefully) wont be a truck load of yellow cards against Fiji (for scrum penalties)

England have a much better set of forwards on the bench and their defense is too good for Matawalu who will cramp his backlines style

[Ruckedtobits]

If Fiji scrum survives for 50 mins, England could / may / will panic. Never underestimate the capability of a ( largely) corporate home crowd in Twickers creating a level of pressure on their own team which results in an implosion of their half-backs. Youngs will try to do too much and Ford will try to kick for position and give Fiji the ball they need to create a contest.

And while I dream about that prospect, does anybody fancy a real upset in NZ v Argentina? The win against the Saffas gave Argentina the sort of belief that they needed to face that game. The NZ media have written up RWC2015 as starting in mid-October.

Not predicting, just dreaming out loud!

[simonokeeffe]

If Fiji scrum survives for 50 mins, England could / may / will panic. Never underestimate the capability of a ( largely) corporate home crowd in Twickers creating a level of pressure on their own team which results in an implosion of their half-backs. Youngs will try to do too much and Ford will try to kick for position and give Fiji the ball they need to create a contest.

And while I dream about that prospect, does anybody fancy a real upset in NZ v Argentina? The win against the Saffas gave Argentina the sort of belief that they needed to face that game. The NZ media have written up RWC2015 as starting in mid-October.

Not predicting, just dreaming out loud!

the handicap on Fiji is + 26 points which is a fairly good bet

[hugonaut]

That's an exceptionally strong set of outside backs the Fijians are fielding – enormous wingers in Nadolo and Nayacalevu, an absolute try-machine at fullback in Talebula [10 tries in the Top14 last season, 15 tries the previous season] and Niki Goneva at outside centre. Lovabalavu is no dope either. Looking forward to this game immensely!

[domhnallj]

That's an exceptionally strong set of outside backs the Fijians are fielding – enormous wingers in Nadolo and Nayacalevu, an absolute try-machine at fullback in Talebula [10 tries in the Top14 last season, 15 tries the previous season] and Niki Goneva at outside centre. Lovabalavu is no dope either. Looking forward to this game immensely!

Gigity Gigity goo!

[mauler72]

TV3 commentator is brutal, first rugby game by the sounds of it. Off to ITV

[FLIP]

Fiji would be closer if the TMO wasn't doing them in for everything and ignoring Ben Young's tripping of a Fijian player.