2023 Rugby World Cup

[KnickerlessParsons]

Can't find a thread so thought I'd start one nice and early for some pre chat.

Really don't think either England or Wales are going to get out of the pool rounds 🙁

Not great but the humidity looks exhausting. Wet hands and ball for both teams.

England look like they just met in the car park at times.

At least we know how to head the ball 🙄😂

Alan Shearer for attacking coach! 😁

It is very messy and a painful watch

An accurate kick at last!

Go George.

Steady improvement in the second half and job done with a bonus point

I didn't enjoy 80 % of that but got a bit better when Marcus smith came on and I enjoyed marlers assist.

But a wins a win so will take it

It always gets a bit better when Marcus comes on. I don't know why he's not in the starting XV

The best part of tonight's game was definitely the Japanese supporters. 10/10 for outfit creativity.

Sadly 0/10 for England's backs' creativity. Just a lot of aimless and poor kicking except the final 10 minutes. Although Joe Marler's inadvertent header will take some beating as an assist.

They improved in the last 15-20 minutes , which is positive , as is the BP .

Marcus can't start if George Ford starts though. He's never played FB or anything other than FH at Quins. Too many cooks etc....This is the problem when he plays 10 with Farrell at 12, as he's not allowed to take control.

I don't either. Nor do I understand why they play their sous chef when their head chef is in the wings.

Me too. As I said, RU is not really my sport, but I follow it with interest, and Marcus Smith stands out a mile. There is no-one (certainly no Englishman) in the Premiership with his talent.

Are you calling George the sous chef?

My hearing is poor, and I usually watch TV with the sound off, and the captioning on.

During the England-Japan game, the captioning made frequent mention of "evening lands". What does this mean?

Any info, or even guesses?

I have a feeling that Marcus Smith may be quite irritating for other players to be around. He seems constantly psyched up to the point of being attention-seeking. He shouldn't be playing at 15 either, he's not big enough or good enough at tackling. Jason Robinson was arguably similar in that regard but he was an exceptional runner given enough space.

Please can we start to develop a game plan that involves actually using our backs rather than kicking it straight back to the opposition.

Can you give us an example of it used in a sentence?

Even lines?( In the line out?)

The ref was over fussy about line-outs imo

The captioning is frequently wildly inaccurate.

Smith doesn't suit England's kick the leather off the ball plan. Bringing him on when the opposition in tired is as good as its going to get methinks

Still think they will make the semis. A dull plodding side - but Australia would love to have their problems!

What was the context for "evening lands".