England v Wales

[Robespierre]

- and, more importantly.....

What's the best / easiest / quickest way of getting from St Pancras to the ground?

In the past, I've always gone down by coach rather than train so - any advice much appreciated!

You've asked three different questions there, strawclearer. The "best" in my opinion (although I'm Loughborough born and bred I've lived in suburban London for 40+ years and am increasingly allergic to long queues and overcrowded trains) is slightly unorthodox. Take Piccadilly line from Kings Cross to Hounslow East. You'll probably get a seat and you can read your paper & contemplate our forthcoming dismantling of the Welsh team. From HE it's a 15 minute stroll to the Royal Oak, Worton Road. Time to enjoy a pint or two of London Pride. It's a rugby pub, crowded but not unbearably so. The pub is bang opposite the path through the water purification works that is 10/15 minutes walk to Twickenham North Stand. I watch on TV now but for 20 years we never missed a home international and I found this by far the best route as it avoids queues and uncomfortably crowded trains and uncomfortably crowded Twickenham pubs. If you think you might be interested in this modus operandi check out tube details on TFL journey planner.

I’ve sunk many a pre-match pint in the Royal Oak so that’s pretty sound advice from my point of view!

[strawclearer]

- and, more importantly.....

What's the best / easiest / quickest way of getting from St Pancras to the ground?

In the past, I've always gone down by coach rather than train so - any advice much appreciated!

You've asked three different questions there, strawclearer. The "best" in my opinion (although I'm Loughborough born and bred I've lived in suburban London for 40+ years and am increasingly allergic to long queues and overcrowded trains) is slightly unorthodox. Take Piccadilly line from Kings Cross to Hounslow East. You'll probably get a seat and you can read your paper & contemplate our forthcoming dismantling of the Welsh team. From HE it's a 15 minute stroll to the Royal Oak, Worton Road. Time to enjoy a pint or two of London Pride. It's a rugby pub, crowded but not unbearably so. The pub is bang opposite the path through the water purification works that is 10/15 minutes walk to Twickenham North Stand. I watch on TV now but for 20 years we never missed a home international and I found this by far the best route as it avoids queues and uncomfortably crowded trains and uncomfortably crowded Twickenham pubs. If you think you might be interested in this modus operandi check out tube details on TFL journey planner.

That sounds remarkably civilised!

[kk20gb30]

Comfortable England win....
away from home Wales vulnerable right now

[Robespierre]

Brave words! Hope they don’t come back and bite you on your derrière!

[Chobbsy]

I have a feeling it will be Wilson starting at 8.

I think you are right, I would rather see Earle start but I think it will be Wilson

[Chobbsy]

If you are going to go to Hounslow got to Central then get the free bus (as long as it is 2 hours prior to kick off after that its £2 or £3) to the stadium

[Robespierre]

There’s a rumour that Ford will be benched and Mr Undroppable will be at 10.

[Longshanks]

There’s a rumour that Ford will be benched and Mr Undroppable will be at 10.

Does the rumour also extend to starting with Slade and Manu in the centres?

[Robespierre]

There’s a rumour that Ford will be benched and Mr Undroppable will be at 10.

Does the rumour also extend to starting with Slade and Manu in the centres?

Yes!

[Jimmy Skitz]

Joseph on the bench with a back 3 of Watson, Daly, May

[mol2]

I can understand Joseph being benched as he can cover wing and centre (I thought he looked more comfortable and threatening on the wing than in the centres where he strikes me as a bit underpowerd)

Watson was on of the more impressive players in the world cup and seemed much more confident under the high ball than before his long achilles injury. Presumably the distraction of a career threatening injury distracted him form his loss of confidence under the high ball. Daly looked a bit more assured against Ireland under the high ball.

[happywomble]

Surprised by no Underhill on the bench. Two second rows on the bench, when you could have Lawes move into the second row and have another back row (or even back) on the bench seems risky to me.

[Longshanks]

Official Match Day 23 announced:

England starting XV
15 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 42 caps)
14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 42 caps)
13 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 42 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 82 caps) C
11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 55 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 68 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 98 caps)
1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 70 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 48 caps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 34 caps)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 37 caps)
5 George Kruis (Saracens, 44 caps)
6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 84 caps)
7 Mark Wilson (Sale Sharks, 18 caps)
8 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 22 caps)

Finishers
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 23 caps)
17 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)
18 Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 2 caps)
19 Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 64 caps)
20 Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 14 caps)
21 Ben Earl (Saracens, 2 caps)
22 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 12 caps)
23 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 28 caps)

[Chobbsy]

Official Match Day 23 announced:

England starting XV
15 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 42 caps)
14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 42 caps)
13 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 42 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 82 caps) C
11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 55 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 68 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 98 caps)
1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 70 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 48 caps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 34 caps)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 37 caps)
5 George Kruis (Saracens, 44 caps)
6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 84 caps)
7 Mark Wilson (Sale Sharks, 18 caps)
8 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 22 caps)

Finishers
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 23 caps)
17 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)
18 Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 2 caps)
19 Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 64 caps)
20 Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 14 caps)
21 Ben Earl (Saracens, 2 caps)
22 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 12 caps)
23 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 28 caps)

Why no Underhill? is he injured? yet Chocolate fireguard Ewels is in, crazy

[Soggypitch]

Yes Underhill is injured, not specified what.

But it is a good team and they need to play very well as Wales are virtually at full strength with Biggar, North and L Williams all playing.

Nice to see Watson back, just wish he was at 15 not 14!