5 vital players for each country ahead of the world cup?

[TobesHodges]

England.

Chris Robshaw: Warrior, passion, workaholic.

Tom Youngs: I believe we have the best set piece in world rugby at the moment, but with Hartley banned, Youngs has to now get it right..

Brad Barritt: The flanker of the midfield that every good team needs, has to let everyone know who's channel it is..

George Kruis: I believe this guy will play over launchbury, with all the experience around him he will need to step up more than anyone in that second row, very very good player and will be key.

Mike Brown: I could say one of the half backs, but Mike brown has been the rock in the side since Stuart Lancaster took over, genuinely can't think of a bad performance with the red rose on, he has to be that rock again for everyone, especially with the less experienced wings we are going to be fielding..

I do worry most about our set piece, I would actually go with Jaime George or Youngs due to how accurate his throwing and all round game is at the moment for sarries.. Apart from that I think we have as much chance as any of the other big teams of having a pop at the WC.

 

[chippieolamus]

George Kruis: I believe this guy will play over launchbury, with all the experience around him he will need to step up more than anyone in that second row, very very good player and will be key.

Really? I regard Kruis as currently our 5th best lock (Launchbury, Lawes, Attwood, Parling above him). He's a decent player, but he isn't near Launchbury, who is one of the best locks in the world. Launchbury's workrate, stamina and breakdown technique are superior, only Kruis' physicality gives him any kind of edge.

 

[ncurd]

I would also not put Mike Brown in our top 5 most needed players sure the alternative is probably Goode not Watson but his 6 nations run was hardly that of last season.

More important players than everyone but Chris Robshaw/Youngs:
Joseph
Ford (that arguable by some people but I can't see us winning with Fazlet)
Care/Youngs

All are way more important to our campaign than Barritt(may not even start), Kruis (unlikely to even be on the plane) & Brown (important but hasn't been on form).

 

[michaelbolton]

England
Robshaw
Launchbury
Morgan
Manu
Care

I would swap the bold 2 for Ford and JJ but otherwise happy enough. Potentially Brown for Morgan as Vunipola has proved himself to be same level, whereas if Brown goes we have Goode...

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

The guys I think of as most important to England are generally those whose form has been patchy in recent times but without whom we basically can't function.

- Ben Youngs
- Tom Youngs
- Dan Cole
- Whoeever plays Blindside
- Whoeever plays Number 8

 

[smartcooky]

New Zealand


Richie McCaw
Dan Carter (now that Cruden is out)
Brodie Retallick
Aaron Smith
Ben Smith

 

[valley commando]

Very good call, hard to leave Warburton out but perhaps he would be the 6th

I would go in order

1 Joint Biggar and Webb
3 AWJ
4 Halfpenny
5 The openside, ie either Tips or Warbs.

What worries me is the front row, specifically the props, as we dont have any real standouts although the training camp may resolve these issues (fingers crossed)
2nd row we do have plenty of cover but nobody that stands out like AWJ.
6 and 8 we have options.
9 and 10 I feel if Webb and or Biggar were injure the gulf in class especially at 9 is scary, as Spikey is getting a bit slow these days and I'm not impressed with the other squad 9's
I think we have enough strength in depth in the centres and back three especially if Liam Williams returns fit.

 

[Patchey]

Launchbury, Joseph, Ford, Robshaw, Morgan.

All integral to us playing our best rugby. Mostly irreplaceable.

 

[valley commando]

For Wales:

Taulupe Faletau (I'm not sure I've ever seen this guy have a bad game, at least not in a Wales jersey. He is the unsung hero. Dan Baker is shaping up to be a great replacement, but I fear that Wales would miss Faletau's incredible work-rate if he was not present at the WC)
Dan Biggar (the Autumn tests showed that if Biggar gets injured there are currently no obvious replacements that would fit seamlessly into this current Welsh set-up. It's a mystery how Priestland is still anywhere near the Welsh set up by now, Hook is up and down, Anscombe obviously hasn't played enough for club yet so time will tell, I would love to see Morgan get another shot at some point, Sam Davies too but needs a lot of getting up to speed internationally, Patchell has looked patchy (see what I did there) in recent times, there's always Owen Williams I suppose)
Rhys Webb (this is a similar situation to fly half, no obvious back-ups. Phillips had a shocking time during the Autumn. Rhodri Williams has potential but I feel is too much of a live wire and unreliable on the big stage for the moment. Lloyd Williams.... well, just Lloyd Williams. Martin Roberts... meh. If Gareth Davies hadn't got injured there could be a lovely Webb/Davies battle for the 9 jersey going on right now, let's hope he can pull it together in time for the WC. What has happened to Knoyle? Let's start a petition to get Peel at the WC )
Alun Wyn Jones (possibly the single most vital player in the squad. Forms the back bone of the forwards, and the team as a whole. His passion is unmatched, he is an inspiring leader, and a partnership of Charteris-Ball just does not have anywhere near the same bite to it)
Leigh Halfpenny (I think Leigh has reminded us this Autumn why he is so valuable to Wales. He might not do anything flashy these days, which is a shame and something I think he should work on, but boy has he saved our skin time-after-time. That tackle on Etzebeth was potentially match-winning, and to see that kind of a hit being made from someone so short on such a giant was pleasing. To have two solid kicking options around the park is a big advantage too. I just feel that if Liam Williams keeps up his form he hopefully will be able to push Cuthbert out of his right wing spot. But if Halfpenny is injured before the WC, I do fear that it will be Williams at fullback and Cuthbert on the wing, and I just have run out of patience with Cuthbert, especially in defense. He's just not up to standards at the moment and is probably being selected on past glories)

Good call, I'd just change Toby for the opensides, if Warbs and Tips were injured we'd be in the ****e, in fact I'd like to see us start with Tips at 7 and Warbs on the blind.
Incidentally if you had to make the call should Biggar be injured who would you go for ? I fully agree with your comments on Priestland, he is one dimenssional, personally I prefer Hooky on the bench not least for the positions he can cover.

 

[Irish boy]

Fiji I'd say have one vital player. Nadolo he's insane.

 

[Horacito]

Marcos Ayerza
Agustín Creevy
Ramiro Herrera
Sánchez
Tuculet

Tuculet because we've been struggling with the fullback for almost a decade after Nani left us. Not even Amorosino got it. Neither Hernández.

 

[TobesHodges]

All are way more important to our campaign than Barritt(may not even start), Kruis (unlikely to even be on the plane) & Brown (important but hasn't been on form).

Do you really think brad Barritt won't play at 12?? I'm glad your not picking the teams.. George Kruis has been probably the best and most consistent lock in the premiership for the entire season. Harlequins didn't have the best season.. You cant say Brown has been OUT of form, if you've been watching the games he has been just as invaluable as ever..
Sorry mate but I don't agree with your points..

 

[ratsapprentice]

George Kruis has been probably the best and most consistent lock in the premiership for the entire season.

:unsure:

 

[chippieolamus]

You cant say Brown has been OUT of form, if you've been watching the games he has been just as invaluable as ever..

Which games would those be then?

 

[TobesHodges]

I've clearly been watching the wrong league..

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I've clearly been watching the wrong league..

Obviously considering Brown last played a game for Quins in January... Not being able to play counts as being out of form in most peoples eyes...

 

[Peat]

Do you really think brad Barritt won't play at 12?? I'm glad your not picking the teams..

Well he hasn't for the past two years now, so...

I'm not even touching George Kruis, England's 5th choice lock, being one of our five most important players. Just no.

Mike Brown though, I agree with Mike Brown. Him and Tom Youngs are now our two most difficult to replace players.

 

[chippieolamus]

Mike Brown though, I agree with Mike Brown. Him and Tom Youngs are now our two most difficult to replace players.

You don't rate Watson then? Or is it a case of thinking that SL would pick Goode instead?

 

[TobesHodges]

I'll re quote first game of the WC and you can all tell me how wrong I was..

 

[Shaggy]

Given the attrition rate of All Black number 10's in the last RWC:

Beauden Barrett, Dan Carter, Lima Sopoaga, Colin Slade, ... And whoever our 5th choice number 10 is

Seriously though,probably Aaron Smith is the player who is most difficult to replace, due to his speed to the breakdown, and swift/accurate passing, so he's crucial, Dan Carter (if he can return to his best), due to his experience at controlling a game, Conrad Smith (because he organises the back line so well, particularly on defense), Dane Coles (because of the lack of depth in the Hooking department), and Richie McCaw, because of his leadership and experience in close scoring games.