Australian Barbarians vs England

[coonor]

Delon Armitage BLAH
Ugo Monye good pace
Matt Banahan strong

This back line misses some skill and class. these are really just on a single level and I think their strugle to link up well together.

Wigglesworth-Hodgeson-Brakley-Tait a great combination espeically when on the attack. Will give The English a lot of options aswell

 

[mohamed_ali12]

Give it a rest, Bath were looking like the team going down until the end of January and, yes it was decentish form at the end of the season and they made the playoffs, but were **** poor for the vast majority. And for that matter, of the 4 teams in the semis Bath were by a long margin the least deserving to go on and win anything. At least Saracens, Tigers and Saints all looked like potential champions from the opening weekend up until their respective last games.

Finishing 8 points behind 3rd (12 behind Tigers) and only picking up 12 wins along the way (barely 50% of games played) does not count as a successful season, just because the bullshit play-off system was there.

How is 11 wins from 12 games with 5 four-try bonus points 'decentish'?

 

[veux]

It looks like Hape has taken Barkleys inside centre place - WTF

 

[Teh Mite]

How is 11 wins from 12 games with 5 four-try bonus points 'decentish'?

Because a season is 22 games long, not 12.

Or, by your rules, how is 1 win in 8 matches any thing remotely good?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It looks like Hape has taken Barkleys inside centre place - WTF

Didn't think about that...
WTF is Johnson thinking =/

 

[TOD]

Hape has taken Barkleys inside centre-->not true this is quite clearly an attempt to give Barkley a run out at inside centre before having to play a test match, he was forced into the fly half position against the baba's. Other than that I like the look of the second rows and Fourie is there to give some stability and ball which to give some impressive backs. I think Johnsons trying to expose the smaller Australian wings and fall back. Delon im not sure about but if he can rediscover some of his form from his original debue year it could give some depth in that position. Don't rate Tait poor tackler moves sideways too much probably why they have bigger wings as well. I think they need someone like Hipkiss or Tindall to give some stability and strength in the centre as well as get some go forward. If your going to play someone whose not the best tackler and occationally suffers mentally go for youth at 10, play someone like Andy Goode the sarcens fall back yes he has no experience but if he gets it right he could be a serious condender for the 10 shirt. In the real test who would you play at 6 croft or haskell?

 

[mohamed_ali12]

Because a season is 22 games long, not 12.

Or, by your rules, how is 1 win in 8 matches any thing remotely good?

But that's not what you said, you said their form at the end of the season was 'decentish' which is utter ********

 

[TRF_Olyy]

*Alex Goode is the Sarries FB

I read somewhere that if they were involved in this match they're not involved in the first test (it was on stuart barnes skysports article) dont know if its true, but if it is then we're in for a spanking


I think i'd play Croft at 6, they're both pretty similar in playing styles these day (like to run, and are fairly athletic) but Haskell has a tendancy to brainfart/take too much on, so i think Croft is the better option

I don't think Tait is a poor tackle at all, and doesn't run sideways. He doesn't play as well for England as Sale, not sure why. Could be who he has inside him, at Sale he has Thomas there and he's strong and likes to take on the defence, in England he had Flutey who is a similar player to Tait. Would like to see Tindall/Tait in the centre, but i don't know whether Tindall plays 12 anymore

 

[Teh Mite]

But that's not what you said, you said their form at the end of the season was 'decentish' which is utter ********

If they'd beat the likes of Leicester or Northamptons 1st team instead of Sale, Leeds, Worcester and Newcastle more then just the Rec regulars and Jerry Guscott would be impressed.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Didn't they beat Northampton? And lose very narrowly the time before?

 

[mohamed_ali12]

Didn't they beat Northampton? And lose very narrowly the time before?

Yep, they were beating Northampton at the Gardens until the last minute, when Matt Banahan had been very harshly sent of so it was 15 vs. 14.

Odd that you're excluding Saracens away, London Irish away and Wasps at Twickenham from that list, Mite.

 

[TOD]

Yer but Goode is now going to be playing at fly half giving him a run out against proper international but not at the level of a full test match could give him the opportunity to prove himself and place him in contention for the world cup.

If they're not allowed to play in the test then thats **** Barkley should be starting Hape is only there to give Johnson a bit of depth in the centre incase Barkley gets injured. Id agree croft at 6 also gives a lineout option then bring on haskell at 60 mins as an impact sub he can also cover the whole back row.

Tait is a defensive liabilty and with hodgson also having problems and Barkley not being the strongest tackler I think this leaves some massive holes in the England defense there is alot of pressure on the backrow to make there tackles which is probably why Worsely is on the bench. Also would prefer to have Webber in th front row to give him a run as he has been outstanding for wasps and can maybe push is way into the team as Hartley hasn't been as good as I hoped I man WTF is chuter doing on the bench.

Also why is Wigglesworth playing we have Care, Simpson (or is he injured) and Ben Youngs and hodgeson surley you should give youngs an international run out he has been incredable for the Tigers. Waldock over Tait look to the future more and Waldock is developing into an awesome player!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

********, Hodgson is a solid tackler now, and Tait is anything but a liability.
I agree about the Hape/Barkley thing, Hape should be involved in the midweek, not the tests. Barkley is a much better player than him, and also offers another option as a kicker
Simpson's injured atm, he didn't tour, Hodgson took his place. I'm guessing Care starting with Youngs on the bench will be the test lineup, so that's why Wigglesworth with Hodgson for this.
Looks like Webber will be on the bench for the first test, with Thompson starting as well, if that this squad won't be involved in the first test

 

[mohamed_ali12]

You've got to hope, from the players that are left, we get something like this put out:

1. Golding
2. Thompson
3. Cole
4. Lawes
5. Shaw
6. Croft
7. Moody
8. Easter
9. Youngs
10. Flood
11. Ashton
12. Hape
13. Tindall
14. Cueto
15. Foden

which is the best team we've put out under Johnno in my opinion, bar Hape, who everyone seems to agree is a lesser player than Barkley.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Definately a strong side, is Cole touring? For some reason i didn't think he was?

Also, where we're going to be let down in the tests is with the bench, we'll be playing our best second string players in the mid week so we're left with **** like Payne (tbf he's the only really bad player i can think of) there. Though Johnson will probably start him and have him on for 80minutes =/ It'd make more sense to mix and match them all, but giving the newer players starts in the midweeks

 

[TOD]

Golding's got potential and give him some time with steve holding them together they could form an amazing front row lawes isn't good enough at second row to merit a test place even he says he prefers back row if I could I'd have given attwood or parling a run out with shaw though palmer might force his way in. we'll see in the test about Englands tackling. The team I would put out if I could.
1. Golding
2. Thompson (Rob Webber)
3. Cole
4. Shaw
5. Palmer (Geoff Parling)
6. Croft (Haskell 60th min)
7. Moody
8. Easter
9. Youngs (danny care if problems appear)
10. Flood
11. Ashton
12. Barkley (Hape if having problems)
13. Tindall
14. Cueto (Strettle if game opens up more)
15. Foden

 

[Teh Mite]

Yep, they were beating Northampton at the Gardens until the last minute, when Matt Banahan had been very harshly sent of so it was 15 vs. 14.

Odd that you're excluding Saracens away, London Irish away and Wasps at Twickenham from that list, Mite.

Let's get the details right here: They LOST to Northampton at FG, they beat Northamptons SECOND CHOICE XV (by only a single point with a full strength squad on their own patch), they beat Irish who couldn't buy a win by that stage and they beat Wasps who are falling apart at the seams. They also finished 4th miles off the pace of the top 3.

Don't get me werong, they were a billion times better by the end of the season compared to the start, but they were never anything above a midtable team over the course of of the whole season. It would have been much worse for them had the late season resurgence not happened (i.e. Barkley & Maddock literally dragging them kicking and screaming by their ears).

And there's nothing harsh about getting sent off for stamping.

 

[Quadecooper#1]

interesting odds from sportsbet.com.au
aus barbarians 1.33
england 3.25

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Pretty much the same odds from the English ones as well, i wouldn't have said the Baabaas were such strong favorites to win. Favorites definately, but not by that much

 

[Haysie]

Did anyone see the odds for the Wallabies vs. Fiji match? Aus at $1.01 and Fiji at $15.00