England - Barbarians FC (27/05/2012, 14:30)

[TRF_Olyy]

Twickenham (27/05/2012, 14:30)

Live on Sky Sports 4
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[TRF_Olyy]

Phil Dowson has been named as England captain...hurray....
Pretty much guarantees a 6. Johsnon, 7. Fearns, 8. Dowson back row then.

John Smit will captain the Baabaas.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Barbarians side:

Mils Muliaina; Paul Sackey, Casey Laulala, Mike Tindall, Ian Balshaw; Stephen Donald, Rory Lawson;
Neemia Tialata, John Smit (captain), John Afoa, Mark Chisholm, Anton van Zyl, Ernst Joubert, John Beattie, Akapusi Qera
Replacements: Benoit August, Duncan Jones, Pelu Taele, Raphael Lakafia, Jerome Fillol, Felipe Contepomi, Sailosi Tagicakibau​

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Barbarians side:

Mils Muliaina; Paul Sackey, Casey Laulala, Mike Tindall, Ian Balshaw; Stephen Donald, Rory Lawson;
Neemia Tialata, John Smit (captain), John Afoa, Mark Chisholm, Anton van Zyl, Ernst Joubert, John Beattie, Akapusi Qera
Replacements: Benoit August, Duncan Jones, Pelu Taele, Raphael Lakafia, Jerome Fillol, Felipe Contepomi, Sailosi Tagicakibau​

Definitely seen better Barbarian sides. The backline could work but looks a wee bit stodgy with the Donald - Tindall axis! Not to mention Balshaw. Great pack though, perfect test for Fearns and co. To be honest I can sort of see why Dowson was picked to lead now. Do you remember that Baabaas game last year where we had a young team that was just bullied? Few old heads can't hurt

 

[TRF_Olyy]

England Side:

15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
13 Brad Barritt (Saracens)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens)
11 Christian Wade (London Wasps)
10 Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)
9 Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)1 Matt Stevens (Saracens)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
3 Paul Doran Jones (Northampton Saints)
4 Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
5 Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
6 Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
7 Carl Fearns (Bath Rugby)
8 Phil Dowson (capt, Northampton Saints)Replacements
16 Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
17 Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
18 Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
19 Jamie Gibson (London Irish)
20 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
21 Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
22 Alex Goode (Saracens)



Some good, some sh**. Why is Matt Stevens starting at 1? He's a crap #1, and then we've got Mullan on the bench who is a good #1. Don't really like the centre partnership, would've preferred Joseph at 13 and Barritt at 12 with Farrell on the bench, but I can understand Lancaster wanting to keep continuity going in to SA (presuming that he's going to be having Flood/Hodgson at 10 and Farrell at 12).
Very excited to see Wade out there, and Fearns (even if he is at 7 ). Also Gibson and Launchbury on the bench too.
Also looking forward to seeing Dickson and Hodgson play together - hopefully Charlie will get some decent ball out of him (better than he's gotten off of Youngs and Wigglesworth in the past anyway) and can show us what he can do.​

 

[Peat]

Olyy has encapsulated my thoughts.

Henry - Nothing stodgy about Balshaw! Particularly not in Baabaas games. Tbh, I'd take Balshaw ahead of some of the wingers we've picked for this tour...

 

[SelimNiai]

Wade will be certainly one to watch, dude has some serious wheels.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I don't understand: I thought we's established that 10: Hodgson 12: Farrell 13: Barritt: doesnt work! Much rather seen Hodgson with Barritt and Joseph

 

[TRF_Olyy]

True - hopefully the change in scrumhalf, and it being a "nothing" game will open them up a bit (last time they played together they had a severely off form Youngs with them).

 

[welshglory]

Olyy has encapsulated my thoughts.

Henry - Nothing stodgy about Balshaw! Particularly not in Baabaas games. Tbh, I'd take Balshaw ahead of some of the wingers we've picked for this tour...

I agree Balshaw's a good player in my view. He's played pretty well for Biarritz from what i've seen as well. At least he can finish off a try, unlike Strettle or Monye anyway...

 

[Peat]

You could put that midfield combo outside anyone - George Gregan, FdP, Matt Dawson, anyone - and they'll still be what they are. Barritt should never be the most cavalier back in the midfield.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Olyy has encapsulated my thoughts.

Henry - Nothing stodgy about Balshaw! Particularly not in Baabaas games. Tbh, I'd take Balshaw ahead of some of the wingers we've picked for this tour...

Haha, I'm not so sure... Strettle and Monye I guess?

To be honest with this game I'd rather we just made sure our key players didn't get crocked. So I'd have Goode at 15 for example, probably would save Barritt and Hartley too.. This said, pretty much everyone else in that team is in a fight for their positions and therefore pretty much have to start to give them the chance to stake their claim.

If Wade really lays down a marker he could find himself starting the first test

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Every time I see Hodgson's name, I always get surprised. I just assume he's been retired (or dropped) for years.

 

[racingmetrofan]

Alright team - would far prefer to see a more interesting midfield but I reckon Lancaster's mantra is going to be 'make sure we win all the matches we can' for the first season or two.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I'm hoping he is using some continuity and wil also what to try new players. I guess he stil has soem questions he needs answering;

Can Farrell play 12?
Can Barritt cover 13?
Is hodgseon still the right 3rd choice FH?
Is stevens ****? (we all know he is)?
How Mullan/ lauchberry and joeseph go?

I'm hoping this isn't a...i already know that farrell can play 12 ect otherwise whats the point in the game? Try something new!

 

[big ginger 8]

It surprises me no one ever mentions PDJ's Irish links considering he'd be incredibly welcome.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Probably because
a) He's English
b) He's been capped for England
c) Why would he want to play alongside the kind of frontrow Ireland put out?


Thought this kicked off at 2, so I rushed back to Aber to find it starts half an hour later.
Better than yesterday when I missed most of the final :lol:

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Oh Donald. Just took Hodgson round the neck and fell over with him. Dubious technique...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Blech, this is a Baabaas game, someone tell Owen Farrell to stop kicking for goal

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

That was a pretty spasticated move off the scrum. This said, we had arguably 'won' the scrum and looked like we expected the penalty.Then when it didn't come we wer ein a poor positiion to ship it