England Squad Announced

[TRF_Olyy]

Courtney Lawes has never run out of steam, ever. Fact.



I've seen Wigglesworth cover 10 before at Sale, never started or played a significant amount there I don't think
He's a decent goal kicker but I wouldn't say he's adequate FH cover, especially for a world cup

 

[Peat]

Courtney Lawes has never run out of steam, ever. Fact.



I've seen Wigglesworth cover 10 before at Sale, never started or played a significant amount there I don't think
He's a decent goal kicker but I wouldn't say he's adequate FH cover, especially for a world cup

All he has to do is cover a match against some minnows should both fly-halves pick up knocks (probably). Anything major will see someone go home and Hodgson fly over.

 

[big ginger 8]

A six year old girl couldn't be worse then Tim Payne. Even Cian Healy couldn't be worst then Tim Payne.

Thought you'd started liking him?

 

[big ginger 8]

Barnes thinks it'll be 17-13 split. 16-14 it is then.

 

[deedeedatiger]

Just saw the squad it is meh only worried about the replacement locks, the wingers and the centre partnership only 2 decent wingers ??? (although armitage could play there) and will MJ stick with tindall hape or say it doesnt work together like Lampard and Gerrard and put Tuilagi in there to Mash up the defence and Shaw is useless, have you ever wondered why he is unnatached ?

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

have you ever wondered why he is unnatached ?

because he hasn't signed a new contract that is all. He is not useless.

possibility for the slowest english backline of all time at some point:

Wigglesworth
Wilkinson
cueto
hape
tindall
banahan
foden

 

[j-dawg]

have you ever wondered why he is unnatached ?[/QUOTE]

Because he hasn't decided on what he's doing, he's had plenty of offers I've heard. Saying he is useless is one of the stupidest comments you can make about a rugby player. Anyone remember 'Simon Shaw in the lions team? Wasn't he a childminder for sick dinosaurs?'

Shaw is a quality player and, whilst he obviously can't put in 80 minutes of full intensity, its hard to find a player with as much impact off the bench as him. Ill say again, miles ahead of Deacon, the Tim Payne of the second row.

I would just ask Lawes to put in 100% from the off. Not to worry about getting tired and Palmer to just do his thing; lineouts, turnover, charge downs. I don't care who you are you can't last 80 minutes at 100% so when Lawes tires throw Shaw on. Opposition will be begging for mercy by the end.

 

[gingergenius]

opposition will just tell their flankers to not miss any tackles, they won't, and england will be begging for mercy as they realise there's 10 to play, they're 12 points adrift and literally nobody on the bench to come on and win the game because everyone creative's been left at home.

 

[j-dawg]

Saracens fan with a chip on his shoulder.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Eh?
He's got a bloody point
We've taken Banahan over Simpson-Daniel or Sharples
We've taken Easter over Robshaw
We've taken Hape over Flutey

Anyone who has the potential to do something special has been ditched for people who are uninspiring and dreadful

 

[JW.]

I can get Robshaw not being taken I can even get over Banahan. But if they don't take Flutey im gonna f*ckn kick myself in the head.

 

[Peat]

Eh?
He's got a bloody point
We've taken Banahan over Simpson-Daniel or Sharples
We've taken Easter over Robshaw
We've taken Hape over Flutey

Anyone who has the potential to do something special has been ditched for people who are uninspiring and dreadful

Easter and Robshaw aren't even in contention for the same place Olyy; one's an 8, the other's predominantly a flanker, and Easter has lovely hands and can genuinely create something. You are completely wrong on this count.

Also, last I checked, Foden/Tuilagi/Ashton/Youngs were all going, so you're being slightly hyperbolic on the last line too.

Although that's understandable when contemplating Hape and Banahan.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If Easter wasn't going then Haskell would be first choice 8 and Robshaw would take his place as bench-flanker
When has Easter ever had a moment of magic?
He's got good hands in the lineout and from the kickoff, but I've never seen him doing anything great


I meant anyone who could be in the extended squad/bench
I know that Foden et al are all there, but if, for example, Ashton sprains an ankle 20mins in, do you really want to be replacing him with Matt Banahan, or would you rather Charlie Sharples?

 

[Peat]

If Easter wasn't going then Haskell would be first choice 8 and Robshaw would take his place as bench-flanker
When has Easter ever had a moment of magic?
He's got good hands in the lineout and from the kickoff, but I've never seen him doing anything great


I meant anyone who could be in the extended squad/bench
I know that Foden et al are all there, but if, for example, Ashton sprains an ankle 20mins in, do you really want to be replacing him with Matt Banahan, or would you rather Charlie Sharples?

The fact that Haskell's backing up Easter in itself makes me feel nervous; Robshaw's played more at 8 this year than Haskell. If Johnno was minded, either Haskell or Wood could stay at home for Robshaw. There was a lovely break from our 22 last autumn vs South Africa in which Croft went about half the pitch - set up by Easter. Not magic, no, but then he's a forward. They're not paid for magic. I certainly wouldn't pick Robshaw for magic.

And of course I'd prefer Sharples, although I'd really prefer JSD or Ojo. I don't disagree with the general point, but was merely pedantically pointing out the hyperbole of the wording as the Easter-Robshaw thing annoyed me

 

[gingergenius]

Saracens fan with a chip on his shoulder.

Search the forum over the past few years and find one post where I've recommended Strettle, Short or Goode for the England world cup squad.

Oh, you couldn't.

(that's not to say they wouldn't do a **** load better than some of the donkeys who'll be going...)

As for back row, I think it's pretty simple. The number has to be limited to 5.

Which means that Croft must be there because he's world class. Haskell must go because he was England's best player in the 6 Nations. Wood must go because he also cemented a starting spot in a good 6N pack. Easter must go because he's the only out-and-out 8 around; he's also experienced and while he's slow and undynamic, he's a good grunty player to have around in a 12-9 slogfest of a QF.

Which means the last place is a tossup between Moody and Robshaw. And despite the fact that Moody is a unique number 6 who's been picked as 7 all his career (besides by Sir Clive, who knew a thing or two) and injury prone, he does offer something very different, and also that experience that a fairly young pack might lack. So I'd have him above Robshaw.

Hopefully the likes of Robshaw, Saull etc. can have a look in post RWC when we've ditched Easter and Moody.

 

[04perryo]

Haskell at 8 is so much better then easter at 8. Haskell is a lot lot quicker and more explosive and tbh easters hands arnt great they can be poor at times. And when haskell played 8 against wales i thought he was playing well

 

[Thingimubob]

Well, no offence to the English, but I really hope we don't see a repeat of 07 where England (somehow) bore their way to the final... bar Ashton and Foden, possibly Youngs and Tuilagi too that's a very boring squad. Even if you have got the likes of Foden and Ashton, they're at risk of being stifled by an incredibly uncreative midfield. Just look at Foden vs Wales, barely saw him for most of the game, despite England having the vast majority of possession, only really came into the game when Wales chucked a few loose kicks his way. Never understood it really, England do have plenty of exciting players but they just don't seem to get picked, I mean it took them ages to actually start playing Foden and Ashton when everyone was crying out for them to play. Just sheer madness to take someone like Hape over Flutey...

 

[j-dawg]

It was only boring if you were not English.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I thought the last WC was boring for England
Don't get me wrong, I was very happy to see us get where we did, but we were hardly playing entertaining rugby

Best match we were involved in was getting smashed by SA in the groups, and that's because we got to see some tries




I say get Will Carling as England coach
He hates the RFU, so isn't going to pick the players they tell him to and he's always wanting to pick the players everyone with a brain wants (i.e Waldouck, Sharples etc.)
If it's a failure at least we'll see some good rugby being played

 

[TRF_Cymro]

http://www.rfu.com/News/2011/August/News Articles/220811_rwc_squad_announcement.aspx