England v New Zealand

[gingergenius]

No, I like Topsy Ojo. He scored two tries against the All Blacks in that series. That puts him in a very small group consisting of four other Englishmen to have scored two tries against the AB's (while playing for England), which include Rory Underwood, Carling, Lloyd and Obolensky.

that makes depressing reading.

 

[Dizzy]

Now that the squad has been named, Here is my predicted squad that will take the field

1. O. Franks
2. K. Mealamu[If Hore is fit then he will get the nod]
3. B. Franks
4. B Thorn
5. T. Donnelly
6. J. Kaino
7. R. McCaw
8. K. Read

9. A. Mathewson
10. D. Carter
11. H. Gear
12. M. Nonu
13. C. Smith
14. C. Jane
15. M. Muliaina

16. H. Elliot
17. J. Afoa
18. S. Whitelock
19. L. Messam
20. J. Cowan
21. S. Donald
22. S B. Williams

 

[Natas]

I think your right with the team Dizzy, although I would play Cowan first to steady the game from the start and Afoa because I think hes playing better although he is cover for both sides. What a scary prospect on paper let alone having to play this team. Alby, Donald and Williams somewhere round the 60th minute to keep the speed up and Voila, 20 point victory to the men in black. My knowledge of the England players is not the greatest and I welcome any input, but I can not pick an english player that is head and shoulders above any of the ABs. I do hope the game is closer however because IMO a closer game is much more entertaining than a flogging. Good luck England. May the force be with you.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

While not head/shoulders above, England certainly has some contenders.

How is "A. Mathewson" - I'll admit i've never heard of him before (shameful, i know )
Ben Youngs is on amazing form, and shows rugby form way above his years (the way he reads the game is way above his barely-turned-20-years-of-age) and is the form FH in the premiership, arguably in Europe/the NH

 

[nickdnz]

While not head/shoulders above, England certainly has some contenders.

How is "A. Mathewson" - I'll admit i've never heard of him before (shameful, i know )
Ben Youngs is on amazing form, and shows rugby form way above his years (the way he reads the game is way above his barely-turned-20-years-of-age) and is the form SH in the premiership, arguably in Europe/the NH

Alby Mathewson is in good form. Should have been selected for the Tri Nations squad of Cowan in my opinion. He owe's his selection mainly due to Weepu's absence. Arguably the best attacking halfback.

Do you mean Youngs is the best SH in the Premiership?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Gah, i do indeed.
No idea why i put F instead of S =/

 

[Dizzy]

It's hard to judge with the three wise men... you can never predict who they're going to play... so many tricks up their sleeves...
They could go for an entirely new squad to develop players or they could stick to the "same squad" week in week out that they used in the Tri-Nations...

And considering they'll really want to throw Sivivatu and Toeava in this mix as well, I think they may leave the developing squad to play against Scotland and Wales

 

[gingergenius]

It's quite depressing that I think New Zealand could make a team of the players they left behind and still beat England.

 

[durbutter]

It's quite depressing that I think New Zealand could make a team of the players they left behind and still beat England.

Or Ireland, or Wales, or Scotland or Italy or Argentina etc. etc.

 

[Dizzy]

It's quite depressing that I think New Zealand could make a team of the players they left behind and still beat England.

Especially when they've taken some not so hot players and left behind some real talent

 

[veux]

I'd like to see an England backline of

9: Youngs
10: Flood
11: Cohen
12: Barritt
13: Tindall
14: Ashton
14: Foden

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Cohen?
Is Barritt in the "EPS"? I really can't remember which centres are in there, i know there's Hape, Tindall and Waldouck, not sure about others

 

[Teh Mite]

Cohen circa 2002 would be fine, now however no thanks.

Barritt would be favourable over Hape or Barkley, but he's South African so doesn't qualify.

Otherwise that is more or less the backline we'll see.

 

[mohamed_ali12]

There are quite a few reasons to believe England will fare better than 12 months ago: they've managed to get themselves a cohesive 9,10 axis in Youngs and Flood, who are both familiar with eachother and Youngs is playing brilliantly for Leicester, while Flood has now definitely proven that he has matured into a quality 10; We've found a 2nd row who's not only good in the lineout but...wait for it...can actually carry and is fairly dynamic (shocking i know). Ashton and Foden have come into the team, which should do better than the abominable performance of Monye and co. last autumn.

This team is just better than the one last year, but its still debatable whether Lurch can keep up the improvements we demonstrated down under.

 

[lynam1104]

Of course England are better this years it's WC year they always peak in WC years.

 

[nickdnz]

Of course England are better this years it's WC year they always peak in WC years.

How did that sentence only manage one gramatical tool? Lol.

 

[lynam1104]

I really don't know.
i remember i was just back from the dentist at that time still a little bit dizzy/ confused from the drugs.

 

[Teh Mite]

It shouldn't be too dificult to improve on last Autumn;

- No Banahan doing literally nothing.
- No Armitage mucking about out of position (assuming he doesn't go deer in thne headlights again if Foden is injured)
- No Geraghty playing at centre (Come on, why does anyone consider hom a 12, do they never watch rugby?)
- (Hopefully) no Wilkinson kicking everything away.
- Danny Care not being slow from every breakdown.

John steel has targeted 2 wins from the 4 tests, but with the state of Australia and South Africa at preasent, 3 out of 4 is a realistic call. Running NZ close is the starting barometer, if it's still winnable by the end (i.e. within a score), England should go on to have a good series.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I think the main improvement on last year is that WE HAVE A BLOODY FULLBACK
Thinking back I actually can't believe they played the tests with no fullback. I mean for the ones after Monyes f**kups Cueto did alright, but it must've been a massive kick in the balls to Foden, Abendanon, Goode basically anyone who's a fullback in the Premiership, to see Monye run out with the 15 on his back

 

[Teh Mite]

Lawes gets all pragmatic