England vs Australia

[RoosTah]

This is going to be one tough game for Australia. In the backs we have it all over England, but the scrum was just so bloody pathetic last week that the wallabies could struggle to score points if England's defence manage to shut down cooper and exploit his defensive weaknesses.
On the other hand, if manage to just keep the scrum stable with Moore in there, then this game is definitely there for the taking for the Wallabies. The boys have been brilliant at the breakdown and Pocock really is the form pilferer in the world at the moment, so that could be a huge game breaker. The Wallabies are playing a lot like the Crusaders right now, so that could prove a game saver if the scrum fails. The boys nailed the Welsh at the breakdown (scoring double the turnovers), and with our backline at the moment, any turnover could lead to a try if England aren't very sharp in defence.

Going to say that Moore will add just enough stability for the boys to get over in a tight one. Wallabies by 5.

 

[Peat]

The England pack will absolutely MULLER the Aussie scrum, but it wont be enough to prevent the Aussie backs from winning it for them

England's best best would be to forget about kicking the ball upfield, and just kick it out deep into touch so that no quick throw-ins are possible, or to continually knock the ball on every time they get it so that they can force the Aussies into scrum after scrum after scrum.

It was last time!

England's backs really need to step up, this is going to be a big defensive effort whatever happens. If Wilko was fit I'd almost advocate putting him at 12. But it is doable. And Croft and Moody/Fourie/Wood need to absolutely molest Genia and Cooper.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That's the advantage of having someone as crazy as Moody: he'll just dive face-first into any kick that Cooper or Genia might look to put in. Coopers very much a confidence player as well, so if he's got Moody all over him all game then he might have a mare (like he did for 50 or so minutes in Hong Kong) - also, with Cooper in the 10channel, and our midfield likely to be Hape/Tindall, his fairly weak tackling will be a huge help, and if they get one of the backrowers to help him out, then I'd back Youngs to spot a gap and do one (like his try against the Wallabies in the summer)

 

[RoosTah]

That's the advantage of having someone as crazy as Moody: he'll just dive face-first into any kick that Cooper or Genia might look to put in. Coopers very much a confidence player as well, so if he's got Moody all over him all game then he might have a mare (like he did for 50 or so minutes in Hong Kong) - also, with Cooper in the 10channel, and our midfield likely to be Hape/Tindall, his fairly weak tackling will be a huge help, and if they get one of the backrowers to help him out, then I'd back Youngs to spot a gap and do one (like his try against the Wallabies in the summer)

He really is a liability in defence for us, but he's also so creative so it's a bit of a bind... I'm tempted to say the boys would be better off putting Barnes in at 10 and letting Giteau make the big plays. Barnes is a brilliant defender and in a tight forward oriented game he may well prove to be better for the wallabies. They could then do the opposite and bring Cooper on in the last 20 when his defence will be less of a problem and his fresh legs can exploit England better.
For me this really depends on the breakdown though. Australia have been ordinary at scrum time, but our flankers are truly world class and we've been dominating the rucks of late, so that could definitely turn things in our favour. Pocock is a hungry and powerful player and I don't see anyone getting the better of him any time soon. Heck, he outplayed McCaw in HK IMO.

 

[Duckdee]

15 Ben Foden
14 Mark Cueto
13 Mike Tindall
12 Shontayne Hape
11 Chris Ashton
10 Toby Flood
9 Ben Youngs
1 Andrew Sheridan
2 Dylan Harltey
3 Dan Cole
4 Courtney Lawes
5 Tom Palmer
6 Tom Croft
7 Lewis Moody (C)
8 Nick Easter

Replacements

16 Steve Thompson
17 David Wilson
18 Simon Shaw
19 Hendre Fourie
20 Danny Care
21 Charlie Hodgson
22 Delon Armitage

 

[lynam1104]

Pocock is the form player of the year IMO should be the IRB player of the year, maybe DC.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Why the hell is Shaw there?
He's too old and too knackered. At least he's not starting, as he's only got 20minutes in him at most, but they really should've kept Attwood on the bench. On the plus side Lawes kept his spot over Shaw, so that bodes well for the future really
Not too fussed about Hartley starting, I rate him and Wally equally so it's either is fine by me (at least the other is still involved and not Chuter!)
Little disappointed the centres stayed the same, but they were never really going to split them up, so I suppose it's OK

 

[gingergenius]

don't get the shaw move either, unless attwood picked up a ****le.

disappointed to see **** starting at 2 as well, should be sat firmly on the sidelines with a ban.

 

[Shaggy]

England will be better this week because they have retained basically the same team and now have some game time together. I think they can smell blood in the water, and will take this game. I really don't think the Wallabies have any confidence in their own scrum (the loose forwards weren't even pushing at times against Wales). As already mentioned, Cooper is a bit of a liability on defense ... If England keep it in the forwards, run at Cooper, and don't kick the ball to Beale, they should win

 

[veux]

Laudable that Johnos trying to find some team consistancy, but not so good his centre pairing. I hope that he'll feel more able to experiment in the 6 nations, or against Samoa and SA.

England to win. I wouldn't mind seeing Hodgson at 10 with Flood at 12 and hape at 13.

 

[Teh Mite]

On that basis, why not Geraghty at 10 and Flood at 12? Hardly amazing I know, but it opens up Geraghty on the open play while keeping Floods boot at 12 while he's hardly a terrible centre (I recall he kept Newcastle alive for several seasons in that slot).

 

[SavageLez]

Ben Foden is my favourite English backline player at the moment. What skill, change of pace and great ball skills on attack. Reminded me of A. Healy and A. Robinson in their prime! He cut the NZ backline like a knife through soft butter. He should give the Ozzie defense few headaches.

 

[veux]

On that basis, why not Geraghty at 10 and Flood at 12? Hardly amazing I know, but it opens up Geraghty on the open play while keeping Floods boot at 12 while he's hardly a terrible centre (I recall he kept Newcastle alive for several seasons in that slot).

Didn't think of Geraghty, but I think it'd be the best option. Especially as he's the player best suited to unleashing Foden and Ashton.

 

[iWin]

Let's not start playing 10s at 12 if we can avoid it.
If we're going to talk about a new 12, wouldn't it be better to concentrate on Waldouck or Allen?
That said, Hape did more to earn his place in that game than Tindall did, despite Tindall generally being the better centre.
Doesn't make a difference though. It seems they are both here to stay...

 

[gingergenius]

Didn't think of Geraghty, but I think it'd be the best option. Especially as he's the player best suited to unleashing Foden and Ashton.

is he? he's not exactly 1st choice for Northampton.

I don't think Flood gets enough praise as England's 10. He kicks goals well, not in the Wilkinson class, but well enough. His kicking from hand is also good - not O'Gara but good. Defensively, again he doesn't make the big hits like Wilkinson but he does his job and isn't a weak link by any stretch. And ball in hand he's one of the better 10s in England, again no Quade Cooper but inventive nonetheless.

This all round game can't be seen from any other English fly half - there's no real weaknesses. Like with Wilko you can say his ball in hand and punting is poor; Hodgson's defence and so on. And seeing as 10 is such an important position, we have to have Flood there.

With regards to 12, not many fly halves make good 12s internationally. If they do, then they're guys who are more naturally 12s than 10s anyway, like Mauger or Giteau. The only guys we have like this are Barkley and Flutey - the former has never impressed in an England shirt and the latter has undoubted class but doesn't show it enough and is getting on. As far as other 12s go, I don't think Hape's up to it. Tuilagi needs more time in the Prem. Barritt and Waldouck are the only guys I'd consider for the job, and I rate Waldouck the higher out of those two - and Australia would be a perfect team to try him out with since he won't have too many big guys running down his channel, and if our pack can bully them, he'll have some good, quick ball to work with. Shame really.

 

[j-dawg]

Just give the ball to tindall with moody on his right and sheridan on his left and just absoloutley scream at Cooper...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

All they need is to put Pocock near that move, though, and as soon as one of them hits the floor he'll turn it over



Also, I'd rather Barkley (or a fit Flutey) on the bench over Hodgson. I'm a massive fan of Hodgson, and think he's massively underrated by a lot of people (mainly for some crap matches for England several years ago) - but he's a straight up 10. If Hape/Tindall goes down injured you'd have to reshuffle everything to get cover (i know Flood is a more than capable 12, but it's less than ideal to shift him across), or you'd have to bring on Armitage (who has played 13 at a decent level for L.I if my memory serves me correctly) but then that leaves you without cover for wing/FB on the bench.

I like a bench to have a 10/12 in the 21 shirt and an 11/14/15 in the 22 shirt.

 

[j-dawg]

This centre problem is nothing Sheridan can't handle....

 

[Peat]

Given free rein, my centre options would be Allen, Barritt, Waldouck and Clarke.

 

[gingergenius]

All they need is to put Pocock near that move, though, and as soon as one of them hits the floor he'll turn it over



Also, I'd rather Barkley (or a fit Flutey) on the bench over Hodgson. I'm a massive fan of Hodgson, and think he's massively underrated by a lot of people (mainly for some crap matches for England several years ago) - but he's a straight up 10. If Hape/Tindall goes down injured you'd have to reshuffle everything to get cover (i know Flood is a more than capable 12, but it's less than ideal to shift him across), or you'd have to bring on Armitage (who has played 13 at a decent level for L.I if my memory serves me correctly) but then that leaves you without cover for wing/FB on the bench.

I like a bench to have a 10/12 in the 21 shirt and an 11/14/15 in the 22 shirt.

defintely

Armitage is the perfect guy to have wearing 22, he's a class fullback, and can cover wing and 13 as well, plus kick goals. as i said in my last post, i really don't want anyone but flood at 10 atm, but certainly a 10/12 player on the bench is ideal. Unfortunately none of the 10/12 guys convince me that they're worth it at test level. Fingers crossed Cipriani turns his career round in Aus; or Mike Ford;s son or Alex Goode come good a 10.