England vs Wales - 06/08/2011 - RWC Warm Up

[j-dawg]

I do beleive Wilko, as always, is the man for us this world cup.

 

[Darwin]

I read something the other day that England might only take Youngs and Care to New Zealand and use a combination of Foden (who played a fair bit of Scrumhalf before being a fulltime fullback) and Flutey (never seen him play scrumhalf in my life? Maybe he did it in the ITM cup back in the day or something) to cover in case of emergency

This would be insane

It's a bit of doubled edged sword with Youngs being injured - he's going to have had a long time with no rugby going into the group stage, however it means Joe Simpson is guaranteed game time during the warm ups - Hopefully he shows some of the form he has showed during the Aviva, because he's been cracking
Also can play wing pretty well, so worth a spot on the plane, imo

I'd be tempted to start him in this match, and then bring Care on if things start going ***s up

Flutey did play a wee bit at halfback for the Wellington / Hurricanes. He was very much seen as a utility back when he was in NZ capable of playing 9,10, and 15 (but strangely I can't recall him playing at 12) - he was frequently on the bench covering 9 and 10. The fact he seemed to be playing a different position each meant we never probably saw the best of him when he was in NZ. I can understand England only taking two halfbacks if they were both fit and firing, but given one is currently injured I agree taking only two halfbacks may be a bit of a risk.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

I've heard from a vaugley reliable source (My dad tells me he heard it from a reliable source, anyway) that Hook and Lloyd Williams shall eb the halfbacks, Josh Turnbull'll start and Henson/Roberts'll be the centres. Sounds rather promising.

 

[psychic duck]

I read something the other day that England might only take Youngs and Care to New Zealand and use a combination of Foden (who played a fair bit of Scrumhalf before being a fulltime fullback) and Flutey (never seen him play scrumhalf in my life? Maybe he did it in the ITM cup back in the day or something) to cover in case of emergency

but remember you can replace injured players mid tournament so there would have to be three injuries in one match for Flutey to have to play scrum half and even then it would only probably be for a few minutes at the end

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Ah, fair point
Suppose it's like Ben Foden filling in at Scrumhalf vs Ireland when Youngs was in the bin

Bet Foden loved that, finally playing for England in his preferred position :lol:

 

[psychic duck]

Ah, fair point
Suppose it's like Ben Foden filling in at Scrumhalf vs Ireland when Youngs was in the bin

Bet Foden loved that, finally playing for England in his preferred position :lol:

yes, Sale fans must be annoyed that he left them because they were playing him in the back three and then went to Northampton to play at scrum half only ... to play full back still :lol:

he stopped his scrum half preference when people realised he could be good enough to play for England at full back though

 

[MichaelBoard]

I really hope that England don't unleash Charlie Sharples (I think thats right? :S) on us at Twickenham because he looks a real prospect and just seemed able to score at will when the Dragons played Gloucester a few months ago. But on the other hand I hope he plays because I remember watching him in that game and thinking he will be awesome for England one day so I'd like to see how he adapts to international rugby. Seems a decent player and I'd throw him into the England World Cup Squad as a bit of a wildcard. Glad to see Matt Stevens back for the English as I really rate him. I just hope Gatland doesn't go the Gareth Jenkins route by throwing a side of 15 together which just naturally leads to a hammering like that horrible day at Twickenham. i hope instead Gats gets the right balance of young players who need exposure as well as experienced players also needing game time.

One things for sure I can't wait for the game

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Planet Rugby's sources "tell them" that Manu is starting at 13.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I hope their sources are correct

 

[Amobokoboko]

Have fun guys, still gutted I can't make it.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

From what Planet Rugby have said then I think the team will be:

1. Sheridan (needs game time
2. Hartley (for continuity)
3. Stevens (PR said he'll start, didn't say where though)
4. Botha or Deacon (Botha > Deacon, but I think if Botha were to start then that would have been "leaked" by/to PR too)
5. Palmer
6. Croft
7. Moody (c) (Needs game time, and PR said he's playing)
8. Haskell (PR)
9. Care (PR)
10. Wilko (PR)
11. Sharples (PR)
12. Flutey (PR)
13. Tuilagi (PR)
14. Ashton (I'm presuming Cueto will miss out for Sharples, though it could well be Ashton)
15. Foden

16. Mears (for game time in an England shirt)
17. Cole (If Stevens starts 1, and Cole starts 3 then PD-J)
18. Shaw
19. Robshaw (game time in an England shirt, covers more positions than Easter or Fourie)
20. Simpson
21. Flood (Covers centre as well as 10, unlike Hodgson)
22. Armitage/Banahan/Monye/Cueto (not sure which)

 

[ZeFrenchy]

More according to PR: (http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7078823,00.html)

1.
2.
3. Stevens
4.
5.
6.
7. Moody
8. Haskell
9. Care
10. Wilkinson
11. Sharples
12. Flutey
13.
14.
15.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Beat me to it, and can't edit.

 

[dullonien]

When?! When he got hauled off after being mauled by Cole in the 6N?!

Well I was thinking more about the two Heinekep cup games between the Ospreys and Leicester, where Castro had to be brought on twice to save the Leicester scrum. That was over a year ago though, and Cole's improved since then. It was a bit of a tongue in cheek comment to counter Olyy's. As for the 6 nations match, I remember Wales' scrum holding up very well, despite missing both Jenkins and Adam Jones. Paul James despite not being as good an overall player as Jenkins, is probably a slighty better scrummager, who hasn't been 'mauled' be anyone in years. I'd have him up there as one of Wales' best performing players last season, especially considering the shoes he was filling.

I've heard from a vaugley reliable source (My dad tells me he heard it from a reliable source, anyway) that Hook and Lloyd Williams shall eb the halfbacks, Josh Turnbull'll start and Henson/Roberts'll be the centres. Sounds rather promising.

Hmm, very interesting. It appears that Lloyd Williams has had quite an impact on the Welsh squad, Gatland seems to really rate him, as do I. He's a very classy scrum half, and I think Hook could thrive outside him with the quick, accurate delivery.

 

[chapperz]

does anybody else have quieries about if Tuilagi and Ashton playing together?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

They've been training together and living in the same hotel for the past couple of months, can't imagine there's any bad blood between the two of them

 

[Thingimubob]

Glad that Lloyd Williams could be getting a start, he's been superb for the Blues this season, definitely a chip off the old block! Big fan of Turnbull too, guessing he'll be playing 6 if Warburtons captain? Will be interesting to see who Gatland plays at 8, especially if he starts the relatively untested Turnbull, could be worth starting Delve then bringing on Faletau in the 2nd half.
Will have to wait and see anyway!

 

[big ginger 8]

Ashton looks a lot beefier wonder if they're overdoing the weights? Like Ireland pre 2007.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Nah, Ashtons always been pretty big

Though looking at that picture saying Ashton is the beefy one isn't something I'd say!
Tuilagi is a full on tank!

 

[cyRil]

Ashton is definitely looking a porker in recent photos!