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

[TRF_Olyy]

Daily Telegraph are saying these are the teams

Wales:
Stoddart, North, Davies, Roberts, Williams, Jones, Philips
James, Bennett, Mitchell, Jones, Davies, Lydiate, Warbuton, Faletau


England:
Armitage, Banahan, Tuilagi, Flutey, Cueto, Wilkinson, Care,
Corbisiero, Hartley, Stevens, Shaw, Palmer, Croft, Moody, Haskell


If that's true, I might cry
Johnson eliminates the **** heap that is our midfield, but then replaces the bloody problem by putting Banahan and Armitage in the back three?!​

 

[Feicarsinn]

Wales played poor, got a try because Hape doesn't know what he's doing and so shot off the line like gormless crack addict. Spent much of the second half on their own 5 metre line. Did scrum well though, frightening considering Jenkins and A. Jones were missing.

Having bad players is your excuse? Bit of a self-defeating argument there.

 

[dullonien]

Daily Telegraph are saying these are the teams

Wales:
Stoddart, North, Davies, Roberts, Williams, Jones, Philips
James, Bennett, Mitchell, Jones, Davies, Lydiate, Warbuton, Faletau


England:
Armitage, Banahan, Tuilagi, Flutey, Cueto, Wilkinson, Care,
Corbisiero, Hartley, Stevens, Shaw, Palmer, Croft, Moody, Haskell


If that's true, I might cry
Johnson eliminates the **** heap that is our midfield, but then replaces the bloody problem by putting Banahan and Armitage in the back three?!​

Hmm, interesting teams. From a Welsh perspective, not atall sure about Stoddart at fullback, but he probably needed a run-out there in one of the games to see if he can hack it at international level. On the flip side, that is a very dangerous attacking back three for Wales, they could cause some serious damage on the counter! Completely second choice front row aswell! Good idea to give Mitchell some gametime, but I'm a little surprised Gethin isn't getting the same treatment. Gethin is world class though, he's always been able to slot straight back in in the past, so he may be wrapped in cotton wool for the WC, along with Adam Jones. Jones was always gonna get a decent amount of gametime at second-row. Excited to see that backrow together again!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Stoddart'll certainly have his work cut out for him defending against Bananaman

 

[Sixesandsevens]

Yeah I have to agree I was really excited when I heard that Wilkinson (I can take or leave Fluety, not really a better option but hes not great) and Tuilagi were starting, but I was hoping to see them with Foden and Ashton.

 

[j-dawg]

Having bad players is your excuse? Bit of a self-defeating argument there.

No, Hape shot out of the defensive line which lead to a Wales try. I not once said he or any other players were bad...although Hape is pretty bad.

 

[j-dawg]

Daily Telegraph are saying these are the teams

Wales:
Stoddart, North, Davies, Roberts, Williams, Jones, Philips
James, Bennett, Mitchell, Jones, Davies, Lydiate, Warbuton, Faletau


England:
Armitage, Banahan, Tuilagi, Flutey, Cueto, Wilkinson, Care,
Corbisiero, Hartley, Stevens, Shaw, Palmer, Croft, Moody, Haskell


If that's true, I might cry
Johnson eliminates the **** heap that is our midfield, but then replaces the bloody problem by putting Banahan and Armitage in the back three?!​

Like
- Wilkinson - Can show us some of that Toulon form
- Haskel - If he's at 8 im really pleased and hope he'll fulfill expectations
- Tuilagi - Pretty sure he's majorly impressed in the camp, looking forward to seeing him looking like Venom from spider man
- Shaw - Who doesn't like Shaw?

Dislike

- Bananamahan - Robotic and stiff, adds nothing
- Armitage - Have a MAJOR dislike for him. Kick, kick, kick. Foul, foul, foul. Don't need him or his ego anywhere near the England team.

Any word on subs?

 

[dullonien]

Stoddart'll certainly have his work cut out for him defending against Bananaman

Not really Olyy. Stoddart's problem is his positioning in defense, which means he's worse against nippy, elusive wingers that can wrong foot him. Despite his tackling technique being a bit dodgy, he's a big guy and will get them down if he can get to them. Doubt he'll have any problem with Banahan or Cueto really. If Sharples and Ashton were playing, then I'd be more worried.

 

[psychic duck]

Stoddart is one of the worst tacklers I've ever seen, did you see his pathetic attempt at tackling Nacewa in the Wales v Barbarians match, I'm afraid he will struggle against any decent winger in World Rugby.

Banahan will be pleased, this is his what he likes doing, smashing small weak wingers and somehow convincing people that he is a good player just by doing that

 

[dullonien]

Stoddart is one of the worst tacklers I've ever seen, did you see his pathetic attempt at tackling Nacewa in the Wales v Barbarians match, I'm afraid he will struggle against any decent winger in World Rugby.

Banahan will be pleased, this is his what he likes doing, smashing small weak wingers and somehow convincing people that he is a good player just by doing that

Yes, exactly what I said psychic duck. Nacewa wrong footed him, because Stoddart tends to rush-up to the tackle, leaving himself open (exactly the same as Byrne used to do in his Scarlets days). This is also why Stoddart's defense doesn't get exposed on the wing. Banahan isn't an elusive, side stepping player, he'll just try and smash his way through, and he'll get very little return by doing that against Stoddart, because despite having a poot tackling technique, Stoddart will just put his body in the way and grab hold of the legs, good enough to down Banahan. Remember, Stoddart is far from small and weak, he's almost 15 stone and 6'1".

 

[psychic duck]

Remember, Stoddart is far from small and weak, he's almost 15 stone and 6'1".

just weak then

 

[Aout]

Flood will start on the bench ?

 

[dullonien]

just weak then

Stoddart weak? Not really. Poor technique and positioning is all he can be accused of (granted it's pretty majour for a fullback). Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've not seen him falling off tackles ver often, he's simply not there to make them, or is left clutching at straws, kinda like I am now .

I'm with you really about Storrart making a poor full-back. However with no real back-up to Byrne, Gatland has gotta test some players. With halfpenny injured, the options after Byrne are quite simply Stoddart or Priestland, unless he moves Roberts back, but I can't see that happening. If Stoddart can show signs of improving defense, then he'd make a great bench option to cover the back three. Byrne managed to sort out his defense, what's to say Shaun Edwards can't work some magic on Stoddart, because quite frankly the rest of his game is pretty bloody good. Great counter attacking and timing of hitting the line, very good finishing, and a strong carryer with decent hand-off. His kicking is alright, nothing compared to Byrne in full song, but decent. He can be a bit selfish, but this season I've seen less of that. It's that bloody defense that lets him down, time and time again at fullback!

 

[j-dawg]

Are the teams actually going to be announced?

 

[j-dawg]

According to sporting life, the England team is the one Olyy said plus...

Replacements: L Mears (Bath Rugby), D Wilson (Bath Rugby), M Botha (Saracens), T Wood (Northampton Saints), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), C Hodgson (Saracens), C Sharples (Gloucester Rugby).

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

SkySports News confirmed the side Olly put. They even listed it as 'Breaking News', which is nice. I think.

 

[j-dawg]

SkySports News confirmed the side Olly put. They even listed it as 'Breaking News', which is nice. I think.

Wow. I thought it was only David Beckhams new haircut or 'what Frank Lampard says about his pet cat; Mr Snuffles' that makes breaking news on Sky sports.

 

[JW.]

Tuilagi and Banahan thats alot of mass running at you. Would have hoped to see Wilko playing with Ashton and Armitage doesn't even deserve to be in the England squad at the moment in my mind, same goes for Banahan but MJ likes him. Good te see Stevens back , hoping Wilko shows everyone he's still got it.

Be interesting to see how Flutey goes, how his form is etc. Because when inform he is our best option at 12.

 

[dullonien]

15. Rhys Priestland
14. George North
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Jamie Roberts
11. Shane Williams
10. Stephen Jones
9. Michael Phillips
8. Toby Faletau
7. Sam Warburton (c)
6. Dan Lydiate
5. Alun Wyn Jones
4. Bradley Davies
3. Craig Mitchell
2. Huw Bennett
1. Paul James

Replacements: Lloyd Burns, Ryan Bevington, Luke Charteris, Ryan Jones, Tavis Knoyle, Scott Williams, Morgan Stoddart

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Wales: Rhys Priestland (Scarlets); George North (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Shane Williams; Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Mike Phillips; Paul James (Ospreys), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Craig Mitchell (Exeter), Bradley Davies (Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Danny Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), Toby Faletau (Dragons), Sam Warburton (Blues, capt).
Replacements: Lloyd Burns (Dragons), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Dragons), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Morgan Stoddart (Scarlets).