[EOYT] England vs. Australia 02/11/13

[Tony Manx]

Reckon Robinson and Greenwood are free on Saturday?

Don't think they have been "free" since 2003........................ other than for charity!!

 

[LittleGuy]

Australian lineup has been named and added to the first post in the thread.

 

[Tony Manx]

Clancy is reffing? Jeez that is all that the spectators need!!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Steve Thompson! Ahaaaaaaaaaa! Amazing :lol:

 

[Tony Manx]

That match has been more entertaining than many I have seen this season either live or on TV..................some huge skills on display and, yes, what a try from Thommo!! Great fun and wish I had been there to watch that one!!

 

[Draggs]

Jason Robinson still offers more than Alex Goode.

 

[Jaguares]

What happened to Joe Tomane? He's injured again?

 

[j'nuh]

So only 5 Australians and 4 Englishmen starting this weekend, started in the game last year. :huh:

And of the 46 players between the two countries, only 22 played last year.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

What happened to Joe Tomane? He's injured again?

Didn't he injure his hamstring just before the All Black's game two weeks ago? If so, it would be a minimum 3 weeks out injured; so would be available later in the tour.

 

[Dougydeluxe]

Few combos in England that will be interesting to see.

I also want to see how Aus will respond to playing better but still getting tons of flack from Ewan. Calling out captains and changing that around could have a huge effect on the team.

Think England will take it by 5 points though.

 

[ABs2011]

No comments on Horwill's axing??

Is no-one else calling BS on McKenzie's reasoning? There's no way you axe a captain 2 days out from a test. Something has gone down within the Wallaby camp if you ask me.

Also to you English guys, how good is this England team compared to the one that embarrassed the ABs a year ago? Sadly I don't have the time to follow the NH situation so would love to hear what you guys think of you current team? How do you rate your chances against this OZ team?

 

[Gavin]

No comments on Horwill's axing??

Is no-one else calling BS on McKenzie's reasoning? There's no way you axe a captain 2 days out from a test. Something has gone down within the Wallaby camp if you ask me.

Also to you English guys, how good is this England team compared to the one that embarrassed the ABs a year ago? Sadly I don't have the time to follow the NH situation so would love to hear what you guys think of you current team? How do you rate your chances against this OZ team?

Horwill is too injury prone for me and I think it is a good decision to remove him as captain. Let him play some rugby because he hasn't impressed me for a while.

 

[Jaguares]

Didn't he injure his hamstring just before the All Black's game two weeks ago? If so, it would be a minimum 3 weeks out injured; so would be available later in the tour.

I thought it was a smaller lesion.

Cheers

 

[ABs2011]

Horwill is too injury prone for me and I think it is a good decision to remove him as captain. Let him play some rugby because he hasn't impressed me for a while.

Maybe so, but still not a reason to axe him 2 days before the first test of the tour. Why not sort all this out before they left?

 

[The big Kangaroo]

The Team has probably being aware of it all week. Horwill was supposed to be dropped to the bench but then Simmons got injured so he kept his spot. I don't think anything went down just plain and simply Horwill has not been playing well enough to be sure of his spot in the team each week. I Think the wallabies will by 10 I just think its too hard for England to beat us when they haven't played together since the 6 nations while the wallabies have built momentum going into this match but need another good game from quade cooper.

 

[jessta]

Good decision by Mckenzie. Horwill has not been playing great and you need a captian who will lead by example. Horwill will be able to focus purley on his playing which will benefit him, same as genia who was dropped as vice captian. horwills been subbed off after half time in his past two tests so this is no real surprise at all. its a great way to keep mowen satisfied too, whos been threatening to leave the country after he didnt recieve a aru top up. He will feel like hes more valued now. Only surprise is quade cooper as vice really. Hes finally starting to hit his excellent form of 2010 and I dont know if having this extra responsibility will help him maintain that. Surley steven moore or adam ashlee cooper would be better candidates

 

[ABs2011]

The Team has probably being aware of it all week. Horwill was supposed to be dropped to the bench but then Simmons got injured so he kept his spot. I don't think anything went down just plain and simply Horwill has not been playing well enough to be sure of his spot in the team each week. I Think the wallabies will by 10 I just think its too hard for England to beat us when they haven't played together since the 6 nations while the wallabies have built momentum going into this match but need another good game from quade cooper.

Thanks for the response. Surely the media in OZ asked about the time line though right? I haven't read anything which suggests this was orchestrated before the team left. I trust you guys know what you are talking about, but if it were the ABs and McCaw getting the axe it sure as hell wouldn't be happening 2 days before a big test match...Unless something big went down....

 

[InsaneAsylum]

not much noise has been made in the media about Horwill... surprising really

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Also to you English guys, how good is this England team compared to the one that embarrassed the ABs a year ago? Sadly I don't have the time to follow the NH situation so would love to hear what you guys think of you current team? How do you rate your chances against this OZ team?

It's hard to say.
Brown is a better 15 than Goode (despite Goode playing well that game) and Yarde a better winger than Brown.
Vunipola on current form is far far better than Morgan, but Morgan was on good form last year.
Corbisiero is far superior in the scrum to Mako Vunipola, who offers more in the loose. Lawes isn't as good in the lineout as Parling, but is a more physical player.
Tomkins is no Tuilagi but Twelvetrees is better than Barritt at everything other than as a "defensive general", though his defence is very good.

I've got no idea how England will look - scrumtime has the potential to go pear shaped, and so does the lineout. Backs, in theory (despite Tuilagi being out) are improved, so hopefully they get some good ball - Yarde is a great player, and it'll be good to see him playing against Australia, see where he's really at.

 

[ABs2011]

not much noise has been made in the media about Horwill... surprising really

I'm just wondering how much people really care over there now?? 4th cab off the rank in terms of winter sports right?

Looks like I've got it wrong I guess, nothing odd going on, I just couldn't fathom that happening in NZ without a massive stink!