Ireland v England

[Bullitt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gingergenius @ Feb 19 2009, 02:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Wood would have got into the English 2003 team. Says enough; he's the best hooker to have played in my lifetime. Like Johnson is the best lock.[/b]

I'm not so sure, Thompson in his pomp was regarded as the worlds best for very good reasons. That said, Wood was still a class act at his peak.

 

[An Tarbh]

given his injuries at the time he would have struggled to make their world cup winning side, he missed the entire 6N in 2003, so even if Woodward had the choice it wouldn't have been as straightforward at the time. 2 years previous though and there would have been no issue.

 

[Bullitt]

Saw this on another board which is interesting;

Originally posted by oddshapedballs
Does the followng tell us anything about England's intentions?

I suspect that Goode does not have the same set of clauses as Haskell written into his contract and, therefore, cannot be retained.

15 Delon Armitage, Retained
14 Paul Sackey, Retained
13 Mike Tindall, Retained
12 Riki Flutey, Retained
11 Mark Cueto, Retained
10 Andy Goode, Released
9 Harry Ellis, Retained
1 Andrew Sheridan, Retained
2 Lee Mears, Retained
3 Phil Vickery, Retained
4 Steve Borthwick, Retained
5 Nick Kennedy, Retained
6 James Haskell, Retained
7 Joe Worsley, Retained
8 Nick Easter, Retained

16 Dylan Hartley,
17 Julian White,
18 Tom Croft,
19 Luke Narraway,
20 Paul Hodgson,
21 Toby Flood, Retained
22 Mathew Tait

Steffon Armitage (London Irish),
George Chuter (Leicester Tigers),
Danny Cipriani (London Wasps),
Ben Foden (Northampton Saints),
Shane Geraghty (London Irish),
Olly Morgan (Gloucester Rugby),
Ugo Monye (Harlequins),
Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons),
Tim Payne (London Wasps),
Simon Shaw (London Wasps),

http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/read/s9...187748,10189108

Make of that what you will.

 

[An Tarbh]

could it not just be a case of keeping Flood back in case something does happen to Goode while he's back with Brive. He was hit and miss on Saturday so it wouldn't be a surprise if Flood or someone else comes in.

 

[JohnBE]

that means flood will be starting against ireland

 

[An Tarbh]

not necessarily.

 

[shtove]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Charles @ Feb 20 2009, 02:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gingergenius @ Feb 19 2009, 03:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wood would have got into the English 2003 team. Says enough; he's the best hooker to have played in my lifetime. Like Johnson is the best lock.[/b]

That would be John Eales, surely.
[/b][/quote]
Nuff said.

 

[MunsterMan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

that means flood will be starting against ireland[/b]

Possibly, but I think it means that the RFU have no agreement with the French Clubs that would allow them not to release Goode, would be the same for an Irish player playing for an English club except for the clever ones like Eoin Reddan. Notice that Goode is the only squad member not to play for an English club....

 

[An Tarbh]

I know Johnson is wet behind the ears as a coach/manager, whatever the hell his ***le is but I doubt that even he'd be that transparent with his lineup.

 

[Bullitt]

Unless you count the same-old predictable lineups he's been selecting since he "took-over".

 

[!Dan]

Both Nans are English, both Grandads are Irish (one Republic one Northern), but seeing as I've been born and bread in England I'll be supporting England Have a soft spot for Ireland though

 

[An Tarbh]

I'll give you that but surely he can't go into the Ireland game with Goode out and Flood in as the only change, Mears and Easter have been woefully ineffective in the opening 2 games, there is something wrong if they start. Is Narraway's form any better though. Hartley's a no brainer, I know he made little impact when he came on but you can't really judge him until he starts.

 

[MunsterMan]

What do ye think of Jordan Crane? Haven't seem too much of him but he has impressed me whenever I have seen him.

 

[Bullitt]

A good up and coming player who's pretty much secured his starting place for Leicester and broke into the lower England levels happily enough. Could be a decent regular international one day, shouldn't hold your breath waiting though.

 

[dundeesmiffy]

I hope to see Narraway at least involved in the Ireland game, he's always impressed me.
Nick Easter doesn't really deserve to be in the XV on his past performances.
I hope to see Hartley starting.
Stephan Armitage back in, they'll need a fetcher.

 

[An Tarbh]

yeah but it's hard to see Worsley being dropped, unless they shift him to 8 to accomodate Armitage.

 

[Bullitt]

Being as he's "undroppable" after offering nothing in attack but tackling like a mule against Wales (apparently that makes one undroppable these days), stick Armatidge in at 7 and move the old age hooligan across to blindside. Then putting Lipman at 8. That kills 2 birds with one stone keeps Brian Moore happy while geting rid of the Haskwit.

 

[JohnBE]

Johnson would love to be able to bring Thompson, Larry, Johnny,Catt and the boys back if he could




Has anyone noticed that Goode is fat?

 

[gingergenius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teh Mite @ Feb 19 2009, 09:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Being as he's "undroppable" after offering nothing in attack but tackling like a mule against Wales (apparently that makes one undroppable these days), stick Armatidge in at 7 and move the old age hooligan across to blindside. Then putting Lipman at 8. That kills 2 birds with one stone keeps Brian Moore happy while geting rid of the Haskwit.[/b]

apart from the fact that Armitage isn't a traditional 7 either; Lipman isn't an 8 and Haskell's been our best player of the 6N so far...

Armitage stands out of rucks, and his best asset is ball carrying. He plays more like an 8. Will Skinner's the 3rd best proper 7 we have after Rees and Lipman...

I think he'll keep the back row the same... If I were Johnson I'd swap Narraway for Easter, and be patient for when Rees comes back.

 

[Bullitt]

That's a matter of opinion regarding Haskell.