New look England team

[Col]

First squad? I'm shocked Simpson-Daniel isn't in it, other than that it's OK. Reports suggest Simpson-Daniel is going to have a shoulder operation and may not be fit.

Where is Harry Ellis? Injured again?

Borthwick as captain is fine by me. Just hope Kennedy gets a few starts despite the captain of the side being another line-out specialist Lock.

Stevens & Shirdan should be set in stone in the fornt row, with Mears as hooker.

In the middle. Not Kay with Borthwick, lets give the youngsters a chance.

Back-row I'd go for Lipman, Haskell & Easter.

Ellis & Cipriani could have provided an exciting half back pair, they are surely the future so any mistakes can be ironed out during International Challenges. But no Ellis. Wigglesworth is a solid 7/10 player, Richards less consistent. Haven't seen enough of Care to comment. Not sure who I'd pick at Scrum Half.

I'd go for Tait at Fullback for his potential in the position. And a back line of Sackey, Tindall, Barkley & Strettle. Ojo as an impact replacement.

 

[Charles]

Hartley, definately. There's not another hooker in the northern hemisphere that can hold a candle to him. In fact, I think only Smit is a better worldwide.
[/b]

I think you forgot about the REAL best hooker in the world: Mario Ledesma. He's just awesome at clermont, week in week out. Actually John Smit is now playing sometimes prop to get some game time.

 

[danny]

First squad? I'm shocked Simpson-Daniel isn't in it, other than that it's OK. Reports suggest Simpson-Daniel is going to have a shoulder operation and may not be fit.

Where is Harry Ellis? Injured again?

Borthwick as captain is fine by me. Just hope Kennedy gets a few starts despite the captain of the side being another line-out specialist Lock.

Stevens & Shirdan should be set in stone in the fornt row, with Mears as hooker.

In the middle. Not Kay with Borthwick, lets give the youngsters a chance.

Back-row I'd go for Lipman, Haskell & Easter.

Ellis & Cipriani could have provided an exciting half back pair, they are surely the future so any mistakes can be ironed out during International Challenges. But no Ellis. Wigglesworth is a solid 7/10 player, Richards less consistent. Haven't seen enough of Care to comment. Not sure who I'd pick at Scrum Half.



I`d like to see some really bold selections and really try to get amongst the All Blacks. Rees if fit at 7, Kennedy at lock,Hartley in at hooker, Haskell at 8, care at 9 and Tait at 15. What have we got to lose? The old guard have consistently proved that they are not good enough so let the rebuilding start here.What better place to start than the toughest rugby environment there is, New Zealand.

 

[Bullitt]

Ellis. lol.

 

[danny]

Ellis. lol.
[/b]

It was Col who mentioned Ellis. Not guilty!

 

[maddison]

Why isn't Ryan Lamb included?

The bloke is the most skillful 10 in the Premiership. He can, unlike Cips tackle. It is a total joke to leave him out!

 

[Prestwick]

Actually, Lamb has one of the poorer tackle rates in the Guinness Premiership.

Also, Cirpriani has scored more points than Lamb:

Cipriani (out of 21 games played): 6 Tries, 39 Conversions, 28 penalties. A total of 192 points scored over the space of 813 minutes.

Lamb (out of 18 games played): 4 Tries, 25 Conversions, 32 penalties. A total of 169 points scored over the space of 710 minutes.

Lamb would need to score 23 points to equal Cipriani over the space of three games.

Compare that to say, oh I don't know, recently England qualified Saracens fly half, Glen Jackson and the case for Lamb looks even weaker:

Jackson (out of 18 games played): 2 Tries, 29 Conversions, 2 Drop Goals (NOW I see why he couldn't get into a New Zealand team!), 35 Penalties. A total of 179 points scored over the space of 900 minutes.

Not only has Jacko played more in those 18 games, he's scored more points and been more versatile a player than Lamb.

Thus, wouldn't it be fair to put the order as thus:

1. Cipriani
2. Jackson
3. Lamb

Hmm?

 

[chingnow]

1.Sheridan
2.Chuter
3.Stevens
4.Croft
5.Borthwick
6.Haskell
7.Rees
8.Crane
9.Care
10.Cipriani
11.Simpson-Daniel
12.Flutey
13.Tait
14.Strettle
15.Brown

 

[ollybarkley]

1.Sheridan
2.Chuter
3.Stevens
4.Croft
5.Borthwick
6.Haskell
7.Rees
8.Crane
9.Care
10.Cipriani
11.Simpson-Daniel
12.Flutey
13.Tait
14.Strettle
15.Brown
[/b]

I think we are pretty much in agreement on the side with a couple of exceptions....and am curious to see your bench selections for a match day 22.

1) I don't think Chuter is up for it. I think Johnno will most likely go with either Mears or Hartley.
2) Not sure if Croft gets a look in quite yet as a starter. Think Nick Kennedy might get the nod ahead of him for his lineout work, but I'm quite happy with Croft myself and would love to see him get the nod. Think he's a better tackler and ball carrier.
3) Think MJ will go with Barkley at 12 over Flutey, especially if his early form with Gloucester is good. Flutey is certainly a quality player and is on the bench for sure....unless maybe 13?
4) Not sure about Brown. Think he might be a bit too slow for international duty, although I like his foot and his defence. I think his selection will depend on the composition of the rest of the squad. Tait would be a strong possibility for the 15 spot if someone else plays 13, as I think he will be in the starting squad.

So my squad would look like...

1 Sheridan
2 Hartley
3 Stevens
4 Borthwick
5 Kennedy
6 Haskell
7 Rees
8 Crane
9 Care
10 Cipriani
11 Strettle
12 Barkley
13 Flutey/Geraghty
14 Simpson-Daniel
15 Tait

16 Mears
17 Vickery
18 Croft
19 Lipman
20 Ellis
21 Wilkinson
22 Lewsey

 

[Sir Speedy]

21 Wilkinson
[/b]

*sigh* Just let it go...

 

[Bullitt]

<div class='quotemain'>
21 Wilkinson
[/b]

*sigh* Just let it go...
[/b][/quote]

 

[ollybarkley]

I'm equally happy if either Geraghty or Flutey, which ever isn't in the starting 15 takes Wilko's spot. I just am pretty sure MJ will select him for the 22 to provide stability if things go awry for Cips...and so that Barkley won't have to play 10.

 

[Sir Speedy]

I'm equally happy if either Geraghty or Flutey, which ever isn't in the starting 15 takes Wilko's spot. I just am pretty sure MJ will select him for the 22 <strike>- Just as long as he's not the one causing things to go awry for Danny (Wales v England this year; throwing the ball over Cipriani's head by a good two feet; he's not quite 8 feet tall, Jonny...) -...and so that Barkley won't have to play 10.
[/b]

...

 

[ollybarkley]

:lol2tn: I think we can all agree that the introduction of Wilko to the match would NOT be signalling the intention of playing dynamic, running rugby.