RWC: Argentina - England (10-09-2011, 20:30)

[Getofmeland]

Moody Ruled out of Opener!
​

England captain Lewis Moody will not play in the opening Rugby World Cup match against Argentina after failing to recover from a knee injury, coach Martin Johnson has said.The 33-year-old suffered recurrence of the ligament injury in England's first World Cup warm-up game against Wales at Twickenham on August 6.
Moody hurt the knee playing for Bath in January and missed the RBS 6 Nations.
He has played just 62 minutes of Test rugby this year.
Source BBC News - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14784677.stm

 

[gingergenius]

wouldn't have picked him anyway.

Croft-Wood-Haskell for me.

Reckon Johnson will go Croft-Haskell-Easter though.

 

[Saint]

Don't think it'll matter personally, as said he hasn't played much in the tests.

 

[j-dawg]

Suprise, suprise. This is beyond a joke. He is broken and broken players are useless.

 

[JW.]

When is the England squad going to be announced?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Argentina match-22 is announced:

Argentina: 15 Martin Rodriguez, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Gonzalo Camacho, 10 Felipe Contepomi, 9 Nicolas Vergallo, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Julio Farias Cabello, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Martin Scelzo, 18 Mariano Galarza, 19 Alejandro Campos, 20 Alfredo Lalanne, 21 Marcelo Bosch, 22 Juan Jose Imhoff.

 

[Seaton]

Is it true that if a player travels to the world cup carrying a play- preventing injury such as Moody, that if said player fails to recover, he may not be replaced in the 30 man squad?

 

[JW.]

Not sure, then Mitchell/Palu wouldn't be allowed to be replaced either or are they 100% fit already? Would be amazing if Mitchell was fit his injury was horrible.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Only if it's the same injury. If for instance Moody has an ankle injury and next week he breaks a leg, he is allowed to be replaced.

 

[JW.]

Oke. At the moment it looks like Moody will be fit for any of the group games left after Argi but will then become injured again (Hope not like him as a player/captain but just looks that way now). So then we should be allowed to call in a new player. Is Fourie fit? Deserves a late call up.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I didn't know that rule!

Wonder if on his injury slip it says "Injured X ligament in his knee" and then if he needs to be replaced they say "Injured X AND Y ligaments"


Fourie is still out with the hamstring he did against Ireland, he has said he'll be fully fit before the knockout stages though

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Not 100% sure, but I read something about that. To call up a replacement, they need a statement by an independent doctor.

I can't remember where I read it. Maybe smartcooky can clear this up?

 

[Darwin]

No major surprises in the Argentina team - I expected that they would have taken two props in the bench though (with a 5/2 split).

Certainly a bit of excitement building up in the city for this game. Anyone know when the England team is due to be announced?

 

[JW.]

I thought it was Thursday someone told me something like that, but not a 100% sure.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, Thursday


I don't really get why - especially for the first match, because:

a) The players already know who's starting/benching, so it's not like he's basing it on last minute training or fitness or whatever
b) Everyone knows the 29 players that he's taking his 22 man squad from, so it's not like there's going to be any big surprises
c) Argentina have already announced theres

 

[gingergenius]

what i don't get is something brian smith said about tuilagi... something along the lines of "we knew he was going to the RWC before the first Wales game, based on his performances in training".

This makes me very suspicious. I understand the importance of training, but surely coaches realise that the actual selection of players has to be be based on match form?

maybe that explains the consistency of baffling selections in and around the England camp?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Cueto has been ruled out of the Argentina match

This'll mean (hopefully) Armitage will start on the wing, which will be good to see
However it does now mean Matt Banahan will be involved.....


To be honest, I'd rather Simpson was on the bench as Wing cover.....

 

[j_remos]

I'd rather Wally was on the bench as wing cover.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Rumours going around twitter that:
Armitage starting left wing
Haskell starting 7
Wigglesworth starting 9
Wilko at 10


All pretty much common sense, really - Presume Youngs will be on the bench, along with Wood and Banahan

I have a feeling that Deacon/Palmer will be the locks (Lawes bench)







Nacho wants Flood to start (because he doesn't rate him):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14817921.stm

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

To be honest, I'd rather Simpson was on the bench as Wing cover.....

That would make perfect sense. He's faster than many wingers, and with him we could cover both scrum half and wing.