RWC: England - Scotland (01-10-2011, 20:30)

[j-dawg]

Commentary was bloody annoying in this one...my favourite bit was:

"He's given that a real hoof, HE'S GIVEN THAT A REAL HOOF! ...but it's just short'' (was a mile off...)

It wasn't actually. It hit the try line between the posts.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Same
Also start Haskell at 8 and have Wood on the bench


Cueto on the bench as well


My team would be (Moody is captain so has to be there, I wouldn't pick him otherwise):

1. Corbisiero
2. Thompson
3. Cole
4. Lawes
5. Palmer
6. Croft
7. Moody (C)
8. Haskell
9. Youngs
11. Armitage
12. Tindall
13. Tuilagi
14. Ashton
15. Foden

16. Hartley
17. Stevens
18. Shaw
19. Wood
20. Wigglesworth (Simpson has no experience, which is purely Johnsons fault for not using him)
21. Wilkinson (urgh)
22. Cueto

Personally, I agree. Fielding only 14 players with no flyhalf in a World Cup quater-final is a brilliant idea worthy of the mighty Mr. Johnson himself.

 

[Thingimubob]

It wasn't actually. It hit the try line between the posts.

So it needed to be 3m+ higher - I'd call that a fair bit off the mark.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

What would you do if Tindall was captain?

Wood at 7 and Waldrom on the bench

Personally, I agree. Fielding only 14 players with no flyhalf in a World Cup quater-final is a brilliant idea worthy of the mighty Mr. Johnson himself.

Hey, it'd stop the stupid dropgoals

Flood at 10, obv

I am not getting Tindall at all, just seems to be a crash ball player.

Thing is though: It's him or one of Banahan or Hape........doesn't look so bad now, does he?

 

[tittlemouse]

Talk about a tight game that we did not deserve to win we were outplayed by a better Scotland side on the day.

I think a loss by 6-3 points would of reflected better on the scoreline not a win.

But a win is a win no matter how ugly just hope England can pick up the performance against France as that at the moment looks like 2 awful sides performance wise so far it will be on who plays worse on the day.

 

[j'nuh]

Lol imagine if we never brought Tuilagi in just before the WC and our problems were compounded with 12. Hape 13. Tindall. I think that if Tuilagi carries the ball into contact and is lost in the ruck, having Hape as a link between the ruck and the outside backs will probably speed up our attack slightly, so it might be worth having Hape ahead of Tindall.

 

[jawmalawm24]

Very tight game in the end, was cheering for the underdog Scotland but good effort from England and coming back in the last few min to take the win. What's with Wilkinsons kicking? he didn't seem to have the touch in the first half but managed to bring it back in the 2nd

 

[gingergenius]

Lack of intensity and a SHOCKING halfback performance nearly cost England. And I never thought I'd say this, but ITV's coverage makes me pine for a bit of Stuart Barnes or Eddie Butler. Jesus Nick Mullins is awful. Worst moment of the game, trying to go on about a Tuilagi so-called illegal hit as a 'South Sea Island' tackle. So I suppose when Armitage streaks down the wing it's a 'Caribbean sprint'? Shut up you racist ****. And now in the studio they're still going on about Jonny. Euuuuuuh.

As for the French game, I (and everyone else who knows what they were talking about) was right about Flood, and right about Palmer. And I wanted Corbisiero ahead of Stevens, and I was right about that too. Olyy's team looks good - though I want Wood at 7 instead of Moody.

And can people stop going on about how harsh it is on Scotland, they lost two games they could have won, they play crap rugby and never score tries. Their own fault, not a harsh defeat at all. Dan Parks getting MOTM is another joke, I still believe 9 times out of 10 it's got to go to a guy from the winning team. Today, Tuilagi.

 

[smartcooky]

Personally, I agree. Fielding only 14 players with no flyhalf in a World Cup quater-final is a brilliant idea worthy of the mighty Mr. Johnson himself.

Ha ha, I spotted that too.

Perhaps MJ realises that Jonny is not up to it, but just can't bring himself to pick Toby Flood at 10

I really think Jonny Wilkinson is past it.

Missed straightforward penalties, no confidence at the gain line, and totally unable to spark anything in the backline.

Toby Flood comes on, gets out of the pocket and up to the gain-line, delivers a long, deadly accurate scoring pass to Ashton that Wilkinson wouldn't deliver in a month of Sundays, and then caps it off by banging over a sideline conversion on his "wrong" side to put England out of penalty/dropped goal reach.

Toby Flood is undoubtedly the best 10 in England. Why oh why does MJ persist with Wilkinson??

 

[04perryo]

Wonder if Wilkinsons arm injury is bad and we can bring in a replacement for the knockout?

Wouldn't mind LITERALLY ANYONE taking his place
Flutey or Hodgson would be nice - Though even Andy Goode would be an improvement

Andy Goode is quality, Ok. Just coz he is on the fatter side of life

 

[smartcooky]

Lack of intensity and a SHOCKING halfback performance nearly cost England. And I never thought I'd say this, but ITV's coverage makes me pine for a bit of Stuart Barnes or Eddie Butler. Jesus Nick Mullins is awful. Worst moment of the game, trying to go on about a Tuilagi so-called illegal hit as a 'South Sea Island' tackle. So I suppose when Armitage streaks down the wing it's a 'Caribbean sprint'? Shut up you racist ****. And now in the studio they're still going on about Jonny. Euuuuuuh.

Can't be as bad as the South African commentator... Andy Capostagno. Back in the late 1990's he referred to a Brian Lima tackle on Joost van der Westhuizen as a "Coconut Tackle"

He later apologised to NZ TV audiences, but explained that he didn't understand the remark would offend because the word "Coconut" has no racial overtones in South Africa. Not sure how true that last bit is.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Andy Goode is quality, Ok. Just coz he is on the fatter side of life

Haha, I know - It's just a running joke
I actually quite like Goode, he's not a world beater but a solid enough player

 

[Duckdee]

Fine, we might as well win this thing, just to annoy the rest of the world.

I like how MJ is Leicester biased towards Deacon, but doesn't pick Flood.

 

[j'nuh]

As for the French game, I (and everyone else who knows what they were talking about) was right about Flood, and right about Palmer. And I wanted Corbisiero ahead of Stevens, and I was right about that too. Olyy's team looks good - though I want Wood at 7 instead of Moody.

Haha yeah, I was really rooting for Flood to start, but a lot of people were saying how hopelessly out of form he is. I think in the (limited) amount of time he's had at the WC, he's played far better than Wilkinson has (who, himself, looks completely out of form).

Also, I'll be surprised if MJ doesn't pick Flood. Whilst MJ is reluctant to play new players, Flood has been the first choice FH for England for years before this WC, including pretty much all the time MJ has been in charge of England. Maybe if the alternative to Wilkinson was Farrell or some other uncapped FH, MJ wouldn't take the risk, but I'd be very surprised if MJ can't recognise that Flood is the better option at this point. MJ made a big (and somewhat surprising) call in dropping Flood to begin with - and it isn't as if Flood has been miles away from starting for England. In fact, MJ has such faith in Flood as a replacement that he didn't feel the need to take a 3rd FH to the WC.

 

[McTallshort]

Steven,Lawes and Wilkinson all need dropping for the french game, dont care what people say about Deacon, he was on his own in the 2nd row tonight until Palmer came on while Lawes went looking for the "big hit". Stevens is not a loosehead and Wilkinson is past it.

 

[Siva Tau]

I cant believe Im saying this but I found this game thoroughly enjoyable despite the fact there was only 1 try. Despite Scotlands gallant performance I thought England deserved the win by virtue of the try. Also thought Craig Joubert had a great game and I think this helped the entertainment.

good luck poms in quarters

 

[B10]

Wow that was a horrid HORRID first half!

Why do we have to go for any kick? I think Flood should have started today but it isnt doing Wilko any favours when we kick from the half way line. He seems to lose confidence because of their stupid kicks we go for early. Get field position for christs sake!!!!

Our forwards are seriosuly worrying me now. Although I have to mention we looked a lot more in control once Easter was on.

Now despite saying I would start Flood today i think Wilkinson will start vs France, just because of his mental edge over their nation. Then if we beat the French I think Flood is better suited to play Ireland/Wales

 

[gingergenius]

fair point tallshort, I wouldn't drop Lawes but he was anonymous today. Just that Deacon was too, and that is the norm for him.

And smartcooky, at least that Saffa had to apologise! No one will say anything about Nick Mullins, because he didn't say any offensive words - he just made ignorant implications (which pervades through a worrying amount of the rugby universe)

 

[McTallshort]

Lawes and Palmer give us very fast ball and a very good lineout, they are our strongest second row pairing.

Stevens and Cole are our strongest props imo, Stevens plays both sides very well and I'd rather have him playing than Corbs who im not to impressed by.

No he doesnt, he is a good tighthead but a crap loosehead....as tonight proved. Plus Lawes was crap tonight, no graft at all soon as they swapped him with Palmer the England pack started going forward again.

 

[Saintjay]

Wood at 7 and Waldrom on the bench


Hey, it'd stop the stupid dropgoals

Flood at 10, obv


Thing is though: It's him or one of Banahan or Hape........doesn't look so bad now, does he?

Yeah, I might edge towards Hape, and to be nice to Tindall he can defend.