RWC Quarter Final: England - France (08-10-2011, 20:30)

[TRF_Olyy]

Look on the bright side we don't have a nine playing at 10. Let's hope Flood and Wilkinson smash him and the the back three are all over him as well.

Wigglesworth is actually a half-decent flyhalf, if you wanted to try him out?

 

[Saintjay]

Wigglesworth is actually a half-decent flyhalf, if you wanted to try him out?

Now there is an idea. It is all so simple drop Foden, Flood at 15, Wigglesworth 12, Youngs at 9 and Wilko standing firm at 10.

That is it all sorted no more of this Wilko/Flood, Youngs/Wigglesworth rubbish

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wrigglesworth

 

[Saintjay]

Lol changed it just for you

 

[j'nuh]

Now there is an idea. It is all so simple drop Foden, Flood at 15, Wigglesworth 12, Youngs at 9 and Wilko standing firm at 10.

That is it all sorted no more of this Wilko/Flood, Youngs/Wigglesworth rubbish

Youngs has been awful. Jersey Juggernaut in at 9.

 

[psychic duck]

Wigglesworth is actually a half-decent flyhalf, if you wanted to try him out?

I'm glad that's a joke as I saw him play 10 for Sale against Bath once, and he missed like 6 kicks and cost me a bet on Sale with the handicap

 

[Peat]

Wigglesworth is actually a half-decent flyhalf, if you wanted to try him out?

In a nutshell,

No.

 

[Teh Mite]

At least we should get the club players back shortly. What a crock of ****.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Not really happy with the French line up. I should swop some players. I reckon this game could go either way.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I'm fairly satisfied with the team. Its far from perfect but it will be exciting (at least I think) to see flood at 12. If it doesn't work and we get trashed, maybe at least it will awake Johnson to the fact that he can't make players just play whatever position he feels like; that we do in fact need a specialist 7 and a specialist 12. If Youngs is up to it and gets us properly going then I think wilkinson be absolutely fine.

I agree with the 5-2 split, and its exciting to have so many second row options in the matchday 22. Only problem is it means Banahan will definitely feature.

 

[UilamOsa]

As a neutral - I always thought it would be awesome to Johnny at 12 and Flood at 10.

Much like the All Star All Blacks during the 04-06 period when they had Carter, Mauger & Umaga - you could have Flood, Wilkinson, Tuilagi.
You have Flair, Brains & Brawn capped off with good outside backs.

Operating a 2nd Pivot much like Mauger but with Johnnies defensive capabilities leaves you the option to use both sides of the field, and when Flood gets caught up in a ruck (or vice versa) there's a decision maker that the outside backs can rely on to make solid decisions.

Just saying...

 

[Teh Mite]

MAuger was **** though... Oh wait, Wilko... Gotcha!

 

[donmcdazzle]

MAuger was **** though... Oh wait, Wilko... Gotcha!

Was that bit part of the joke? Mauger was a great player. I understand he didn't go all that well while in the UK but he was an awesome player in NZ.

 

[Teh Mite]

No. It wasn't. Mauger was utterly, utterly appalling.

 

[abczyx]

Personally I'm happy with the Wilko/Flood combo. Flood has done well this tournament, and Wilko brings the experience that is so valuable in these tournaments.

 

[JW.]

Reserving judgement on this untill after the match. But Wilko/Flood is (possible) the best option we have in our 30man squad. It's either that or you get Hape at 12, not something I'd be all to happy about. If Youngs plays well Wilko and Flood could really dictate this game. Deacon/Easter and Stevens are all choices which I don't agree with. But I fear about what Mas could do to Stevens who has obviously not been very comfortable at loose. I'm expecting the first ball England get Tuilagi is going straight up Parra, and just tell him whats going to happen for the rest of the match. + I don't agree with a 5/2 split. Hartley, Lawes and Haskell is quite a bench to bring on, hope they do so early.

 

[no-1-rugby-fan]

To be honest, in a semi-final I can't see either Wales or Ireland beating England. Might be made to eat my words, but I am still very hopefull we shall find our form.

England to tend to up their form in big games and seem to find a way to win. They play their best rugby when they are on the back foot, hence both the Argentina and Scotland games.

 

[no-1-rugby-fan]

It depends. Form in rugby seems to ebb and flow. (Remember that the pre-WC warm-up matches were so close. Wales and Ireland have improved in the short amount of time since then, and I see no reason why England can't.) There are some simple solutions to big problems in the England squad at the minute (MJ would only have to change a few selections, and I think we'd see a much better England), and some players could easily take off in this tournament for England yet. Lawes, Croft, Youngs, Foden, Ashton are nowhere near their potential and some of our better players such as Palmer and Flood are being kept on the bench.

I mean, at this minute you'd put money on Wales/Ireland, but don't get ahead of yourself

On the other hand, the idea of England, as bad as they've been in the breakdown recently, coming up against an on-fire Warburton is a scary thought...

Warburton is class. We'll see guys!

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

To be fair its not just that we've been bad RECENTLY at the breakdown, we're just generally poor at the breakdown because our backrow balance is off.

On the otherhand, we faced Wales away in febraury and dealt with warburton just fine!

 

[Saintjay]

I have been told Flood and Wilkinson have played together 15 times. Anyone got a clue of the win ratio?

I will be a nightmare for there full back with the left boot, right boot option. With just one option he could have the area covered easy. I just hope they do not kick it around the park all afternoon.

Francois Pienarr believes no team has ever won the world cup without a decent kicking 10, 12 in the team. I guess all is not lost then and if Stevens has a nightmare up front the cover is there and in the back row.