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

[TRF_Olyy]

Three pages late with the team list

 

[Teh Mite]

What England should have tried is playing Flood at IC more often, we have all seen how good Wilko was with Cat outside of him and we have all seen how good he was this season with a distributing IC outside of him at Toulon. That IMO would offer more than either Flood/Tindal or Wilko/Tindal can.

 

[Me 1]

Three pages late with the team list

Yeah.... well that had Traille on the bench, mine has Marty

 

[Dizzy]

The weakness in the French squad is their centres, why weren't Jauzion and Fritz picked? [sorry I didn't watch the Top 14] I think it should've been Medard at fullback, Clerc and Heymans on the wings, Palisson didn't excite me at all against the AB's. Patiently await the English squad now. Anyone know when this team is to be named?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Anyone know when this team is to be named?

Thursday, like it's been said earlier in the thread a few times

 

[Darwin]

The weakness in the French squad is their centres, why weren't Jauzion and Fritz picked? [sorry I didn't watch the Top 14] I think it should've been Medard at fullback, Clerc and Heymans on the wings, Palisson didn't excite me at all against the AB's. Patiently await the English squad now. Anyone know when this team is to be named?

To be fair he was sitting in the stands during the AB's game, so it would have been hard for him to impress

 

[JW.]

I do apologise Mr.Mite when it comes to Jw I can't be objective and so forth am not to be taken serious.

 

[Dizzy]

To be fair he was sitting in the stands during the AB's game, so it would have been hard for him to impress

Sorry mate, meant Tonga.

 

[Darwin]

Sorry mate, meant Tonga.

I assumed you did - I just like being a prick at times

 

[Dizzy]

Lol, neither of the French back three were exciting against the All Blacks.

 

[elgringoborracho]

The weakness in the French squad is their centres, why weren't Jauzion and Fritz picked? [sorry I didn't watch the Top 14] I think it should've been Medard at fullback, Clerc and Heymans on the wings, Palisson didn't excite me at all against the AB's. Patiently await the English squad now. Anyone know when this team is to be named?

Jauzion, Fritz, David and Poitrenaud are killing everyone in the top 14 at the moment. So your answer is: because Lievremont doesn't have a clue. He picks players if he likes their personalities, then kicks them out with no more reason. Estebanez in the French 30 (well not anymore) instead of Jauzion is absolute nonsense and an insult to the great man.

The worse thing is Lievremont is a really nice guy (contrary to Domenech, the ex french soccer coach, with whom he's been comared to a lot lately). It makes his incompetence even more annoying.

 

[SelimNiai]

Jauzion has been France's best centre for years, I was certainly surprised to not see him there

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

It's going to be the battle of the clueless: BBC thinks Johnson is sticking with Wilkinson and the only change will be Cueto in for Armitage.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15179244.stm

For.Gods.Sake.

 

[elgringoborracho]

It's going to be the battle of the clueless: BBC thinks Johnson is sticking with Wilkinson and the only change will be Cueto in for Armitage.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15179244.stm

For.Gods.Sake.

Thanks for this spark of hope...

 

[Saintjay]

Yeah hate to say it, but true to form as I thought Jono looks to be going with Wilkinson and Tindall. With Flood practicing in the twelve shirt as a possible stand in for Tindall.

Well that's what the BBC and Ian Robertson say, and to be honest Robertson tends to be spot on. Getting worried now, let's start with two injured players who have not got over the gain line yet. Back to the cutting edge of a spoon and attempting to kick the French to death.

I am hoping as another poster has said that they are seeing something in training and that they really do think Wilkinson is more suitable to play than Flood. If he looks as lost as he did against Scotland we are doomed. It will be at least an hour before he get's taken off and by then I fear it will be to late.

Hape shot him-self in the foot speaking out about the poor Englands players conduct and this might be a big f@@k you by Jono.

 

[slowprop]

Yeah hate to say it true to form as I thought, Jono looks to be going with Wilkinson and Tindall. With Flood practicing in the twelve shirt as a possible stand in for Tindall.

Well that's what the BBC and Ian Robertson say, and to be honest Robertson tends to be spot on. Getting worried now, let's start with two injured players who have not got over the gain line yet. Back to the cutting edge of a spoon and attempting to kick the French to death.

I'd rather have started with Flood. He made a difference when he came on V's Scotland. I really don't think Wilkinson would have given that scoring pass to Ashton and Flood appears to be in better kicking form.

I'd also have started with Corbisiero as a specialist loosehead. Steven has not looked comfortable - he's a tight head !

Providing Tindall is fit I don't think we've got anyone else in the squad who's much better.

I am just hoping that we start to improve now. Even in 2003 we didn't look good at times until the later stages and in 2007 we were poor in the group stages.

It's not to late to get our act together we've a great opportunity here against opposition we've proved we can win against all the way to the final, providing we play to our potential. Once you are in the final anything can happen err including getting stuffed

 

[j'nuh]

We might get past France with Wilkinson, but the semis is our limit if we continue with him. Ireland/Wales will kill us. Both are looking better with their forwards (both in tight and in loose play), and if we can't bring our backs into the game (Ashton taking 59 minutes to touch the ball vs Scotland is a joke) then we don't stand a chance.

Ideal scenario would be if we get hammered in the first half against France, only for Flood to come on, save us by bringing an attacking edge to England, and force himself into the XV.

 

[SpanishBob]

Wilkinson is playing because he did well 8 years ago. Unveliebable.
France will win. With Wilkinson England is lost and with no ideas.

 

[Aout]

He's still better than a player who plays fly half for the first time in his career .

 

[JW.]

Reserving judgement on Wilko till after the match, but if Youngs has a cracker, Wilko should be good. If Youngs doesn't play well, England lose.