Wales v England

[gingergenius]

on the subject of Armitage, I can never work out what his role should be. Yes he wears 7, but top class 7s all have a knack of always being within 5m of the ball, usually with their hands on it at the bottom of a ruck. Players like Martyn Williams, McCaw, and Saull, are always in place to pounce on a fumbled ball, or pop up on the shoulder of someone who's made a break - on top of the work they do at the breakdown.

Alternatively, flankers get through a huge amount of tackling - Moody, Betsen, Dusautoir; or they provide quality lineout options - Croft, Bonnaire etc.

From what I've seen of Armitage, he doesn't get too involved in the breakdown, he doesn't follow the ball around, he doesn't give a massive option in the lineout and he doesn't get through a lot of tackling work.

What he does do, he's very good at - which is acting like a sort of auxilliary back, carrying lots of ball at pace and powerfully. I might be the only one to think this, but I'm sure he should have been told to play hooker when he was younger, because I'd say his game epitomises everything a modern hooker should be in the loose. Look at Schalk Brits.

Anyhoo, he's not a bad player, I'm just not sure he's up to scratch to play 7 internationally.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

England team I would like to see emerging in the coming year(s). May be a while though

1) Sheridan/Marler pushing him all the way
2) Hartley
3) Cole
4) Lawes
5) Atwood
6) Croft
7) Rees(if he ever gets back to his best) /Robshaw/wood.
8) Dowson
9) Youngs
10) Flood
11) Ashton
12) Waldouck
13) Tuilagi
14) Cueto
15) Foden

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Never seen Robshaw play 7/don't think he does,
Wood is a good shout though, had a very good game yesterday for Saints, and works very well in a lineout


GG I see where you're coming from with Armitage, I think his running game does mask his weaker breakdown work

 

[Aedaphon]

Anybody have any idea on how long until Tuilagi receives a call-up? It's understandable that with RWC coming up Johnson doesn't want to alter squads too much but he could benefit from the international experience enormously and the 6 nations is a better time to test new talent than the AIs (where they'll get battered)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Saxons next 6N, EPS next summer, imo

 

[Sixesandsevens]

Manu did play well again today, I think he may get a saxons call up sooner than that, there was talk of him being available for the saxons even though they left him with the 20s in principle this year. Really not sure about Flutey, he was so poor in the 6 nations i really dont want to see him get picked if he isnt fully fit and firing. To be honest if they rent going to pick wilko at 12 I would go with Hape, he did improve massively from game 1 of the AIs to game 4. Speaking of the back row I think Tom Wood will get the nod (probably at 6 over Haskell, accomadating Fourie at 7, as I think jonno has lost his patience with JH abit, though I do still rate him highly)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Has Wilkinson played 12 since the 2005 Lions though?
Lots of players were poor in the 6N, you only have to look at him for Wasps to see he's a quality player

For some reason I didn't think the Churchill cup was on this year, because of the WC. Just seen that it is, if Tuilagi goes well for the U20s (and I think he'll dominate, tbh) then I expect him to play in that

 

[Feicarsinn]

Has Wilkinson played 12 since the 2005 Lions though?
Lots of players were poor in the 6N, you only have to look at him for Wasps to see he's a quality player

For some reason I didn't think the Churchill cup was on this year, because of the WC. Just seen that it is, if Tuilagi goes well for the U20s (and I think he'll dominate, tbh) then I expect him to play in that

Didn't he play outside Cipriani once or twice?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Only for about 15minutes against Ireland in the 2008 Six Nations, the rest of that tournament Cipriani was the sub for Wilkinson

 

[Feicarsinn]

Oh, well that doesn't really count then. I'd be against playing Wilkinson at 12 anyway. He's never shown that he's up to scratch in the midfield and it's not like 10 and 12 are really all that similar.

 

[Sixesandsevens]

When you have somone like Flood and Hape playing at 10 and 12 your right they arent similar, but when you have somone like Wilkinson and Catt for example, or jones and henson, or carter and mauger, they are quite similar positions, it completely depends on the players that are playing. It isnt fashionable at the moment to play a 'second five' as the kiwis call them, more to play two more similar big centres, I dont really agree that this is best method, but thats my opinion.

 

[Draggs]

That looks very good Draggs. Only obvious name missing is Martyn Williams.

I guess Gatland reads my posts before selection

Updated 22

01 James
02 Rees (C)
03 Mitchell
04 B Davies
05 A Jones
06 Lydiate
07 Warburton
08 Powell
09 Phillips
10 S Jones
11 Williams
12 Roberts
13 Hook
14 Halfpenny
15 Byrne

16 Hibbard
17 Yapp/Bev
18 R Jones
19 Turnbull
20 Peel
21 J Davies
22 Stoddart/Priestland

 

[dullonien]

Didn't think Wilkinson did all that much for Toulon against the Ospreys. He kicked well, as he always does, but Flood's kicking aint half bad. The turning point in the Toulon v O's match, was Biggar going off and Hook moving to 10. Please play Wilkinson at 12 against us Johnson, because Roberts would batter him, thanks.

Looks about right Draggs, and yes leaving Martyn out was spot on. Hook still hasn't impressed at centre recently. He's looking more comfourtouble at 10 for the O's, and with no Biggar in the squad, maybe Gatland will try Hook at 10 again at some point with Priestland getting gametime at fullback or at 10 v Italy. Jon Davies has a knack of scoring tries, he'll be very unlucky to miss out on a starting spot. Will be interesting to see what Gatland does in the midfield.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Please play Wilkinson at 12 against us Johnson, because Roberts would batter him, thanks.

To be fair, Wilkinson is probably the best player to have going up against Roberts, he's got the best defensive game of (probably) any FH going, maybe even any back
Hape will probably just resort to shoulder barging Roberts and getting sent off

 

[dullonien]

That's always been Wilkinson's downfall though. He's a great tackler, but has spent half of his career injured because of it. He could well pick up an injury very quickly if he had to tackle Roberts over and over.

Anyway, for me Wilkinson would offer absolutely nothing from 12. He doesn't really threaten the line in attack. I feel Toulon do well in attack despite Wilkinson, not because of him. He still wins them alot of games with his boot though.

For England, it's a straight fight between Flood and Wilko for the 10 spot, neither should be considered at 12. Out of those two, I'd go for Flood every time.

 

[Sixesandsevens]

Roberts? Wilkinson may be a has been but Roberts is a never been mate. One season wonder Kidding he was great on the lions tour and in the 6nations before but for me has shown absolutely nothing since. Maybe O'driscoll just made him look very good!

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

"Injury scare for england's fourie"

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

Amusing their use of the word 'scare'. I don't find the prospect of being without Fourie particularly scary.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

And Roberts is a very good player to be honest, and especially with Wales' injuries he's sure to start. In turn, that's for me an adequate reason for Tindall to play. He's good at containing bulky centre's, both through a bit of his own, and through a bit of intelligence. He made Bastareud look a bit of a blunt butter-knife in last years six nations.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If Fourie misses the game I expect to see:

6. Worseley
7. Haskell (I read an interview where he said he wants to have the 7 shirt off of Moody when Moody retires/leaves/whatever)

19. One of the call ups

Which would be just terrible.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

http://www.espnscrum.com/sixnations2011/rugby/story/133001.html

Good news id' say!?