The England Thread

[Perm]

Best English tackler.

One of the bravest flyhalves in world rugby IMO, especially considering he is quite a small guy.

 

[Fiery]

It helped, but we had beaten you home & away going in to the tournament so there's no guarantee NZ would have beaten us.

We were a pretty good team back then. As oj suggested we'd peaked by the world cup (our only really decent performance was in the semi v France), but our collective force of will (with Jonno as its beating heart) got us over the line.

The scary thing is that this time (by Ashton's own admission in fact) we don't really even know what our best XV is, even if we had a full rosta to choose from. Last time the team largely chose itself.

I know Brumbers, it's just residual bitterness on my behalf

 

[Fiery]

We sucked in the last World Cup, aside from the quarters against South Africa.

We certainly sucked in the semi, that's for sure

 

[steds]

Is it too late for you to poach Sean Long for loads of money? Please!

 

[BoyBrumby]

Is it too late for you to poach Sean Long for loads of money? Please!

Well he'd old enough, but doesn't seem to have any chronic injuries. Sculthorpe probably more likely on that score.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Grewcock banned until 15 September

The ever-saintly Bath lock misses our first two pool games even if selected. From the Beeb:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6742093.stm

Gotta love the simplicity of the caption under his pic too:

Grewcock has a very poor disciplinary record

Bloke's a thug, it must be said, but he's the sort of fella you want in the trenches. Pity one of the two games is versus the yarpies.

 

[PhoenixFire]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6742093.stm

Grewcock has a very poor disciplinary record

 

[BoyBrumby]

I'm bored so I've been amusing myself by trying to chose a putative Engalnd XXII for our first game (assuming we codescend to playing our best team v the yanks).

Here's my current best guess:

1) Vickery (c)
2) Chuter
3) Stevens
4) Borthwick
5) Palmer
6) Worsley/ Hill (if fit)
7) Rees
8) Dallaglio
9) Ellis (probably buggered tho)/ Perry
10) Wilkinson
11) Robinson (knee permitting)
12) Catt
13) Tindall
14) Strettle
15) Cueto/Lewsey/Morgan/Balshaw

Reps: White, Regan/Mears, Corry, Lund/Hill, Richards/Gomersall/Perry, Geraghty, Sackey/Tait/one of possible full-backs.

Full-back an obvious issue, as is scrum-half if Harry's knee rules him out (and it's about 95% likely too). Lol gets the nod at 8 as I can't see any reason why Ashton would've mentioned him if he didn't intend to play him & Borthwick goes to 4 ahead of Corry as he's our best line-out jumper.

Big Dick Hill at 6 is probably a pipe dream too, but he's (currently) fit and playing.

 

[Smudge]

Wilkinson's an average to good player with an excellent boot. Not a top class one.

I wouldn't be quite that harsh, but he wasn't the rugby Messiah some painted him as. Limited attacker with average distribution skills, although doesn't have a bad eye for a gap, while his tactical punting is solid. Gun goalkicker, though.

 

[chalky]

I'm bored so I've been amusing myself by trying to chose a putative Engalnd XXII for our first game (assuming we codescend to playing our best team v the yanks).

Here's my current best guess:

1) Vickery (c)
2) Chuter
3) Stevens
4) Borthwick
5) Palmer
6) Worsley/ Hill (if fit)
7) Rees
8) Dallaglio
9) Ellis (probably buggered tho)/ Perry
10) Wilkinson
11) Robinson (knee permitting)
12) Catt
13) Tindall
14) Strettle
15) Cueto/Lewsey/Morgan/Balshaw

.

I would take Corry over Worsley (Never rated him TBH) . Palmer is a bit too lighweight for me also would probably play Grewcock when he is eligable. I would have to put some pace in centre's so would go with Tait or Flood for Catt.

BTW how long before Campese starts slagging off England 5,4,3 ........ I hate the fact that ITV insist on hiring him every world cup when he talks such complete bollocks all the time.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Grewcock's not even named in our 47 man training squad at the mo. From the Beeb:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6743705.stm

He is appealing the length of his ban tho (at 34 I guess this really is his last possible tournament so has nothing to lose).

Hill's missed out altogether too, sadly.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Our squad has been trimmed down 40 ahead of our warm-up tests v Wales & France (twice). Juilan White has withdrawn for personal reasons, but the six unlucky guys are Olly Morgan, Fraser Waters, Shane Geraghty, Louis Deacon, Magnus Lund & Andy Hazell. From the Beeb:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6897917.stm

Lund & (particularly) Geraghty are unlucky. Geraghty's break against the French was arguably the highlight of our 6 Nations campaign this year. He's raw, but has an eye for a gap & the pace to make breaks count.

 

[Perm]

I thought Magnus Lund was rated relatively highly in England, obviously not.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I thought Magnus Lund was rated relatively highly in England, obviously not.

Well some of us rate him, but unfortunately we don't pick the squad. Leaves Tom Rees as our only specialist open side too, so really can't see the logic. Hey-ho.

 

[Perm]

Well some of us rate him, but unfortunately we don't pick the squad. Leaves Tom Rees as our only specialist open side too, so really can't see the logic. Hey-ho.

He's played a few games for England, hasn't he? Seemed pretty decent, the way the commentators were talking about him suggested that the management thought very highly of him.

 

[BoyBrumby]

He's played a few games for England, hasn't he? Seemed pretty decent, the way the commentators were talking about him suggested that the management thought very highly of him.

Without looking I'd guess he'd have about ten caps, mainly from the bench. It's infuriating because, as well as being a decent ball-winning 7, he's tall so he's another line-out option too. FTR I rate Rees above him, but if he's crocked now we'd have to go with Moody who's really more of a 6-and-a-half than a 7.

 

[Perm]

Without looking I'd guess he'd have about ten caps, mainly from the bench. It's infuriating because, as well as being a decent ball-winning 7, he's tall so he's another line-out option too. FTR I rate Rees above him, but if he's crocked now we'd have to go with Moody who's really more of a 6-and-a-half than a 7.

I rate Moody, not sure why, but he impressed me on the Lions tour in 2005 and I've been a fan ever since. Seemed the closest thing England had to a proper openside flanker.

 

[reptillia]

So, what do you think england will go for good old fashioned brute force or skill (Matt Tait, Anthony Allen etc.) in the centres????

 

[BoyBrumby]

So, what do you think england will go for good old fashioned brute force or skill (Matt Tait, Anthony Allen etc.) in the centres????

Ashton has the reputation (somewhat undeserved for mine, but anyway) of being an innovative backs coach so hopefully we won't see Noon & Tindall playing together again any time soon, but I do think we may revert to type & play one of them (probably outside Catt) to punch holes in the oppo's defence.

Allen's not in our provisional squad, btw, so he def won't get a go, but Tait & Hipkiss are options @ 13 if Ashton prefers a bit of pace & guile to brute force.

 

[reptillia]

Ashton has the reputation (somewhat undeserved for mine, but anyway) of being an innovative backs coach so hopefully we won't see Noon & Tindall playing together again any time soon, but I do think we may revert to type & play one of them (probably outside Catt) to punch holes in the oppo's defence.

Allen's not in our provisional squad, btw, so he def won't get a go, but Tait & Hipkiss are options @ 13 if Ashton prefers a bit of pace & guile to brute force.

I like the sound of Catt at 12, his passing could create some good spaces for faster players like Dave Strettle. Who do you think they'll choose for Full Back? Abendanaon? Lewsey?