posted May 15, 2008

Varndell is unlucky to miss out on the England squad, but the only reason i can see for him not being there is the lack of game time he has been given this season by the Tigers or his defense, which while greatly improved is still the one area on which he is still questioned.
That said though, when he's played for Leicester they've had a better chance of winning and his devastating pace is always a weapon.
Give him more game time and a more prolific try scoring season and his selection will be almost certain, unless of course he's competing with someone like Miles Benjamin, who i must say has been really impressive during the back end of this season.

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posted May 15, 2008

Tait at full-back definitely - God knows why he wasn't starting in the 6 Nations. It's a shame that Simpson-Daniel and Geraghty aren't available but that's just the way things are. In particular, I think that Cipriani and Barkley at FH and IC could be a very interesting combination. In all the Bath games I've seen this season (believe me, I've been watching as much Premiership as possible) Barkley has never failed to make an impression of some sort. At least once in every game he makes some sort of line-break, so the All Blacks could be in for a surprise!

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posted May 18, 2008

In response to the Varndell question, he may be top try scorer, but it doesnt mean he is a great player, is he good in defence? Plus, other people can set up tries and he needs to just run over the line.

Lewsey - Why he isn't in the squad i don't know, watching the semi final, he has been a strong player.

And it looks like we will have hodgson for fly half, which will be a weakness due to Cipriani having a terrible dislocation by the looks of it. Hodgson is not as creative or smart with his surroundings on the pitch.

We will struggle without Cipriani at no. 10

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posted May 18, 2008

Nonsense, Hodgsons weakness can be his placekicking game when under pressure, his creativity has never been questioned, except by people who evidently have not watched him play.

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posted May 20, 2008

hodgson is a brilliant player untill he gets put undaer any pressure. then his game falls apart.
we're going to get hammered this summer lads, it's going to be another tour of hell.

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posted May 20, 2008

Nonsesnse, you sound like the sort of player i used to tell not to bother coming out of the changing room. Its a decent squad and the AB's are missing several key men. We may not win but we should have a very good idea what the team going forward is and should do enough to give them a good fright.

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posted May 20, 2008

A good team line up with hopefully a good balance but not world class, we need to step away from 2000 thinking rugby, crash players and pick and drives, they cause breakdown stops in play and our backrow is not quick enough round the park to make it effective. Rugby has evolved again and we lack the flare and vision needed in a world class backline, intergration of supporting forwards, 2nd phase not interferring 1st phase and to play simple link up rugby. I think we will get a lesson in this from the AB's wanting world cup revenge and tri nation preperation. It's a shame about Danni he would have benefited from the experince and a bigger shame for Lamb who deserves a call up to show the "only media aware" public of his talents. Good to see Care, Brown and Ojo in the squad they deserve selection after good GP season and the experince it will bring them. Lack of out and out replacement full back for Brown a worry, previous internationals show we are missing a proper trade full back, wingers are no replacement for a FB with balls under the high ball and disregaurd for personal well-being in the last man hit. Good luck boys, this tour is about squad development and performances as a team, the only way to bring the results.

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posted May 20, 2008

<< Nonsesnse, you sound like the sort of player i used to tell not to bother coming out of the changing room.>>

so where exactly is the direction and spine of the team coming from. at 10/ 12 we have one person proven not to be able to cope with international competition, and one who looks flakey at best, sunday vs wasps. hardly inspires confidence for our 10/12 combination knowing what the 10 has produced previously.

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posted May 20, 2008

why no volikano?? is because he tongan??? now he cant play for tonga but can for english??? crazy. why he cant play for tonga as he is tongan not english. are you happy now???

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posted May 31, 2008

chewy000

admittedly ojo's try scoring tally has been fairly low this season, but he creates as many tries as any winger in the premiership has scored! personally i believe with two wingers you should have have an out and out finisher (sackey, vainikolo) who will be in the right place at the right time and one who can create opportunities from nothing (ojo, strettle)...the sort of combination the underwood brothers shared...

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