posted Nov 11, 2008

I've sat and the thought about it. I'm disappointed about the Wasps invasion in the face of form and I'm very disappointed about the extra forward on the bench and no place for Tait - he is as exciting as any of our backs and should at least make the bench. Noon and Flutey are leaden and will never trouble the best defences. Too early to tell? perhaps but I think its right.

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posted Nov 11, 2008

Tait should be a 13- when will people realise this! He will not get a glance at the 15 shirt at Sale with Lamont there but McAlister should be moved to 12 as he is quoted as being the most talented 12 in the sport. I don't see why Sale, especially in the light of Thomas's injury don't have a centre combination of McAllister and Tait- it would be awesome! This would also solve the issue of finding a replacement for Noon- but Noon was not used effectively in the summer tour or last weekend, his real strength is running from deep taking the ball from Cips on the gain line, sucking in defenders and thus creating gaps for the likes of Sackey, Monye, and Armitage to exploit after an offload or quick ball. When England start doing this again, people will not have such an issue with Noon.

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posted Nov 12, 2008

Interesting, no Phil Waugh in the aussie team. Also I thought Motlock played at 13??

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posted Nov 12, 2008

I have to say I can see why MJ went for all the decisions -

Vickery - not the player he was but with an Australian scrum that uses any trick in the book to get the opposition penalised even if everyone else can see they're the inferior unit he wants someone with more experience to stop this - remember we were technically much better than Aus in the scrum in the RWC but the 1st two scrum penalties went to them, with a SH ref we'd have got pinged all day (remember Andre Watson?)

Palmer - I'd like to see Kennedy there but instead of Borthwick, I'll defer to Johnno on this one, he's knows more about 2nd rows than me.

Someone said Croft and Rees aren't as dynamic as Moody and Haskell - depends what game you're going to play. in the limited JW 10 man game we used at the RWC you can play Moody at 7 where the openside is not going to need the linkman capabilities of say a Neil Back - you want power in the back row but if England are going to expand (and they'll have to if we're gonna make a real challenge in 2011) then we need wide ranging flankers and I don't think England will lose anything in speed around the park with Rees and Croft, if we can work either into open play I don't think they'll lack pace (Croft's one of the fastest in the team I'm certain)If we play the expansive game then Moody and definately Haskell are 6's not 7's

Cirpriani - He didn't have great game on Sat - the chargedown was one of those things but Aus has got a great defence and you need someone who challenges them on the gainline - Cips does this. Again it's dependent on what type of game we want to play, Flood better for the more limited game Cips for the wide ranging.

I'd like to see more from Flutey and Noon this Sat even if it's Noon being brought hard and straight to set up quick 2nd phase for the other backs to exploit, eventually I'd like to see Tait at 13 (he plays there, it's his best position, and we now have some decent full backs we can put our faith in rather than then using an out-and-out center as a stop-gap [this is the exact opposite to Foden who should I think decamp to full back immediately])

We'll have to improve to win this one but it's possible and I'm looking forward to seeing them get better as a team during the series rather than going backwards the more time they spend in the England camp

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posted Nov 12, 2008

"comment by ooohmefarmers (U11630817)

posted 1 Hour Ago

Interesting, no Phil Waugh in the aussie team. Also I thought Motlock played at 13??"

No Phil Waugh is interesting. They've gone for bulk. Richard Brown is a fairly good fetcher though.

Mortlock is playing at 12 because Barnes is injured. He seems to gel with Cross quite well. IMHO, Cross is the superior 13 at the moment.

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posted Nov 12, 2008

But will Mortlock be making openings for Cross to go thru?? Thought may be better to have Mortlock as 13 to get thru the gap, but surte it'll work out.

Rather have seen Waugh on the benmch than Palu, Smith could have gone to 8 then if needed, just never seen Palu really stamp his authority on a game yet.

Can't wait till Saturday!!! The moment our pie boys trots on the field to take over from Baxter after he had demolish the English front row to free Dunnings to take over and to carry the ball up the field........ yes, those pigs are flying well this arvo, and they're pink!!!

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posted Nov 12, 2008

Yes its strange that Waugh isn't even on the bench - weird. I always thought he was a really committed tenacious game maker. I know the whole scrum thing has been over-hyped but I am really looking forward to the encounter. Just hope Sheridan gets out of the right side of the bed on Saturday. One fear I have is that he destroys Baxter and Dungheap and we end up with uncontested scrums again - that could be dangerous

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posted Nov 12, 2008

Team looks ok - I can understand bringing in Palmer and Shaw rather than Kennedy as he seemed a bit light weight vs PI, Kennedy needs a little more bulk and will I am sure be a regular inside 12 months. Vickery's inclusion I am less convinced about as Stevens is far more dynamic and held up his side of the scrum well.
The Aussie front row has been doing much better in the recent tri nations than over the previous year or so, only the 'beast' really troubled them but for my money he is the best prop in the game at the moment.
I worry about Sheridan as he appears to physically dominate the opposing prop but the penalty count against him in the scrum counteracts the penalties won. Is it his height, nouse or technique that lets him down?
The back 3 looked very dangerous last week and I have big hopes for them, Flutey and Noon were flat however and I believe Noon needs a big performance vs the Aussies to keep out Hipkiss. I am not really sure what Flutey offers, he is neither a big line breaker or a speeed merchant, Flood, Tait or Lewsey (much underrated) would be my preference as second playmaker there.
Cipriani can be mercurial but needs to be a little more grounded early in the game not to put too much pressure on himself.
I am pleased that Waugh is not playing as he like George Smith is excellent at the breakdown and the combination would give the English 'running flankers' big problems. Tom Rees is a good 7 but not a grubber in the vein of Back, Smith or McCaw. An on form Lipman and Haskell would get my vote over Croft and Rees but I reckon the form of the back row has decided the selection. Easter did pretty well last week and always puts in a performance for England, without him we seem to lack a ball carrier in the back row. Narraway looks ok but for me Crane is the guy to take over as he has the strength and go forward to trouble defences. I agree with a comment earlier that Cross looks better than Mortlock at 13, Sterling seems to be going through a slow spell recently (which probably means he will score a hat trick vs England). The game will hinge around Gitteau and how much pressure Rees especially can apply. He is true world class and not much to separate him and Carter. If Gitteau is given time and space England will be cut apart via quick line breaks or kicks to the corner. Control Gitteau and control the game.

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posted Nov 12, 2008

With regard to uncontested scrums, my view is that the team that cannot supply the requisite number of front row specialists should lose the feed. This should stop teams from feigning an injury

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posted Nov 13, 2008

I think bigschnoz has it pretty much sorted. Just to echo and expand upon a few points:

1. Giteau is going to be the most intelligent, precise and subtle southern hemisphere fly-half faced this season: his touch-finders are accurate, his tactical kicks are really clever, and when he breaks, something is really "on". He has to get bad ball, and he has to be pressured, and even then he can be dangerous. What Cipriani has going for him is that Smith, great flank as he is, doesn't exert quite as much direct defensive pressure as Waugh does - unless he is especially wound up for the job. Woe betide any fool who tries to dance around him, though.

2. Mortlock is a huge man. His knees are as big as most props'. He is fast and tackles as hard as he runs. I hope that on defence Noon will deploy to first centre. Cross is quick and runs into gaps off the ball very cleverly. I really don't know how he disguises those lines but he does. My sense is that it will be easier for Flutey to get up quickly and keep balanced to tackle him when he makes his run than it would be for Noon: any views on that?

3. I think for England's backs the problem will be to rule out all lapses: Australia need only a few to put the points up. This game is going to hang on absolute concentration.

4. The Aus scrummage seems to have come on, but they are not at the top of their back-row and line-out play, and Johnson's selections seem designed to exploit this. Moore makes a real difference in the front row, and the blokes on either side of him have looked a lot stronger in consequence. All the talk about Vickery and Sheridan makes me a little nervous: where is that third bod? Moore has to be disrupted in his own right.

5. Please god may England have learnt that it is no good hammering the Aus side up front and then toying about with romantic rugby in the backs. Actually, I trust Johnson on that, but look at how Wales handed a win to RSA last week-end, despite the coach's brief. It takes but one lapse, one moment of naive folly...

I shall be sitting on the edge of my chair.

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