posted Nov 20, 2008

Rodders - well said !! I find myself agreeing with that sentiment 100%. In fact, I will be saving that final statement and I'll frame it with the signature " As said by an ENGLISHMAN !!"

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posted Nov 20, 2008

If I'd have known you were going to frame it, then I'd have done a better job on the spelling!

I've always thought that the Scots have limited their own chances of improvement, because they value beating England above anything else. Thats okay when we are world no.1, but lowers their aspirations when we aren't.

Anyway back to the game. SA look as though they have as much injury problems as England. It may balance out the loss of Sheridan to some extent, but the team have to just concentrate on beating their opposite number on the day, and for God's sake, no penalties!!!

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posted Nov 20, 2008

there are too many wasps players in the side - considering how bad thye ahve been this season - I struggle to see how PAYNE is better than stevens ?

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posted Nov 20, 2008

I dunno Rodders - looks like it will be a long day at the office for England I'm afraid.

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posted Nov 21, 2008

England could well win this one. To be honest, if england stop giving away so many kickable penalties and play in SA's half as often as possible, still in the game with 20 to go, they can win.

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posted Nov 21, 2008

Don't know what all the fuss is about losing Sherdian. Reputation is on the back of a couple of games against a poor Aussie scrummage - who have now worked him out and got him replaced! What exactly did he do last week in tight or lose that makes him dsuch a loss? People talk of him as a shoo in for the Lions but again, Hayman burnt him last time out too. No axe to grind just looking at the facts. The team loses nothing with Tim Payne on current form.

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posted Nov 21, 2008

Why is this such a "great test" for England? The Springboks finished last in the 3 nations just recently and their super 14 teams also failed to impress. Winning the world cup does not make you the best in the world, just the form team of that brief period of the tournament. Scotland could have beaten them last week, so England has the opportunity to win this game- and should do so easily if they are worth their salt.

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posted Nov 21, 2008

Right, first off, I've had quite a lot of fun reading these comments recently, but feel its now time to share my own view.

England playing attacking, free flowing rugby. It can happen and I firmly believe it will happen. We have the talent and we've certainly got the coach (just look at Smith's record with the Exiles), you can't expect it to happen instantly. Give them a bit of time to firstly gel and secondly get used to the Smith style of play.

What annoyed me the most about the Eng v Aus game was England seemed to have forgotten two simple rules which are generally drilled into you from minis upwards -

1. No matter how deep you think you are, you can always afford to take another step back.

2. When you're in your opponents 22, you don't leave unless its with points (be that 3, 5 or 7). That's the most important one for me, I got tired of seeing us camped in the Aus 22 for five minutes or so only to turn that sustained pressure into a penalty and head back to our own half. The only one that seemed to realise this rule should be followed was Armitage when he had his cheeky little drop goal.

As to our pack, well I'm not really one to pass comment on that (I'm not a forward myself) but I would like to see Kennedy in for Borthwick, we wont lose anything in the scrum with that swap, but we'll gain in the line out. I'd also like to see Steffon Armitage breaking into the team, even if its sitting on the bench. Did anyone see his performance against Newcastle on Sunday? Even Steve Bates praised him.

While I'm on the subject of London Irish forwards, has anyone seen Alex Corbisiero? What do you make of him?

And finally (while my profile is being approved by the Beeb), here's the teams I support (and this is the correct order) - England, London Irish, Ireland, Italy (I love watching a side improve), Scotland and last (but by no means least) Wales.

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posted Nov 21, 2008

Interesting to see a bunch of rugby fanatics saying that Sheridan has never done anything against SA...

When England lost 36-0 in the group stages of the WC last year he beat BJ Botha to a pulp, winning penalties and 2 scrums against the head, to the extent that come the rematch in the WC final Botha was dropped.

Seeing 8 players in the England team from a side one off the bottom of the GP is a real worry. Having the odd player there who has looked good in a losing team (Rees, Flutey) is fine, but including so many guys who've been woeful all season doesn't bode well.

Similarly our lock situation needs sorting out, one lineout specialist and a beast is what's needed, not two lineout forwards who can't get a shove on at the scrum and don't hit rucks hard enough.

Finally, Jamie Noon... How many times does a guy have to be atrocious before they get dropped? Last four games for England he's been embarrassing. But then that could be said for 90%+ of his caps...

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posted Nov 21, 2008

Punk,

I can't really comment on a forwards skills as I'm a back, not part of the pack. I will say this though, the last couple of games Sheridan hasn't looked his formidable self. Do you think this could simply be because he had only just returned from injury?

You're spot on about too many Wasps players in there, it makes you wonder what players from the likes of Bath and Gloucester have to do to get in the side. Speaking of Gloucester, did you see this evening's game? Their scrum half was looking pretty damn good, quick ball and a good sense of space.

We do need the line out specialist, but we're not going to get it all the while Borthwick is captain because he wont be dropped.

Finally, Jamie Noon. No comment. Smith has got his work cut out for him there, but if anyone can turn him around, Smith can.

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