French Rugby Boss On England...should fire them up for Saturday

[chucky1973]

Martin Johnson is getting it right and I hope we can avoid injuries between now and the world cup. We look to be 3rd/4th favs for the title behind NZ/SA and Aus pretty equal to us. but on there day and with the power they potentally have (if all fit) they can beat anyone on there day........I still think the winner will be NZ, but if the draw goes as it should then they have to play Aus in the semi and that could be there downfall.

But for Saturday, I can see a convicing win for the Roses. I can also see Italy turning over Wales.......

 

[chops]

4. Tom Palmer ENG
5. Courtney Lawes ENG

Big Brad is twice the player the over-rated Palmer is.

 

[keaton]

Big Brad is twice the player the over-rated Palmer is.

I like Davies a lot, but Palmer's been England's third best player for me in the last two games

 

[Fitzcarraldo]

6. Dan Lydiate WAL 7. Sam Warburton WAL

These two are an outrageous choice. Just going by your own justification of putting Mike Phillips in the team ahead of Ben Youngs you would have to give Croft and Moody the nod.

1. Gethin Jenkins WAL
2. Dylan Hartley ENG
3. Dan Cole ENG
4. Courtney Lawes ENG
5. Alun Wyn Jones WAL
6. Tom Croft ENG
7. Lewis Moody ENG
8. Nick Easter ENG
9. Ben Youngs ENG
10. Toby Flood ENG
11. David Strettle ENG - I can never understand why he doesn't get picked for England. Shane Williams is past it and Mark Cueto despite being soild defensively doesn't really offer that much of a try threat IMO
12. Jamie Roberts WAL
13. James Hook WAL
14. Chris Ashton ENG
15. Ben Foden ENG

I guess needless to say I am English and therefore the selection may be a little biased.

 

[chops]

These two are an outrageous choice. Just going by your own justification of putting Mike Phillips in the team ahead of Ben Youngs you would have to give Croft and Moody the nod.

Fair enough, but I've never really thought Moody was that good. I'd never question his commitment - the man has never got through a game without spilling Claret FFS - but I don't think he's that good. Omitting Croft was an oversight.

11. David Strettle ENG - I can never understand why he doesn't get picked for England. Shane Williams is past it and Mark Cueto despite being soild defensively doesn't really offer that much of a try threat IMO

Strettle? He's not in the top ten of English wingers. Ojo, Monye, Haughton and even Varndell are better, not to mention the second best winger in England, James Simpson-Daniel. Then there's the three current England wingers, Ashton, Banahan and Cueto, all of whom are better than Strettle.
If I was Johnson I'd pick Ashton and Sinbad. Strettle might be in with a shout of making the Saxons squad if he ever last more than three games without getting injured.

As for Williams being past it... You're living on a different planet. Any rugby fan but the most blinkered will admit that for the past 4-5 years he's been among the best wingers in the world and remains there. Sure, he's about to turn 34, but he's still delivering the goods. Did he look past it when he GASSED the entire Scottish backline last week? How about when he left Bryan Habana on his ASS two years ago? What about on his return to action from injury this January, when he created two tries from NOTHING?

Call it jingoism if you want to, but Williams is pure class - and if Ashton achieves half of what Williams has he'll have had a very good career. For the record - I'm sure he will, as long as the English don't coach the FLAIR out of him.

 

[Fitzcarraldo]

The claret just comes through Moody's commitment, you do have to wonder how despite the continuous blood injuries he can keep throwing himself headfirst towards a swinging boot though.

Strettle was just favouritism really, I have never really got over when he first started playing for England in the 2007 and 2008 6 Nations. I would have to agree that by all rational judgement he wouldn't make the team at the moment. Maybe I was being a little unkind to Williams, he can regretfully slot in ahead of Strettle. Next year he will be past it though.

 

[chops]

That's what I'm saying about Moody. I really admire him, but I don't think he's as good as Warburton. He's not really a modern seven of the same ilk as McCaw, Pocock or even George Smith. Warburton looks like getting there though, he's a pure athlete.

I don't think Williams will be past it next year - but there will be a time in the not too distant future when he doesn't quite cut it at the highest level any more. As long as he stays on top of his game until after the World Cup I'll be happy.

 

[Dr Q]

Finally Johnson has realised that trying to impose his game on the talent England have is never going to work, and is letting the players play with more freedom and think themselves out of a situation if Plan A isn't working. Its great to see the players paying with flair like Ashton and enjoying the game.

That said, it beggers belief why he continues to play Shontayne Hape at Inside Centre rather than Olly Barkley, who is the best 12 in the Aviva Premiership at present. That said, Bath play so much better with Barkley playing at 12 rather than Hape (as England insist we play Hape at IC), so we're doing rather well with Hape on International duty (and we're shipping him out to London Irish at the end of the season which is a relief!).

England are still a way away from the real deal at the moment, and its only the fact that they are home to France this weekend that should see an England win. Still they are a long way ahead of the sheep shaggers and the jocko's!!!

 

[keaton]

Finally Johnson has realised that trying to impose his game on the talent England have is never going to work, and is letting the players play with more freedom and think themselves out of a situation if Plan A isn't working. Its great to see the players paying with flair like Ashton and enjoying the game.

That said, it beggers belief why he continues to play Shontayne Hape at Inside Centre rather than Olly Barkley, who is the best 12 in the Aviva Premiership at present. That said, Bath play so much better with Barkley playing at 12 rather than Hape (as England insist we play Hape at IC), so we're doing rather well with Hape on International duty (and we're shipping him out to London Irish at the end of the season which is a relief!).

England are still a way away from the real deal at the moment, and its only the fact that they are home to France this weekend that should see an England win. Still they are a long way ahead of the sheep shaggers and the jocko's!!!

I've been saying Barkley should be playing for ages, but he had abit of riff with Johnson last summer (or rather Johnson had a tiff with him).

That said there was a good article in the Indie or Guardian the other day about our current system where Hape and Tindall are only centres when we are defending and when you need bruisers, when we have the ball Cueto and Ashton move to that position

 

[strings]

That said, it beggers belief why he continues to play Shontayne Hape at Inside Centre rather than Olly Barkley, who is the best 12 in the Aviva Premiership at present. That said, Bath play so much better with Barkley playing at 12 rather than Hape (as England insist we play Hape at IC), so we're doing rather well with Hape on International duty (and we're shipping him out to London Irish at the end of the season which is a relief!).

Were you at the Rec on Saturday? - good game, wasn't it! I thought Barclay played well - have you seen that Hape has signed for London Irish for next season?