England team to play Italy

[bluntiger]

Strange team, Flood injured!

15 Delon Armitage London Irish
14 Paul Sackey London Wasps
13 Mike Tindall Gloucester Rugby
12 Riki Flutey London Wasps
11 Mark Cueto Sale Sharks
10 Andy Goode CA Brive
9 Danny Care Harlequins
1 Andrew Sheridan Sale Sharks
2 Lee Mears Bath Rugby
3 Phil Vickery London Wasps
4 Steve Borthwick Saracens, captain
5 Nick Kennedy London Irish
6 James Haskell London Wasps
7 Steffon Armitage* London Irish
8 Nick Easter Harlequins
Replacements
16 Dylan Hartley Northampton Saints
17 Julian White Leicester Tigers
18 Tom Croft Leicester Tigers
19 Joe Worsley London Wasps
20 Ben Foden Northampton Saints
21 Shane Geraghty London Irish
22 Mathew Tait Sale Sharks

[MJ Chairman]

not sure what is strange allowing for Cipriani being dropped flood injured so what other choice is there at 10. Also allowing for the raft of injuries at 7 Armitage is probably in line. Other than that it is a fairly obvious choice

[Gonzo]

I'm thrilled for Goodey. The guy took so much stick from his own supporters here at WR. Having made a bold move to play in French rugby, he's got a fantastic reward.

Good on ya Goodey - here's hoping you play a blinder!

[bluntiger]

not sure what is strange allowing for Cipriani being dropped flood injured so what other choice is there at 10. Also allowing for the raft of injuries at 7 Armitage is probably in line. Other than that it is a fairly obvious choice

IMO not playing Tom Croft is a strange decision, also playing an out-of-form Riki Flutey is also a strange decision.

[Smurphswillgetya]

Gonzo agree with you. I hope AG has a good game too. At least MJ cant be accused of having a Leicester bias in the starting 15!!!

[MJ Chairman]

I hope can always give an unbiased opinion i read a lot of people on this forum criticising croft after the Ospeys game for being out played by Ryan jones and I believe that haskell is at his best at 6 whereas I think he has been playing 8 for Wasps. As for Flutey who else is there who doesn`t just try and bas their way up.

[TTRITH]

I'll be chanting Goodey in my Leicester shirt at Twickers!!

Though, if we're losing, I'll be chanting Castro

[pdougietigers]

Would like to have seen ellis and goode instead of care.

Good 4 goode been playing brilliantly for brive i hope he does so for england

[maskedsquid]

I quite like the look of the backs. I didn't for one moment expect us to start playing a beautiful free-flowing game, so I'm pleased to see MJ's picked a few big units with a nice blend of experience and newcomers.

[Duncan B]

There is mass outrage on any site not a tigers or brive fan site, which is strange because he clearly is the form english fly half. hes playing better than cipriani and flood so whats the shock?

[Tiger_in_Birmingham]

There is mass outrage on any site not a tigers or brive fan site, which is strange because he clearly is the form english fly half. hes playing better than cipriani and flood so whats the shock?

How many people follow the form of English players overseas?

I imagine the only reason that people on here don't mind is because they know he is in the form of his life at the moment - but they only know that because they've been keeping an eye on reports to see how well, or not, he's playing

[Smurphswillgetya]

Goooooodeeeyyyyy, Goooooodeeeyyyyy

[tigermad]

Does anyone know what the injury to Flood is?

[Smurphswillgetya]

I think it is a calf injury

[bwightman]

Well done Goodey.

Glad you're back in the fold. Shame you're not still here with us!