England v All Blacks

[G.K]

Well the team will be up soon, Corbs and Yarde are out, Burrell sent back to Saints, Flood no doubt covering centre from the bench. Where's the threat from England?

I'd love to be proved wrong but I think it will be the ABs by around 20, any other offers?

[jgriffin]

Don't be silly, Flood is going to be playing 10 so he gets clattered and then SL can finally drop him in favour of the greatest 10 ever seen on these shores, Fazlet. SL has done this before, likes to give Flood the mountain to climb.

[BJ.]

I'd love to be proved wrong but I think it will be the ABs by around 20, any other offers?

I think my mate summed it up quite nicely last weekend. He reckons if England play against the ABs like they did in the first half against Argentina, they'll lose by 10; if they play like they did in the second half, they'll lose by 40!

[fortysix]

They will lose, otherwise the bookies will be out of business.

Trouble is, Fazlet is a shoe in even if England gets totally stuffed, and that, dear friends, is the key to the next two years......

He is like Beckham, a one trick pony.

[jonlin]

They will lose, otherwise the bookies will be out of business.

Trouble is, Fazlet is a shoe in even if England gets totally stuffed, and that, dear friends, is the key to the next two years......

He is like Beckham, a one trick pony.

What is his one trick fortysix

[old one eye]

They will lose, otherwise the bookies will be out of business.

Trouble is, Fazlet is a shoe in even if England gets totally stuffed, and that, dear friends, is the key to the next two years......

He is like Beckham, a one trick pony.

What is his one trick fortysix

His Dad ?

[DickyP]

Farrell bashing apart, I think the real problem England have and the main difference from last time is that the two stars on the day last year were the two centres - both big, both skilled, both excellent defenders, both knew each other well, and whatever their actual merits according to the Tigers and Sarries haters, both had great days.

This year our centres (assuming we see 36 and Tompkins start again) are, at best, potential for the future: neither particularly big, neither particularly skillful, both only adequate defenders, and so far showing no cohesion together.

[fortysix]

I wonder what percentage of English fans actually dont care if we get stuffed as long as it shows Farrell up not to be in any way an International Fly half apart from his pretty nerveless kicking temperament.!!??

Would he be entertained as the incumbent fly half in NZ, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, France Wales or Scotland ?????!!!!

Possibly Canada, Italy and maybe Argentina.. If I probably upset a few of the last trio, apologies........

[jgriffin]

I wonder what percentage of English fans actually dont care if we get stuffed as long as it shows Farrell up not to be in any way an International Fly half apart from his pretty nerveless kicking temperament.!!??

Would he be entertained as the incumbent fly half in NZ, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, France Wales or Scotland ?????!!!!

Possibly Canada, Italy and maybe Argentina.. If I probably upset a few of the last trio, apologies........

The only one I can think of is Ireland who picked a similarly undercooked 10 for some years in ROG.

[mol2]

Without Manu the backs look devoid of threat & it was his performance that really won the game for England. Some of the other rugby forums may well be talking about him as if he was no great loss, but if we think back to the Lions tour, up to the point he got injured the way all of the other centres were talking as if they seemed convinced they were vying for the slot to play along side Manu.

The only danger from Tomkins is that he might fall on you whilst tripping over his own feet and unless Ben Youngs has a sudden return to fitness and with it form, the only attacking threat in the backs will come from Brown.

[Jimmy Skitz]

They will lose, otherwise the bookies will be out of business.

Trouble is, Fazlet is a shoe in even if England gets totally stuffed, and that, dear friends, is the key to the next two years......

He is like Beckham, a one trick pony.

not true at all, there was a time where Beckham was an inspirational leader dragging England to a world cup, he was, at one point, a great player for England.

Daddy's boy is simply picked to keep Daddy happy

[loretta]

Teams up, Dan Cole starting at TH.

15 Mike Brown (Harlequins, 20 caps)
14 Chris Ashton (Saracens, 36 caps)
13 Joel Tomkins (Saracens, 2 caps)
12 Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby, 7 caps)
11 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints, 33 caps)
10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 18 caps)
9 Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints, 11 caps)
1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 14 caps)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints, 49 caps)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 42 caps)
4 Joe Launchbury (London Wasps, 13 caps)
5 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 24 caps)
6 Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 22 caps)
7 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt, 19 caps)
8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 4 caps)

Replacements
16 Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 11 caps)
17 Matt Mullan (London Wasps, 1 cap)
18 David Wilson (Bath Rugby, 30 caps)
19 Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers, 18 caps)
20 Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby, 14 caps)
21 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 34 caps)
22 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers, 59 caps)
23 Alex Goode (Saracens, 12 caps)

New Zealand
15 Israel Dagg (36 caps)
14 Charles Piutau (9 caps)
13 Ben Smith (24 caps)
12 Ma'a Nonu (86 caps)
11 Julian Savea (18 caps)
10 Daniel Carter (99 caps)
9 Aaron Smith (24 caps)
1 Tony Woodcock (106 caps)
2 Keven Mealamu (109 caps)
3 Owen Franks (52 caps)
4 Brodie Retallick (22 caps)
5 Samuel Whitelock (49 caps)
6 Liam Messam (27 caps)
7 Richie McCaw (c) (122 caps)
8 Kieran Read (59 caps)

Replacements
16 Dane Coles (13 caps)
17 Wyatt Crockett (22 caps)
18 Charlie Faumuina (15 caps)
19 Luke Romano (15 caps)
20 Steven Luatua (9 caps)
21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow (13 caps)
22 Aaron Cruden (27 caps)
23 Ryan Crotty (3 caps)

[Jimmy Skitz]

great the Thug is picked over Parling again...

[AntG]

What does Farrell have to do to be dropped, do we have to wait for his Dad to leave the England setup?
Aimless kicking, passing and poor defence

Hate to say it but England are likely to get stuffed with this XV. Please prove me wrong.

[Skin_and_Muscle]

What does Farrell have to do to be dropped, do we have to wait for his Dad to leave the England setup?
Aimless kicking, passing and poor defence

Hate to say it but England are likely to get stuffed with this XV. Please prove me wrong.

With all the Tigers on the bench (minus Cole, but he never seems to get injured . . . touch wood) and a highly hypocritical and damaging coaching set up, I really couldn't care less about the result. As long as our players come through the game fresh, uninjured, and unhurt by the inevitable pasting at the hands of an exemplary side, I'm happy.