Poms Squad

[Spook]

Just glancing through the squad, I can't see anyone that is world class. Their props are fairly average.

 

[dobduff11]

England 44-man squad to tour Australia and New Zealand:
Forwards: Dylan Hartley, Lee Mears, Steve Thompson, Rob Webber; Dan Cole, Jon Golding, Paul Doran-Jones, David Flatman, Tim Payne, David Wilson; David Attwood, Courtney Lawes, Tom Palmer, Geoff Parling, Simon Shaw; Steffon Armitage, Tom Croft, Nick Easter, Hendre Fourie, James Haskell, Lewis Moody, Chris Robshaw, Dan Ward-Smith, Joe Worsley.
Backs: Delon Armitage, Chris Ashton, Matt Banahan, Mark Cueto, Ben Foden, Ugo Monye, David Strettle; Mathew Tait, Mike Tindall, Dominic Waldouck, Olly Barkley, Shontayne Hape; Toby Flood, Shane Geragthy, Charlie Hodgson, Jonny Wilkinson; Danny Care, Joe Simpson, Richard Wigglesworth, Ben Youngs.

Our probable team:
1. Tim Payne
2. Dylan Hartley
3. Dan Cole
4. Simon Shaw
5. Tom Palmer
6. Tom Croft
7. Lewis Moody (C)
8. Nick Easter

9. Danny Care
10.Toby Flood
11. Mark Cueto
12. Olly Barkley
13. Mike Tindall
14. Chris Ashton
15. Ben Foden

16. Lee Mears
17. David Wilson
18. Courtney Lawes
19. Steffon Armitage
20. Ben Youngs
21. Wilko
22. Matt Tait

I reckon we will be beaten heavily

1st test: Aus 29 - England 12
2nd test: Aus 37 - England 6

 

[en_force_er]

Just glancing through the squad, I can't see anyone that is world class. Their props are fairly average.

Bit harsh. Wilko and Meers have both BEEN world class. They will hopefully refind old form.

Moody is currently quite handy. Played well against Australia last time.

 

[Spook]

Moody and Shaw are good (Shaw is old and injury prone though). Wilko hasn't played well for England for quite some time.

 

[fatprop]

12. Olly Barkley
13. Mike Tindall

So how are these two going to scare anyone?

 

[Blue]

A second string team! How dare they!

Who'll be joining me at Kingsford Smith for a prtest when they arrive?

My banner will read "Death before a second string 22."

 

[Spook]

Barkley has been performing for Bath lately. You just never feel these blokes are given are a chance to own a position at least level.

 

[TheRiddler]

I dont mind that front row either, particularly Dan Cole. Will be interesting to see if Aus can successfully target Hartley for him to revert to his old ways and blow a fuse.

 

[en_force_er]

Moody and Shaw are good (Shaw is old and injury prone though). Wilko hasn't played well for England for quite some time.

If I remember correctly when Aus played Eng a couple of months back he was the only English back putting on big hits in attack and defense. I think you are being a bit harsh.

This being said I've always felt Wilko is never too impressive unless they literally structure a team around him like England did in '03.

 

[Geeves]

A second string team! How dare they!

Who'll be joining me at Kingsford Smith for a prtest when they arrive?

My banner will read "Death before a second string 22."

Hell of a lot better than the 3rd/4th string they have been sending over.

 

[Spook]

Moody and Shaw are good (Shaw is old and injury prone though). Wilko hasn't played well for England for quite some time.

If I remember correctly when Aus played Eng a couple of months back he was the only English back putting on big hits in attack and defense. I think you are being a bit harsh.

No, he was poor against Australia. He can't fire the backline and stands in the pocket all match. He ended up being dumped to the bench in the 6Ns.

 

[Spook]

A second string team! How dare they!

It's the best squad they've sent since 2003. Should be good.

Blue, when was the last time England won in SA against the Boks? Have they ever?

 

[Blue]

A second string team! How dare they!

It's the best squad they've sent since 2003. Should be good.

Blue, when was the last time England won in SA against the Boks? Have they ever?

3 times. Last was in 2000. They had the wood on us between 2000 and 2006.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rugby_union_matches_between_England_and_South_Africa

 

[dobduff11]

Olly barkley has been one of the best players in the Gp for a couple of months now. His running game has seemed to explode lately.

Mike tindall had one of his best games for england against france in the 6 nations and has made quite a few clean breaks for Gloucester since then.

These two are our best two centres at the moment so we should play them.

England don't have many world class players but if they get their selection right they can be one of the most difficult teams in the world to beat. Mj selected a near full strength team against the french and we almost beat them, should have won but ashton kicked it