Weekend Teams!

[RugbyReg]

England v Pacific Islanders

England: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Dan Cipriani, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Tom Rees, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Nick Kennedy, 4 Steve Borthwick (c), 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Lee Mears, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley, 17 Phil Vickery, 18 Tom Palmer, 19 James Haskell, 20 Michael Lipman, 21 Harry Ellis, 22 Toby Flood.

Pacific Islanders: 15 Kameli Ratuvou (Fiji), 14 Sailosi Tagicakibau (Samoa), 13 Seru Rabeni (Fiji), 12 Seilala Mapusua (Samoa), 11 Vilimoni Delasau (Fiji), 10 Pierre Hola (Tonga), 9 Mosese Raulini (Fiji), 8 Finau Maka (Tonga), 7 Nili Latu (Tonga), 6 Semisi Naevo (Fiji), 5 Kele Leawere (Fiji), 4 Filipo Levi (Samoa), 3 Census Johnston (Samoa), 2 Aleki Lutui (Tonga), 1 Justin Va'a (Samoa).
Replacements: 16 Sunia Koto (Fiji), 17 Kisi Pulu (Tonga), 18 Hale T Pole (Tonga), 19 George Stowers (Samoa), 20 Sililo Martens (Tonga), 21 Seremaia Bai (Fiji), 22 Epi Taione (Tonga).


Wales v South Africa

Wales: 15 Lee Byrne (Ospreys), 14 Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), 13 Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), 12 Gavin Henson (Ospreys), 11 Shane Williams (Ospreys), 10 Stephen Jones (Scarlets), 9 Gareth Cooper (Gloucester), 8 Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues), 7 Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), 6 Ryan Jones (Ospreys, c), 5 Ian Evans (Ospreys), 4 Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys), 3 Adam Jones (Ospreys), 2 Matthew Rees (Scarlets) 1 Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues).
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), 17 Duncan Jones (Ospreys), 18 Ian Gough (Ospreys), 19 Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), 20 Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks), 21 James Hook (Ospreys), 22 Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues).

South Africa: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit (c), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Brian Mujati, 17 Gurthro Steenkamp, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Frans Steyn, 22 Jaque Fourie.


Ireland v Canada

Ireland: 15 Keith Earls, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12 Luke Fitzgerald, 11 Robert Kearney, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Tony Buckley, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements (From): Rory Best, John Hayes, Ryan Caldwell, Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, Paddy Wallace, Peter Stringer, Shane Horgan.

Canada: 15 James Pritchard, 14 Ciaran Hearn, 13 Bryn Keys, 12 Ryan Smith, 11 Justin Mensah-Coker, 10 Ander Monro, 9 Ed Fairhurst, 8 Aaron Carpenter, 7 Adam Kleeberger, 6 Sean Michael Stephen, 5 Josh Jackson, 4 Mike Burak, 3 Jon Thiel, 2 Pat Riordan, 1 Kevin Tkachuk.
Replacements: 16 Mike Pletch, 17 Frank Walsh, 18 Tyler Hotson, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Morgan Williams, 21 Matt Evans, 22 Phil Mackenzie


Scotland v New Zealand

Scotland: 15 Chris Paterson, 14 Thom Evans, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Nick De Luca, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Phil Goodman, 9 Mike Blair (c), 8 Simon Taylor, 7 John Barclay, 6 Jason White, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Nathan Hines, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobson,
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Matt Mustchin, 19 Scott Gray, 20 Rory Lawson/Mark McMillan, 21 Dan Parks, 22 Hugo Southwell.

New Zealand: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Adam Thomson, 6 Kieran Read, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Anthony Boric, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (c), 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Ross Filipo, 19 Riche McCaw, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Daniel Carter, 22 Cory Jane.


Italy v Australia

Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Andrea Marcato, 9 Pablo Canavosio, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Josh Sole, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Tommaso Reato, 19 Alessandro Zanni, 20 Giulio Toniolatti, 21 Luciano Orquera, 22 Matteo Pratichetti.

Australia: 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Stirling Mortlock (c), 12. Timana Tahu, 11. Digby Ioane, 10. Berrick Barnes, 9. Luke Burgess, 8. Richard Brown, 7. Phil Waugh, 6. Dean Mumm, 5. Hugh McMeniman, 4. Mark Chisholm, 3. Matt Dunning, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Ben Alexander
Replacements: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Sekope Kepu, 18. Wycliff Palu, 19. David Pocock, 20. Matt Giteau, 21. Quade Cooper, 22. James O?Connor


France v Argentina

France: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Julien Malzieu, 13 Yannick Jauzion, 12 Benoit Baby, 11 Cedric Heymans, 10 David Skrela, 9 Jean Baptiste Elissalde, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Imanol Harinordoquy, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, 5 Lionel Nallet (captain), 4 Romain Millo Chluski, 3 Benoit Lecouls, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Fabien Barcella.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Nicolas Mas, 18 Sebastien Chabal, 19 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 Damien Traille, 22 Alexis Palisson.

Argentina: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Francisco Leonelli, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Felipe Contepomi (c), 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martin Hernandez, 9 Nicol?s Vergallo, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 ?lvaro Galindo, 6 Mart?n Alberto Durand, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Rimas Alvarez Kairelis, 3 Juan-Pablo Orlandi, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Rodrigo Roncero
Replacements: 16 Alberto Vernet Basualdo, 17 Marcos Ayerza, 18 Esteban Lozada, 19 Alejandro Campos, 20 Agust?n Figuerola, 21 Federico Mart?n Arambur?, 22 Rafael Carballo.

 

[RugbyReg]

Some good games this weekend I reckon, or at least interesting elements to watch. I think the England v PI test is the only one not on Fox, which is disappointing because that's a handy looking PI team. And then its Jonno's first test with the Poms (right?) plus there is some young talent there - Cipriani and Croft.

I am thinking Wales v SAF should be a cracker. Without watching much of the NH rugby, I am surprised Hook is on the bench. I think he's a super talent. Am looking forward to seeing Pienaar at 10 and intrigued by Smit at 3.

Have heard a bit about young Earls and Fitzgerard for the Irish, so that's worth watching. Isn't Pritchard, the Canadian fullback, the one that has been signed by the Swans? Or is that someone else?

Am not overawed by that AB team, unfortunately its just Scotland. Although it seems a decent enough pack and Dan Parks isn't playing, so who knows?

 

[disco]

Other than the Aussies I'm very keen to see the SA v Wales & Frogs v Pumas. I like the SA team I think it's a very strong outfit & I like the idea of shifting Smith to prop to let Bismarck start at hooker.

Steyn, Bekker & Kankowski on the bench is just scary & show's the depth in SA rugby ATM.

 

[Gagger]

So much rugby. So little time.

Wallabies announced, exactly as leaked. Why do we tease?

15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)

14. Lachie Turner (NSW Waratahs)

13. Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies) captain

12. Timana Tahu (NSW Waratahs)

11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)

10. Berrick Barnes (Queensland Reds)

9. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)

8. Richard Brown (Western Force)

7. Phil Waugh (NSW Waratahs)

6. Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs)

5. Hugh McMeniman (Queensland Reds)

4. Mark Chisholm (Brumbies)

3. Matt Dunning (NSW Waratahs)

2. Stephen Moore (Queensland Reds)

1. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)



Run on reserves:

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)

17. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)

18. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)

19. David Pocock (Western Force)

20. Matt Giteau (Western Force)

21. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)

22. James O?Connor (Western Force)

 

[whocares]

Yeh I'm dissapointed that Eng v PI isnt showing. It would be good to see how England handle the PI's expansive rugby.

 

[Sully]

So much rugby. So little time.

Wallabies announced, exactly as leaked. Why do we tease?

I thought we were taking the Italians seriously? :nta:

Not exactly one of our strongest teams.

Edit: there isn't much front row backup on the bench either. Haven't the italians the best scrum in the 6 nations

 

[disco]

I thought we were taking the Italians seriously?

Not exactly one of our strongest teams.

Edit: there isn't much front row backup on the bench either. Haven't the italians the best scrum in the 6 nations

Sully,
Agreed, the Italians are supposed to have one of the better scrums in Europe so i thought that we would go with our 1st choice front row at least.

Foley definitely knows a lot more than us & he's seen the live scrummaging at training so they must be confident enough to play two rookie props & 1 prop with a lot of baggage at international level.

I am pumped to see McMeniman in the 1st 15 although i would have prefered that he started at 6.

 

[fatprop]

Gits as reserve 9?

Why not Cordingley or Sheehan?

 

[disco]

Gits as reserve 9?

Why not Cordingley or Sheehan?

fatprop,
I think it's a precaution in case things go pear shaped, Deans can quickly go back to his 1st choice half & centre pairing.

 

[RugbyReg]

Why Gits as reserve 9? Easy. Cause he's the 2nd best scrummie in the squad.

 

[fatprop]

I could understand the option if we had a 5/2 split on the bench

 

[Thomond78]

I'm not 100% sure about that front five for you lot. The Italians can scrummage, and if you get a dicking there, it'll hurt you badly on the perception front for the rest of the tour - i.e., everyone will think that O'Neill was whinging to cover up a weakness, and refs will hammer you. Big risk to take. It's more the second row, as I don't see them giving much support to the front row.

Bergamasco and Parisse are fine players. Parisse in particular is arguably the best number 8 around - no jokes.

 

[Spook]

I'm not sure one game will change a damaged perception but I do agree with that the Italian pack is extremely strong. As I stated in another thread, I fear we haven't shown them enough respect. anyone got a weather report?

 

[Gagger]

Cloudy and 15. Sunny on Fri. Raining on Sun.

 

[whocares]

Lets hope that rain holds out. We dont want a bogged down game played in the forwards

 

[fatprop]

I know this will sound like heresy, but I would have used Sheehan if the joint is wet. He is the closest we have to a "9th forward" and his defense is very solid.