Against Australia i would start Cole. He offers much more around the field than Jones and will hold the scrum against Australia if not dominate.
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Against Australia i would start Cole. He offers much more around the field than Jones and will hold the scrum against Australia if not dominate.
I would have thought dominating was the minimum requirment against the Soss scrum.
Everytime i see him play for england he never seems to be making runs or tackles....but maybe i have missed him. I guess other players are more noticable, i shall watch the November games in a bit more of an observing manner.Originally Posted by Peat
I know his scrummaging work is top notch though.
Is he better than Jones then?
This is my signature. I really should change it.
He doesn't do much carrying, but he makes his fair share of tackles, and it's his work at the ruck which you've got to watch for - he slows down a lot and steals the odd one.
Better than Jones? That's a hard one to call. I think he's better than Jones in the loose, but still not quite up there with him in the scrum, and in both cases we're talking thin margins.
English by birth, Ulster by love of funny accents
Much Ado about Rucking - http://muchadoaboutrucking.blogspot.co.uk/ - cos you just loved reading the post above
Aye, people say "Oh Cole gives away a lot of penalties", that's because he's basically playing 7 in the loose, and what good 7 isn't pinged off the park at the ruck?
I have to say, I really do love the idea of a Jenkins-Best-Cole front row. The amount of ball it would slow and steal would, theoretically, be phenomenal. No mean bunch at scrum-time either.
English by birth, Ulster by love of funny accents
Much Ado about Rucking - http://muchadoaboutrucking.blogspot.co.uk/ - cos you just loved reading the post above
Since none of us will fully agree on a starting 22 I've decided to do one I think no one will want to tour.
1. Payne
2. Mears
3. Buckley
4. Botha
5. Gaskell
6. Tom Smith
7. Harley
8. Dowson
9. Murray
10. Laidlaw
11. Brew
12. Flutey
13. Lamont
14. Zebo
15. Duffy
I amn't slagging all the players really just saying they shouldn't tour.
1. ...
Oh F***!
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No BOD?
Your welcome.Thanks for that. Really interesting.
So players unable to travel to Hong Kong won't be picked meaning a strong possibility that players based in France won't go.
Good, a few less players to worry about getting injured.
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@draggs_XV
Cian Healy thanking his lucky stars
The might of Sheridan no longer stopping him. That other chap as well, plays in France... Freshwater?Cian Healy thanking his lucky stars
In Shaun we trust
@draggs_XV
Gethin Jenkins thanking God for an excuse.Cian Healy thanking his lucky stars
Aye, though he's missing out on learning from him.
For all of Healy's improvements he's still just a poormans/secondrate Sheridan.
Uh oh. I dun goofed here.
In Shaun we trust
@draggs_XV
Which players is this likely to effect?
The only Englishman in France likely to tour would be the Stefler - there's a fair few more Scots and Welsh playing there, but buggered if I can remember who.
English by birth, Ulster by love of funny accents
Much Ado about Rucking - http://muchadoaboutrucking.blogspot.co.uk/ - cos you just loved reading the post above
Gethin Jenkins would be most affected.
Mike Philips wouldn't go but that's a Godsend, especially as Gatland is in charge so he'd be starting every game if he did.
Other than that I can't think of many/any who would - Byrne has been surpassed for Wales, can't see him going.
Suppose Charteris may have gone, though he's replaceable.
Token Scot in the form of Mike Blair or Max Evans? Again, not tour-ruining if they didn't go.
Last edited by TRF_Olyy; 09-07-12 at 11:16 AM.
Fortunately, loosehead looks like being one of our strongest positions, so we can do without him if needs be - elsewise, possibly more good than bad there! Isn't Cussiter in France?
English by birth, Ulster by love of funny accents
Much Ado about Rucking - http://muchadoaboutrucking.blogspot.co.uk/ - cos you just loved reading the post above
imo i would like to see.........
1. Healy
2. Best
3. Jones
4. Gray
5. Parling
6. Lydiate
7. Warburton (c)
8. Morgan
9. Youngs(weak point)
10. Sexton
11. North
12. Roberts
13. Tuilagi/ BOD
14. Bowe
15. Halfpenny
16. Hartley
17. Cole
18. AWJ
19. O'Brien
20. Phillips
21. Priestland
22. Beck
23. Foden
I got to ask do people really think a Roberts/Tuilagi midfield would work? It would be interesting to see in a midweek game but I don't think it would work at all in the tests. I think in reality it has to be something like Beck/Tuilagi, Roberts/BO'D, Tuilagi/BO'D etc.
Tuilagi can't/ won't pass so there is no point in having him in the team. It doesn't matter who you put him with as long as he doesn't pass the rest of your team suffers.
On another note B. youngs was atrocious i have no idea why anyone thinks he is any good. He craps across taking away the FH/ CTs space then he delivers slow inaccurate passes. People think he did well because he scored two tries. He didn't create them and any player could have finished them. I'd rather have Mike Phillips than Ben youngs!
Care is the Best SH in england...but not the home nations though.
This is my signature. I really should change it.
Who's better than Care then?
Personally I
a) Don't really see the attraction in Roberts/Tuilagi, but then again its not like Davies passes much, so lets not rule it out
b) Rate Ben Youngs. But he wants to wise up if he's going to start.
English by birth, Ulster by love of funny accents
Much Ado about Rucking - http://muchadoaboutrucking.blogspot.co.uk/ - cos you just loved reading the post above
The starting 15 for all the games in the series will obviously bring about controversy, regardless of how good it is. But just looking at all the talent which is available to the lions next year, I think we have our best chance in ages to win the series against the Australian's. Should the team gel well, we will have a phenomenal team.
Until further notice the 12 shirt belongs to Roberts, deservedly so. The Lions and even more so England need a player liek the Brumbies' Lealilfano to come in at 12 and play inside a bigger guy like Tuilagi or Davies. For now though its hard to look past Roberts and Brian.
At the moment Beck and Allen are the best prospects at 12, and within a year could be regular starters for their country
There's still the AIs and the Six Nations for players to establish themselves, internationally.
With Youngs (potentially, I think) missing the AIs could see Danny Care get an extended run at 9, then have the shirt through the 6N and become Lions 9 as well - God knows there's not a lot of competition for it at the moment...
Shame, but we can live with it. Youngs is having zero luck at the moment though.
Tbh, if both Youngs and Care can stay fit and really hit their straps, I can see both touring. Admittedly, there's a big if there... but as Olyy says, competition is pretty low at the moment.
English by birth, Ulster by love of funny accents
Much Ado about Rucking - http://muchadoaboutrucking.blogspot.co.uk/ - cos you just loved reading the post above
Luke McGrath...
Never will I think of this lad without seeing this:
Ooh ahh, etc, etc...
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@draggs_XV
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