England Squad Announced

[JW.]

I'd still be interested in playing 10.Jonny 12.Flood for one match and see how that works out. But I still believe Jonny is a far better player than Flood will ever be. Jonny can still play attacking/flowing/flat rugby and still win and dominate games, he might not have the connection with Youngs that Flood has yet but that could be worked on during the warm up matches. Jonny doesn't crack and he plays the big knockout games so well. And the Aussies are scared of him .

 

[Teh Mite]

England could have Carlos Spencer at 10 (he is Kiwi after al!), but it'd make not a shread of difference if such a lumbering bunch of crash ball merchents such as Hape, Tindall or HMS Banahan continue to stifle the outside backs.

 

[JW.]

Who would you have in the centre's at the moment then and why?

 

[04perryo]

i would personaly have allen and tuiliagi because there good playing with each other.

 

[JW.]

Allen doesn't cope at international level, he got his chance before and he got exposed badly. If anyone this close to the WC i'd play Flutey at 12, and I might even keep Tindal for his role in organising England's defence. I would try playing Tuilagi against Wales and Ireland. Especially vs Ireland test him against darcy and driscoll.

 

[04perryo]

yeah but if allen got a better chance and had more internationals to play in even if it meant starting on the bench he could be a real force. I'll just show you what hes capable of http://youtu.be/8jiBnUtjgrc

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Five players to be dropped from the England squad today,
My guesses (as in, who I think Johnson will drop, not who I want to be dropped necessarily) :
Chris Robshaw
Joe Worsely
James Simpson-Daniel
Charlie Sharples
Tim Payne OR Paul Doran-Jones

 

[gingergenius]

LOL Allen got his chance? 2 games, several years ago, before he had any pubic hair? It's not like he's gone off to Leicester and played good rugby for the last few seasons at the highest club level, is it?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It's mad to think that Allen is only 24(ish?) - I thought he was pushing 30 - It was an age ago that he played for England

 

[psychic duck]

players cut from the 45 man squad:

Joe Worsley
George Chuter
Thomas Waldrom
David Strettle
James Simpson-Daniel

 

[TRF_Olyy]

2/5 ain't bad

Gutted for JSD, think he's better than Monye
Surprised to see Strettle go, but apparently he did something to his Quad in the trial match the other day, so maybe that's putting him out of the warm ups and therefore the WC selection process

Glad Worseley has gone and over the moon Robshaw is still in
Don't really mind Chuter going other than it means Mears is going to go to NZ

 

[madflyhalf]

What's the problem of English rugby with James Simpson-Daniel?

IMO best wing in England in the last 9 years, after Josh Lewsey

 

[JW.]

Suprised JSD is out he can play more positions than Monye can and his form was better so, bad call. Happy Chuter is out, Mears in .

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Thing is though - Banahan is considered to be a utility back (which makes me want to vomit, when you consider our utility backs used to be Josh Lewsey and Jason Robinson), so the other wing will just be in the squad as cover, really - getting bench time if someone is injured
JSD is still a better winger than Monye though

 

[JW.]

I agree about Banahan, but it would still be handy if the backup winger could also play in the centre's. And JSD had a better season than Monye had 2. Weird call by MJ.

 

[JW.]

*Agree about Banahan not being a utility back etc. (couldn't edit)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I think the fact that Monye has played for England more recently counts for him (in Johnsons eyes)
Hopefully Sharples plays amazingly well (which he probably will) in the warm ups and will go instead
Still think Sharples should be in the 22 shirt, he may be a winger first and foremost but he's played Fullback for Gloucester as well, and has looked better there than Armitage has in a long while (and looks better on the wing than Banahan ever has or will)

 

[Peat]

Allen doesn't cope at international level, he got his chance before and he got exposed badly. If anyone this close to the WC i'd play Flutey at 12, and I might even keep Tindal for his role in organising England's defence. I would try playing Tuilagi against Wales and Ireland. Especially vs Ireland test him against darcy and driscoll.

Yeah, 2 games at the age of 20 when you're parachuted into a **** team and are asked to play the All Blacks counts as a fair chance.

Not.

 

[j-dawg]

Gutted Tim Payne hasn't gone. End of.

 

[JW.]

I hope i'm wrong and he plays like he plays for Leicester if he plays, but I think he's to lightweight for MJ's tactics, and he's not going to change those tactics so close to the WC.