The England Thread

[DCC_legend]

I think its a bit of a jinx tbh. England have been way below what they should be. Johnny Wilkinson, who kicked the goal has been injured pretty much 80% of the time. Seems a bit wierd to me.
Theres a possibility that the players have slipped up somewhere, genuinely, and they think (in the back of their minds) that they have slim chances of retaining the cup, and therefore this is effecting them on the field.

[BoyBrumby]

England won the cup because they didn't have to play the All Blacks

It helped, but we had beaten you home & away going in to the tournament so there's no guarantee NZ would have beaten us.

We were a pretty good team back then. As oj suggested we'd peaked by the world cup (our only really decent performance was in the semi v France), but our collective force of will (with Jonno as its beating heart) got us over the line.

The scary thing is that this time (by Ashton's own admission in fact) we don't really even know what our best XV is, even if we had a full rosta to choose from. Last time the team largely chose itself.

[PhoenixFire]

Wilkinson's an average to good player with an excellent boot. Not a top class one.

I'd say he has more than just an excellent boot tbh.

[KennyD]

I'd say he has more than just an excellent boot tbh.

Best English tackler.

[ohtani's jacket]

England won the cup because they didn't have to play the All Blacks

We sucked in the last World Cup, aside from the quarters against South Africa.

[Perm]

Best English tackler.

One of the bravest flyhalves in world rugby IMO, especially considering he is quite a small guy.

[Fiery]

It helped, but we had beaten you home & away going in to the tournament so there's no guarantee NZ would have beaten us.

We were a pretty good team back then. As oj suggested we'd peaked by the world cup (our only really decent performance was in the semi v France), but our collective force of will (with Jonno as its beating heart) got us over the line.

The scary thing is that this time (by Ashton's own admission in fact) we don't really even know what our best XV is, even if we had a full rosta to choose from. Last time the team largely chose itself.

I know Brumbers, it's just residual bitterness on my behalf

[Fiery]

We sucked in the last World Cup, aside from the quarters against South Africa.

We certainly sucked in the semi, that's for sure

[steds]

Is it too late for you to poach Sean Long for loads of money? Please!

[BoyBrumby]

Is it too late for you to poach Sean Long for loads of money? Please!

Well he'd old enough, but doesn't seem to have any chronic injuries. Sculthorpe probably more likely on that score.

[BoyBrumby]

The ever-saintly Bath lock misses our first two pool games even if selected. From the Beeb:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugb...sh/6742093.stm

Gotta love the simplicity of the caption under his pic too:


Grewcock has a very poor disciplinary record

Bloke's a thug, it must be said, but he's the sort of fella you want in the trenches. Pity one of the two games is versus the yarpies.

[PhoenixFire]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugb...sh/6742093.stm

Grewcock has a very poor disciplinary record

[BoyBrumby]

I'm bored so I've been amusing myself by trying to chose a putative Engalnd XXII for our first game (assuming we codescend to playing our best team v the yanks).

Here's my current best guess:

1) Vickery (c)
2) Chuter
3) Stevens
4) Borthwick
5) Palmer
6) Worsley/ Hill (if fit)
7) Rees
8) Dallaglio
9) Ellis (probably buggered tho)/ Perry
10) Wilkinson
11) Robinson (knee permitting)
12) Catt
13) Tindall
14) Strettle
15) Cueto/Lewsey/Morgan/Balshaw

Reps: White, Regan/Mears, Corry, Lund/Hill, Richards/Gomersall/Perry, Geraghty, Sackey/Tait/one of possible full-backs.

Full-back an obvious issue, as is scrum-half if Harry's knee rules him out (and it's about 95% likely too). Lol gets the nod at 8 as I can't see any reason why Ashton would've mentioned him if he didn't intend to play him & Borthwick goes to 4 ahead of Corry as he's our best line-out jumper.

Big Dick Hill at 6 is probably a pipe dream too, but he's (currently) fit and playing.

[Smudge]

Wilkinson's an average to good player with an excellent boot. Not a top class one.

I wouldn't be quite that harsh, but he wasn't the rugby Messiah some painted him as. Limited attacker with average distribution skills, although doesn't have a bad eye for a gap, while his tactical punting is solid. Gun goalkicker, though.

[chalky]

I'm bored so I've been amusing myself by trying to chose a putative Engalnd XXII for our first game (assuming we codescend to playing our best team v the yanks).

Here's my current best guess:

[B]1) Vickery (c)
2) Chuter
3) Stevens
4) Borthwick
5) Palmer
6) Worsley/ Hill (if fit)
7) Rees
8) Dallaglio
9) Ellis (probably buggered tho)/ Perry
10) Wilkinson
11) Robinson (knee permitting)
12) Catt
13) Tindall
14) Strettle
15) Cueto/Lewsey/Morgan/Balshaw

.

I would take Corry over Worsley (Never rated him TBH) . Palmer is a bit too lighweight for me also would probably play Grewcock when he is eligable. I would have to put some pace in centre's so would go with Tait or Flood for Catt.

BTW how long before Campese starts slagging off England 5,4,3 ........ I hate the fact that ITV insist on hiring him every world cup when he talks such complete bollocks all the time.