The England Thread
 

What chances do England have of retaining there trophy?

About the same chance as Namibia has of winning the cup.

Quarters for mine.

If by some chance we beat SA in the group (not that outlandish, we did it 7 times on the bounce between 2000-06) we're an outside chance of the final if it rains during our semi v France.

They won't retain the trophy, I think that's a foregone conclusion. It's been so long since I've watched a proper England team play that it's ridiculous, they always seem to have injuries or are fielding weakened teams.

England dont stand a chance of retaining there crown!!!!

Don't know much about Rugby, but I do know we're pretty much outsiders.

Harsh dude, but probably true lol. They have a very small chance. But you know weirder things have happened in sport so you never know.

Lol

Don't really follow up it much but i know for sure England have struggled a lot since they won the WC. What the state really with them & star boy Wilkinson cause i guess he is the Flintoff of the Rugby side?

LOL i guess the world's best but struggles with injury. thing is everyone liks jonney he seems a nice guy(who doesnt get drunk and go off in pedellos!!!)

Jonny was awesome 4 years ago, but England did not win the cup because of him. Don't misunderstand me: Wilkinson was simply amazing!! However, England had a team which was like a tank. They had a pack which was AMAZING!! Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio were excellent. Then, I will not forget their backs. So, Wilkinson was just one piece of the puzzle. He could score lots of points because his team put him in the in the position to do that.

Do you remember the winning drop vs Australia? Wilkinson kicked it, but it was perfectly prepared by all the team. However, DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND ME: Wilkinson is a real superstar.

When England won the World Cup it was on the back of performances like 2002 when they beat the All Blacks, Australia and South Africa in consecutive weekends at Twickenham, the 2003 Grand Slam and the away victories against NZ and Australia. The latter is where they peaked, since they didn't play well in the World Cup, but their victory was years in the making.

We all know what's happened to them in the last few years, but they'll make the quarters where they might make life tough for Australia.

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

iv would say your correct but that was a class english team and since new zeland did not preform they could of beat them!!

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