Rugby Union 2012/13

[andyaston]

Great news Freddie has been called up to the squad for the Autumn Internationals and well done to Twelvetrees as well.  JTH appears as though he is unfit and I can't think that he offers anything different to Barritt so it maybe a blessing.

Now the interesting part for Lancaster.  Freddie is in there, he is clearly the form putside half in the country, so has Lancaster the balls to put him in the Matchday 22 next weekend?.  Listening to Chris Foy from the Daily Mail on Talkshite last night, he doesn't seem to think so, but it would be a crying shame if he wasn't given an opportunity when he is in the form he currently is.

Looking at Clive Woodward's choice for England team was interesting as well.  Back row of Robshaw, Saull and Easter.  Half backs of Care, Cipriani.  Three quarters of Burns, Armitage in the centres and Ashton, Wade and Brown as back three.  His reasoning, he wants players with the X factor who will get the Twickenham Crowd off their feet and excited.

My backline now for Saturday would be Care, Burns, Barritt, Tuilagi, Sharples, Monye, Goode.  Leave Floody till the Aussie game and lets see what Freddie can do.  Ashton suspended and Joseph is injured, so that makes my mind up in the rest of the backs.   And please, let's not have Waldrom at 8, a back row of Robshaw, Morgan and either Johnson or Wood please.

Am off to Headquarters this Saturday, next Saturday and for the NZ game on 1st December, so looking forward to seeing I hope a minimum of three wins.   

I'm going against the Aussies. is Richmond the best place to drink pre-match?

I quite like Richmond, from the little I have seen of it, but never been there before the game.  I do know that it is very popular though.   The one aspect that puts me off is that you have either got to get a train or a bus or a massive walk to get to the ground.

We tend to go to the pubs in Twickenham itself.  If you are heading there by train then come out of the station and turn left into Twickenham town centre, as opposed to going right towards the ground.  As with many sporting events the pubs that are right near to the station are the ones that get busy and packed the quickest.  However, if you keep going down the High Street you will pass numerous other establishments and the further you carry on, the more room you will get and the quicker you will get served.

Our favourite is The George. If you cross over the road by the station turn left and keep walking for about 500 yds.  As the road bears to the right, you will see it and it's about 4 doors down from Greggs (Little taste of Brum:-)).  Reasonable amount of room in there and in the garden at the back, they normally have a BBQ from memory too.  Big screens showing Football if it is on as well.  It's about a 20/30 min walk to the ground from there, takes that long because of the sheer volume of people going to the game.

If you haven't been before, hope you have a fantastic day.  I put going to International Rugby right at the top of my favourite days out I must admit.

Thanks for that Dave. been once before against Italy, which was the only time before I joined the England Supporters Club that I could get tickets. So, this match will be my first taste of a competive fixture at Twickenham. I did go to Richmond due to it being on the tube. Nice enough place but a long walk to the stadium.

[Dave Summers]

Great news Freddie has been called up to the squad for the Autumn Internationals and well done to Twelvetrees as well.  JTH appears as though he is unfit and I can't think that he offers anything different to Barritt so it maybe a blessing.

Now the interesting part for Lancaster.  Freddie is in there, he is clearly the form putside half in the country, so has Lancaster the balls to put him in the Matchday 22 next weekend?.  Listening to Chris Foy from the Daily Mail on Talkshite last night, he doesn't seem to think so, but it would be a crying shame if he wasn't given an opportunity when he is in the form he currently is.

Looking at Clive Woodward's choice for England team was interesting as well.  Back row of Robshaw, Saull and Easter.  Half backs of Care, Cipriani.  Three quarters of Burns, Armitage in the centres and Ashton, Wade and Brown as back three.  His reasoning, he wants players with the X factor who will get the Twickenham Crowd off their feet and excited.

My backline now for Saturday would be Care, Burns, Barritt, Tuilagi, Sharples, Monye, Goode.  Leave Floody till the Aussie game and lets see what Freddie can do.  Ashton suspended and Joseph is injured, so that makes my mind up in the rest of the backs.   And please, let's not have Waldrom at 8, a back row of Robshaw, Morgan and either Johnson or Wood please.

Am off to Headquarters this Saturday, next Saturday and for the NZ game on 1st December, so looking forward to seeing I hope a minimum of three wins.   

I'm going against the Aussies. is Richmond the best place to drink pre-match?

I quite like Richmond, from the little I have seen of it, but never been there before the game.  I do know that it is very popular though.   The one aspect that puts me off is that you have either got to get a train or a bus or a massive walk to get to the ground.

We tend to go to the pubs in Twickenham itself.  If you are heading there by train then come out of the station and turn left into Twickenham town centre, as opposed to going right towards the ground.  As with many sporting events the pubs that are right near to the station are the ones that get busy and packed the quickest.  However, if you keep going down the High Street you will pass numerous other establishments and the further you carry on, the more room you will get and the quicker you will get served.

Our favourite is The George. If you cross over the road by the station turn left and keep walking for about 500 yds.  As the road bears to the right, you will see it and it's about 4 doors down from Greggs (Little taste of Brum:-)).  Reasonable amount of room in there and in the garden at the back, they normally have a BBQ from memory too.  Big screens showing Football if it is on as well.  It's about a 20/30 min walk to the ground from there, takes that long because of the sheer volume of people going to the game.

If you haven't been before, hope you have a fantastic day.  I put going to International Rugby right at the top of my favourite days out I must admit.

Thanks for that Dave. been once before against Italy, which was the only time before I joined the England Supporters Club that I could get tickets. So, this match will be my first taste of a competive fixture at Twickenham. I did go to Richmond due to it being on the tube. Nice enough place but a long walk to the stadium.

Ahh, you have found out my secret too :-)

I have kept all my ticket stubs from every International I have been too and had a little count up the other day.  This Saturday will be my 49th England game, so I reckon I should lead the team out the following week on the occasion of my "50th Cap".  It's not too bad getting tickets for the Autumn games from the ERSC but still very difficult for the Six Nations, except Italy.

Wherever you end up, hope you enjoy it and maybe we will bump into each other if you go in the George?.  I'll be the one in the black England away shirt :-)

[nordenvillain]

Great news Freddie has been called up to the squad for the Autumn Internationals and well done to Twelvetrees as well.  JTH appears as though he is unfit and I can't think that he offers anything different to Barritt so it maybe a blessing.

Now the interesting part for Lancaster.  Freddie is in there, he is clearly the form putside half in the country, so has Lancaster the balls to put him in the Matchday 22 next weekend?.  Listening to Chris Foy from the Daily Mail on Talkshite last night, he doesn't seem to think so, but it would be a crying shame if he wasn't given an opportunity when he is in the form he currently is.

Looking at Clive Woodward's choice for England team was interesting as well.  Back row of Robshaw, Saull and Easter.  Half backs of Care, Cipriani.  Three quarters of Burns, Armitage in the centres and Ashton, Wade and Brown as back three.  His reasoning, he wants players with the X factor who will get the Twickenham Crowd off their feet and excited.

My backline now for Saturday would be Care, Burns, Barritt, Tuilagi, Sharples, Monye, Goode.  Leave Floody till the Aussie game and lets see what Freddie can do.  Ashton suspended and Joseph is injured, so that makes my mind up in the rest of the backs.   And please, let's not have Waldrom at 8, a back row of Robshaw, Morgan and either Johnson or Wood please.

Am off to Headquarters this Saturday, next Saturday and for the NZ game on 1st December, so looking forward to seeing I hope a minimum of three wins.   

I'm going against the Aussies. is Richmond the best place to drink pre-match?

I quite like Richmond, from the little I have seen of it, but never been there before the game.  I do know that it is very popular though.   The one aspect that puts me off is that you have either got to get a train or a bus or a massive walk to get to the ground.

We tend to go to the pubs in Twickenham itself.  If you are heading there by train then come out of the station and turn left into Twickenham town centre, as opposed to going right towards the ground.  As with many sporting events the pubs that are right near to the station are the ones that get busy and packed the quickest.  However, if you keep going down the High Street you will pass numerous other establishments and the further you carry on, the more room you will get and the quicker you will get served.

Our favourite is The George. If you cross over the road by the station turn left and keep walking for about 500 yds.  As the road bears to the right, you will see it and it's about 4 doors down from Greggs (Little taste of Brum:-)).  Reasonable amount of room in there and in the garden at the back, they normally have a BBQ from memory too.  Big screens showing Football if it is on as well.  It's about a 20/30 min walk to the ground from there, takes that long because of the sheer volume of people going to the game.

If you haven't been before, hope you have a fantastic day.  I put going to International Rugby right at the top of my favourite days out I must admit.

Thanks for that Dave. been once before against Italy, which was the only time before I joined the England Supporters Club that I could get tickets. So, this match will be my first taste of a competive fixture at Twickenham. I did go to Richmond due to it being on the tube. Nice enough place but a long walk to the stadium.

Ahh, you have found out my secret too :-)

I have kept all my ticket stubs from every International I have been too and had a little count up the other day.  This Saturday will be my 49th England game, so I reckon I should lead the team out the following week on the occasion of my "50th Cap".  It's not too bad getting tickets for the Autumn games from the ERSC but still very difficult for the Six Nations, except Italy.

Wherever you end up, hope you enjoy it and maybe we will bump into each other if you go in the George?.  I'll be the one in the black England away shirt :-)

My pub of choice before a game at Twickenham is the Lord Nelson in Whitton (1 stop past Twickenham coming from Waterloo), turn right out of the station, down the high street and it's at the end on the left. gets a bit busy but it's only a 10 minute walk at the most to Twickenham.

[paul_e]

Team for saturday announced:

England team to face Fiji: Alex Goode (Saracens); Charlie Sharples (Gloucester), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Ugo Monye (Harlequins); Toby Flood (Leicester), Danny Care (Harlequins); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Tom Youngs (Leicester), Dan Cole (Leicester), Tom Palmer (Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester), Tom Johnson (Exeter), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Thomas Waldrom (Leicester).
Replacements: David Paice (London Irish), David Wilson (Bath), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Tom Wood (Northampton), Ben Youngs (Leicester), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins)

Burns and Twelvetrees not in the 23 is very frustrating, effectively means another season where we're unlikely to see much change from the 15 he's picked (except maybe the Italy game), and where he'll persist with the idea that Farrell has the open play skills to be an international 10.  Not sure how flood is starting given the season he's had so far, he doesn't look like the best 10 in leicester, let alone the best 10 in england.

[lovejoy]

Go Charlie!

[Dave Summers]

Team for saturday announced:

England team to face Fiji: Alex Goode (Saracens); Charlie Sharples (Gloucester), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Ugo Monye (Harlequins); Toby Flood (Leicester), Danny Care (Harlequins); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Tom Youngs (Leicester), Dan Cole (Leicester), Tom Palmer (Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester), Tom Johnson (Exeter), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Thomas Waldrom (Leicester).
Replacements: David Paice (London Irish), David Wilson (Bath), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Tom Wood (Northampton), Ben Youngs (Leicester), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins)

Burns and Twelvetrees not in the 23 is very frustrating, effectively means another season where we're unlikely to see much change from the 15 he's picked (except maybe the Italy game), and where he'll persist with the idea that Farrell has the open play skills to be an international 10.  Not sure how flood is starting given the season he's had so far, he doesn't look like the best 10 in leicester, let alone the best 10 in england.

I like the lad Ford at Leicester too.  However I think you are being more than a little unfair on Floody.  Whenever England have played decent attacking Rugby over the last few years, he has been the fulcrum of it by playing nice and flat to the line and bringing the outside backs into play.   Not sure if you saw his performance vs Ospreys, but he was absolutely brilliant in seeing Leicester to a win in a really competitive match.

That said, as I said above I was really hoping to see Burns start this weekend or at least be on the bench.  I am totally with you on the subject of Owen Farrell as apart from kicking goals, I seriously don't know what he brings to the team.  If Flood gets injured early on in a bigger game than Saturday, shudder !!!!.  The only way to beat the TOP teams is by scoring tries.  The days of Jonny winning it from his boot are well and truly over.

Overall it's pretty much close to the team I would have picked, given the injuries except I would have gone with Ben Morgan at 8.  He is obviously the future and his break for Sharples try vs the French team the other week, is something that all other English 8's can only dream of.   

If fit would like to see Joseph and Tuilagi have a run in the centres next week, move Manu too inside centre.  Ashton will obviously come in for probably Sharples, but hope Sharples gets a run of games.  Hoping that Lawes will be fit as well for the big games.

I believe that Lancaster is "live" on the Rugby Club on Sky tonight, so will be interesting if they ask him some searching questions on the subject of selection?.

[Jon Crofts]

Got my England v Whiney Arsed Convicts tickets yesterday, looking forward to that encounter.

[paul_e]

Dave - I am being a bit harsh on Flood, I'm well aware of it, but I do think he's been average at club level for 18months.  In the same time Burns has gone from exciting but inconsistent to being exceptional.

I just find it a very strange attitude to say you'll pick on performance and then select a guy who can't get a start at 10 and a guy who's got a real battle for his place at his club ahead of the form player in the country in that position.

I'm mostly happy with the team, I don't like Barritt and Tuilagi as a centre pairing, they should be competing for the same spot (along with Turner-Hall as the 3rd option).  Then the other centre should be 1 of Joseph, Twelvetrees (who is the most complete player of the lot but not as exciting) and Waldouck, who has been let down for a couple of years by being in a poor wasps side.

The front 5 is right, Palmer should only be keeping the shirt warm for Lawes though, and I'm really excited that they went for Launchbury on the bench (who looks good at 2nd row or 6).  Back row I really think Wood should be starting ahead of Johnson.  I think people are forgetting a little too quickly just how good he was in the build up to the world cup.  He had a lot of niggles last year but he's looking back to full fitness and has to play for me.

Care is the right choice at 9, looking on fire again this year and seems to have matured in the last year, Youngs should take a look.

Back 3 are probably the best options he had available, glad Goode got the nod, I think he's a far better player than Brown.

The bench scares me for backs, Johnny May and Freddie Burns in place of Farrell and Brown and we look like we've got really dangeous options, as is we have options to tighten us up if it's a close game and try to kick for the win (harsh on Brown but I don't think he's quick enough, strong enough, or skilful enough to be a top level FB, he looks fine in the premiership but struggles in europe and hasn't really offered much internationally, which suggests premiership club rugby is his level).

[Dave Summers]

Dave - I am being a bit harsh on Flood, I'm well aware of it, but I do think he's been average at club level for 18months.  In the same time Burns has gone from exciting but inconsistent to being exceptional.

I just find it a very strange attitude to say you'll pick on performance and then select a guy who can't get a start at 10 and a guy who's got a real battle for his place at his club ahead of the form player in the country in that position.

I'm mostly happy with the team, I don't like Barritt and Tuilagi as a centre pairing, they should be competing for the same spot (along with Turner-Hall as the 3rd option).  Then the other centre should be 1 of Joseph, Twelvetrees (who is the most complete player of the lot but not as exciting) and Waldouck, who has been let down for a couple of years by being in a poor wasps side.

The front 5 is right, Palmer should only be keeping the shirt warm for Lawes though, and I'm really excited that they went for Launchbury on the bench (who looks good at 2nd row or 6).  Back row I really think Wood should be starting ahead of Johnson.  I think people are forgetting a little too quickly just how good he was in the build up to the world cup.  He had a lot of niggles last year but he's looking back to full fitness and has to play for me.

Care is the right choice at 9, looking on fire again this year and seems to have matured in the last year, Youngs should take a look.

Back 3 are probably the best options he had available, glad Goode got the nod, I think he's a far better player than Brown.

The bench scares me for backs, Johnny May and Freddie Burns in place of Farrell and Brown and we look like we've got really dangeous options, as is we have options to tighten us up if it's a close game and try to kick for the win (harsh on Brown but I don't think he's quick enough, strong enough, or skilful enough to be a top level FB, he looks fine in the premiership but struggles in europe and hasn't really offered much internationally, which suggests premiership club rugby is his level).

I think we are essentially singing from the same hymn sheet Paul.  If we are going to win the World Cup again then we have to get a fly half with a bit of X factor such as Burns, Cipriani or Flood.  Totally agree with you about the centres and as said before would like Tuilagi and Joseph to have a run of games.  On the same page too in respect of Goode, a fine Footballer at 15.

I have been really impressed by Johnson this year, thought he was exceptional when he played for the Chiefs v Leinster earlier this season and he also played well in SA so haven't got a massive issue with him starting.  I do think Wood will get in at some point soon and will be really interesting to see how they fit Wood, Croft and Robshaw into the same team?.  Maybe they won't !!

I also couldn't agree with you more on having Burns and Jonny May as my subs for the outside backs.  I think, you may know more than me, Jonny May has been injured hasn't he?.  So versatile though and can cover wing and full back.  If Burns was on the bench then Flood could cover inside centre.  Easy this selection lark huh?

Anyway, hoping for 3 out of 4 the next month.

[Dave Summers]

Whoops, meant too say fly half with X Factor, Burns, Cipriani or Ford and not Flood.

[peter w]

Great news Freddie has been called up to the squad for the Autumn Internationals and well done to Twelvetrees as well.  JTH appears as though he is unfit and I can't think that he offers anything different to Barritt so it maybe a blessing.

Now the interesting part for Lancaster.  Freddie is in there, he is clearly the form putside half in the country, so has Lancaster the balls to put him in the Matchday 22 next weekend?.  Listening to Chris Foy from the Daily Mail on Talkshite last night, he doesn't seem to think so, but it would be a crying shame if he wasn't given an opportunity when he is in the form he currently is.

Looking at Clive Woodward's choice for England team was interesting as well.  Back row of Robshaw, Saull and Easter.  Half backs of Care, Cipriani.  Three quarters of Burns, Armitage in the centres and Ashton, Wade and Brown as back three.  His reasoning, he wants players with the X factor who will get the Twickenham Crowd off their feet and excited.

My backline now for Saturday would be Care, Burns, Barritt, Tuilagi, Sharples, Monye, Goode.  Leave Floody till the Aussie game and lets see what Freddie can do.  Ashton suspended and Joseph is injured, so that makes my mind up in the rest of the backs.   And please, let's not have Waldrom at 8, a back row of Robshaw, Morgan and either Johnson or Wood please.

Am off to Headquarters this Saturday, next Saturday and for the NZ game on 1st December, so looking forward to seeing I hope a minimum of three wins.   

I'm going against the Aussies. is Richmond the best place to drink pre-match?

I quite like Richmond, from the little I have seen of it, but never been there before the game.  I do know that it is very popular though.   The one aspect that puts me off is that you have either got to get a train or a bus or a massive walk to get to the ground.

We tend to go to the pubs in Twickenham itself.  If you are heading there by train then come out of the station and turn left into Twickenham town centre, as opposed to going right towards the ground.  As with many sporting events the pubs that are right near to the station are the ones that get busy and packed the quickest.  However, if you keep going down the High Street you will pass numerous other establishments and the further you carry on, the more room you will get and the quicker you will get served.

Our favourite is The George. If you cross over the road by the station turn left and keep walking for about 500 yds.  As the road bears to the right, you will see it and it's about 4 doors down from Greggs (Little taste of Brum:-)).  Reasonable amount of room in there and in the garden at the back, they normally have a BBQ from memory too.  Big screens showing Football if it is on as well.  It's about a 20/30 min walk to the ground from there, takes that long because of the sheer volume of people going to the game.

If you haven't been before, hope you have a fantastic day.  I put going to International Rugby right at the top of my favourite days out I must admit.

Thanks for that Dave. been once before against Italy, which was the only time before I joined the England Supporters Club that I could get tickets. So, this match will be my first taste of a competive fixture at Twickenham. I did go to Richmond due to it being on the tube. Nice enough place but a long walk to the stadium.

Ahh, you have found out my secret too :-)

I have kept all my ticket stubs from every International I have been too and had a little count up the other day.  This Saturday will be my 49th England game, so I reckon I should lead the team out the following week on the occasion of my "50th Cap".  It's not too bad getting tickets for the Autumn games from the ERSC but still very difficult for the Six Nations, except Italy.

Wherever you end up, hope you enjoy it and maybe we will bump into each other if you go in the George?.  I'll be the one in the black England away shirt :-)

My pub of choice before a game at Twickenham is the Lord Nelson in Whitton (1 stop past Twickenham coming from Waterloo), turn right out of the station, down the high street and it's at the end on the left. gets a bit busy but it's only a 10 minute walk at the most to Twickenham.

ust about to mention this place. I used to live just up the road from the pub on Nelson Rd. decent boozer and not too difficult to get served in for a busy pub considering its location.

[paul_e]

Yeah I think we're pretty much in agreement then Dave.

My major issue with the England squad is how many picks (for the last 10 years) are based on someone's ability defensively whilst completely ignoring their lack of attacking ability or intent.  Farrell is the latest example, a great defensive option as he tackles well, has decent positioning and will take the points when they're offered, but he offers nothing to the outside backs.

[Dave Summers]

Yeah I think we're pretty much in agreement then Dave.

My major issue with the England squad is how many picks (for the last 10 years) are based on someone's ability defensively whilst completely ignoring their lack of attacking ability or intent.  Farrell is the latest example, a great defensive option as he tackles well, has decent positioning and will take the points when they're offered, but he offers nothing to the outside backs.

Oh God that has been my major issue too.  I think the way Cipriani was treated by Johnson was a complete farce.  When he picked him for the Internationals in 2008 he had only just come back to fitness from the horrendous ankle injury he had.  Yes he had a couple of kicks charged down, but he just completely dropped and ignored him when I felt that he owed him something for putting his body on the line when he wasn't really ready.  To see someone like Andy Goode play at 10 when DC wasn't was extremely irritating. 

The media don't help either and this goes for most sports.  They are continually telling us what people can't do and neglecting what they do bring to the table.  I understand he has had injuries but as Stuart Barnes said the other day, Sinbad would be though of as Shane Williams is, if he had been Welsh.

We do seem to have a major problem with flair and creativity in this country and don't seem to trust it.  However, Lancaster has made a good start to his tenure and I am hoping in future he will just pick on merit and for attacking flair and not because someone can tackle well.

Many more matches like the Cardiff game three weeks ago and Cipriani will be back as a major player in the England set up.  I hope!!!!

[cheltenhamlion]

So does the team selection mean we can have our players back for the game tomorrow?

[Dave Summers]

So does the team selection mean we can have our players back for the game tomorrow?

yes, but they haven't been picked.  Very young team selected