Rugby Union 2012/13

[PaulWinch again]

Waldrom and Johnson drop out of squad which I'm glad to see. Sharples is unlucky, but I think they're going to play Tuilagi on the wing and put JJ in the centre.

[Dave Summers]

England team to face South Africa: Alex Goode (Saracens, 4 caps); Chris Ashton (Saracens, 27 caps), Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 15 caps), Brad Barritt (Saracens, 9 caps), Mike Brown (Harlequins, 9 caps); Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 26 caps); Alex Corbisiero (London Irish, 16 caps), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 33 caps), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps, 2 caps), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 11 caps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt, 10 caps), Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby, 7 caps).

Replacements: David Paice (London Irish, 4 caps), David Wilson (Bath Rugby, 21 caps), Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 2 caps), Mouritz Botha (Saracens, 9 caps), Hames Haskell (London Wasps, 43 caps), Danny Care (Harlequins, 35 caps), Owen Farrell (Saracens, 10 caps), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish, 3 caps).

Well that's a little more like the correct balance to the team for me.  I can't find fault with the forwards, in the absence of Lawes and Croft I think this is about as strong as we have.  Am aware of the lack of a "fetcher" in the pack though.  But chuffed Launchbury starts.

Delighted that Youngs is back with Flood as I think they are both better players with each other than with the likes of Care and Farrell and as things stand, are probably the obvious picks at half back.  I do worry about the centres and I was hoping that Joseph would get a run out, but at least he is on the bench with a chance to influence matters in the 2nd half.  At the start of the week I thought that Manu would be moved to the wing to replace Sharples but I think they have picked Brown to deal with the inevitable barrage of box kicks and high balls from the Saffas.   We also need to kick a lot better than we have the last two weekends and again, Brown will help with this.

Let's hope this is the first of a home "win double" on Saturday afternoon

[PaulWinch again]

I'm happy with most of that team, the forward slook a lot stronger. I'm not too sure about Brown on the wing though.

[paul_e]

I'm happy with most of that team, the forward slook a lot stronger. I'm not too sure about Brown on the wing though.

Agreed, pack looks good.

I'm not convinced by the backs.  He's still persisting with Barritt and Manu which I can't see working and I'm have huge reservations about Brown (as you may have guessed).  I still think Farrell offers little on the bench.

[cheltenhamlion]

i dont mind from  a Glaws perspective but, really, still no sodding Freddie Burns? Criminal.

[PaulWinch again]

Good start, Brown did well.

[PaulWinch again]

Farrell on and he need to perform well.

[PaulWinch again]

Actually it was blood so maybe not.

[PaulWinch again]

Not good enough Flood, 6 points gone already and we're playing quite well.

[PaulWinch again]

Scrum good, line out poor.

[paul_e]

Scrum good, line out poor.

kicking terrible.  Flood has had a really poor half there.

[PaulWinch again]

Very lucky try for SA.

[PaulWinch again]

Flood has had a shocker.

[PaulWinch again]

What's frustrating is that this is a very even game, but one fluke try is the difference at the moment.

[PaulWinch again]

We've done well in last 15 minutes here.