Rugby Union 2013-14

[paul_e]

Yay, got me a ticket for the convicts at Twickenham.

Me too :-)

Don't like disagreeing with Paul e as I find his opinions more often than not spot on, but here goes.  My backline would be Youngs, Farrell, Twelvetrees, Trinder, Yarde, Ashton and Brown.

As much as I like Freddie he just hasn't been as "at it" this season as last and Farrell, although without the flair of Burns, is easily first choice.  I really like Eastmond but he has to get in front of Twelvetrees at inside centre first and although not quite at the standard of last season, I think Billy deserves a shot.  I would like Eastmond to be on the bench as I think he could cover centre and outside backs position.  THE form 15 is undoubtedly Brown and he did very well in Argentina too.  I don't think there is much doubt he will start and I would certainly pick him ahead of Foden at present.  I trust he picks wingers on the wing and not full backs, as the folly of that was shown up in Cardiff and in that case, Yarde is shoe in for me.

Very excited about the upcoming games and hopeful of 2/3 minimum.  I didn't think we had a prayer against NZ last year and we won and I think this team is better than last years, so who knows.  Kiwis are better too mind :-(

I'm all for disagreements so it's all good.

Half backs:

There's nothing between Care and Youngs so for me it's a throw of a dice.  I actually think Dickson is better suited to our side but I've accepted that England will pick someone quicker around the fringes for the extra threat.

Burns over Farrell is a team thing for me, against Argentina the whole team worked better, that we were playing a depleted side that were probably on a similar level to Italy was a factor, but the 'intent' was to use the backs.  The game between Gloucester and Sarries summed them up for me, for 50minutes Burns was a class above Farrell, but then the extra man started to count and sarries started to get the penalties for Farrell to kick them to victory, and as soon as he started kicking them his confidence grew and Burns ended up completely starved of the ball.

Centres:

13 is a tough position as we don't really have an experienced option in the squad, and the 'window' for someone to make an impression there is pretty small.  I really rate Trinder and, as said, I think he's a genuine complete 13 but I'm not sure if he'll be able to have much impact in this series.  Eastmond however has the pace and running lines to really cement himself in the squad, but the form of twelvetrees is such that 12 should be out of the question.  I would be happy with either though, and I wouldn't mind seeing if Burrell and 12trees could make a pairing as well, there's just lots of options in there, and injuries to Barritt and Manu have given us the opportunity to use them.

Outside backs:

Wade was exceptional against the argies and really should've been in the 2nd game but for a really poor decision by the lions to call him up on the day of a game.  On the back of that I judge that spot as his and I don't think anyone else has done enough to take it away (although I'd be very tempted by Johnny May who is equally explosive but not called up).

At fullback I've made no attempt to hide the fact that I don't think Brown has it to play at the highest level, I just think he's one of those players who looks better than he is at club level and not as good as he is at international level.  It hasn't been helped by him being on the wing so often for England but I just don't trust him.  I also think Foden has been marginally the better of the 2 in the league so far.  On top of that the more important reason for me is that I think the Ashton/Foden combination was the one bright spark under Johnno and whilst Ashton has had his chance to fit with the new side (and struggled to find a place) I don't think Foden has for one reason or another.

I do think Foden and Brown both need 3-4 starts this season to prove they deserve their place so actually either or is ok by me so long as the other does get a chance and, if they both take that chance, I'd probably leave Goode out next summer and go for someone a little more exciting (May currently but I have high hopes for Watson now he's starting regularly at Bath).

In the forwards I think 6 and 7 are even tougher to call than the centres, I'd go Wood and Kvesic personally.

[UK Redsox]

Following relegation last season "The Mighty Lyd" are playing in SSE National League Three South West.

As if having Worcester's amateur team in the league wasn't bizarre enough, tomorrow we play Amersham & Chiltern.

How can they be in a South West league ? They have a Tube Station fer fecks sake !!

[cheltenhamlion]

Stourbridge have won every game again so far. Lets hope they dont screw it up like last year.

[paul_e]

No Ford in the squad. personally would have had Johnny May in over Ashton but I'm just a myopic Glos fan though.

Apparently there are some scientific theories which suggest that there are an infinite number of parallel universes where every eventuality exists, looking at the weekends Heineken fixtures I'm still not sure any of these universes would have anything other than a Munster win.

Glaws right in the game at half time, Robson has been superb, I've been a fan since he was with the England schoolboys he just such a clever player at 9.  Having Twelvetrees and Trinder both out has weakened them going forward unfortunately.  If it's still close with 20 to go I can see Burns coming on and them really going for it.

[Dave Summers]

No Ford in the squad. personally would have had Johnny May in over Ashton but I'm just a myopic Glos fan though.

Apparently there are some scientific theories which suggest that there are an infinite number of parallel universes where every eventuality exists, looking at the weekends Heineken fixtures I'm still not sure any of these universes would have anything other than a Munster win.

Glaws right in the game at half time, Robson has been superb, I've been a fan since he was with the England schoolboys he just such a clever player at 9.  Having Twelvetrees and Trinder both out has weakened them going forward unfortunately.  If it's still close with 20 to go I can see Burns coming on and them really going for it.

I'm fuming about that game Paul.  Firstly the coach should be ashamed of picking such a weak team for a massive European game.  That is a game that a full strength Gloucester could have won, they may not have, but the chance was there.  Too effectively surrender it goes right against the grain and although not a Gloucester fan per se, I can't imagine what the natives think?

Going back to your England selection, you make a compelling argument on all fronts and I wouldn't be upset to see your backline operating.  I do feel that mine will be closer to what Lancaster picks however?  He is that little bit conservative, as all England coaches except SCW are and I feel he will do the same this time

Certainly the Aussie game, having watched a little bit today, will be harder than I envisaged.  I still feel that minimum 2/3 is what we should be targeting.

[lovejoy]

I think Davies put out a weaker side to give himself a get out for the defeat.
We were in it until the late try so makes you wonder what might have been.
The locals were quite nervous as well - not the strongest ever Munster side.
A cracking weekend nonetheless.

[paul_e]

What I find difficult whenever I watch anyone play Munster at Thomond Park is how the refs all seem to buy into the myth.  Yesterday Munster did everything to slow down the breakdown, with hands in the ruck, tacklers not letting go of the player once he was tackled, coming in from the side, or off their feet, oh and feeding the scrum and line-out.  The only one I saw punished was when O'Connell came in from the side and off his feet, right in front of the ref.  On the other hand he gave 7-8 penalties against Gloucester for the same things.

I get very annoyed by it, the all blacks get similar treatment internationally it's clearly a sub-concious thing, and I'm convinced it's to do with the way they talk to the ref but I hate seeing it.  For an example watch the line out that they pushed over for the first try, the front man caught in front of his chest, there is no chance it was even remotely straight, but no one seemed to notice, not even the pundits/commentators.  The reverse was, early in the 2nd half Gloucester had a line out which was straight but caught in the wind and drifted to their side, and the ref gave it as not straight, and again, no one complained.

[cheltenhamlion]

Think Davies was hedging his bets somewhat on the team selection. We have Bath in the league next week.

[UK Redsox]

There was a great brawl in the Lyd v Amersham game on Saturday. It started on the pitch, proceeded to a giant puddle on the touch line and ended up with some players being chased round the back of a stand.

[paul_e]

To go back to the Brown/Foden debate, Foden seems to have been released to his club, so probably won't feature next week, scoring 2 tries is probably the best possible response to that.

This weekend also sees Burns, Kvesic, Eastmond and Burrell all play for their club, looks like we might see England revert back to the negative stuff of the 6N rather than continue the open attacking play from the summer, which is hugely frustrating.

[taylorsworkrate]

To go back to the Brown/Foden debate, Foden seems to have been released to his club, so probably won't feature next week, scoring 2 tries is probably the best possible response to that.

This weekend also sees Burns, Kvesic, Eastmond and Burrell all play for their club, looks like we might see England revert back to the negative stuff of the 6N rather than continue the open attacking play from the summer, which is hugely frustrating.

Yeah it would be hugely annoying if they reverted to type. They really should not only be looking to beat an average (at best) Australia, but winning convincingly in an entertaining manner.

I for one won't regard a 12-9 type victory next week any sort of success

[lovejoy]

A bit like the victory the cheating Bath ****** got last night. Wayne Barnes was an absolute disgrace.

[Dave Summers]

To go back to the Brown/Foden debate, Foden seems to have been released to his club, so probably won't feature next week, scoring 2 tries is probably the best possible response to that.

This weekend also sees Burns, Kvesic, Eastmond and Burrell all play for their club, looks like we might see England revert back to the negative stuff of the 6N rather than continue the open attacking play from the summer, which is hugely frustrating.

Let's see how we play before saying we are back to the negative Six Nations form.  I would be very happy if we replicated the Scotland game, which wasn't particularly negative.  Granted our performances got worse after though.

I think the players are better than they were a year or so ago and I believe there is a different mindset as well, a willingness to attack and go for it.  Can't deny I am particularly upset to see that Kvesic won't get a run out, but I think the Brown's, Farrell's, Twelvetrees and Yarde's deserve their chance.  I also think Ashton is now getting back to where he should be so while unfortunate for Wade, I think he deserves to stay in.  However, he now knows that he has competition breathing down his neck so he has to keep his standards up.

Only player I am really struggling with is the proposed selection of Tomkins.  That I just don't understand

[paul_e]

To go back to the Brown/Foden debate, Foden seems to have been released to his club, so probably won't feature next week, scoring 2 tries is probably the best possible response to that.

This weekend also sees Burns, Kvesic, Eastmond and Burrell all play for their club, looks like we might see England revert back to the negative stuff of the 6N rather than continue the open attacking play from the summer, which is hugely frustrating.

Let's see how we play before saying we are back to the negative Six Nations form.  I would be very happy if we replicated the Scotland game, which wasn't particularly negative.  Granted our performances got worse after though.

I think the players are better than they were a year or so ago and I believe there is a different mindset as well, a willingness to attack and go for it.  Can't deny I am particularly upset to see that Kvesic won't get a run out, but I think the Brown's, Farrell's, Twelvetrees and Yarde's deserve their chance.  I also think Ashton is now getting back to where he should be so while unfortunate for Wade, I think he deserves to stay in.  However, he now knows that he has competition breathing down his neck so he has to keep his standards up.

Only player I am really struggling with is the proposed selection of Tomkins.  That I just don't understand

Tomkins is the one that makes me think he's not really learnt from the summer, Tomkins has a lot of potential but at the minute he's just a battering ram.

[paul_e]

So Burrell, Trinder and Eastmond  sent back and Tomkins likely to play all 80, all 3 are far more rounded centres but Tomkins tackles well

Burns sent back and Flood retained despite Burns having started the season superbly in partnership with the obvious choice at 12

Kvesic sent back despite giving us a new dimension in Argentina

Wade effectively punished for his Lions call up by being left out

I'm already not looking forward to this weekend, he's making the same mistakes as last year and right now I can't see us getting anything on saturday.  The game plan will be to batter them up front and kick for territory, I genuinely dream of the day when a england side is picked to play aus or NZ at their own game and generate quick ball at the breakdown and retain possession for the quick guys outside, it will happen eventually, we have the players for it but the coaches are all 20 years out of date.