Who'll Impress for England?

So, who do you think is gonna do us proud against the Welsh. And, contrariwise, who might have a shocker?

For me, the most likely to impress is Tuilagi, but there have been a few out there who doubt his ability to manage a game at this level.

For some reason, I'm expecting Shaw to play out of his skin. He knows it's the end of the road for him, and I'm sure the big man will be able to muster up enough energy to take him into the WC and finish on a high.

I have slightly less confidence in Armitage. I haven't seen him do anything to warrent inclusion this season, and I just can't see him redeeming himself for all the cr@p he's produced of late. Especially since it seems he doesn't have to even play to continually be picked. OK, so he can play FB, wing, and centre, but if versatility without actual ability results in selection for England, I'd like to say that I can play in every position on the pitch and offer my services to MJ !

Well im looking forward to seeing Tuilagi go.
Interesting reading an interview in the metro paper, Johnny has said he has been that impresed in training that he could have the same impact as a certain Mr Robinson....which would be pretty impressive.

IM also looking to see how Flutey goes. At his peak he is the quality 12 we need....

Ill also be watching Moodys performance very closely....both as player and captain. Many believe that others should be ahead on performance....but that Moodys captaincy has got him in there. Lets see what happens.

And finally....how will " the Brand" go at 8. He has the attributes to be a top drawer 8...pace , power, size etc.....does he have the mental aspects required.

I'm looking forward to seeing both centres and Charlie Sharples in action, but I'm not expecting an England win just have a hunch Wales will win this one and England will win next week in Cardiff.

If this were to happen where does it leave both teams having both lost at home?????

An interesting few weeks ahead.

If England were playing anyone else, I'd be looking forward to seeing Manu Tuilagi play. But as you're playing us, I'm not looking forward to seeing him play. He could be a real find for England.

I'm backing the halfbacks to deliver as well as Matt Stevens, Tom Croft and Manu Tuilagi.

The Bench

beshocked wrote:The Bench

Really? I thought the bench lacks in some places. I don't see the likes of Mears, Wilson, Hodgson, Wigglesworth, Botha as better options than the starters personally. Sharples is someone I'd like to see and for me a player like Tom Wood, much as I rate him, doesn't strike me as a great man to spring from the bench.

Both centres (I think Tuilagi will have a cracker), Wilko, Stevens and also I've got this feeling that Haskell's going to play well

Even though you are the opposition I am also looking forward to seeing Tuilagi play, he is a great talent. Should prove a very good test for Wales.

I think it is a good balanced backline with Wilkinsons skill, Flutey's cunning and Tuilagi's strength and directness. This could be a very handy combination.

I also rate the back row very highly, Croft is a fantastically talented player, to frequently injured (but so many good players are these days, Haskell showed good form in the six nations and I have feared any team I support going against Moody since he was a nipper on the scene nearly ten years ago.

Danny Care also looked better than previous at nine during the later stages of 2010-11 season. Though I thought that Joe Simpson was the form nine in England last year and thought he might have got a run out.

red stag that's where we differ.

I think Botha,Sharples and Wood are all better than Shaw,Cueto and Moody respectively.

Wigglesworth and Hodgson as a halfback pairing work well together as they have an understanding. Wilkinson and Care are better individually but if Wigglesworth and Hodgson are brought on as a pairing?

Hodgson in particular is a better playmaker.

I'm gonna say Wilko is gonna show on the international stage that he can be an attacking 10, I expect Tuilagi and Flutey to shine.
Sharples, I think will have a quietish game.
Croft to play a blinder and Haskell to make a lot of ground.

Oh Stevens to impress as well, not sure about Shaw.
He could play incredibly well, but I think England are gonna be playing at a faster pace than he can keep up with.

beshocked wrote:red stag that's where we differ.

This is becoming a trend. Your an interesting poster Shocked. You take a very different view to me and for different reasons. Its interesting to see and its not simply skewed by your allegances.

There is a lot of talk about Tuilagi, but I think the backrow has a damn good look about it. Haskell is to thick to be an open side flanker so no 8 I feel suits his abilities better. Moody back and Croft on the blind side.....a very well balenced backrow IMO.

red stag cheers.

It would be boring if everyone thought the same or god forbid if all fans were like nottins and the grey ghost!

To be fair I would say I am skewed by my allegiances! I am skewed by my allegiance to Saracens sometimes! Not to my allegiance to England though.

In Sportguru I am a lot more realistic though as I play to win.

Ruggerradge maybe you are right. We'll have to wait and see. Personally I don't like it but the English backrow could prove me wrong.

You think Haskell is intelligent enough to be a no 8? Seriously? Does he really compare to the best no 8s in the NH let alone SH?

I still need to see more all round skills from Haskell before I can rate him.

I would say playing No8 takes less brains than a openside flanker. Opensides are normaly fetchers and need to anticipate the game in order to be in the right place at the right time to either turn the ball over or force a penalty.

Haskell just seems to think smashing the fly half is enough as a test 7. I have always wanted to see Luke Narraway get a shot at 8 for England but he always seems to be overlooked. Easter to me just seems a wee bit too slow for a no 8 especialy compared to his NH counterparts (Harinordoqy, Heaslip, Beattie, Parisse).

I do expect Tuilagi to punch holes though, however Wales do have a sizable set of centres too.

ruggerradge that's what I mean though. Haskell can't compete with the likes of Harinorduquoy,Heaslip,Beattie and Parisse. These guys are all rounders and an inspiration to their side. They are captain's material. Haskell is not.

I personally think the no 8 needs to have good communication with the scrum half and aid his job at getting quick ball.

Basically I think intelligence in every position.

Personally i do think Haskell is inteligent, he isn't experienced though but will only get the experience by playing there. 8 to me seems his best position. I wonder where he'll play in Japan and the S15?

Am looking forward to seeing that whole bakline play but i have to admit the back 3 look seriously short of pace, I hope Sharples comes on early in to the second half and gets a good run.

Shame Simpson wasn't picked, fingers crossed he'll bench next week though for us.

Everyone in the England camp and press are talking up Tuialgi.

Trouble is this is now building up fan expectation, and no doubt he'll be the latest to be accussed of being arrogant and overhyped ( even if he does do well)

Still its less embaressing than some of the guff about George North I guess.

Some say he naturally faces magnetic north, and that his the 2nd coming… all we know is, he’s called the George North

some say that hes english ...al that we know is that manu isnt

who would win in a boxing ring, Manu or SBW????

BATH_BTGOG wrote:who would win in a boxing ring, Manu or SBW????

Billy Twelvetrees

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

BATH_BTGOG wrote:who would win in a boxing ring, Manu or SBW????

Billy Twelvetrees

That's only because Billy waits till the end of the match and then bops whoever is coming out on top over the head with a chair. Or was that wrestling....

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:There is a lot of talk about Tuilagi, but I think the backrow has a damn good look about it. Haskell is to thick to be an open side flanker so no 8 I feel suits his abilities better. Moody back and Croft on the blind side.....a very well balenced backrow IMO.

3x 6.5's - better than the old style 3xno.8 but then the game has changed. Be interesting - interesting match up too

Oh yeah - and Banahan to shine making big dents in whats in front of him and making tries with his offloads but still have a whole bunch of people saying hes no good

I very much hope Charlie Sharples shows what he can do off the bench.

lostinwales, I hope you're right. I'm a huge Banahan fan, but there's been so much negative talk about him of late that I've started to doubt my own opinion.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:There is a lot of talk about Tuilagi, but I think the backrow has a damn good look about it. Haskell is to thick to be an open side flanker so no 8 I feel suits his abilities better. Moody back and Croft on the blind side.....a very well balenced backrow IMO.

Too thick for a 7?

That'd make him a perfect 6.....

Surely?

Re: banahan - I read the independent on a saturday and Brian Ashton always talked him up - and hes a fair judge of a good player. Banahan can look all wrong - he looks just too big sometimes and yes he doesnt have a great deal of acceleration or the ability to turn that fast and yet... He does score tries. He is very powerful, always a handful and makes things happen. And he is very good at tying in defenders (well the ones he doesnt smash out of the way) then giving great offloads.