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Bath RFC	InTheFastLane
Exeter Chiefs	Driver - RIP 606
Gloucester	Anonmattyt
Harlequins	Steven_Sharks
Leicester Tigers	LukeLovesLuka
London Irish	stnick88
London Wasps	Arry
Newcastle Falcons	Sgt_Pooly
Northampton Saints	Dammit_Chris
Sale Sharks	SirJohnnyEnglish
Saracens	LDCPete
Worcester Warriors	prop_lyd

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Waiting List
1. Sam
2. pullthestrings
3. Bathite

But by most peoples reckoning Mujati is world class going by the rugby board on here... Same as Steenkamp for me. One good season does not make anyone a world beater. Really looking forward to see how Mujati does during the world cup period without Tonga and Hartley helping out

A good world cup for Franks and he may well cement himself as no1 TH but the same can be said for Mas, Castro, Jones and even Cole. Over on the LH its the same story. Hooker is the only front row position with an out and out no 1 for me with BDP ahead of the rest

That's the lad, thought he poor tbh. I wouldn't say Healy was poor in the scrum, think he's came on leaps and bounds.

I'd have Servat and BdP out ahead in terms as basics hookers. Have players like Hartley, Mealamu, Moore in the next lot.

Very tight between Servat and BDP in terms of their scrummaging with Servat maybe shading it but BDP is fantastic in the loose.

Will Servat be making the world cup then Pooly?

Greyling is dreadful in the scrum. if you see my comments before the game started i was anticipating him getting a pasting from Alexander who gets by at international level in the scrums and no more.

Franks for me needs to show it at internaional level. seen him get a few hidings and for me jury still out.

Basing it on a good super 15 does not work for me

Touch and go apparently Johnny, prob not by reports

BDP has moved out there on his own. I massively respect fitzpatricks opinion on anything rugby and he thinks BDP is out on his own.

For me Moore is another standout. I love servat and think he was best in the world for a long time. Think maybe time is catching up with him and he had a poor injury interrupted season. Think he may call it quits after the WC but a tremendous player none the less. a real great of french rugby. still only 32/33 but has played a lot of top top rugby. Think Servat is the best scrummaging hooker with BDP though

Think we will see more and more front row quitting at 31,32 as the position is so demanding.

Thats a shame you always want to see the best players on show but then the French have decent back up in Guirado and with the likes of Baracella, Domingo and Mas they have a serious scrum

I think Servat has just signed a new contract at Toulouse Matt, he looks alot older than what he is. Massive fan of BdP but he's not showed anything to stretch ahead of the field imo

Does anyone know if Swarzeski will make the WC?? I know he is their squad but coming back from long term injury.

Not seen Servat sign a new contract anywhere. he is 32/33 and could go longer

BDP is the best for me. Then Servat, Moore, Mealamu.

Servat is marginally better than BDP in the scrum, but not appreciably so, whereas BDP is streets ahead of Servat in the loose which for me puts the South African firmly ahead and comfortably the best in the world.

I'm a huge fan of both Pete. Very different players in loose, Bismark is a physical freak and brings a great carrying game, Servat is the master of the rolling maul and gaining hard yards.

Different players in the scrum too, Servat is small, squat and powerful and gives opposite numbers problems with his technique. BdP is just a unit and brings a huge presence.

I think you can see how important each are when theyt don't turn out for their club/countries.

"comfortably the best in the world"

Can't agree with that statement at all. Not many players (perhaps Carter) can justify that tag and Bdp certainly doesn't. He's a great player off the back of a not great year, similar to Servat.

fair comment pooly

For me BDP was great every time i saw him this year. Really terrorised opposition in a front row that did not do that well.

Would love to see him between 2 good props reckon he would be a monster

he had one shocker this season cant remember who it was against.
but for me still best hooker in world. great in the loose. only fault can be his lineout throwing but it is usually decent.

Pooly, I agree they are very different players, I just think that BDP offers more right now than Servat does.

Really looking forward to the World Cup now, real opportunities for so many players to make real names for themselves.

Anyone know when the England squad is officially announced?

Andrew Hore looks set to start vs the Boks with Richie McCaw looking like he could play 8!

I did think Hore would start as Mealamu was given week off. McCaw finished Fiji game at 8, seen him there a fair bit over the years, prob more at BS tho.

Think it's more to have a look at Thompson at 7 and getting some game time for Richie on the pitch.

Yeah, Read is also rested having played a lot in Super 15, so it's gametime for McCaw and a chance to look at options at 7 for Henry.

Pete - I think we have to wait until all the friendlies are out the way - apparently every player in the 45 to get a game and then decisions will be made.

Any last minute bolters for the England WC squad - can only see it being Simpson and Tuilagi...

Stevens, Botha, Robshaw, Waldroum, Sharples.......

Guys

I have terrible news , It turned out i the England Wales tickets weren't for the Millennium stadium , I'v had to make do with Twickenham the week before - bummer

Anybody know any cheap hotels in the Twickenham area?

I was already including Stevens in the squad - think he's a dead certainty.

Cant see Botha or Robshaw going - locks will most likely be Deacon, Shaw, Lawes and Palmer and our backrow is super competitive.

Can't see Sharples making it this time, but Waldroum might well make a last push - depends on how many backrowers MJ goes for, Martin Cory reckons he will only take 3 locks, and use Croft and Easter as backups...

I don't think Steven is a certainty at all, he's in the group but Wilson and PDJ have recent outings at Int level. He would be a bolter as he's sneaked through the Saxons setup from nowhere.

The whole point of a bolter is somebody you may not expect, Sharples has as good a chance as any with his recent form.

Driver - what are you counting as cheap mate, as they put their prices up for match day by quite a lot. I would try Whitton, which is about 15mins walk from Twickers and its a lot better with the trains as you beat all the queues too as everyone goes to Twickenham station. Also some great pubs along the way, I will certainly be stopping at those Saturday week :-)

Would you have Sharples above guys like Banahan, Cueto, Ashton? I'm sure they are definitely going as our wingers, with Foden and Armitage as fb.

What sort of breakdown in squad would you go for - most seem to suggest 16 forwards and 14 backs - how would you all then break that down?

Just look for a travelodge in the London/greater London area Driver, prob get one for 20 quid and train in is only 10 quid or so. I could give you lift down/back depending on date.

I wouldn't Chris, that's why he'd be a bolter. Those mentioned are dead certs. Banahan due to his versatility rather than quality.

Like youth Hostel cheap chris

Driver travel lodge at kew not far away and not bad 15 minutes into twickenham. Richmond after the match is often a let down as it closes so early.

Flip me the hotels do jack up there prices!

I really wouldn't worry about getting too close mate, just search for travel lodge within 20 mile radius. I've just got one at heathrow for 20 quid

Usually get travel lodge kew for 70 quid and it sleeps 4. Alternatively there is a travel lodge at Heston services that is 20 minutes away from twickers. My mates brother is a student and they stay there for about 30 quid even during 6n

I reckon Stevens will go because of his versatility. With one prop on the bench you have to have someone to cover both sides.

I would take Sheridan, Cole, Stevens and Corbs if we take 4 props. Add in PDJ if they take 5.

I'd take PDJ over both Stevens and Corbs on the basis that he is a better TH than both and covers loosehead, whereas they are better at loosehead aNd cover TH.

I think that without Cole we are absolutely screwed at TH. I dont think there is anyone even close to him around at the moment. Hoping that Brookes and Thomas will be pushing him in a few years.

I disagree, I don't think there is a great deal between Cole and PDJ.

Pete as a glos fan i can say pdj is a decent tighthead although not good in the loose. He is however a shocking loose head.

Stevens was better for bench. Pdj cannot play lh full stop. We abandoned playing him there even in an emergency as he struggled so badly.

Stevens can play both sides easily.

Pdj most improved th scrummager about but can only play 1 side

LDCPete wrote:I disagree, I don't think there is a great deal between Cole and PDJ.

I'm with you there Pete , thought towards the end of the 6Ns , PDJ scrummaged a lot better than Cole who after the France game was pretty poor at scrum time.

I'd take as my world cup 30

Props : Andrew Sheridan , Dan Cole , Paul Doran Jones , Alex Corbisero
Hookers: Dylan Hartley , Steve Thompson , Lee Mears
Locks: Courtney Lawes , Tom Palmer , Louis Deacon
Back row: Tom Croft , Nick Easter , Lewis Moody (c) , Tom Wood , Tom Waldrom , James Haskell
Half Backs: Ben Youngs , Jonny Wilkinson , Danny Care , Toby Flood , Richard Wrigglesworth
Centres: Shontayne Hape , Mike Tindall , Riki Flutey , Manu Tuilagi
Back 3:Chris Ashton , Ben Foden , Mark Cueto , Delon Armitage , James Simpson Daniel

I'd say PDJ was our form TH and would pack down very nicely with Hartley and Sheri/Corbs. Saying that Cole is a personal fav and I'd go with him. With the 2 able to play LH he prob won't have to play there but think he'd be fine, looked very solid against Hayman in Ba's match. Be a close call with Stevens, I'd prob take him as his loose play is an extra.

Good squad Driver, I'd swap Sharples with JSD as I'm not a fan.

think stevens and corbs do a better job on their weaker side than pdj does on his weaker side.

for me would take sheridan/corbisiero and cole/stevens

Anybody else see Toulouse have signed Gary Botha? Reckon they'll take the Heino back this season

Morning fellas! Anyone got a hooker available?

I thought you had Gray on loan from Matt?!?

I do but still looking for another hooker incase Gray or Titterell get injured.

There aren't going to be any injuries during the World Cup period Arry.

Who's about for some last minute dealing then!

Looking to tweak English players (English for English)....and general improvements, top class needs top class

Ahh right, I see!

Botha signed for Toulouse months ago

anyone who watched the churchill cup know much about this jebb sinclair london irish have signed?
I thought we were in for another Canadian Chauncey O'Toole but Sinclair has signed, maybe O'toole is to follow.

Didn't O'toole get player of the tournament? Very good player I thought, was hard to put down, good work rate and a hard tackler. If Irish get him its a very good signing!