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Post by hallmackem on Mar 9, 2009 18:51:59 GMT
Makes sense for David Wilson to be there, Newcastle's scrum has been arse raping everything in its path of late. Although that is mainly Carl Hayman's work...
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Mar 9, 2009 18:59:45 GMT
Strettle is our best winger imo - i'm delighted he's been called up.
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Aber Wolf
Reserves Player
[M:0]
Listen to the Music of the Night
Posts: 314
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Post by Aber Wolf on Mar 9, 2009 19:24:55 GMT
Excellent to hear Strettle's back in the squad. What had happened to him? I knew he'd been injured for a while, has he just got back recently or wasn't in Johnson's plans?
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 10, 2009 13:41:58 GMT
He was playing for the Saxons wasn't he?
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Mar 10, 2009 18:28:55 GMT
I don't know to be honest with you - he could well have been. He's had quite a few injuries in the past after getting himself a place in the full England side, so hopefully that won't happen again.
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 10, 2009 22:24:49 GMT
Sackey definately out, Strettle has been released though. Ugo Monye will probably start.
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 11, 2009 23:45:53 GMT
Martin Johnson is actually mental. He's dropped Nick Kennedy for Simon Shaw.
By all means pick Shaw, but ffs don't drop your best lock!
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Mar 12, 2009 16:52:40 GMT
Martin Johnson is actually mental. He's dropped Nick Kennedy for Simon Shaw. By all means pick Shaw, but ffs don't drop your best lock! Couldn't agree more - how is Borthwick still playing and Kennedy only on the bench...
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 12, 2009 17:15:17 GMT
Two possibilities:
a) He's stupid. He is blind to Borthwick's indeptitude and genuinely believes the man is a good player and captain.
b) He's a coward. He knows he made the wrong choice but just won't admit it despite the fact that if he just did, nobody would blame him because he is woefully inexperienced as a coach.
I don't know which I would be more worried about.
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Mar 12, 2009 19:42:21 GMT
Neither exactly bodes well for the future of England Rugby though...
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 12, 2009 19:44:51 GMT
I'd forgive him if he admitted it now...
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Mar 12, 2009 21:02:46 GMT
He won't though - he's put his faith in Borthwick and will stick with him sadly. Would you rather have Borthwick or Vickery as captain Ben (if you had to have one)?
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 12, 2009 22:01:40 GMT
Vickery, he marginally warrants his place and can do his job when he plays well. Borthwick never plays well.
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 14, 2009 14:58:05 GMT
Time for Sergio Parisse to show Andy Powell how to play Number Eight.
What a day for Alun Wyn-Jones though, captaining Wales aged just twenty three.
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 14, 2009 18:28:29 GMT
Today had Wales Canada written all over it. Our seconds just didn't play well. Too many changed or a lack of depth I can't say...
Made it absolutely clear how important Gethin, Adam and Martyn are to us.
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 14, 2009 18:38:34 GMT
And Tom Shanklin evidently...
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 14, 2009 20:57:12 GMT
Key points of the day:
. I fell asleep during Italy Vs. Wales . Sergio Parisse > Everyone . Ronan O'Gara played well for the first time this championship . Euan Murray should definately be the Lions Tighthead
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Mar 14, 2009 21:01:09 GMT
Parisse is Italy's only true world class player. Both matches were scrappy, mostly dull affairs sadly and Ireland don't look like a Grand slam winning team to me. I fancy them to choke against the Welsh next week but probably stll win the 6 Nations.
Wales putting out their second team was a failure - on paper those players look good enough but in reality without the world class around them they are average. That decision has probably cost Wales the championship - not a great day of Rugby all round tbh.
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 14, 2009 21:03:04 GMT
Paul Griffen's sideburns are world class!
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Mar 14, 2009 21:08:33 GMT
Him fumbling the ball out of play from a kick however was not...
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 15, 2009 9:39:52 GMT
Yeah, that was just poo.
He's better than Mauro Bergamasco at least.
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Post by arover on Mar 15, 2009 9:41:20 GMT
Paul Griffen's sideburns are world class! Sideburns are a dying art. Should be revived.
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 15, 2009 9:45:21 GMT
Proper mutton chops or just sideburns in general?
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 15, 2009 10:07:49 GMT
The Daily Mail is spot on with its predicition of the two key battles today.
Matthieu Bastareaud Vs. Mike Tindall in the Centre and Sebastien Chabal Vs. Joe Worsley on the Openside Flank.
If France's power runners can be shackled England may have a chance...
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 15, 2009 11:22:21 GMT
All over for us.Can't see us beating Ireland by 23 points.Don't rule out the Frogs.If they beat England they will probably go on the win it.
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 15, 2009 15:58:24 GMT
Who are you and what have you done with England?
Or should I say... the French team need to grow some balls and stop letting England turn them over.
Yes, this is probably more France being bad than England being amazing but its such a long time since England have played like this I don't really care. Riki Flutey has been brilliant, Simon Shaw is a giant, Steve Borthwick looks competent for once (He still keeps getting driven back in contact though), Tom Croft wonderful at the lineout, Nick Easter powerful and the backs are having an easy day at HQ.
Time for the French head coach to earn his salt...
29-0 at half time.
Tries: Cueto, Flutey, Armitage, Worsley. Conversions: Flood 3 Penalties: Flood 1
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 15, 2009 15:59:50 GMT
One more thing, the ref hasn't really allowed a scrum to go on without blowing up. I feel France might be a lot closer if we'd seen some scrummaging.
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 15, 2009 17:19:03 GMT
Flutey added another try early in the second half and substitute Fly Half, Andy Goode, duly missed the conversion.
France scored two tries, Dmitri Szarzewski going over from close range and Julien Malzieu finishing easily after a three on two down the blindside from a scrum. Neither try was converted.
France had an off day, England had a very good day. When that happens you see 24 point gaps between teams.
Tom Croft was man of the match, very well deserved.
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 15, 2009 19:23:25 GMT
Vickery, he marginally warrants his place and can do his job when he plays well. Borthwick never plays well. As soon as I say something the opposite happens. . "Brian O'Driscoll is past it" - Becomed one of the players of the tournament. . "Wales to walk it" - Go into the final weekend needing to hammer Ireland to win. . "Borthwick never plays well" - Plays well.
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Mar 15, 2009 20:18:39 GMT
Great performance from England but poor from France. They are probably the most inconsistent team in world Rugby and just didn't look up for it today. Too little too late from England however, where was this level of performance earlier in the tournament?
Imo Wales beat Ireland next week but not by 25 points or whatever they need, so Ireland will win the Championship. Incidentally, the big 4 Southern Hemisphere teams are superior to all of the 6 Nations teams - Ireland and Wales battling it out to be the 5th best team in the world.
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