6 Nations

[Matblack]

Well I must say I'm looking forward to a fortnights time when I'm going to see Wales v Italy at the Millenium Stadium, Wales are fighting all the way and Italy should be a good challenge but ultimately beatable

MB

[Goose]

I'd say it was a little early to say whether Wales are fighting. Everyone wants to beat us, and Scotland only have 1 decent player.

My worry at the moment is that Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt at still being proved correct. They both said that, at the end of the match, ask all the players what the plan was and they'll all give you completely different versions.

Vainikolo should have come inside more, but then we don't know what he has been told to do.

A lot of sport websites are giving our players low ratings, when I feel the problem doesn't lie with them.

[Joe 90]

I was horribly hung over yesterday after an intense saturday session with two matches to get through! Ended up missing the one game of the weekend i actually wanted to watch so now hittin up BBC iPlayer for yesterdays game - brilliant start from England ftw

[Goose]

The other shoe drops in about 40 minutes...

[PvtPyle]

I wonder what goes on in the England meeting room some weeks. Selection is a joke! Brian Ashton is picking Andy Gomersall at 9 when he can't even start for Quins, who are crap this season. Same applies to to Phil Vickery, who has played very little club rugby and yet he is still captaining England. Why? Josh Lewsey has been left out, and yet yesterday he ran two great tries past Bath's backline in broken play situations. What has Balshaw done for England so far...?

The players are making basic errors in the 2nd half. Wilko looked rattled against Wales, and when Cipriani came on against the Azurri he had a kick charged down inside his first 5 mins and he never recovered. Fortunately Wilko went to the boot so much during the 2nd half that any chance of a 9 - 10- 12 -13 move was already dead in the water, so Cipriani's slow ball didn't affect England's game. I was very sceptical about Vainikolo's inclusion in the squad, but so far he has looked the most dangerous man out there. Haskell is also fantastic at the moment, though he gives away too many penalties. One thing is for sure though - the team aren't going out with the confidence they will need to beat France.

[Goose]

That kick from Cipriani really had me a little confused. Charge-downs can be forgiven, but that kick wasn't even going anywhere useful.

I watched Bath against Wasps yesterday, Josh Lewsey was solid on the attack (2 in 2 minutes always helps!) and was reliable when tackling. I'm a bit of a fanboy with Lewsey, so I was less than pleased when Ashton didn't pick him.

Having watched London Irish beat Leicester today, Paul Hodgson is really impressing me at the moment. Hopefully he will get a chance to shine for the Saxons.

[Pumpkinstew]

Lewsey is the kind of player who responds well to a boot up the arse (in this case getting dropped). His form hadn't been good for club or country in a while and Ashton has always said he sees him as a wing, where England have a surplus of talent right now.
If it was my decision I'd have him back in at FB in a flash.

The Cipriani/Wilkinson debate is all just media guff in my opinion. JW is still head and shoulders above the young pretender, even when not firing on all cylinders. If Barkley wasn't left out of the squad, solely due to his assault charge and the perceived negative publicity it would generate, Cipriani wouldn't even be on the bench.
By all means give him game time with the game already won but if Wilko got injured (hey it might happen ) would you feel comfortable with Cipriani running the game at 10? Taking the pressure kicks at 17-15 down with 3 minutes left? His blunder against Italy and refusal to acknowledge that even had it not been charged down it was the wrong option is proof that he isn't ready yet.

Originally Posted by Goose

Having watched London Irish beat Leicester today, Paul Hodgson is really impressing me at the moment. Hopefully he will get a chance to shine for the Saxons.

He's in the full squad after Richards was injured. He may start against France as Gomersall can't last a full 80 at the pace the French will play at and Wigglesworth is competent but doesn't offer much more than reliability.

[PvtPyle]

Some interesting points there. I agree with your sentiments re. Lewsey at 15.

10 is an interesting position for England. Personally I have no faith in Olly Barkley regardless of the assault charge, on his day Cipriani is better IMO, and to be honest so is Ryan Lamb who I'd like to see selected as 1st option for the Saxons. He's still young and has a lot of good ideas and creativity without being dangerous in the manner than Danny was on Saturday. Of course there is no doubt that Wilko will always be first choice fly half so long as he is fit. I do find myself missing the barrel-shaped figure of Andy Goode trundling around the pitch at pre-match warm up time though...

Wigglesworth ought to be playing 9 before Gomersall gets a look in as far as I am concerned. To be fair though, Élissalde is going to rip any 9 that England can put up to pieces.

[PvtPyle]

... Actually, to expand on that, most of England's back line are in trouble against France. Clerc, Rougerie and Heymens are astoundingly good at the moment, they are playing superb attacking rugby and look dangerous every time they get the ball.

[Pumpkinstew]

Barkley does seem to divide opinions. If he’d been fit for England during major tournaments when they were crying out for a decision making 12 I think the majority opinion would be very different. The selection policy at Barf hasn’t helped him either.
Either way Ashton thinks he walks on water and the decision to omit him from the squad was rumoured to be made against his judgement.

Personally I’ve always rated him highly and if the rumours are true and he’s going up the road to Bristol for a regular start in a 10 jersey next season I’ll be delighted.