Comments on: My England starting XV

By: george green

george green — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:43:26 +0000

next test tem witch it think it should be
for 2nd test easters shit
1. Tim payne

2. Steve thompson

3.Dan cole

4.Simon shaw

5. Courtney Laws

6.Tom croft

7.Lewis moody

8.James Haskell

9.harry ellis

10. johhny wilkinson

11.chris ashton

12.mike tindall

13.olley barkley

14. mark cueto

15.ben fooden

By: Will

Will — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:23:11 +0000

this is my team for the 6 nations assuming everyone is fit, which in this day and age is a huge assumption…..

15. Armitage
14. Strettle
13. Tindall
12. Flutey
11. Monye
10. Wilkinson
9. Ellis
8. Haskell
7. Croft
6. Moody
5. Kennedy
4. Shaw
3. Vickery
2. Mears
1. Sheridan

Subs
16. Hartley
17. Wilson
18. Easter
19. Borthwick
20. Foden
21. Tait
22. Cipriani

We have so many talented attack minded players in england at the moment who would actually take the english game forward, so i find it really frustrating when players like danny hipkiss, mark cueto and second row on the wing matt banahan are the focal point of our attacks. Brian Smith managed to create a balanced team at london irish, with the forwards setting a platform and the backs using the ball effectively, thats what i want to see with england.

By: Cameron

Cameron — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:09:46 +0000

Actually
9. Paul Hodgson
and
21. Danny Care

By: Cameron

Cameron — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:07:52 +0000

1. Tim Payne
2. Dylan Hartley
3. David Wilson
4. Courtney Lawes
5. Simon Shaw (if fit) / Nick Kenndy
6. Tom Croft
7. James Haskell
8. Jordan Crane
9. Danny Care
10. Johnny Wilkinson
11. Matt Banahan
12. Dan Hipkiss
13. Ayoola Erinle
14. Ugo Monye
15. Mark Cueto

16. George Chuter
17. Duncan Bell
18. Steve Borthwick
19. Lewis Moody
20. Steffon Armitage
21. Paul Hodgson
22. Shane Geraghty
23. Matthew Tait
22. Ben Foden

By: Paddy

Paddy — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:48:27 +0000

Great first XV mate, I’d go for that. Shame about Hartley though ;)

Oh and Hipkiss instead of Tindall now I guess.

Don’t see what everyone sees in Foden ie. Nick Abendanon mk2. Love to see Monye cutting great lines from fullback. Only concern is his boot? Is it good enough, and if not, Johnno might opt for Cueto there instead.

C’mon Banahhhaaaannnnnn

By: goodNumber10

goodNumber10 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:09:25 +0000

I understand your point, and that was my fear over the summer that’d he’d struggle for game time with them signing Palmer etc… but now Taylor is injured anyway.

And even if he wasn’t with the amount of games you play in the Top 14 squad rotation is the norm here and everyone gets a run. Haskell has already been rotated out a couple of times even before Bergamaco comes back, and as I said he’s been coming off the bench as well as starting and been good. it’s only really when we get to the business end of the season they settle into 1st and second choices.

He’s been getting very favourable press in france becaus eof his perfomances and

I think he’s settled in, is playing well and he’s back in the EPS because of it.

just my opinion though. :)

By: John

John — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:29:51 +0000

With Stade recently signing Pape and Palmer, Taylor will be a back row option at Stade now, and, covers the 6 and 8 shirts. He’s better in the loose and the lineout than Haskell, and means that Haskell is going to have to up his game even further. Bergamasco coming back means that Haskell won’t get the 7 shirt either (not that he’s a great 7 anyway)…so I guess he needs to try and keep stepping up.

He always tries to lead by example, but I think that there are better rugby playing back rows at Stade than Haskell and that he would’ve probably been better suited staying at Wasps – as Geech highlights in his book.

By: Tommy

Tommy — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:52:10 +0000

Meant full back/centre regarding Strettle

By: Tommy

Tommy — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:50:27 +0000

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Monye start at full back, however i would much rather see him on the wing, which really only leaves Foden for full back. The only think that worries me about Foden is his decision making – quite often chooses to run from deep when he really should just clear to touch. Haskell has been brilliant since moving to France, and yes, I know he doesn’t usually play 8, but then Dallaglio often switched between 6 and 8, and I think Haskell has the ability to do the same. Crane offers a better option as sub as he can play both 2nd row and back row (granted he is better as back row). For me Tait has to be on the bench as his ability to cover some much within the backs is immense. Think we’re all agreed that Lawes should have a shot at starting, but bet Johnno goes with Deacon. As for no. 9 – personally think Hodgson would compliment Wilko better than Care, and unfortunately we can almost guarantee to see Goode on the bench – what a waste of a sub’s position. Would of liked to of included Strettle, but can’t find room for him unfortunately – if only he played wing/centre too.

By: goodNumber10

goodNumber10 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:37:01 +0000

Taylor hasn’t played 6 at stade since he arrived instead playing in the second row, he’s only played backrow for Scotland in the last season.

Bergamasco is fine but is a better option at openside, why would he play at 6?

Haskell has been very good for Stade this season, i think the mov has been very good for him, he’s been noticable in all his top 14 appearances so far, either from the bench or starting, and seeing him in training as well he’s really stepping up and putting in the work and leading by example.

All in all things have really stepped up a gear for him since moving here.

By: John

John — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:24:07 +0000

The problem with putting Haskell at 8 is that he hasn’t played there much over the last few years. He’s nowhere near the 8 shirt at Stade due to Parisse, but has been solid at 6 – nothing more though. Once Stade get the likes of Bergamasco and Taylor back from injury I think Haskell may struggle to hold onto his place. However, he’s probably a better option than Crane at 8 – unless it goes to penalty kicks!

By: goodNumber10

goodNumber10 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:51:20 +0000

Haskell has been immense at stade, his workrate is up, and he’s been one of their best players when either starting or coming off the bench. Erinle is also playing very very well, and if i was Johnson i’d be very much looking ta him – he and hipkiss tore BOD and Darcy a new one in the HC final.

for what it’s worth i’d go with:

1. Tim Payne
2. Dylan Hartley
3. David Wilson
4. Courntney Lawes
5. Steve Borthwick
6. Tom Croft
7. Steffon Armitage
8. James Haskell

9. Care – with wilkinson at 10 i’d like someone with a bit of spark at 9
10. Jonny Wilkinson
11. Matt Banahan
12. Shane Geraghty
13. Mike Tindall
14. Ugo Monye
15. Ben Foden

16. George Chuter
17. Duncan Bell
18. David Barnes
19. Jordan Crane
20. Lewis Moody
21. Hodgson – it really worries me that Hodgson and Care are our only choices at 9
22. Cueto
23. Hipkiss – massive shame that Myler is out, i’d have liked him on the bench.