85 replies to this topic

[roughyedspud]

Four out of Forans seven games are against Australia its hardly a good indication of his performances.

The Kiwis have won 3 from the last 20 against Australia so he is not necessarily the weakest link in his Test team.

funny how we never say that for our halfback.........ours are just ######.......right?

[AndyCapp]

funny how we never say that for our halfback.........ours are just ######.......right?

Which Half back are you talking about Spud?

Not many have had success against Australia in the last decade or NZ when playing in their backyard.
NZ have a reputation of travelling to England badly although they still have a better for and against over England in the last eight games.

Do you mean Rangi Chase?

Should England's wins over France, Wales, Russia and the "Exiles" carry more weight in the scope of things?
Who is Englands Star halves that put the Kiwi Halves to shame with their record over top flight teams?
Sinfield is a Lock/Hooker/Stand-off in his final years.
Who was his partner again in the Halves that were standouts?

I am missing something Spud as I have not seen top shelf "English" specialist halves for many many years. About 30 or 40.

What was that Wigan Half that went to Union Coaching that was the best around called? Edwards?
He did nothing at Test level or in his time in Australia, he warmed a bench as much as he played.

Edited by AndyCapp, 28 February 2013 - 01:21 PM.

[roughyedspud]

you said losing games to australia is hardly a good indication of performance....


so its ok for kiwi halves not to perform against australia...but godforbid a englishman fails!!!


now....the guy a few posts ago said hed take the foran & benji over englands.....i would'nt...forans job,and only job,is to give the ball to benji...while benji runs around like a headless chicken....theres absolutely bog all organisation in that kiwi team...

so yeah i would have the leadership,organisation and all round game of sinfield...and the razzle dazzle of chase over the kiwi halves....everyday of the week...

[AndyCapp]

you said losing games to australia is hardly a good indication of performance....


so its ok for kiwi halves not to perform against australia...but godforbid a englishman fails!!!


now....the guy a few posts ago said hed take the foran & benji over englands.....i would'nt...forans job,and only job,is to give the ball to benji...while benji runs around like a headless chicken....theres absolutely bog all organisation in that kiwi team...

so yeah i would have the leadership,organisation and all round game of sinfield...and the razzle dazzle of chase over the kiwi halves....everyday of the week...

England need a good confident tactical kicker more than ANY OTHER THING to compete at Test level.
Field position decides games percentage wise, sure there are break outs and against the play try s but field position decides most games.
England are ALWAYS playing off the back foot, that decides games.
Sinfield does not have a great kicking game when he plays against the best teams around at Test level.
Maybe another player has to be selected in the team with these skills to complement Sinfield.

Edited by AndyCapp, 02 March 2013 - 10:39 PM.

[OMEGA]

World Class players can be more affective from the bench. Hock will be more affective against the Aussies from the bench I'm pretty sure of that, he has the ability to break the line and change the game.

If its the WC final England v Aus and the game gets fired up Hock and Westwood would cost us the game on the field at the same time. I can guarantee the Aussies will intentionally wind up the pair to get easy penalties.

On another point I'm liking the look of Westerman this season also, maybe he can be a shout at LF.

Even though this discussion is on going you can probably pick the England team now regardless of form.

Tomkins, Briscoe, Ablett, Reed, Hall, Sinfield, Chase, Graham, Roby Peacock (convinced to return) Westwood, S Burgess, Heighington Subs: Burrow, Jamie Jones Buchanan, Gareth Ellis, Wilkin

Edit: This is Mcnamaras team.

FFS, I said FFS!

I hope thats not even close to being the England line up or I'm surrendering right now

[petero]

I hope England can win the World Cup, the game needs it more than anything else.
But it needs a win that is not contested by fans or the media based on home town Refs or Aussies Coaches wanting their own way.
I hate the whole Ref issue, its a shame there are not more French and Kiwi top shelf Refs.

If England can not win this WC or at least run it close it will make things tougher going forward in the International game.

Thats a very well assessed and fair comment. Yet we here realise that to a great degree possibly, our biggest hurdle is probably the man in charge; our coach!

I do not doubt that he is good off the field of play with his organisational skils etc, but unfortunately his loyalty to a certain clique of players does seem to blind him to the obvious, that is, he is consistently choosing players to do a job that he alone is convinced they are capable of accomplishing.

Sinfield being the prime mistake that he persists in making despite conclusive evidence that this lad cannot do what he expects of him when faced with the very best against him. Chase also and whyever this is so, is yet another that he has become transfixed with too.

The forwards are pretty well fixed and, can and do, to a large extent cope with and match all their opponents but as you state our halves are not that specialist in the jobs they are being chosen to do. Consequently the teams that MacNamara chooses 'around them' are at a disadvantage from the outset of games especially those V Australia.