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Author Topic: The Rugby World Cup thread  (Read 22289 times)
kinboshi
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« Reply #105 on: October 03, 2007, 02:06:56 PM »

Farrell, Robinson and Wilkinson in the team.... too late?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7025437.stm

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« Reply #106 on: October 03, 2007, 09:36:45 PM »

Farrell, Robinson and Wilkinson in the team.... too late?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7025437.stm



Farrell has done nothing, I really don't understand why he is in there? He's decent defensively and thats it, Barkeley deserves his shot.
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kinboshi
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« Reply #107 on: October 03, 2007, 09:42:57 PM »

Farrell hasn't been given a chance to do anything!!  He was put in against SA as the sacrificial lamb, in a team that couldn't have beaten a Wales 3rd XV, then he's played very little since.
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« Reply #108 on: October 03, 2007, 11:08:46 PM »

Interesting selections most of which I would say Ashton has got right such as the return of Vickery, Shaw and Robinson.

I'm also encouraged by the fact he's left the back row unchanged as Dallaglio is sadly well past his best and Worsley always seems to leave his club form behind when he plays for England.  I also believe it's a mistake having both those two on the bench instead of Rees who gives a different option that could well be needed in the later stages of the game.

Shaw for Borthwick is a good call as Borthwick and Kay are too similar in style and Shaw does have more of a Johnson-esque presence around the park. I never understood why Grewcock has been preferred to Shaw down the years either.

All through Farrell's international union career he has looked far from comfortable. A skillful player but he is too pedestrian to be an international centre and has to consider himself lucky that England are not blessed with outstanding centres currently.  The fact he's been picked is down to the shortcomings of others rather than any great ability of his own.

I believe the Barkley/Tait combination is too lightweight to take on the Aussies and the game has probably come too soon for Hipkiss who is potentially the best centre out of all four of them. So Farrell is the damage limitation option I guess picked because he's a big bloke who can hopefully stand up defensively.

However the most shocking decision for me is the recall of Regan who is another good player but well past his best. Chuter is just as good in the scrum and can be just as nasty ( which seems to be why Regan has been recalled) but more importantly Chuter is better throwing into the lineout and vastly superior in open play. 

All in all it seems very much a dour rugged team selection that is unlikely to play much flowing rugby, if any!, but there isn't really a whole lot of choice sadly.    They do have a chance though as they Aussie's are not outstanding themselves but it's a slim chance at best and depends on the pack having the game of their lives.   
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« Reply #109 on: October 03, 2007, 11:28:08 PM »

Yet another half arsed selection

Stevens has had a terrific tournament up front and should not have been replaced by Vickery

Regan is physical but will get run off the park, his legs are not up to it these days

Farrell is apparently picked on the basis of being a big lump who had a decent 20 minutes against tiring Tongans. Cue our back line showing even less flair than they have all tournament as we crab sideways until we make the inevitable mistake and concede posession

We'll keep it close for 50 minutes, then tire and lose by 12-15 points
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thediceman
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« Reply #110 on: October 03, 2007, 11:31:01 PM »

I can't even see us keeping it close for 50 minutes.
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« Reply #111 on: October 03, 2007, 11:48:33 PM »

Farrell hasn't been given a chance to do anything!!  He was put in against SA as the sacrificial lamb, in a team that couldn't have beaten a Wales 3rd XV, then he's played very little since.

I'm not just talking about the world cup, he's played plenty over the last 18 months or so. Don't get me wrong he's a great league player, but he's not shown anything at all in his time with england to justify selection, and he's been given plenty of opportunity.
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« Reply #112 on: October 04, 2007, 01:35:22 AM »

Everyone seems very negative on England. They have been improving game by game. Australia has yet to be really tested.
With Larkham missing and Mortlock not 100% England have a chance if they armwrestle with Australia's forward pack.

England needs someone like Farrell to keep Mortlock at bay who is probably Australia's most consistent line breaker. If he can put some hard hits on Mortlock suddenly England has an edge in the backline and if Farrell can get good support play he can certainly offload with one or 2 defenders on him. He doesnt need the pace but the support play from the inside backs and wing is critical.

England's tight 5 have to be totally prepared for a fight and the back row need to get first to the breakdown. Australia is not as strong as past World Cups so I hope to see England sneaking this by a drop goal or 2.

22-18 England.


Meanwhile at Cardiff - I hope the boys in Black just keep focussed.
 





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KeithyB
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« Reply #113 on: October 04, 2007, 12:10:12 PM »

Of course another argument against picking Farrell is that he's very injury prone! 
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« Reply #114 on: October 04, 2007, 12:20:49 PM »

and he speaks with an impenetrable Northern accent..how on Earth are the rest of the team with cut glass proper enunication meant to understand him?
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« Reply #115 on: October 04, 2007, 01:14:08 PM »

Of course another argument against picking Farrell is that he's very injury prone! 

Almost psychic (except you posted it after you read the story). Smiley

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7027824.stm
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kinboshi
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« Reply #116 on: October 04, 2007, 01:17:36 PM »

Neverends....
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kinboshi
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« Reply #117 on: October 04, 2007, 01:18:23 PM »

When (if?) England lose, who will the media blame now though?
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CrestOfaWave
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« Reply #118 on: October 04, 2007, 01:41:53 PM »

Everyone seems very negative on England. They have been improving game by game. Australia has yet to be really tested.
With Larkham missing and Mortlock not 100% England have a chance if they armwrestle with Australia's forward pack.

England needs someone like Farrell to keep Mortlock at bay who is probably Australia's most consistent line breaker. If he can put some hard hits on Mortlock suddenly England has an edge in the backline and if Farrell can get good support play he can certainly offload with one or 2 defenders on him. He doesnt need the pace but the support play from the inside backs and wing is critical.

England's tight 5 have to be totally prepared for a fight and the back row need to get first to the breakdown. Australia is not as strong as past World Cups so I hope to see England sneaking this by a drop goal or 2.

22-18  12 - 37


Meanwhile at Cardiff - I hope the boys in Black just keep focussed.
 







doh !
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« Reply #119 on: October 04, 2007, 03:39:38 PM »

Neverends....

First Robinson, now Farrell - these rugby league players are just far too soft.
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