Rugby World Cup 2007 - Twiddling Our Thumbs!

[Joe Kick Ass]

Originally posted by finbar
Is Popham injured? Apart from last week, he's been in good nick.

No, but Gyppo has to play Jonathan Thomas for the lineout.

So it's more JT for Popham at 8, as Charvis/Williams are deffo our best two flankers.

Assuming the BBC are wrong, of course...

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
I can still hope Italy will get qualified

I'm not quoting you for the second time out of any patriotic fervour. Just to let you know that, after their poor effort against Romania last night, the Azzurri don't deserve to go anywhere after the pool games except home. They fell into the trap of a muscle contest with the Romanian forwards and the rest of their game was error-strewn. A. Troncon, coming off the bench, at least got some organisation into their game. It was only bad discipline that ultimately cost Romania the game.

[Havak]

Very surprised by that Italy result. France 2007 is a disaster for the NH sides so far. Perhaps France should not have bribed the Celts (with games for votes) and let the UK host it after all?

Chev Walker - the RFU's next great folly after Farrell - is heading back to League after only one year.

This lad was the next big thing according to the RFU. But apparently the idea of competing for the ball never did sink in for him.

Radical idea for HQ here but why not spend the money devloping those young lads who actually like and start playing in the senior code isntead of wasting it on these poeple who can only cope with the junior code?

[finbar]

Here's an even more radical idea. Spend money on developing young local talent instead of using it for imports.

The Azzurri were very disappointing. Maybe they were still shell-shocked after what the ABs did to them. But I don't think so. It was as if all the progress they made during the 6 Nations had never happened.

And poor old Francia. Their s***** team went down to Scotland - of all people - last night. Methinks someone is paying them back for voting in Monsieur Sarkozy.

[Havak]

Thats actually what my intended meaning was - and even re-reading my post I couldn't see how you thought I meant foreigners.

The bottom line is that there is lots of young English talent in the system - but it is joined by far too many tourists so much of it is thwarted for game time at the top level (consider that Croft does not start that regularly for Tigers though he has broken onto the bench - and Tigers play more English players than most sides).

And I have to say although some of the youngsters I have named these last few months might not have done any better could they really have done much worse in that opening match than the bizarre squad that Ashton took in the end. And the youngsters would have gained invaluable experience alongside a few older heads.

This squad is actually older than the one dubbed Dad's army last time!

From the comments made by Rob Andrew on Farrell I detect Andrew's hand in his selection at fly half. A handful of caps - one season of union behind you in your mid thirties and you are given the the 10 shirt against the saffies. Talk about acid tests (and follies)!

[Joe Kick Ass]

G Thomas
M Jones
T Shanklin
S Parker
S Williams
S Jones
D Peel

G Jenkins
M Rees
A Jones
I Gough
AW Jones
C Charvis
M Williams
J Thomas

[Joe Kick Ass]

And Farrell doesn't play 10 after all then...Catt...

[Barnabas]

Is France now out of the tournament?

[Havak]

Oh thats priceless - Sonny Parker the imported Kiwi is played whilst the Prince of Wales is left at home with Charlotte.

As for the Catt-Farrell business the only think Ashton could now do to look more clueless is walk around with a tatoo on his head saying "I am ******* clueless".

Once the man was named for the position that was that you muppet! Now instead of looking like you don't know what you are doing you have instead offered proof that you don't!

Honestly it's the Hobgolblin for me tomorrow night - only a 5% Ale will dull the inevitable agony.

[Caligastia]

Hmmm...it's possible England won't make it out of the pool if the Sas or the Tongans turn it on.

[Havak]

We are all going to be shocked if they beat the Boks now eh?

[Caligastia]

Yup. I'm expecting the Boks to win by at least 10.

[Havak]

On current comparative form a 10 point margin means England will have done very well.

I expect a far greater margin personally.

[Andydog]

Perhaps if South Africa went in too hard too early and copped a card, if England played the right gameplan, kept a bit in reserve, slowed the game down, went hard at the end, kept it in the forwards, used a clever kicking game, and luck was on their side...

...SA may win by only 30.

[finbar]

Interesting how often these so-called "forgone conclusions" never turn out that way.















Just trying to get your hopes up, Havak.