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  • #106
    Whereas it takes blind optimism to follow a team like Wales.

    The only chance I think Wales have is England ****ing up - luckily for you Ashton has picked the right squad to make that a distinct possibility.
    It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt

    Comment

    • #107
      It takes something else altogether to follow a team like Italy.
      " ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
      "The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.

      Comment

      • #108
        Persistence?

        They should be consistently pushing the Celts by now - but they aren't are they?
        It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt

        Comment

        • #109
          No. Well, a combination of very good luck and some good play got them over the line a couple of times last year. This year, without the likes of A. Troncon, they're going to struggle. Pez didn't make the squad for the early matches which is strange. As flaky as he is, he at least shows some imagination, which is what they really lack behind the pack.
          " ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
          "The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.

          Comment

          • #110
            So does that mean the Kiwi with the wild hair will be the first choice scrum half?

            The problem with Pez is he tackles like Wasale Serevi Finbar.

            It appears England are actually facing the Ospreys Saturday!
            It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt

            Comment

            • #111
              Well the full team isn't on the BBC yet but I do see that Tait has been completely dropped for Balshaw.

              I now feel somewhat vindicated for saying Ashton was Wales best chance of winning.

              *edit* I have now seen the full side. Congratulations to Wales on their historic win.
              It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt

              Comment

              • #112
                erm...Sonny Parker? Phillips & Hook as half-backs?

                Seems nobody wants to win this one then...

                Comment

                • #113
                  Regan, Mears, Borthwick - I think we win on the clueless front?

                  *edit* this explains some of the errors

                  Paul Hodgson (knee), Louis Deacon (groin) and Tom Croft (shoulder) were not considered because of injury.
                  But drafting Narraway in ahead of Crane - I'm not at all convinced by that (particularly as Tindall endorses it)!
                  Last edited by Havak; January 29, 2008, 12:17.
                  It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt

                  Comment

                  • #114
                    Originally posted by Havak
                    So does that mean the Kiwi with the wild hair will be the first choice scrum half?
                    No, he didn't make the squad. Thank goodness. He's a living example of the problem with Italian rugby - too many third-rate Kiwis (and North Aucklanders, for that matter) at club level. I think the new #9 is another Argie-born chap, Canavosio, and the new #10 seems to be Picone, moving across from centre.

                    I've never heard of the new England #8. Can he play? The coach is a bit unlucky with injuries, but he has still managed to select his usual quota of dead wood. Borthwick, for crying out loud. Tindall was always going to be selected, but for crying out loud again. I cannot believe Balshaw. Tait might not be strong enough, but Balshaw is an accident-prone lunatic. I'm glad to see Strettle there. Better, at this stage, than Varndell, I think. And Sackey.

                    One step forward, two steps back for England.
                    " ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
                    "The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.

                    Comment

                    • #115
                      England Vs The Ospreys!
                      Is it me, or is MOBIUS a horrible person?

                      Comment

                      • #116
                        Wasps and the West Country v the Ospreys mainly. The odd token Falcon and Tiger.

                        Is Sackey better than Varndell Finbar - their club records would suggest absolutely not at this time. Varndell is juts like Shane for Wales - you find space for him because of his attacking threat.

                        And Bath players - or former Bath players - will always get picked by Ashton the former Bath coach. So Borthwick, Regan, Mears, Balshaw and Tindall are all there on very dubious grounds for me. Stevens however is there on merit.

                        Add to that that the skipper is not the best tight head in the 22 and it is a strange team.

                        I have only seen Narraway live once - he is certainly talented. He has also only converted from flanker to number 8 this season because Forrester is injured at Glaws! He needs to be on fire to have been picked ahead of Crane at this point - because Crane is in the form of his life. Narraway must deliver or havak will not be a happy bunny.
                        It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt

                        Comment

                        • #117
                          At this point in time, I'd have Varndell in front of Sackey because I think Varndell has certainly improved his defence and reading of the game. He also seems to be showboating less than he did. From what I've seen, I think Strettle, at this point in time, is a better all-round player than both of them.
                          " ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
                          "The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.

                          Comment

                          • #118
                            I agree. Strettle is certainly not the scoring machine that Varndell is however. Tom thrives off opposition errors in a way few people (without having Olympic sprinter pace) could.

                            But I've just read the BBC stuff about the 12 year bond between Ashton and Balshaw so please excuse me - I'm off to find a barf bucket.
                            It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt

                            Comment

                            • #119
                              "Wales to Target Balshaw" - Gatland

                              "Balshaw played on the wing for Gloucester last week, and I wasn't impressed with him at all" - Gatland

                              I doubt either of those will come as a huge surprise to anyone (with the possible exception of Brian Ashton).
                              It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt

                              Comment

                              • #120
                                The irony, of course, is that of the selected back three, Strettle is probably the best defender.
                                " ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
                                "The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.

                                Comment

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