Rugby - Six Nations, S14, Lions, Can't Wait

[Havak]

Thanks Finbar.

That lack of judgment is a cause for concern. I hope Cockerill can handle him.

Attitiude isn't the Tigers way either - it could be fun!

[finbar]

Australia team: Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies), Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds), Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds), Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds), Drew Mitchell (NSW Waratahs), Matt Giteau (Brumbies), Will Genia (Queensland Reds); Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs), Stephen Moore (Brumbies), Ben Alexander (Brumbies), James Horwill (Queensland Reds), Mark Chisholm (Brumbies), Rocky Elsom (Brumbies, captain), George Smith (Brumbies), Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs).

Replacements: Tatafu Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs), Matt Dunning (Western Force), Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs), David Pocock (Western Force), Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs), Ryan Cross (Western Force), James O'Connor (Western Force).

Very interesting team. Robbie Deans has decided that he won't die wondering. Brand new centre combo of Cooper and Ioane (pronounced Yeo-ar-ne). I don't know whether they've even paired in the centres with Queensland. Cooper is a junior Carlos Spencer, never short of an idea. Had a blinder against Glos the other night for what that's worth. Brilliant stepper, great vision, terrific hands, capable of magic. Also capable, sometimes, of disaster. At this point of his career, a flasher, more erratic version of Geraghty. Ioane is very quick and immensely powerful for his size. Did some nice things against the ABs in Tokyo. Handling can sometimes let him down. If they click, it will be danger for England and fun to watch. They're part of a mighty quick, very dangerous backline. If they don't click together, it's going to be a long afternoon.

I'm glad Ashley-Cooper is back to full back. He's not a #12, where he filled in last week, but he's a very good full back. James O'Connor can continue his education from the bench. He'll be a good impact player later in the game. Interesting, too, that George Smith has won back his possie from David Pocock. Deans obviously wants to start with experience.

[kittenOFchaos]

Forwards: D Bell (Bath), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), J Crane (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Stade Francais), C Lawes (Northampton), L Moody (Leicester), T Payne (Wasps), S Thompson (Brive), D Wilson (Bath).

Backs: M Banahan (Bath), D Care (Harlequins), M Cueto (Sale Sharks), A Erinle (Biarritz), S Geraghty (Northampton), A Goode (Brive), D Hipkiss (Leicester), P Hodgson (London Irish), U Monye (Harlequins), J Wilkinson (Toulon).

He went the conservative route Finbar - Lawes is the only brave call really. And I suspect he will bench as cover for lock/8 with Crane and Deacon starting.

The presence of Cueto made me shudder - he can only be fullback. And Erinle? What is he doing there ahead of Clarke from Saints or even Allen (much as you aren't impressed by him)? Let's hope the Wilko-Geraghty-Hipkiss axis works well.

What is wrong with Cueto? He has scored plenty of tries for England, is a very solid tackler, good at retaining possession, a big boot and comfortable under the high ball. I'm just not certain about his pace anymore. No reason to shudder...Balshaw at 15, that would be worrying (but on the wing, I think very good).

Can't wait till the game.

[finbar]

You can all rest easy, at least in terms of Cueto. He's named on the wing. Monye at full back might be cause for a shudder.

[Havak]

My main concern with Cueto is he is a very good club player but he lacks something at International level. He has worked on his game and he has improved over the last few years - and I don't fault his effort - but is he really the best option we have on the wing to partner Banahan? is he really a better wing option than Strettle for example?

Finbar many of those Wallabies are a mystery to me - I've seen very little of them. What is the scrum half like?

[finbar]

Will Genia? Find of the decade. Born, actually, in Papua New Guinea, moved to Queensland, only took up rugby in secondary school. About 21, immensely strong for his size, very quick, likes to run, very crisp and accurate passer of the ball. His service has made Matt Giteau's life much easier. Bamboozled the ABs a couple of times last week with his speed off the mark. Still very inexperienced so he can take some wrong options. I suppose a reasonable comparison would be with a young George Gregan, though without the ego and with better skills at the same stage. If he sees some decent ball, you'll like him.

[Havak]

Thanks for that. I'll watch him closely.

I love to see new talent - but at the same time am not entirely happy the Wallabies have found a good 'un. If you see where I am coming from.

Care turns his brain off too often - and tends to take selfish options (maybe related to that switching off). Hodgson is in better form but to be honest right now I'd be picking Youngs to start for England, let alone Tigers.

[finbar]

I think "idiot" is the word you're looking for in relation to Care.

Leicester-v-Boks isn't on Sky here. I think I'll have to tune in to Radio Leicester. I wish there were subtitles for radio.

[Havak]

Welsh accented English can be very hard to follow if you are not a native Brit.

Gawd only knows what the side is tonight on either side - it is already a scratch side for the anglo-welsh game on Sunday (young Hurrell gets a start and Grindal skippers!).

[finbar]

The side I saw for tonight had Mauger at fly half and a few people I hadn't heard of.

[finbar]

Sounded like a decent old effort from Tigers last night. Just a shame that the Radio Leicester commentator was (a) almost unintelligible; and (b) on the few occasions I could understand him, he had no idea who any of the players were - Tigers included - calling the player's position in lieu of name.

[kittenOFchaos]

The side I saw for tonight had Mauger at fly half and a few people I hadn't heard of.

It was still more than good enough.

In other news, Sale managed to suck so badly our first team lost to Dragons...

Somehow we beat Leicester at the start of the season, but everything else has been atrocious...we're almost as bad as Gloucester...another team with an ex-Sale man rather prominent in the coaching!

[kittenOFchaos]

GG Australia, ferocious tackling throughout and a very dangerous attack...

Banahan, Geraghty were unimpressive throughout...and there was no clear fullback at all...

Cueto is a favorite of mine in some regards is abit too slow these days to be in the England setup...a solid player, but he won't trouble faster teams from far out.

The bright part of things for England was they had plenty of possession for much of the game and that Wilkinson was very, very good. The problem is the backline and the lack of penetration and worst of all, that if a line break is made, nothing comes of it...off-loading is rarely rare, missed-passes, common and people not coming straight into the line at pace. But, this is hardly a new problem.

Oh well...time to see Wales

[finbar]

I take back nothing of what I said about Will Genia. Though I'll admit that's the best I've seen him play. He's hinted at it before, today he delivered. Wallabies should have won by a street. I can only imagine Rocky didn't see the man outside him when he went for the line. Quade Cooper looks to be maturing from a Flash Harry to a very dangerous, creative player, and Digby Ioane will only get better at #13.

I can't imagine Geraghty could play that badly again. It looked like a case of stage-fright. Wilko was class, all class, defending like a demon and often looking like the only back with a thought in his head. And Lewis Moody made George Smith look ordinary. I suspect David Pocock could be back next week. Jordan Crane was, unfortunately, exposed at this level. Lots of possession but not enough comes of it.

The Wallaby lineout, thankfully, improved as the game went on. From appalling to adequate. It's been an ongoing problem for months. They're going to have to fix it. With the locking ranks as thin as they are, I'm not sure how. Using Rocky Elsom more, as they did in the second half, seems to be the short-term solution.

[Havak]

Ron Andrew is busy writing the note that blames it all on Jonno as I write this.

English rugby needs the ego of mr Andrew long gone. Judge me in two years time - he said that two years ago. I'm judging him. Wilko, Moody, Croft - they all worked hard but outside them it was all effort and no skill.

The Wallabies simply always looked more dangerous when they had the ball. They know how to attack and they know how to breakdwon opposition defences.

Time England looked to the outside for coaching I think - the boys club is not doing the job.

If you ask the shirt number I'll tell you what I know of the player. From a squad of 36 Tigers were missing 13 players friday night. Fridays game was everything todays was not - commitment and endeavour will get you a long way sometimes.

And at least it stops andydog using "Tame Tigers". he will have enough fun with England's showing - and god help us against the All Blacks. The Pumas could be tricky too.