England Team to face France
Forums > Rugby Talk > England Team to face France
| Author | Message |
|---|---|
| Judge Jules McD BK KFC & Bar 19th Feb 2008 1:38 PM |
England Team: 15. Balshaw (Gloucester) 14. Sackey (Wasps) 13. Noon (Newcastle) 12. Flood (Newcastle) 11. Vainikolo (Gloucester) 10. Wilkinson (Newcastle) 9. Wigglesworth (Sale) 1. Sheridan (Sale Sharks) 2. Regan (Bristol) 3. Vickery (Wasps, capt) 4. Shaw (Wasps) 5. Borthwick (Bath) 6. Haskell (Wasps) 7. Lipman (Bath) 8. Easter (Harlequins) Replacements: 16. Mears (Bath) 17. Stevens (Bath) 18. Kay (Leicester) 19. Croft (Leicester) 20. Hodgson (London Irish) 21. Cipriani (Wasps) 22. Tait (Newcastle) Still stuck with Balshaw. Can't see Vincent Clerc worrying too much about being caught by 'Volcano' either. Forwards OK I guess - except Borthwick and Easter. Ordinarily I'd feel Stevens should be in instead of Vickery, but he looked like a real pie-boy against Italy and well off the pace whereas Vickery looked in good form against Bath - as did Lewsey...... |
| Tim Stickland 19th Feb 2008 2:17 PM |
It must be personal between Ashton and Lewsey, as even a blind man could see who was the class player at Bath and it was not Balshaw |
| Judge Jules McD BK KFC & Bar 19th Feb 2008 2:20 PM |
Quote Tim Stickland: It must be personal between Ashton and Lewsey, as even a blind man could see who was the class player at Bath and it was not Balshaw
That's not surprising seeing as Balshaw plays for Gloucester!  |
| MarkW 19th Feb 2008 4:44 PM |
Incredible that Lewsey is being overlooked - even before his performance against Bath. And why not get Tom Croft involved in the back row mix now. After all we may as well use the fact that we've blown our 6 nations chances and blood a few more youngsters. Also Ronnie has had his day and its time to get a new hooker in there - Hartley would be a good choice (not Chuter and Mears). |
| Peter Osborne 21st Feb 2008 2:30 PM |
Josh had some pretty average games for Wasps earlier in the season. I think being left out is what has motivated him. Balshaw is in mainly because he has pace and can break the line. Trouble is that he might do that three or four times in a game and thats just about all you get from him. Josh has reasonable pace, a good defence, good lines and he links much better from 15. Against Italy we had slow ball from first phase onwards so I think Gomers is a little unlucky. I thought Hodgson looked really sharp last weekend. Against France our back row will really have to step up if we are to hold them. I don't see it |