Australia vs England

[aussies1st]

Aus finally get a chance to beat the English again. Both teams are terribly out of form but the Wallabies are in even worse shape than the English.

If Jones does what he says and wields the axe the Wallabies may have a chance if not the English will take this one.

The Kiwi born superboot has missed out on the starting team but is on the bench.

The England team:
Josh Lewsey (Wasps); Mark Cueto (Sale), Jamie Noon (Newcastle), Mike Tindall (Gloucester), Ben Cohen; Charlie Hodgson (Sale), Matt Dawson (Wasps); Martin Corry (Leicester, capt), Lewis Moody (Leicester), Pat Sanderson (Worcester); Danny Grewcock (Bath), Steve Borthwick (Bath); Phil Vickery (Gloucester), Steve Thompson (Northampton), Andrew Sheridan (Sale)
Replacements: Lee Mears (Bath), Matt Stevens (Bath), Louis Deacon (Leicester), Chris Jones (Sale), Harry Ellis (Leicester), Olly Barkley (Bath), Mark van Gisbergen (Wasps)

 

[lockyno1]

If Gregan plays we are buggered! If he doesn't we're half a chance!

 

[ThrashViking]

Dude, Gregan isnt Australia's main worry it's your fat f**k front rowers.
Dunning, Cannon & Baxter would strugle to make it into Northlands side.

 

[ThrashViking]

Both sides look like crap, it's tough to pick this one.

 

[Jackal Dog]

Lcokyno1 Gregan ain't the problem, in fact I think he has been playing decent as of late, it is the sh*t house forwards Gregan and the rest of the backs are relying on to lay down a platform for them, how are you supposed to attack effictively when you are getting extrmely slow ball from your forwards which is allowing the opposition defence line to reset?

Anyway I got a feeling the aussies are rally gonna fire up for this one and smash the poms but I had the feeling boefre the game against the frogs....

This really is the line of no return I rate Ireland and Wales above the current English team and if we lose to them it will be just plain embarassing.

 

[Palms]

Mate the team looks stale when Gregan is out there..I've grown tired of his leadership style on the field and doesnt have that aura surrounding him anymore. Give it too someone who can lead with his football as well as his mouth (ie a Phil Waugh mould of player)

 

[The Colonel]

The problem isn't just Gregan. Eddie needs to have a long hard look at himself as well. Blood some youngsters and inject a bit of enthusiasm. Now that George has broken the record piss him off...... the team was so predictable it wasn't funny.

 

[lockyno1]

Lcokyno1 Gregan ain't the problem, in fact I think he has been playing decent as of late, it is the sh*t house forwards Gregan and the rest of the backs are relying on to lay down a platform for them, how are you supposed to attack effictively when you are getting extrmely slow ball from your forwards which is allowing the opposition defence line to reset?

Anyway I got a feeling the aussies are rally gonna fire up for this one and smash the poms but I had the feeling boefre the game against the frogs....

This really is the line of no return I rate Ireland and Wales above the current English team and if we lose to them it will be just plain embarassing.

Gregan's passing is SO SLOW! The outside backs is our strength, and quite frankly they aint getting the ball quick enough! Whittaker is the man!

 

[Mal Meninga]

That English team has got nothing, if Australia doesn't win this than we're in horrible, horrible shape. The Poms have speed in their back 3 in Cohen,Ceuto and Lewsey, but I really don't see anything else in that side. The centres lack creativity, and Thompson throws a few wobblys in there.

Let's blood Houston, TPN, and Ioane in this game. Those guys alone could bring some much needed individual brilliance, with TPN's hard running and acting like a 3rd flank, Houstons jumping in the line out, speed and aggression, and Ioane's footwork, unpredictability and speed would give the Wallabies a new face. Along with Mitchell who's already shown he can can handle international footy easily. Playing Fitter and Holmes might be an idea too, but who's to say their gonna be any good, Holmes gets hammered in S12 weekly, and Dunning looks decent.

 

[blackfriday]

fitter certainly could anchor a scrum, but i dont know if one man is enough to turn a crap tight five into something respectable.

TPN's lineout throwing is worse than cannon's so that is a worry.

scott fava has been on fire for the past three seasons and its time he got rewarded for his efforts.

for those people who think gregan is not the problem, compare him with how ellisade played. gregan just provides slow scrum base service without any attacking kicks or taking on the line. its time for giteau or henjak to be given a go there' even though whittaker is better than them at halfback, hes not long term solution.

 

[lockyno1]

for those people who think gregan is not the problem, compare him with how ellisade played. gregan just provides slow scrum base service without any attacking kicks or taking on the line. its time for giteau or henjak to be given a go there' even though whittaker is better than them at halfback, hes not long term solution.

Thank goodness someone I agree with!

 

[Jackal Dog]

Scott Fava... this guy nees a call up now!!!

 

[Tim Brasher]

Scott Fava... this guy nees a call up now!!!

Yep thats the truth,, Idont know what Fava has to do get a chance.

8.Fava
7.Waugh
6.Smith

This break row would be phenomonal and their work rate would be huge...McMeniman could become an option to repalce Chisolm and I think Fitter should be at Tight Head. Polatu Nau will be a 10 year wallaby and I think he must be blooded on the bench and used in every match.

 

[aussies1st]

The Smith experiement at 8 certainly hasn't worked. He has had no impact on the game from there. Elsom is the same.

The main worry however is the front row. We need to bring in youngsters. Give Moore a go if TPN throwing is still raw. As for the props anyone but the NSW pair.

 

[douglasallen91]

tony penn could walk into the wallabies team and he couldn't even get a super 14 contract

 

[Palms]

Yep thats the truth,, Idont know what Fava has to do get a chance.

8.Fava
7.Waugh
6.Smith

This break row would be phenomonal and their work rate would be huge...McMeniman could become an option to repalce Chisolm and I think Fitter should be at Tight Head. Polatu Nau will be a 10 year wallaby and I think he must be blooded on the bench and used in every match.

Totally agree Tim Brasher. Fava is the best player I think running around ever NOT to play for the Wallabys! One of the best runners of the ball in broken play, strong in defence and never lets a team down. Waugh and Smith are just workaholics and everyone knows wat they can do. I think Leroy is too inexperienced nor ready too blood against any major international team at the moment and this tour is for learning experience. He'l have plenty of time to develope in super 14's and off the bench for wallabys next year

 

[Scott]

Fava should be there, but going to solve the problems. The front 5 with the exeption of Nathan Sharpe are all pathetic! It's that simple!!

 

[Scott]

Plus, Mat Rogers isn't a winger! He;d be better off at 13 than Lote.

 

[The Camden Leisure Pirate]

Plus, Mat Rogers isn't a winger! He;d be better off at 13 than Lote.

Eddie Jones has had Lote pencilled in at number 13 since he converted,
He needs time to play in the position.

Michael O'Conner said today that Gregan out and Giteau in,

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17173563-23217,00.html

In a previous thread aussies1st and myself have discussed the pros and cons of this move.
I am all for it, the speed and creativity of the backline, with Giteau at 9. Rogers 10. Morgan 12. Lote 13.would be remarkable.
But as brought up earlier, we would still fall down in the forwards laying a platform.

 

[Scott]

I'd play Giteau at 12. The more space he gets, the better he will play!

I'd say it will be a very tight game. Both sides look quite poor!