sandal says...

Why was the imaging sent to England?

Posted 07:50 20th June 2012

saintssteve15 says...

All of the above are not in the mood to let one of the best captins in the premiership lead England and yes he was born in Newzealand, The biting incodent needs some one to realise why players want to stick their fingers in players mouths.

Posted 23:07 19th June 2012

jestnation says...

Robshaw is a big loss as a player and a skipper but it gives another player a chance and hopefully has a good influence on Hartley. DH's big problem seems to be that he has no middle ground. He's either a saint or a sinner and nothing in between. The best international No 2s are horrible but not horrendous, bullies but not thugs, they push the laws to their limits rather than smahing them to pieces. With Dylan once he releases the necessary aggression he doesn't seem able to control it. Hopefully responsibility of captaincy will help him channel the inner beast a bit.

I think we should accept that the series is lost and blood a few fringe players on Saturday. I'm not suggesting we concede and play a B-Team but that we see what a few of the squad are made of. Test players are forged in the heat of battle and it doesn't get much hotter than the Saffas in their own back yard.

Woodward always said the roots of winning the WC were in the disasterous tour to Oz when we were walloped out of sight. To outsiders it was seen as a failure but CW learnt who had it, who was a work in progress and who wasn't cut out for the cauldron of test rugby.

With this in mind I'd pick the following side:

1 Corbisiero (another game in the tank and can cover 3 when we shuffle the pack)

2 Hartley

3 Cole (would love to see another 3 but don't see one who could cut it yet)

4 Robson (he's been called a leader and gives some aggression and grunt)

5 Parling

6 Haskell (no brain but could be an important carrier)

7 Fearns

8 Waldrom (just a bit nastier/more streetwise)

9 Care (deserves the chance again)

10 Flood

11 Joseph (move to 13 in second half)

12 Turner-Hall (huge, powerful & has shown some lovely skills with quins this year)

13 Tuillagi

14 Wade

15 Foden (move to wing when JJ goes to 13)

16 Gray

17 Mullan

18 Kitchener

19 Gibson

20 L.Dickson

21 Farrell

22 Goode

Posted 12:45 19th June 2012

leebok says...

So glad I dont support England. I would be so confused. Captained by a Kiwi. What next, coached by a Saffa?

Posted 09:18 19th June 2012

ramm83 says...

Not a fan of Hartley and I think he has had a very poor tour so far. I was he was half as good as Du Plessis... Just half. Surely we must have better hookers in England?

Posted 08:26 19th June 2012

bothhands says...

Dylan F Hartley is the captain of england? Have they lost their minds at altitude or something? This is an individual who brings shame on sport. His best work is done with his teeth. Bad show england, if you haven't got someone more appropriate to lead the national side you should cancel the fixture. Hope the Boks run amock now ....

Posted 20:33 18th June 2012

rugbylover says...

Perhaps the honour [& responsibility] will temper his stupid aggression & channel it producively in the right direction. He was too low-key against the South Africans [under orders perhaps] but now he must lead from the front. He has the credentials - Northampton - lets hope he can perform to his potential. Good luck Mr Hartley [& England], you'll need it.

Posted 19:38 18th June 2012

Crunchfit says...

Feel sorry for him. I said at the 6N that he probably wasn't a test level flanker and captain, but he has proves himself and more. Great player, great captain and a great 7.

Posted 17:48 18th June 2012

APV1 says...

Not good for England, although with the last match not affecting the tour result, it does give another player the chance to face the Boks in SA - something they'll all want to do.

I also hope that this spurs Hartley into a better performance. Is it just my impression, or has he lost his grit and niggle? I appreciate that the "grit and niggle" has sometimes (often..?!) bubbled over into ill-discipline and subsequent issues, but he needs some fire to be a hooker and I'm just not seeing it.

I hope Robshaw gets well soon.

Posted 16:23 18th June 2012