wooden_spoon says...

@ramm83 and APV1...are you guys English? Thought so...

Robshaw has looked hapless as a leader. No evidence of motivating his players. Instead you see him looking like a donkey in the rain behind the posts...pretty miserable. If he's selected as a player, then that is a mistake, if he is selected as a player it's because of injuries to Croft.

Jean DV on the other hand is all over the park....as is McCaw, Warburton, o Driscoll, etc and inspiring to their teams.

Posted 17:19 22nd June 2012

kybone says...

ArmchairGeneral- How can you say that Wade isn't up to it? Has he actually been given a chance yet? have you seen him play a full international and fail to perform? No. But what we have seen is consistantly good try scoring performances in a poor club side, and a hatful of tries for the England second string. I fail to see what more he could do to impress people until he gets his chance in the first XV. And i certainly can't see how anyone could possibly come to the conclusion that he's just not up to it.

Posted 14:55 22nd June 2012

APV1 says...

@ wooden_spoon - know much about rugby? Thought not.

Posted 10:28 22nd June 2012

JayStarr says...

I think James Haskell will definitely make that team stronger... Not sure about the rest though - it could work perfectly or it could cause them to take a step back...

However, they are facing a weaker Bok side this week. Jacques Potgieter is a very physical player, but pretty one-dimensional too - you just need to tackle him early and around the ankles, then you take him out of the game. But it is also his first cap - and along with Juandré Kruger, Eben Etzebeth and Marcell Coetzee, that now makes 4 forwards who are very talented, but brand new to test rugby. So what will happen when they are put under pressure (as they were when Werner Kruger came on last week - and they started back-pedalling)..?

If England is smart, they'll put pressure on Potgieter and put pressure on the Boks' scrum when one of their props go off.

Also, Wynand Olivier is coming in at 12. Just like Potgieter is no substitution for Willem Alberts, Olivier is no substitution for Francois Steyn. If England is smart, they'll put pressure on Wynand Olivier and Morné Steyn - they're the weak links in the back line... Bash away here and you will get through.

The only replacement that is a danger to England is Aplon. If they are smart, they won't give him the ball in space (i.e., no aimless kicking).

So yes, let's see if England can improve on last week, play smart and put pressure on the Boks' two potential weaknesses...

Or is this even further weakened Springbok team still going to be too strong for England? No excuses about altitude now!

Posted 19:50 21st June 2012

ArmchairGeneral says...

Palmer and Botha are about same weight so why all the comments on added bulk? I think they combined well V Baabaas and Parling dropping to bench would be better if line out can survive.

Don't think Manu deserves to start. Even in prem final he was off form at 13. Out of position only makes it worse, whereas Turner- Hall is on good current form. I'd restore Manu but for Saturday TurnerHall would be best. Same goes for Ashton but as Benjamin is not out there and May played Tue and has not trained I don't think Strettle and Wade are up to it. Haskell at 7... Only for SAfrica. He gives good options as he can be moved to 6 or 8. For that reason Dowson also flexible is excellent combo if changes are needed. Not sure how Waldrom got ahead of Dowson who should be starting as Captain I think.

Posted 17:53 21st June 2012

jestnation says...

LIke most people I'm quite happy with the XV. Arguably Fearns or Gibson warranted a chance ahead of Haskell in the back row but they've obviously gonbe for experience over potential. I'm not convinced Manu is a 12 but I like the fact that the decision has been made to work on the partnership.

I do think that it would have been good to give the likes of Kitchener, Mullan, Gray and Wade a chance from the bench though. Are we going to learn anything about Mears and Mobo that we don't already know?

Posted 16:34 21st June 2012

heathy says...

@ admack - ha ha, good stuff. Put me down for a fiver on that betting slip as well. We could be in the money lol

Posted 14:29 21st June 2012

quietbrit says...

I suspect that Eng are going to miss Robshaw, this tour has shown that England needs a little bit more hard graft and he has put in more than most.

Palmer deserves to start - most people don't realize how much difference a big heavy lock makes in the scrum and at ruck time - England getting back into the game coincided with his introduction with both those areas improving. This was then exacerbated by the subbing of the Du Plessis brothers.

I think SA will beat this team - which IMO will be good for Eng in the long run.

Posted 12:47 21st June 2012

objetive says...

Healthy: As a Bok supporter, if every English (and NH) supporter were as accurate and honest in their assessment of their rugby as you are, I would happily wish you guys all the best (and mean it).

Posted 12:38 21st June 2012

markpat says...

I'd have like to have seen May on the bench, rather tha Barritt. Other than that, with the players available, no complaints about the selection.

Don't like seeing Haskell there, but the options are limited at the moment (although Armitage should have been there!).

Posted 11:14 21st June 2012