England RWC squad

[INCUBUS]

Just announced:

BBC NEWS said:

Backs (14)
M Cueto (Sale - Age 27, 19 caps)
J Lewsey (Wasps - 30, 48 caps)
J Robinson (unattached - 33, 45 caps)
P Sackey (Wasps - 27, 3 caps)
D Hipkiss (Leicester - 25, 1 cap)
J Noon (Newcastle - 28, 25 caps)
M Tait (Newcastle - 21, 12 caps)
M Catt (London Irish - 35, 70 caps)
A Farrell (Saracens - 32, 4 caps )
O Barkley (Bath - 26, 17 caps)
J Wilkinson (Newcastle - 28, 59 caps)
A Gomarsall (Harlequins - 33, 26 caps )
S Perry (Bristol - 29, 11 caps)
P Richards (London Irish - 29, 6 caps).

Forwards (16)
G Chuter (Leicester - 31, 12 caps)
L Mears (Bath - 28, 16 caps)
M Regan (Bristol - 35, 37 caps)
P Freshwater (Perpignan - 34, 7 caps)
A Sheridan (Sale Sharks - 28, 13 caps)
M Stevens (Bath - 24, 13 caps)
P Vickery (Wasps - 31, 54 caps)
S Borthwick (Bath - 27, 28 caps)
M Corry (Leicester - 33, 56 caps)
B Kay (Leicester - 31, 46 caps)
S Shaw (Wasps - 33, 36 caps)
L Dallaglio (Wasps - 35, 79 caps)
N Easter (Harlequins - 28, 5 caps)
L Moody (Leicester - 29, 45 caps)
T Rees (Wasps - 22, 5 caps)
J Worsley (Wasps - 30, 59 caps)

Omitted
N Abendanon (Bath)
D Cipriani (Wasps)
T Flood (Newcastle)
J Haskell (Wasps)
C Hodgson (Sale)
T Palmer (Wasps)
M Tindall (Gloucester)
K Yates (Saracens)

Disappointed to see Abendanon, Haskell and Palmer miss out. Also always good to see Tindall play when he's on form but presumably he won't recover from injury in time.

Why do we keep persisting with Andy Farrell? It seems to be an experiment that's never worked, so surely now time to move on...?

Edited by INCUBUS on Monday 13th August 14:41

[BigMansZetec]

Not suprised to see Abendanon out, with Cueto, Lewsey and Robinson very capable in that area, he's not really needed.
Even if Tindall is fit, he still won't be 'match fit', but yes is a shame he will miss out.

Farrell has yet to impess, Catt will be first choice inside centre surely.

A bit risky only taking 2 fly-halves, given Wilko's injury history?

[kylemrushall]

Catt surely is a flyhalf if we need him!! Farrell and hipkiss could be an awesome package if they can gel??

[robbo1]

Much as I like to see the RL guys doing well, I can't see what Farrell's done to deserve selection. I can only guess that Ashton thinks he needs a "big lump" option to defend against the bulkier teams like S. Africa. Catt & Hipkiss seems a bit lightweight, and Tindall's not going to be fit in time.

[kylemrushall]

A great Rugby brain will have a lot to do with it!!! Farell will be a good move in my opinion. I am glad Tindall isnt fit because he is poor

[BigMansZetec]

kylemrushall said:

Catt surely is a flyhalf if we need him!!

Yes you are quite right Catt can play flyhalf, but he is nowhere near international kicking standard. Although Farrell is meant to have a good boot on him.

If the team announced today is Englands strongest squad, then why is Farrell in it, England need Mike Catt to get the backs going. All farell is going to do is defend, defend, defend.

[kylemrushall]

Im sorry i think with a tiny bit of space Farrell could be devasting it could take 2 men to stop him giving an overlap and lots of space for Hipkiss who is super quick.

I think Farrell/Hipkiss is going back to the Carling/Guscott era which was surely our best ever centre patnership. We have got to make some breaks from centre else we have no chance of challenging the big top teams??

[BigMansZetec]

kylemrushall said:

Im sorry i think with a tiny bit of space Farrell could be devasting it could take 2 men to stop him giving an overlap and lots of space for Hipkiss who is super quick.

I think Farrell/Hipkiss is going back to the Carling/Guscott era which was surely our best ever centre patnership. We have got to make some breaks from centre else we have no chance of challenging the big top teams??

Well to be honest, I hope you do prove me wrong. It would be great if that partnership did work out......but i'm not quite sure about it yet. I guess we wil find out on saturday night!

[albundy89]

far too old, a bunch of has beens and never were`s

[kylemrushall]

who's your team then???

[Jinx]

albundy89 said:

far too old, a bunch of has beens and never were`s

Much like the lot we took to Australia last time

[BigMansZetec]

Jinx said:

Much like the lot we took to Australia last time

Good point Jinx, and they didn't do too badly............did they?

[kylemrushall]

BigMansZetec said:

kylemrushall said:

Im sorry i think with a tiny bit of space Farrell could be devasting it could take 2 men to stop him giving an overlap and lots of space for Hipkiss who is super quick.

I think Farrell/Hipkiss is going back to the Carling/Guscott era which was surely our best ever centre patnership. We have got to make some breaks from centre else we have no chance of challenging the big top teams??

Well to be honest, I hope you do prove me wrong. It would be great if that partnership did work out......but i'm not quite sure about it yet. I guess we wil find out on saturday night!

Im wrong Farrell is crap

[ewenm]

I'm pretty disappointed we haven't been able to score a single try in 160 minutes of play against France

[BigMansZetec]

Farrell had an OK game, but still didn't do enough (not that anyone else had a great game), Need someone who will get the backs going.

I think its more worrying than dissapointing that we couldn't score a single try in these 2 games! Especially from what is supposed to be near the strongest team we have.

[ewenm]

Catt has to be in the team - he seems to make more things happen than any other centre in the squad.

[BigMansZetec]

ewenm said:

Catt has to be in the team - he seems to make more things happen than any other centre in the squad.

100% agreed.