View Full Version : Rugby - New England Captain
rugby then work
03-01-2007, 11:24
Ok maybe not a completely new captain, but what does everyone think of Phil 'Raging Bull' Vickery as the new England Captain?
Also how about Ashton picking from the old guard in Jason Robinson and Mike Catt.
I see Farrell has finally made his way into the first team as well.
Full squad (including the Saxons team below)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6224313.stm
mad_collie
03-01-2007, 11:31
I think it's great to see Phil Vickery in as skipper.
You can always rely on the Cornish . . . .
SirSaltyHelmet
03-01-2007, 12:39
As a Welshman, I am well fooked off to see Farrell and Robinson in the squad. Two very handy players indeed.
If Robinson is happy to play then good for him. He is playing some great rugby at the moment
rugby then work
03-01-2007, 15:14
As a Welshman, I am well fooked off to see Farrell and Robinson in the squad. Two very handy players indeed.
If Robinson is happy to play then good for him. He is playing some great rugby at the moment
Not sure that any changes are going to turn around Englands fortunes overnight, but Ashton seems to be going in a better direction than Robinson ever did. England have needed strong leadership on the field for a while now and I think Vickery can provide that, Corry is a work horse player and deserves to be in an England squad but not (IMO) on the pitch in a 1st choice England back row.
He's picked Farrell (who is a quality rugby player) with the intention of playing him at 12, something Saracens have at last started to do. As far as I can see he's picked Catt with a bench role in mind, to give something a little different if the game requires it.
Robinson will provide direction from full back (a good idea when there's no obvious pick at 10) and he's still turning it on week in week out at Sale.
My biggest gripe is why is Jango (James Forrester) still being picked in the Reserves (Saxons) when Englands back row lacks invention.
All of course My Opinion....
gemarriott
03-01-2007, 16:09
Can't argue too much with your analysis.
Wish Catt was a bit younger but he'll do the job at 10 if we need it.
spot on with Farrell, let him get a few game under his belt and he'll be cert for 12
I like forester too and our back row (englands) needs livening up a lot, he may be the man.
hope he gets scrum half sorted and settled quickly too.
Vickery is the best of the pick at the moment, unfortunately we are desperately short of world class leaders but there are some quality young players coming through. Robinson is pure class and has been having as good a season for Sale as he's had for several seasons, possibly something to do with the break from the relentless schedule of internationals. Catt has been outstanding this season and thoroughly deserves his recall, I wonder if he's been recalled with a thought on him taking a young coaching role in the future? I reckon Farrell is going to be the most fascinating one to watch is he going to star, like Robinson or flop a la Robbie Paul( at least in the 15 man game.)
Ashton and Robinson are two totally different coaches, Robinson is recognised as a very good forwards coach but shouldn't really have ever been given the overall job, Ashton is an attck oriented coach, you only have to look at what he did in a season and half at Bath. The way England play the game will change significantly under him, but as has already been said it's not going to happen overnight. I reckon we could probably start to look at major improvements in the 2008 6 nations.
Jim_P_Pulfrew
03-01-2007, 16:56
Well done Phil Vickery! I do have a slight reservations that it is very hard to captain from the front row, though Sean Fitzpatrick did sterling work for the Kiwis; and also that perhaps he has in the past had a bit of a glass body, and you only have to look at the Ashes squad to see what having a non playing captain can do. Those points aside I do believe he is an excellent choice.
As for Catt, come and sit at the Madejski and watch how he absolutely dazzles for Irish. Billy Whizz back at 15 is also another fine move, he is arguably playing the best he has done for many a year.
Farrell? I am still unconvinced and sometimes feel he is being kept on as a face saver for the RFU, it would be nice to be proved wrong though.
But above all please let us not forget the massive contribution Martin Corry made. On the field he led from the front with some huge gutsy performances and off it he was the best sh!t deflector the team could have wished for. I suspect that having been relieved of the onerous task of trying to defend the indefensible as far as selection and strategy are concerned, he will be unstoppable in a back row which is still a bit flakey to say the least.
Who is for a tenner on England stuffing the sweatys in the Calcutta Cup by 20 points?
Vim_Fuego
03-01-2007, 17:04
I've scored half a dozen tickets for the Calcutta cup...Not sure if I'll go though what with a baby on the way and what not....:raf:
mightyhunter
03-01-2007, 17:06
Well done Phil Vickery! I do have a slight reservations that it is very hard to captain from the front row, though Sean Fitzpatrick did sterling work for the Kiwis; and also that perhaps he has in the past had a bit of a glass body, and you only have to look at the Ashes squad to see what having a non playing captain can do. Those points aside I do believe he is an excellent choice.
As for Catt, come and sit at the Madejski and watch how he absolutely dazzles for Irish. Billy Whizz back at 15 is also another fine move, he is arguably playing the best he has done for many a year.
Farrell? I am still unconvinced and sometimes feel he is being kept on as a face saver for the RFU, it would be nice to be proved wrong though.
But above all please let us not forget the massive contribution Martin Corry made. On the field he led from the front with some huge gutsy performances and off it he was the best sh!t deflector the team could have wished for. I suspect that having been relieved of the onerous task of trying to defend the indefensible as far as selection and strategy are concerned, he will be unstoppable in a back row which is still a bit flakey to say the least.
Who is for a tenner on England stuffing the sweatys in the Calcutta Cup by 20 points?tenner says you don't
gemarriott
03-01-2007, 17:08
I've scored half a dozen tickets for the Calcutta cup...Not sure if I'll go though what with a baby on the way and what not....:raf:
You are my new best friend, I could always find a good home for Calcutta cup tickets:PDT_Xtremez_30:
mightyhunter
03-01-2007, 17:11
You are my new best friend, I could always find a good home for Calcutta cup tickets:PDT_Xtremez_30:
so could i. want to fight fur them?:PDT_Xtremez_31:
rugby then work
03-01-2007, 17:12
Think I need to start a new charity... Home for unwanted Calcutta Cup Tickets.
To soon after chritmas grant for me to think of a witty acronym.
mad_collie
03-01-2007, 17:21
Think I need to start a new charity... Home for unwanted Calcutta Cup Tickets.
To soon after chritmas grant for me to think of a witty acronym.
Calcutta CUp UNwanted Tickets?:PDT_Xtremez_42:
rugby then work
03-01-2007, 17:24
Calcutta CUp UNwanted Tickets?:PDT_Xtremez_42:
Job done!!, you want in on the scam, I mean Charity
mad_collie
03-01-2007, 17:28
Job done!!, you want in on the scam, I mean Charity
Sorry, I don't get involved with scams on E-Goat. :PDT_Xtremez_35:
You can use the See You Next Tuesday name though.
I've scored half a dozen tickets for the Calcutta cup...Not sure if I'll go though what with a baby on the way and what not....:raf:
Where do I start bestest buddy............you can have the house, the car, the dogs, feck it you can have the lot all for a ticket. I'll live in a box under a bridge on the M4 after I don't care!!!
I'll tell you what Vim forget the new kid, come with us, you provide the tickets I'll provide the entertainment.............we could call it Vim and wgafs day out, it'd be legendary!
pie sandwich
03-01-2007, 17:41
that would be a good idea and when wgaf is drunk and asleep standing up you can draw on his face and have a bet as to how many beer cans you can balance on his head before he wakes up
At least I'd be able to watch the rugby and wouldn't be to busy eating everything in site:PDT_Xtremez_17:
pie sandwich
03-01-2007, 17:46
ram it you egg chasing looser
ram it you egg chasing looser
he he he. 1-0 to the egg chasers:PDT_Xtremez_28:
pie sandwich
03-01-2007, 17:50
he he he. 1-0 to the egg chasers:PDT_Xtremez_28:
how can you have 1-0 on a rugby thread shurly it should be 5-0 awaiting conversion, no wonder the FS put you on guard it keeps you out of the way.:PDT_Xtremez_30:
Vim_Fuego
03-01-2007, 20:08
I once did go to Twickenham and sleep through most of the game once...as did my companion...too much wife beater on the train on the way in followed by too much time in the Cabbage Patch...in fact was still in there with 10 mins till kick-off drinking with some buddies from my old club in Cornwall...Then I was sick in a carrier bag when I woke up and the game was over...So back to the Cabbage Patch then...:PDT_Xtremez_30:
It's my first day back in work tonight and I'll e-mail the chap who's holding them...I have to offer them around colleagues first but any spares will be up for grabs...It might be amusing to have a Goat day out...serious rugby heads only...think of the logistics of coming to Twickers from where ever you live and the expence!!!
gemarriott
03-01-2007, 20:40
I'm serious, very serious,
Front row serious, and it would make up for being at Murrayfield last year when the sweatys beat us.
I'm so serious I'm willing to swap as much dirt on wobbly and S2 as I can lay my hands on for one.
rugby then work
03-01-2007, 20:49
I must be the most serious, honest.
Not far for me to go either, anyway after starting the thread I think I deserve a look in!
:PDT_Xtremez_30:
Seymour Tw@tt
04-01-2007, 00:57
I'm surprised Mike Tindall didn't get the captaincy, it's been a while since an England rugby captain was in a royal box...
Not since Will Carling, anyway...
:PDT_Xtremez_31:
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