Rugby World Cup

[Simon Pieman]

Although Wilkinson scored most of the points in the final, we won all those penalties because we kept the ball in hand so much, not because we kicked it around. Same as Australia. I also must have missed the great burst from Dallaglio that pretty much set Robinson on his way for the try.

And lets not forget that it was the forwards that gave Wilko the room for that drop goal. Any decent kicker should have scored it.

[Samdy Gray]

Spot on Si. The media hyped Wilkinson up so much and were raving about him that he got this 'cult' status.

A Number 10 doesn't make a team. Yes, Wilkinson can kick the ball probably better than most other fly-halfs in world rugby but that's the only part of his game makes him stand out.

Clive Woodward's game plan for pretty much most of the last WC was to kick for territory and Wilkinson was the man to do it. We're never going to win the WC again this year by kicking for territory because teams like South Africa, Australia and New Zealand will just run the ball straight back at us and score tries.

[RobertT]

Although Wilkinson scored most of the points in the final, we won all those penalties because we kept the ball in hand so much, not because we kicked it around. Same as Australia. I also must have missed the great burst from Dallaglio that pretty much set Robinson on his way for the try.

And lets not forget that it was the forwards that gave Wilko the room for that drop goal. Any decent kicker should have scored it.

We won beacuse wer were the msot effective Rugby team in the tournament.  We had a superb defence, great forwards and a very tight attacking gameplan.  The final drop goal was a result of pretty much the whole team.  Dawson made a break which got us within drop goal range, Johnson secured the ball in theb tackle, Back ensured their wasn't a turnover at the breakdown, Wilkinson spent years practising so he could kick it off either boot (and it was his wrong foot that he scored it with because the pass had to go to his right).  Dawson's break meant the Aussie 10 was in 2 minds about whether to stop the potential break fo the line again or charge Wilkinson. And I think it was Catt who took the ball into the first tackle off the line out, nearly being turned as he was isolated but he held on and ensured we kept possession.  Johnson was the only forward to touch the ball after the lineout I think.  Agreat team effrot, especially when you consider the Aussies knew exactly what was coming but just couldn't stop it from happening.

Without Wilkinson it is unlikely we would have been as effective as a team.  Lets not forget he is probably the best 10 in the world defensively, which ironically is one of the factors behind his injury problems since 2003.

We won't win this time because as a team we are not good enough, with or without Wilkinson.

[Northern Red]

Interestingly, in 2003 BBC Sport published what they thought would be the 2007 XV - I don't think they could've got it more wrong....

15: Josh Lewsey (Wasps)
14: Marcel Garvey (Gloucester)
13: Stuart Abbott (Wasps)
12: Ollie Smith (Leicester)
11: Ben Cohen (Northampton)
10: Jonny Wilkinson (N'cstle)
9: Martyn Wood (Bath)
1: Trevor Woodman (Gloucs)
2: Steve Thompson (Northants)
3: Phil Vickery (Gloucester)
4: Ben Kay (Leicester)
5: Tom Palmer (Leeds)
6: Lewis Moody (Leicester)
7: Jamie Forrester (Gloucester)
8: Joe Worsley (Wasps)

[RobertT]

at the time that would have been a fair shout, a few of those players have not gone on and developed as they could - Garvey, Abbott, Forrester & Wood spring to mind, plus Cohen went to pieces.

[janaage]

Cohen went to pieces against Scotland when he failed to score that try!!  Although we defended great that game, well for the 40 minutes when England were on top.

I wasn't talking about the final being down to Wilkinson, he was the major factor in Englands rise.  The forwards knew they had the best penalty taker behind them, they knew if they got into the oppositions half and got a sniff of a pen, that JW would be able to keep making the scoreboard tick over in their favour.  And that's what rugby's all about, making the board tick over, putting the opposition under pressure for 80 minutes.

[RobertT]

Cohen went to pieces against Scotland when he failed to score that try!!  Although we defended great that game, well for the 40 minutes when England were on top.

I wasn't talking about the final being down to Wilkinson, he was the major factor in Englands rise.  The forwards knew they had the best penalty taker behind them, they knew if they got into the oppositions half and got a sniff of a pen, that JW would be able to keep making the scoreboard tick over in their favour.  And that's what rugby's all about, making the board tick over, putting the opposition under pressure for 80 minutes.

agreed, he was an essential cog in that machine.

Right now we don't have the set-up around him for him to be as important a player

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

No way in  hell will we win this. We have got more chance of actually winning an ODI cricket match. I'd rather watch the rugby than another Paul Robinson fuck up though...

[Matchworn Shirts]

It is true there are no Gloucester players in the squad?

[Samdy Gray]

It is true there are no Gloucester players in the squad?

Yep.

Tindall was in the initial squad but didn't make the cut.

[Matchworn Shirts]

It is true there are no Gloucester players in the squad?

Yep.

Tindall was in the initial squad but didn't make the cut.

its abit off that they did well in the league and yet one player gets the call--> bath bias from the coach?

[RobertT]

Gloucester have a young team, a few of them will come through if they have it them over the next couple of years.  Their fullback was likely to be in the squad at one point I think.

The problem they've had is they've tended to look a bit lightweight in internationals so far.  As Tait found out, you really need to be more physical when you step up that next level.

[Northern Red]

France are doing well aren't they?

ITV1 right now

[Bogus Dave]

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaha

[Northern Red]

           

Take that you frogs  :mooney:

I've probably lost my bet now, but fuck it