´óÏó´«Ã½

Back row looks very good now, Haskell is an excellent player even if out of position and can guide Wood along with Easter if the need arises.
Front row should walk over Wales', the loss of Jenkins is massive.

I beleive the welsh boys have more than enough to match the english I will be looking for Jon Davies to step up and transfer his club form to the international stage and in a packed millenium stadium, with the noise of the crowd behind them to spur him and the team on i will be optimistic and say 25-22 to Wales, I for one cannot wait

I can't believe that we have picked that plodder Haskell. What has Robshaw got to do? He is a much better blindside. Basically we have given the Welsh a huge lift. I fancy us to lose 25-15.

Tom Wood is having an outstanding season, so it's no surprise to us Saints fans that he's in the England team.
Now we just need Phil Dowson in as well, boot out Easter, and England would have a fantastic pack.

People keep going on about Henson on Tait, he recieved man and ball, took the tackle and retained posesion. It was a big tackle but england recycled the ball and played on. Apart from that and a few 40m penalties henson has built a media image, Hook is a far more exciteing player!

Some very interesting selections by Gatland. Playing Hook at 15 shows how highly regarded he is by the Welsh management although I'm sure he'll end up at either 10 or 12 at some stage of the match. The centre combination of Roberts/Jon Davies for Wales looks very exciting and could severely test Hape and Tindall but ONLY if the Welsh pack can win enough quality ball from the set piece. It will be interesting to see how Alain Rolland referees the scrummage, especially how he deals with Hartley's habit of popping up when put under pressure, although I expect it will be England's props who exert the pressure on their counterparts. Paul James is an able deputy for Gethin Jenkins but Adam Jones is a huge loss on the tighthead although I'm sure Mitchell will give it everything he's got against Sheridan. There's a huge amount of experience on both benches and substitutes could have a big bearing on the end result. This one's really too close to call and has all the makings of a cracker and I can't wait for the first whistle

Never seen Wood play but he looks a bit skinny to me! That's alright for the lineout but that's not a 6's (or 8's) main job - hope he can impose himself at the advantage line in both attack and defence.

A bit skinny????? hes not the broadest player ive seen but thats probably the fact he's 6ft 5.........he weighs over 16 stone and will still be a physical presence!!! as for startingtogobald......i would think robshaw isnt playing because they decided early on that haskell would be the 7 and therefore saw wood as a tastier prospect at 6.....i think after the world cup we may see the end of moody's international career and therefore see much more of robshaw.

"The loss of Lions props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones is arguably a bigger loss to Warren Gatland and Wales than Moody, Tom Croft and Courtney Lawes to England."

No, it really, really isn't.

Wales will not be missing much without Jenkins, a non-scrummaging, non-carrying, showpony wannabe flanker, who missed 6 tackles in 2 games in the autumn.

"He may find this earlier engagement with the prints of Wales leaves a few more stud-marks."

I'm sure this was one of those "should I/shouldn't I?" moments, but you just couldn't resist, and rightly so... deliciously awful! Good article... I am stupidly excited about the match, if a little anxious about the loss of Lawes, Croft and Moody impacting on the pace that we managed in the Autumn.

To Startingtogobald, Robshaw is a very good player, he will get his chance. Being captain of the Saxons is a pretty good indication of the management's view of him. What's more, I'm glad he's not playing on Friday night, having him and Wood in the backrow would leave us woefully inexperienced in a crucial unit and in huge game. Haskell won the man of the match award against Wales last year, scoring two tries (despite not showing that form for the rest of the tournament) so maybe he can do it again for us in Cardiff. I agree though that Robshaw will probably become a better player.

Have to say the player I am looking forward to seeing most is Warburton. He has the potential to be one of the stars of the tournament. I am not a Welsh fan (I am Northern Irish) but having seen a fair bit of Heineken Cup and Magners Rugby he is developing at a good pace. Highly abrasive, excellent pincher and possessing not inconsiderable pace, I believe he is the most complete backrower on display. The best player in what is increasingly becoming easily the most important area of the game as when you look at all the teams in the competition, when talking about their best and most important players you invariably think quite quickly of at least one or two backrow members. Hence I feel Wales will just edge it on Friday. Of course this is simply an analysis of the actual talent in both teams, if we were considering the mental strength of the two it would be a very different situation, thus England are most than capable of quietening the Millenium

kentba8790

Agree with you. Henson took man and ball and wasn't even itially aware of Tait's angle. Henson hates tackling and his head up, hands outstretched approach to it smacks of school boys new to the game who think Rugby is for freaks.

If you look at Henson's work rate in general it is pathetic. He does run good angles, has a good pass and a good hand off but he's a pathetic man who hates tackling, rucking and feels terrified if accidentally caught in a maul. Henson only wants people to adore him, he won't put in the work to make that happen. Toulon are fools, by the way.

I for one wish he was playing so Tindall can bury him and show him up and Youngs can run rings around him.

Erm, why won't they let me put spaces in between sentences?

@ 5. kentba8790

Exactly, spot on! Why that tackle constantly gets regurgitated is beyond me.

Henson is a media machine first and foremost. And a rugby player second. He is easy fodder for lazy media to pander to the prawn brigade who lap him up. Thats not to say he isnt talanted, but he needs to prove it and stop dancing and tanning. Maybe him and Delon Armitage could swan off somewhere together and do rugby a favour, they could visit their friend Cipriani in Oz..

I like what Wood has done regarding going to NZ. It shows there are more options out their for young players.

'Mon the Brave!!

Steve wrote: "Wales will not be missing much without Jenkins, a non-scrummaging, non-carrying, showpony wannabe flanker, who missed 6 tackles in 2 games in the autumn."

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Really can't agree with you there. I actually do think his form has dropped off a bit but he's still a great scrummager and in the loose he has good hands and an unexpected turn of pace. Being good in the loose doesn't make you a wannabe flanker - it's just another facet of his game. Top prop. Similary Adam Jones is underrated, and I really am worried that we'll get scrummaged out of the game.

PLEASE can we sort our lineout out - I've got bored of seeing Rees launch the ball to anyone who is in a shirt not coloured red.

Redbud

Brilliant on all counts! The three of them are a menage of ego's and media courting. Can't stick that footballer image they've brought to the game.

Agree on Wood. Showed balls and maturity by going to NZ, a tough and hard place to play even club rugby.

"A bit skinny????? hes not the broadest player ive seen but thats probably the fact he's 6ft 5.........he weighs over 16 stone and will still be a physical presence!!!"

Matty, the fact he is 6ft5 and only 16st is exactly what makes him skinny - he is NOT big for an international no6 (we've got a bigger 1st team winger down my local junior club, and no, he's not at all fat). Wood is another lean, athletic player like Croft, Palmer and Lawes - but after the last bullying up front by the beefy saffers, we need some more chunk!

Building up to be a real cracker of a game this one. Both sides have injuries to vital players but this is where strength in depth comes into play. I think both teams will benefit from being able to blood players into a high tempo which can only be good practice for the world cup later in the year. Would love to think Wales will win but I'm not overly confident, discipline will be key to this one (no stupid trips please Mr Wyn Jones). Looking forward to the Youngs/Phillips match up, Phillips won't be happy that Youngs has been getting lots of praise recently (and well deserved too), so it should be quite fiery there, although Phillips has to catch him first!! The Welsh centre pairing of Davies/Roberts could potentially be a future Lions pairing, very little has been said outside of Wales of Jonathan Davies in the centre but he is deceptively quick and strong and has an eye for the try line.

Could go either way but I'll stay loyal and predict a Welsh victory, 24-18. CAN'T WAIT

Henson's tackle on Tait has got to be one of the most overrated moments in 6 Nations history. It should be clear to most people who play rugby that Henson isn't actually very good at tackling - he stands up when tackling and evidently doesn't enjoy contact very much, hence why most of his 'big' tackles are really shoulder-barges. His tackles on Tait were again rubbish, he seems almost as surprised as Tait at how easily he forces him back (one of the tackles very close to being a spear tackle btw) and Tait manages to get the ball back every time. They just show how out of his depth Tait was (physically, at least), not how superior Henson's contact ability was.

Finding it most amusing that people are complaining about Wood being too athletic and lightweight! Pick a heavy, immobile back row and Johnson gets criticised for it, pick a mobile, lighter back row and Johnson gets criticised for it - can't win with some people! Wood is only marginally lighter than Croft (who is also an inch taller than Wood) and he worked out fairly well.

Can't wait for the match on Friday. Going to put my neck on the line and say England by 10, let's hope for a great game to kick off the 6 Nations. England-Wales at Cardiff, one of the all-time classic matches.

"Henson isn't actually very good at tackling - he stands up when tackling"

Uninvent, this is actually what the rugby league boys are taught to do - and they aren't bad at it!

Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones are a huge loss! For those questioning their scrummaging ability................remember the Lions tour, 1st test, when overated Vickery got destroyed and Jones and Jenkins more than held their own. And please no one reply and start harking on about it being Alun Wyn Jones' fault from 2nd row - he also played in the 2nd half of the first test.

England will now have the upperhand in the scrum and I can see the game going away from Wales from penalties conceded (Paul James) in kickable range. If the lineout doesn't function I can't see Wales having a 1st phase platform to build on.

@ellfromgavenny

I completely agree with you - I think it's going to be tight all over the park but as an Englishman, I'm pretty worried about that Welsh centre partnership! We all know what Roberts can do, although he hasn't been firing on all cylinders lately, and I've known about JD for quite a while - brilliant player, and we need to have done our homework on him. Showed his class against Leicester, and as a Tigers fan I was pleased to see how we reacted in the 2nd half and put him under a lot of pressure...he's lethal with space!

Like I said, it's pretty even all over the park (even the backrow - I believe Wood will be a revelation), but it just depends who gets the upper hand MORE in their area of strength (front row for England, centres for Wales). Too close to call.

21. At 12:40pm on 03 Feb 2011, showpony wrote:
Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones are a huge loss! For those questioning their scrummaging ability................remember the Lions tour, 1st test, when overated Vickery got destroyed and Jones and Jenkins more than held their own.

----

three points:

1.It's not fair to call vickery overrated. that match came right at the end of his international career. In his prime he was awesome.

2. jones came on and strengthened the scrum, but it's always deceptive when front row players do that. remember the player coming on is fresh and against someone tired.

3. I read somewhere that the referee has since apologised to vickery for unfairly giving some of the penalties against him.

'Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones are a huge loss! For those questioning their scrummaging ability................remember the Lions tour, 1st test, when overated Vickery got destroyed and Jones and Jenkins more than held their own. And please no one reply and start harking on about it being Alun Wyn Jones' fault from 2nd row'

And also remember the 3rd Lions test... No AWJ, no Mears, but Vickery and Sheridan were comfortably on top in the scrum. But scummaging involves more than just the props, and having Shaw and Rees instead of AWJ and Mears will have made a big impact. Which also explained why the Boks could march a maul 50 meters in the 2nd half of the 1st test and struggled to go forwards after that once the Lions picked a bigger, more powerful pack.

James is a far better scrummager than Jenkins anyway, whose strength is his ability in the loose, not the set piece. Jones is a big loss for Wales, but in fairness considerably less of a loss than Moody, Croft, Lawes, and two of their probably replacements in Attwood and Fourie.

kentba8790
1Prop75
Redbud
Uninventivename

Re - Henson's tackle - Yes Tait managed to retain possession but as anyone on this board, who have witnessed international rugby first hand, will know, a big tackle can change the game, get the crowd on their feet and demoralise the opposition.
For all Henson's show pony, media celeb wanna be famous bore demeanour, that tackle had the desired effect. Good, bad, completed, incomplete, good or bad technique, those tackles can change a game.

@20 naigib

... this aint rugby league...

"... this aint rugby league..."

Where the tackling is better!

I personally feel, looking down the England team sheet, that there is too much bludgeon and not enough rapier. Because of this I fear most about the balance of the side. Wood and Haskell are both quality performers, indeed Wood has been outstanding, but I can't remember many occasions where playing two blind-sides has been effective. On the subject of the back-row, Nick Easter has never struck me as anything more than a good, honest club player. I have never witnessed the dynamism associated with a say, Heaslip or Harinordiquay. However, I do believe the cupboard to be alittle bare in this dept, as I can't think of abetter alternative, would not question Jonno's selection at 8. With Fourie injured, I thought Andy Saull may have considered selection to offer better balance.

The same conundrum at 8 applies to fly half options, where there are no contenders who are capable of sprinkling a little fairy dust on proceedings. I see Flood as someone who just does the basics. He seems to be kicking well though, so should keep the scoreboard ticking. Hape/Tindall?? Dear oh dear. Again, both good honest performers, but top class? Looking through the list, the only players I would consider world class would be Sheridan, Youngs and Ashton, although Foden offers wonderful broken field running. I just hope it's enough to see England home. These occasions are so often dictated by who wins the battle in the back row, and the Wales combination looks to have a better look to it than England's.

I still go for England...just !!

"...Where the tackling is better!..."

Maybe, but its a different game needing a different style. when you go down in league it restarts, when you go down in union you usually find yourself losing ball or at the bottom of a pile!

Therefore as a tackler, you want the man down so you get the chance of turn over. You cant rip the ball out of someones hands if your arms are wrapped around them high and they haven't gone down.

It's a slightly different discipline in both sports naigib and crazyjenkins.

In League, the tackler can concentrate wholly on making a big hit which can sometimes give the appearance of a more destructive tackle.

In Union, as a tackle is carried out, the tackler's mind is already on jumping to his feet and stealing the ball, therefore changing the whole dynamic of the tackle situation. To the uninitiated, this can appear to be a less destructive tackle, but is more suited to the nuances of that game.

I like the pick of Wood because without Croft and Lawes England don't have a very dynamic pack and as they showed at times last year they can do great things when they play with pace.

My concern for England is playing Tindall. Why not Flutey at 12 and Hape at 13? Tindall offers very little nowadays and defensively Flutey is a rock, as proved when he played for the Lions, and Tindall had some awful moments in the autumn. Easter will do as a captain for now! Also, why Banahan on the bench?

I agree AndrewMellish - just would have liked a genuine 7 to play alongside Wood....maybe Andy Saull?

As for the centres i am curious to see how hape and tindall get on..........a few slip ups in this six nations or an injury could see a call for the exciting manu tuilagi in time for the world cup!!!! does anyone think he can make it on the world stage????

Moving on from the Henson/Tait tackle, who cares at this point. I'm tipping England on this one, but only just. The centre pairing of Tindal and Hape are not first class. (I'm being kind) It's difficult to see where the tries come from. The back 3 will need to run all kinds of angles, which they are of course more than capable of, to get England across the line. If Cueto and Ashton bring their games, then England can win, if not be prepared for 10 maybe 11 man game. I fear it might result in some stuff it up your jumper stuff. Johnston will want to keep it tight for the first twenty, I reckon England fancy that they can win the forward arm wrestle. I'm not holding my breath for an open dynamic game of rugby. Good luck Tom Wood. He really deserves his call up.

Watch and Learn

"as anyone on this board, who have witnessed international rugby first hand" - strange comment, what are you suggesting?.... ive seen a few, thanks.

Basically your talking nonsense. One tackle doesnt win a game. For all the man has acheived in rugby you would think he had won the world cup and is a better player than Dan Carter and Lionel Messi, if you listened to the press and the ´óÏó´«Ã½ especially. All im asking for is a bit of perspective from the sports media. If you like to read about Henface then go and buy an OK magazine or whatever teen mag he is in latley.

As someone on this board who has witnessed international rugby(as you put it), id rather read about rugby players than constantly hearing about a boy-band-wanna-be thats famous for doing what other rugby players do week in week out.

I think this is going to be a great game. As long as Hartley can keep his mouth shut, and do his job. England should win. But if he starts getting wound up and frustrated, England need Thompson off the bench quick sharp. If the England pack get quick ball from rucks and mauls, and maintain good lineout, then they should win. If Wales get the same from their rucks etc. I think they will still struggle to get round the pace of our back line to score tries. Hook is not too much of a danger from full back, as he probably won't get much ball. Jones, although a great fly half, runs straight and doesn't create much space for his centres to come onto the ball. Roberts is the biggest danger to England, but Hape or Tindall are good enough to cope with his threat. I think we could see Hape have a great game tonight. He's got better every game he's played for England so far. His league experience and ability to offload out of the tackle, could be key for this game. If Foden, Cueto and Ashton are running good lines off Hape, Wales could be in real trouble.

I wonder if Gatland's strategy of diverting attention away from the fact that young Mitchell is up against the experienced Sheridan will have its desired effect.

The scrum will be the critical area (as usual) and Gatland knows this, I suspect England will have the edge. Nevertheless, if Hartley implodes under the psychological pressure and Wales win; surely, Gatland must take the credit?

This will be a decisive moment in Gatland's reign as Welsh coach.