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Post by Imy on Sept 4, 2007 13:45:52 GMT
The mighty england will begin the defence of the webb ellis trophy against the usa on saturday! Personally il be happy if we make the semi finals this time round. 2003 was fantastic for the whole nation and got everyone buzzing in a way only sport can do. Jonny wilkinson has twisted his ankle and will miss the 1st game! The kiwis and hosts france will be the teams to watch...
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Post by richt on Sept 4, 2007 13:54:55 GMT
New Zealand to run away with it sadly. Ireland don't have as much of a chance as the media is making out, for one reason we have Eddie O'Sullivan as our coach! The guy needs to be fired, seriously. We haven't delivered with the best generation of Irish players for decades (possibly ever) it's a crying shame really.
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Post by markymark on Sept 4, 2007 17:15:54 GMT
Runner-up would be like winning it for 19 teams, there's a tiny chance it could be Wales.
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Post by richt on Sept 4, 2007 17:45:29 GMT
Runner-up would be like winning it for 19 teams, there's a tiny chance it could be Wales. Wales are in a pool with Australia and Samoa. Its a bit of a tossup between yourselves and Australia but if you get through and get England in the QuarterFinals I'd fully expect you to beat them. |
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Post by redsoldier on Sept 4, 2007 19:22:07 GMT
Australia will reem all your asses. We pwn N00bs!!!
But were looking pretty weak atm, but thats what they said in 03.....and the other one before that, i forget the date oops.
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Post by richt on Sept 4, 2007 20:51:29 GMT
Australia will reem all your asses. We pwn N00bs!!! But were looking pretty weak atm, but thats what they said in 03.....and the other one before that, i forget the date oops. The Wallabies are always going to be there or thereabouts. To my mind there are 4 teams that can win this world cup: New Zealand, South Africa, France and of course Australia. Ireland sit outside that group and then the rest are a fair bit off the pace. |
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Post by kokka78 on Sept 4, 2007 20:59:51 GMT
From Skysports England have suffered a major setback on the eve of their World Cup opener, against the United States in Lens on Saturday, with fly-half Jonny Wilkinson ruled out after twisting his ankle in training on Tuesday.
England head coach Brian Ashton admitted there is concern over Wilkinson's injury, although he was reluctant to put a timeframe on his return to action.
"Jonny [Wilkinson] twisted his ankle in training this morning [Tuesday] and is not available for selection," Ashton told the media gathering at the team's base in France.
"He is going for a scan this afternoon to determine the nature and the extent of the injury and until tomorrow [Wednesday] there will be no further medical update."
It will be a huge blow to England if Wilkinson is also ruled out of their crunch Pool A match against South Africa five days later.
The encounter with the Springboks at Stade de France in Paris will decide which team has the easier route through the play-offs and avoid potential quarter-final and semi-final encounters with Australia and New Zealand.
Despite the absence of Wilkinson Ashton was confident ahead of the tournament opener.
"We've picked a XV that we think will do a job against the USA," Ashton told the media gathering.
Bath's Olly Barkley will wear the number 10 shirt in the absence of Wilkinson, with Andy Farrell lining up on the bench.
Wasps star Josh Lewsey will win his 50th cap for England.
Lewsey lines up in a team showing six changes from England's final tournament warm-up Test against France in Marseille just over two weeks ago.
Ashton has also found room for Lawrence Dallaglio, who starts in an all-Wasps back row alongside Joe Worsley and Tom Rees.
Dallaglio, veteran of 80 caps, starts ahead of Nick Easter, who failed to feature in the matchday 22.
Worsley, meanwhile, plays at blindside flanker, while Leicester's Martin Corry, who has recovered from a knee problem, has to be content with a place on the bench.
Elsewhere, Jamie Noon and Mike Catt form the centre combination - Dan Hipkiss misses out - and fit-again Andrew Sheridan returns to the front row in place of Perry Freshwater.
England's poor line-out performance in Marseille has undoubtedly cost Bath skipper Steve Borthwick a start, with Leicester's Ben Kay preferred in the second row alongside Simon Shaw.
London Irish scrum-half Peter Richards, whose recovery from back trouble was only confirmed late last week, gains an immediate opportunity to impress off the bench, understudying for Shaun Perry ahead of Andy Gomarsall.
Despite England's dismal run of form since they won the World Cup in Australia four years ago, they will be expected to start their 2007 campaign with a points blitz against vastly inferior opponents.
Ashton will demand a display bristling with confidence and creativity as England look to start in style ahead of their crunch pool encounter with South Africa in Paris on Friday week.
Ashton's first tournament selection suggests the likes of Farrell, Easter and Borthwick could struggle to make an impression on the competition.
Big-money Rugby League recruit Farrell has endured a difficult beginning to his union career, and it now looks as if he will only have a bit part role to play, especially if Catt remains fit.
England: 15 Mark Cueto, 14 Josh Lewsey, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Mike Catt, 11 Jason Robinson, 10 Olly Barkley, 9 Shaun Perry, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio, 7 Tom Rees, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Phil Vickery (c), 2 Mark Regan, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 George Chuter, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Martin Corry, 19 Lewis Moody, 20 Peter Richards, 21 TBC, 22 Mathew Tait.  Noooooooooooo i can't believe Wilko is out again |
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Post by richt on Sept 4, 2007 21:07:01 GMT
From Skysports England have suffered a major setback on the eve of their World Cup opener, against the United States in Lens on Saturday, with fly-half Jonny Wilkinson ruled out after twisting his ankle in training on Tuesday.
England head coach Brian Ashton admitted there is concern over Wilkinson's injury, although he was reluctant to put a timeframe on his return to action.
"Jonny [Wilkinson] twisted his ankle in training this morning [Tuesday] and is not available for selection," Ashton told the media gathering at the team's base in France.
"He is going for a scan this afternoon to determine the nature and the extent of the injury and until tomorrow [Wednesday] there will be no further medical update."
It will be a huge blow to England if Wilkinson is also ruled out of their crunch Pool A match against South Africa five days later.
The encounter with the Springboks at Stade de France in Paris will decide which team has the easier route through the play-offs and avoid potential quarter-final and semi-final encounters with Australia and New Zealand.
Despite the absence of Wilkinson Ashton was confident ahead of the tournament opener.
"We've picked a XV that we think will do a job against the USA," Ashton told the media gathering.
Bath's Olly Barkley will wear the number 10 shirt in the absence of Wilkinson, with Andy Farrell lining up on the bench.
Wasps star Josh Lewsey will win his 50th cap for England.
Lewsey lines up in a team showing six changes from England's final tournament warm-up Test against France in Marseille just over two weeks ago.
Ashton has also found room for Lawrence Dallaglio, who starts in an all-Wasps back row alongside Joe Worsley and Tom Rees.
Dallaglio, veteran of 80 caps, starts ahead of Nick Easter, who failed to feature in the matchday 22.
Worsley, meanwhile, plays at blindside flanker, while Leicester's Martin Corry, who has recovered from a knee problem, has to be content with a place on the bench.
Elsewhere, Jamie Noon and Mike Catt form the centre combination - Dan Hipkiss misses out - and fit-again Andrew Sheridan returns to the front row in place of Perry Freshwater.
England's poor line-out performance in Marseille has undoubtedly cost Bath skipper Steve Borthwick a start, with Leicester's Ben Kay preferred in the second row alongside Simon Shaw.
London Irish scrum-half Peter Richards, whose recovery from back trouble was only confirmed late last week, gains an immediate opportunity to impress off the bench, understudying for Shaun Perry ahead of Andy Gomarsall.
Despite England's dismal run of form since they won the World Cup in Australia four years ago, they will be expected to start their 2007 campaign with a points blitz against vastly inferior opponents.
Ashton will demand a display bristling with confidence and creativity as England look to start in style ahead of their crunch pool encounter with South Africa in Paris on Friday week.
Ashton's first tournament selection suggests the likes of Farrell, Easter and Borthwick could struggle to make an impression on the competition.
Big-money Rugby League recruit Farrell has endured a difficult beginning to his union career, and it now looks as if he will only have a bit part role to play, especially if Catt remains fit.
England: 15 Mark Cueto, 14 Josh Lewsey, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Mike Catt, 11 Jason Robinson, 10 Olly Barkley, 9 Shaun Perry, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio, 7 Tom Rees, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Phil Vickery (c), 2 Mark Regan, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 George Chuter, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Martin Corry, 19 Lewis Moody, 20 Peter Richards, 21 TBC, 22 Mathew Tait. Noooooooooooo i can't believe Wilko is out again  Story of his career. Sad enough considering he used to be the best fly-half in the world. |
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Post by kokka78 on Sept 4, 2007 21:21:48 GMT
Im very sad about it!! i will never forget his winning drop in Australia! was great  i really wish to see him back at the same level he was at the time! |
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Post by richt on Sept 4, 2007 22:23:05 GMT
Im very sad about it!! i will never forget his winning drop in Australia! was great i really wish to see him back at the same level he was at the time! Sadly never to happen again. Was a joy (and a terror at the same time) to watch back in the run up to 2003. Now he's been overtaken by Dan Carter, Ronan O'Gara, Felipe Contepomi and James Hook even. He's the England rugby teams equivalent of Louis Saha! |
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Post by RedArmy20 on Sept 4, 2007 22:25:24 GMT
the only thing i know of rugby is the haka
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Post by richt on Sept 4, 2007 22:29:31 GMT
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Post by Stew on Sept 4, 2007 23:05:22 GMT
New Zealand to run away with it sadly. Ireland don't have as much of a chance as the media is making out, for one reason we have Eddie O'Sullivan as our coach! The guy needs to be fired, seriously. We haven't delivered with the best generation of Irish players for decades (possibly ever) it's a crying shame really. He's delivered 2 triple crowns in the last couple of years. He was denied a Grand Slam in injury-time by France in Croke park and again injury-time by France against Scotland cost us the Championship. Did it ever occur to you that the greatest generation of Irish players might have had something to do with O'Sullivan? I remmeber the hidings dished out in Twickenham and Murrayfield in the 80's and 90's very well, as well as the beatings the Southern hemisphere sides would dish out. All those teams respect us now. O'Sullivan has brought this team on hugely. We've beaten England regularly, beaten Australia recently and ran the All Blacks close twice, away from home. We have a great chance of doing well in this World Cup. Give Eddie a break and get behind the team, Richt! |
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Post by RedArmy20 on Sept 4, 2007 23:12:44 GMT
seen that one before, man its scary  |
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Post by kokka78 on Sept 4, 2007 23:34:23 GMT
Im very sad about it!! i will never forget his winning drop in Australia! was great i really wish to see him back at the same level he was at the time! Sadly never to happen again. Was a joy (and a terror at the same time) to watch back in the run up to 2003. Now he's been overtaken by Dan Carter, Ronan O'Gara, Felipe Contepomi and James Hook even. He's the England rugby teams equivalent of Louis Saha! I know and it's sad cos we all know his qualities and i think he's the first to be sad about all these injuries! i wish he could have a great tournament but i know it's impossible. |
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