Personally a bit disappointed to see Haskell start. Realistically I dont see him in the wc squad and with very stiff competition on the flanks now would have been the perfect time to try out Johnson against the worlds best. im a massive fan of Parling so glad he started tbh
Don't get me wrong, I think Haskell's a complete gimp whose role in his previous stint in the side was that of a reverse impact sub. But with so many players out he basically had to pick anyone who'd had the best club season, and Haskell was that man.
Look at the number of caps in that side. It's lambs to the slaughter enough as it is, what good will it do to lob in Gibson or someone?
Armitage is in the same boat as the english blokes from sarries and saints so no good here. And I wouldnt have minded haskell on the bench
Parling and Launch started together in the 2012 win. Haskell came on as a sub too so maybe it's just the psychological aspect of packing in as many players who've been on a winning side vs the ABs.
I don't mind Haskell as a player. Limited, for sure, and not in the same league as Wood or Croft as a footballer, but has a bit of grunt about him. Just needs to keep a lid on it and not give up the twatty pens. Bloke's a massive tool tho, but. Have little doubt he refers to himself in the third person and is the kind of red trouser wearing cuntish public school jazzer who gives English union such a bad name.
I think, to be fair, since union went open a lot more working class lads are coming through nowadays. There was an article in the 6 Nations and it said of our starting XV only Robshaw and Launchbury attended fee paying schools.
beer is chilling in the fridge for tomorrow night. nz is paying $1.05 and england $8 If england get up this will be a big upset. scores to be close until 60 minutes and then nz to get a brace of soft tries at the death.
Pumped to see Manu. Trying to remember now why I didn't name him for my world XV. Lions strangely didn't pick him either.