Cruden's iffy goal kicking let's him down a bit but he definitely can take the line on. Barrett was huge in pretty much every game he came on. Carter's wisdom is still there however. Few times Cruden does do silly things but yeah Carter is past his best.
no mention of TD for the 6 jersey. He apparently got it ahead of Messam. Who was quiet for most games.
England will be missing an entire test front row in Vunipola, M, Youngs, T & Cole for the 2014 Autumn tests. From the BBC.
Between Marler and Corbs I say we're better off at loose head without Mako, and despite looking not unlike an egg on legs Wilson is sctually in some awesome form. Webber too tbh, it's hard not to want some more of the Bath front row ATM.
We have other options, sure. It's not too much of a stretch to imagine all three of the chaps I mentioned would be in our best XXIII tho.
Said hooker's not so flash throwing either if it comes to that. Was still a better line out option that Hibbard on the Lions' tour tho. O tempora, o mores, etc...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...y-Slade-alongside-Manu-Tuilagi-at-centre.html Interesting idea... personally I would love it if this happens for obvious reasons
Need to persist with Eastmond in some form still. Even if it is off the bench he oozes game breaking skills from what I have seen.
Corbs & Parling to miss out From the BBC. Lanky loses two more tight five forwards. Rotten news for Corbs especially. Shoulder ligament tear is awful news for a prop.
BBC reporting Manu a serious doubt for the NZ game as well now. Tweaked his groin and Cockers said it was a three week recovery the last time he did it. TBF tho, with Eastmond & Burrell both in good nick we're not too badly off in the centres just now.
You seem pretty confident. Avatar bet 1 month on the result. You take England. Bet is off if Manu recovers and plays. Are you in?
I am starting to get the impression that the English fans have no clue how good Manu is. "Let's give him a run on the wing because we have better options at centre" ... If you guys don't appreciate him we will take him. At the end of the day you have a point, he is only the best 13 in the world and not the best player in the world.
You must criminally underrate Conrad Smith if you think that way. He is probably going to go down as the best All Black 13 ever and is in the form of his life at the moment.
That's stretching it a bit, but he starts at 13 whenever fit for me. I'm going to suggest a 10-12-13 of Ford, Barritt and Slade. Harsh on Joseph, who should probably get the nod over Burrell, but won't.