There were only a few games in an England shirt where he really shone. After his ankle injury he looked a shadow of his former self. This season is the first time he's really looked back to something like his best so I'm quite excited to see what he can do.
His talents never been i question though, its his attitude thats the problem. If he hasnt sorted out his personal issues he'll never be a good player for us
This was my impression from watching him. and I was so mystified by the hype vs what my eyes told me that i wondered whether the hype was linked to him having an exotic last name as I couldn't see anything in his play. Insipid is the word. I do believe you however Alex that he may have put in a couple of good performances and I possibly could have seen him on off days.
http://www.espn.co.uk/statsguru/rug...ass=1;template=results;type=player;view=match Came on as a sub at centre twice, but played FH apart from that.
Without looking through every game he played at centre a few times, and 10 at least once. Was due to start at 15 but got axed a couple of days before after getting pissed according to wiki EDIT: Or what Weeman said. I must have just got confused with his Wasps appearances then.. it was a long time ago
Joe Marler (Harlequins), Matt Mullan (London Wasps), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Joe Gray (Harlequins), Dave Ward (Harlequins), Rob Webber (Bath Rugby), Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers), James Haskell (London Wasps), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby), Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Freddie Burns (Leicester Tigers), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby), Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Marland Yarde (London Irish), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors) 30 man squad for the first game against NZ. Obviously got Northampton and Saracens players to come Marler Ward Wilson Launchberry Parling Johnson? Robshaw Morgan Care Cipriani Yarde 36 Manu May Brown Is what I'd go with if everyones fit, probably. Not sure on Johnson
1. Joe Marler 2. Rob Webber 3. David Wilson 4. Joe Launchbury 5. Dave Attwood 6. Tom Johnson 7. Chris Robshaw 8. Ben Morgan 9. Danny Care 10. Danny Cipriani 11. Jonny May 12. Billy Twelvetrees 13. Manusamoa Tuilagi 14. Marland Yarde 15. Mike Brown 16. Dave Ward 17. Matt Mullan 18. Henry Thomas 19. Geoff Parling / Ed Slater 20. Kvesic/Haskell 21. Ben Youngs 22. Kyle Eastmond 23. Chris Pennell That's what we'll get IMO. Not happy with the pack or the bench, but on the off chance Cipriani works out that could well be a stronger backline than we had in the six nations. This game is such a write-off though. Need them to not embarrass themselves and await the cavalry.
With the obvious wild card of Cipriani I'm not sure the cavalry is much better. Lawes is quicker around the park than Attwood, but Attwood's not bad. Morgan for Vunipola? Pretty similar in my view. The major downside being one can't come on for the other at 60 minutes. Webber/Hartley - maybe Webber can stop the scrum from popping up. Wood/Johnson - this could be key. But as an Exe supporter I've seen Johnson have epic games, so who knows?
England XV 15 Elliot Daly (London Wasps), 14 Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby & Army), 13 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), 12 Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs), 11 Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby), 10 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), 9 Joe Simpson (London Wasps). 1 Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks), 2 Rob Buchanan (Harlequins), 3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), 4 Michael Paterson (Sale Sharks), 5 Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers), 6 Jamie Gibson (Leicester Tigers), 7 Luke Wallace (Harlequins), 8 Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs). Replacements 16 Tommy Taylor (Sale Sharks), 17 Fraser Balmain (Leicester Tigers), 18 Will Collier (Harlequins), 19 Charlie Matthews (Harlequins), 20 James Gaskell (Sale Sharks), 21 Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby), 22 Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby), 23 Rob Miller (Sale Sharks) For Saturday's game. Slade VC apparently - pretty happy for him
Sinckler one to keep an eye on. Will be a tough game for them against a Baabaas side that'll have vastly more experience.
He's raw, but can scrummage. Be interesting to see how Roko goes. Is there any chance of any of the players from the Baa-Baas game making the NZ tour? Him and Sharples compare pretty favourably with anyone already on the plane. Fraser Balmain sounds very Scottish too.
Balmain has had a season of coming on after 77 minutes and rarely gets a scrummage. Cockers raves about him in interviews but it seems mostly based on training ground stuff. I don't think anyone from this game is going.
