Poms put faith in Wilko
Jonny Wilkinson will represent England for the first time in 18 months when he starts against Australia this Saturday.
Wilkinson is an experienced head among a number of relatively inexperienced players named by Martin Johnson on Wednesday. Since joining Toulon at the beginning of the European season, Wilkinson has managed to stay injury-free and inspired the French club to something of a resurgence.
Short on options due to mass injury, Johnson has decided to start David Wilson at tighthead, Shane Geraghty at inside centre, Jordan Crane at No 8 and Steve Thompson at hooker.
England -15 Ugo Monye, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Dan Hipkiss, 12 Shane Geraghty, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Danny Care, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Steve Borthwick (c), 4 Louis Deacon, 3 David Wilson, 2 Steve Thompson, 1 Tim Payne.
Subs: 16 Dylan Hartley, 17 Duncan Bell, 18 Courtney Lawes, 19 James Haskell, 20 Paul Hodgson, 21 Andy Goode, 22 Ayoola Erinle.
November 4th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Scraping the bottom of the barrel.
November 4th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Where’s Brad Barritt, is he injured or just not good to make this England side?
November 4th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I must give respect to Wilkinson for always lifting himself up to overcome injury. In any event i couldnt care less who wins between the aussies and poms…..go the BOKS!!
November 4th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
SH 1 – NH 0
November 4th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Is Ugo Monye any decent at fullback? Does he have much of a kicking game?
November 4th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Hmmm, should be a good game. Two pretty crappy sides up against each other.
Since the Aussies fixed their scrum problems, i dont see the English beating them.
Aussies to win comfortably. (by 10)
November 4th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
The Backs look handy actually, altho dont rate Monye in any position. Geraghty and Wilko have promise as a combination as long as 12 tackles his channel. Will be interesting to see how Banahan goes, look for him to get long-arms free & passes away to FB/Wing and loosies.
Tight-5 looks average, Deacon is a journeyman. Thompson adds bulk and experience tho and front-row should give a steady platform if not mobility.
Crane looks the leftfield pick, what has he done ?! Haskell must feel unlucky.
Dont ever count out Eng when playing Aus, esp at HQ.
Wilko brings 15pts to the plate every match.
Aussies still struggling to get over the white line and Barnes a big loss organising backline.
Could go either way, I’ll go Poms by 1.
November 4th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
#7 WakaNathan: You’re too generous and I think you’re losing your mojo….normally you’d be all over the poms trying to rile up Big Hit.
The holiday has mellowed you somewhat Waka…..
I think the Aussies will put in a big performance against England and if those Aussie backs click then it’s going to be a long afternoon for the poms.
November 4th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Since the Aussies fixed their scrum problems, i dont see the English beating them.
It did not look fixed against the AB’s last weekend.
Waka,
Monye,is becoming a victim his own versaility.This season he has already play 15,11,13.Kicking out of hand is not great,Would have been better on the bench as cover for those 3 positions.
November 4th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
That Courtney Lawes (number 18) is a pretty good up an coming talent-a lock. Is similar to Bakkies Botha and Matfield in athleticism. A real one for the future.
November 4th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
WolfMan21-
Lawes,had had plenty of gametine at 6 too.He needs to pack on another 3-4 kgs to play lock fulltime.He only turned 20 3 weeks ago.
November 4th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
#7 WakaNathan: agree with all that apart from the prediction, we’re gonna lose.
November 4th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
#12 Big Hit: Hi Big Hit, should be an interesting game, I’ve got little confidence in the Wallabies at the moment, Line out is ****, our scrum should do the job and the backs you just don’t know if their going to click. Theres no telling how that England side will go, so many new faces and combos, they will struggle in some areas I would have thought, Wilko will do a good job but it depends on how much time he has and how the guys go around him, Wobblies by 10
November 5th, 2009 at 12:03 am
#8 Jozi:
I call it as I see it. Always have.
BH is always too caught up in the windup to have a clear head in these matters. Its SJ and his boring Haka jibe every tour blah blah.
It will be good old British Bulldog stuff from Engl and Wilko keeping the Convicts honest and it will come down to 1 team taking their chance and not the other.
Poms by 1.
November 5th, 2009 at 12:31 am
#14 WakaNathan: SJ? I do hope you are referring to Stephen Jones and not me Pink Canoe.
November 5th, 2009 at 2:16 am
#15 SodaJoe:
Woah
Soda
Joe
with your
S
and your
J.
Stay
on Land,
Dont
Paddle
when
Drifting
will do.
In your
Pink Canoe.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:40 am
Ayoola Erinle is quite good – a big crashball centre.