true true

Well theres always being in one!
you can do great things when in a rivalry

Couldn't have said it better myself. Don't know what game you was watching Merv.

The yellow card was right, Ireland was lucky to not have a man sent off with Flannery kicking another player, for which he has now been thankfully cited for. This French team have been a long time coming!

I do however feel that Wales or England can still beat them, they often play well then play rubbish - I do hope they prove me wrong as their wonderful rugby deserves reward. They have the ultimate balance between backs and forwards.

Scotland beat themselves by keeping the ball in field and giving away silly penalties - they can moan about Byrne making the most of a slight touch, I'll agree with them, however it's always gonna be given when a team is attacking like that.

I seem to remember England being at this same stage last year and we finished second as top try scorers (did we also concede the least?) only this time round we have won 2-2. The performance was awful and we have far too much to do to even think about winning this tournement. Lets hope Johnson looks at people who were way below par and cuts them. Wilkinson needs to go - his kicking is the only point he's there and he can't even do that. No point having that wonderful back line if he don't know how to use it. Monye doesn't know how to pass the ball - three try scoring opportunities missed. Them two gone and perhaps the scoreline looks a little different. Woulda coulda shoulda.......

I think you also have to give Italy credit where it's due. Had that Italy team of played Ireland then I think we'd all be having different conversations. Not syaing they would of beat them, just would of been more competitive me thinks.

I think Ireland vs England will be an awsome game now!!

Little harsh on Wilkinson - he had a bad kicking game but still got a lot to give

For one thing it gives the other players - especially the less experienced ones - a tremendous confidence boost just having him on the pitch and his experience could prove vital in tough situation, for example the drop goal he kicked to give us the breathing space was very important

And remember John, in Italy, they use a Mitre ball which could explain Wilkinson's bad kicking game. Still should have had a better game, but a fair few fly half's have used that as an excuse in the past for a poor kicking game.

As far as im aware he didnt use it as an excuse, the match commentator mentioned he normally uses another ball back home, hinting it was possibility that, but he had been practising all week with a mitre ball, Wilko isnt that petty to blame a ball, he will only blame himself

at international level im disinclined to believe this.

Imo, it is silly to suggest that a top kicker would blame his performance on the type of ball. If you have played with a mitre ball then you will know that it is more streamlined than your normal gilberts and is actually better for place kicking. Also for an international athlete to succeed you do need to pick apart your own performance and find ways of improving it so if jonny did think it was down to the ball then you will find he will have bought a few and will have been practicing to no end.

Kicking for goal may be slightly harder but considering wilko was practicing with the mitre's before anybody came onto the pitch for training and after everyone left it (with a high success rate i may add) i it would suggest the balls weren't mainly to blame.

I wouldn't have said he had a bad day as his experience did shine a few times but certainly far from his best. I would keep him in the squad for the ireland game if im honest. You wouldn't want an inexperienced no.10 playing against O'gara.

It should be another good weekend of rugby lined up

......and Jonny will be practising like mad on his kicking, cos thats the top, dedicated sportsman that he is, he wont fail us against ireland and martin johnson knows that

I think wilko gives the spectators confidence rather than the team itself, we get the names on the pitch and it raises the spirits. With regards to the players they know what is required of them and therefore concentrate on their own game rather than what the 'talisman' is doing

wilkinson - without the injuries - would have gone down (probably still will) as one of the greatest players the world have ever seen

there are very few players in a team who are "irreplaceable" - wilko is one of them, along with the likes of O'Connell, Johnston, Hastings etc etc

everyone always talks about his kicking, but his reading of the game (sunday being the exception) is awesome

there have been some awesome fly halfs to grace every team, but wilko has to be considered one of the best

Still fancy Ireland though to win next week though although again, it could come down to a silly yellow card by either team

Merv

To be honest, didn't mean the fly halfs using it as an excuse, I just meant a fair few fly halfs have struggled to kick the Mitre ball as accurately as they normally kick the Gilbert balls.

But like has been said, Wilkinson puts a lot of effort into training with his kicking. He isn't a bad tackler neither in comparison to some fly halfs too. Just needs to tackle better to help himself, because I believe that is where a lot of injuries have came from.

Still remember that one try he got against the All Blacks where he chipped it over the defence and ran on to it to touch it down, a bit of class

Oooo, now theres a talking point




It would be a shame if it did come down to a yellow, lets just hope Englands discipline has stepped up a few notches.

I just think England need to start looking towards the World Cup. I very much doubt Wilkinson will be there!

As for the greatest fly-half..... he's always been at the top of the pile - I just feel his reign is over and someone else needs to step-up. Granted he's still one of the best tackling fly-halfs but I don't feel he has the eye for the game. I just think there's better out there that would be better suited to our current back-line.

Kearny will be missing the match against England. Ireland have plenty of others to replace him - still a loss though. Hope he gets better soon!

Flannery will miss the rest of the Nations. Rightfully so - he must feel very silly right now.

Would you say Danny Cipriani is ready to come in to replace Wilkinson though. If not, who would you replace Wilkinson and remember, they would need to be younger for the reason you stated

Capriani had his chance last year against Italy - wilko needed to come on and bail him out

I think all the northern hemisphere teams need to start thinking about the world cup

the teams fielded during next years 6 nations really should be what they are looking to field in New Zealand

this kicking game that they are all trying to play just wont cut it against the best

for once, ireland seem to have an easy enough group to qualify from but with Scotland, England and Argentina in the same group I wouldnt like to bet on the 2 qualifiers

Edited at 23:44 Thu 18/02/10 (GMT)

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Done!

Flood is in great form for Leicester Tigers. I know when he came on as sub he was turned-over a few times, but I think that was more how England were playing with flat ball than his own doing.

I just don't think Jonny has the vision anymore, if he ever. Unless it's something from the training manual he can't make the right choice. With England's back-line they need that vision to put them into the gaps when they're there or we won't be scoring the tries we need to beat the likes of France and Ireland.

Hope he proves me wrong on Saturday. He's a record breaker and great advocate to rugby it's hard training and mental needs.