Autumn International Preview - England v Australia

A dark secret of mine is that, after a shandy or nine, I get an irrepressible urge to go onto one of the funniest websites known to mankind – Chat Roulette.  The nature of the website is that you are randomly connected to a video chat to someone else who is logged into the website anywhere in the world, and you can skip if you don't fancy speaking to them.  Or just don't fancy them full stop.  Of course, the majority of participants are sexually frustrated middle-aged men or drunken fools who think it's funny to irritate those I've just described, with a brief smattering of people who genuinely want to see what's going on elsewhere in the world.  I should probably point out that I consider myself as someone in the latter category after a few beers, although I’m sure others would argue otherwise.

Anyway, the point of me ruining my social credibility by divulging this habit, is that I ended up chatting to a charming Aussie bloke on Saturday after a night on the beers.  He was sat without a shirt on, with a wide-brimmed hat on his head, a bottle of VB in his left hand and a tattoo of a vagina on his right shoulder.  He wasted no time in gloating about Australian’s glorious victory over England in the rugby league.  I assumed this was banter and so politely pointed out that it was about time they won something after their attempts in the cricket and the Lions series, at which point he flew off the handle, called me every name under the sun and spat at his own computer camera.  It just goes to show that, if there are any people who match us English for sulking when we lose, it’s the Aussies.

Which, fortunately for rugby fans, means that the games between England and Australia usually have an added bit of spice.  They also seem to have a habit of going against the grain in recent years – in 2010, the Wallabies were being touted as World Cup contenders after beating New Zealand, before being dismantled by a Chris Ashton-inspired England side, whilst last year they recovered from taking a hiding from the French to turn over the men in white in their own backyard.  It all makes Saturday’s contest all the more intriguing, since it is so difficult to pick an out-and-out favourite this time.

The Wallabies come into this off what, at first glance, looks like an abysmal Rugby Championship campaign, managing just two wins against Argentina and suffering two losses against the South Africans and 3 against All Blacks.  Put that on top of a Lions Series loss, and you get the impression of a side really struggling for form.  But look a little closer, and you realise the Wallabies managed to push the cream of British and Irish talent to within a slipped-kick of a series win, they hammered the Pumas 54-17 in Rosario and put 33 points on the All Blacks in their last Bledisloe game.  You get the impression that Ewan Mackenzie is building something good – and with the likes of Will Genia, Michael Hooper, Quade Cooper, Israel Folau and Adam Ashley-Cooper in the ranks, this is a side that is not short on speed, skill or guile.  Even the stripping of the captaincy from James Horwill does little to weaken the effect, with new skipper Ben Mowen proving himself time and again as a real workhorse who leads from the front.

For Stuart Lancaster, this is almost a step into the unknown.  The Argentina tour was largely a series between second-string sides, so this is the first time he’s had the big boys together since that humbling loss to Wales.  I say he’s got his group together, but he’s actually missing 4 Lions who form the spine of his side – Alex Corbisiero, Geoff Parling, Tom Croft and Manu Tuilagi.  Corbisiero and Tuilagi are, in particular, huge losses as they are in effect England’s most potent attacking weapons.  Corbisiero is a dominant scrummager who wins penalty after penalty – as Ben Alexander found out in the summer – and, whilst Mako Vunipola is a great player elsewhere, he lacks that set-piece dominance.  And as for Tuilagi, he is the one England player who is spoken about in hushed whispers in the Southern Hemisphere as a man/monster genuinely feared by defences.  Lancaster’s selection of Joel Tomkins in his place is understandable – the former league man is a big unit with a sweet offload – but I don’t think it’s necessarily right.  I’ve yet to see Tomkins do anything to stand himself out as an international player, and the possibility of playing the in-form Henry Trinder or electric Kyle Eastmond would allow England to develop an alternative backline strategy to keep as an option if the Tuilagi approach wasn’t working.

Elsewhere, there are few surprises.  Lancaster obviously rates Ben Youngs, which is why he is still in the squad ahead of Danny Care, and Lee Dickson is without doubt the man in form at the moment.  I suspect that Youngs was retained last week to work on conditioning and lose a couple of extra kilos he is carrying as a result of missing pre-season, so he will have a real opportunity to showcase his undoubted talent off the bench.  Lawes is also an uncontroversial pick in the absence of the excellent Parling, having weighed in with some thunderous performances for Saints of late, but the one selection I’m unsure of in the pack is Billy Vunipola.  He is a huge talent and a huge man, but his ball-control at the base of the scrum is so poor that Saracens play him at blindside, whilst his ball carrying remains too upright.  Ben Morgan may not have been in sparkling form but he’s playing behind a tight 5 at Gloucester who are as threatening as a bag of bunnies, so I’d have stuck with the ex-Llanelli man and had Vunipola for some real impact off the bench.

But selections will only get you so far.  On Saturday, it will all come down to one of the best rivalries in sport.  And I’m sure that, no matter what the result, we can all have a friendly chat about it afterwards.  Yeah right...

 

England Team News

Joel Tomkins will make his England debut at outside centre in Saturday's first autumn Test against Australia.  Tomkins, 26, whose brother Sam will play for England in their Rugby League World Cup match against Ireland on the same day, partners Billy Twelvetrees in a new-look midfield at Twickenham.  Northampton's Lee Dickson is chosen at scrum-half ahead of Leicester's Ben Youngs, who is on the bench.  Billy Vunipola starts his first Test, and wing Marland Yarde his second.

Starting Line up: Mike Brown, Chris Ashton, Joel Tomkins, Billy Twelvetrees, Marland Yarde, Owen Farrell, Lee Dickson; Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw (captain), Billy Vunipola.

Subs: Dylan Hartley, Joe Marler, David Wilson, Dave Attwood, Ben Morgan, Ben Youngs, Toby Flood, Ben Foden

Key Player

Lee Dickson.  The Saints man arguably does not have to same raw talent as Ben Youngs and Danny Care, but he does offer something very different from either of them – he does the basics brilliantly.  Youngs and Care are genuine game-breakers with heads up rugby and threats around the fringes, but when not on form they do dither with their distribution.  Dickson has no such problems.  His focus is purely on getting to the breakdown and giving sharp service.  With the great offloaders of the likes of Tomkins and Twelvetrees in the middle of the park, and hard working wingers like Ashton and Yarde sniffing for opportunities, quick ball will be the order of the day if England are to break this Wallaby backline.

 

 

Australia Team News

Ben Mowen replaces James Horwill as captain of Australia for Saturday's meeting with England at Twickenham.   The back-row forward, 28, made his Test debut against the British and Irish Lions in June and will lead the Wallabies for the second time.  Australia coach Ewen McKenzie said 28-year-old Horwill's recent displays had led to him losing the captaincy.  Scott Fardy returns at blind-side flanker while Sitaleki Timani partners Horwill in the second row with fellow lock Rob Simmons a late withdrawal after re-injuring medial ligaments in training this week.  Nick Cummins, a try-scorer in Australia's 20-14 victory at Twickenham last year, returns on the wing after recovering from a fractured hand.   Matt Toomua retains the number 12 jersey ahead of ACT Brumbies team-mate Christian Leali'ifano, who has to settle for a place on the bench on his return from an ankle injury.

Starting Line up:  Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Nick Cummins, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, Sitaleki Timani, James Horwill, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen (capt)

Subs: Saia Fainga'a, Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, Kane Douglas, Ben McCAlman, Nic White, Christian Leali'ifano, Bernard Foley.

Key Player

Matt Toomua.  The young Brumbies playmaker may have only made his Wallaby bow in the Rugby Championship but he did face the Lions for ACT in mid-week game – and boy did he make an impact.  He seemed to take a particular dislike to Billy Twelvetrees, smashing the Gloucester centre with ease and apparent glee time and time again, and showed skill and poise with the ball in hand.  With the firepower outside of him, Toomua knows he must be crisp and decisive with his distribution – and if he can put in a similar defensive shift like the last time he faced Twelvetrees, then he can shut England’s attack off at source.

 

Key Battle

Billy Vunipola v Ben Mowen.  Same position, two completely different players, both with massive points to prove.  There’s no doubting Vunipola’s raw physical talent but I still have concerns over his workrate and technique, both at the base of the scrum and on the carry.  He’ll learn pretty quickly that you can’t go into contact upright against international opposition – but if he gets it right then he could be devastating.  With two real grafters in Wood and Robshaw on the flanks, then Vunipola’s sole job will be to carry as much as possible – his workrate must be up to the task.  Mowen, on the other hand, is almost the polar opposite to England’s number 8.  A strong tackler, solid defensive organiser and an intelligent operator at the breakdown, Mowen doesn’t lack for the finer aspects of number 8 play, but in a backrow without huge ball carriers, it will be his job to make the hard yards with the ball in hand.  Will he be up to it?  Vunipola’s workrate v Mowen’s physicality could well be the decider in the key battle of who gets front foot ball.

Prediction

England will go into this game a little rusty and the Wallabies, as they have shown in their last 2 displays, are beginning to click.  I think the visitors will go ahead early and then the challenge will be to see what England can do to pull them back.  Despite having a very strong looking bench I don’t know if there’s enough venom in England’s attacking options to chase the Wallabies down should it come to it.  I’ve changed my mind a 1000 times on this but, due to the above, I’ve got a feeling the Wallabies will sneak it.  Australia by 3.
 

 

 

Other Internationals

 

Japan v New Zealand:  Despite bringing in plenty of new faces this won't be a problem for the Kiwis, who seem to have talented players popping up all over the place.  All Blacks by 30.

Premiership Review - Northampton Saints 41 - 17 Saracens

There is a new breed of grudge matches coming to the fore in the Premiership.  Sure, we're used to crackers between the Tigers and Saints, Bath and Gloucester, but with the top 3 seemingly iron-cast to be sitting at the top of the table, any match between Leicester, Northampton or Saracens is now just that more fiercely contested.  And they are generally as bad tempered as Victor Meldrew would be if he was kept awake the entire night by that wretched 'Stand up for the Saracens' song.

Of course, the place at the top of the pile is not new for Leicester.  They may not be firing on all cylinders at the moment, and have an injury list that would in itself form a top-4 side, but you wouldn't bet against them being in the mix again this season.  But Sarries and Saints are relatively new players at the top table.  It was only three years ago when Sarries first burst onto the scene and made it to the Premiership final, and the Saints only made the long-overdue step to the Premiership's showpiece last year.  But what these two may lack in traditional 'big-time' pedigree, they are making up for this season with some ferociously physical and clinical displays.  The match between Northampton and Saracens at Franklins Gardens on Saturday was always going to be a display of power-packed rugby at its best.  As it turned out though, only one side was playing it…

The battle began deceptively evenly, with Stephen Myler and Alex Goode exchanging penalties – although there was an indication of a very significant swing in the hosts' direction early on, with the Northampton scrum not only standing up to the renowned Sarries pack, but actually putting one over on them.  With the set piece considered to be Saracens' area of clear advantage between the 2 sides heading into this match, the sight of new man Richard Barrington and, surprisingly, Matt Stevens, struggling would not have been a welcome one for the visitors.

If those were the first signs of a leak in the Londoner's aura of invincibility that they've maintained domestically this season, the flood gates were soon to open.  Samu Manoa picked up a lineout and charged downfield, passing on to Kahn Fotuali'I who was brought down 20 metres out.  With the visitors backpeddling frantically, the Saints surged through the middle of the park, with Manoa, Alex Waller and Sam Dickinson offloading beautifully to put try machine Jamie Elliot over for the game's opening score.

Following that setback, Saracens fought hard to get a foothold in the match but were denied by superb try-saving tackles from Elliot and Ben Foden – the latter getting one over on the competition for the England 15 shirt, Goode.  With nothing to show for their trouble, things went from bad to worse for the visitors, as Luther Burrell continued his fine form by going on a 20 metre bust up the right, before the omnipresent Manoa picked the ball, brushed off a poor attempted tackle by Nils Mordt and stepped the flatfooted Goode for a superb try.

Goode pulled a desperately needed 3 points back for Saracens on the cusp of half time to leave the score 17-6, but the visitors' problems continued unabated in the second period.  The revered wolf pack was looking positively toothless, with even the one-man-wrecking-ball Jacques Burger anonymous, and Saints were rampant.  Burrell was once again the man to make the burst, but this time it was Foden who profited, picking up from short range and being driven over by Phil Dowson.

Less than 10 minutes later, Foden was in on the act again, picking up Saints' magnificent bonus point.  I've been critical of the fullback recently, questioning where his zip has been, but it was here for all to see now as the England man raced onto a perfectly weighted kick from Myler to collect the ball and ride out the covering tackle for the try.  This was now a rout, a 5 pointer against the meanest defence in the league in a match that was predicted to go down to the wire.

Duncan Taylor, the burly centre who had seen next to no ball for Saracens, briefly caused a glimmer of a smile of coach Mark McCall's face as he strode over the line for Sarries' first score, following a fine pass from Nils Mordt, who had endured a torrid afternoon otherwise – but there was no doubt this was Saints' afternoon.  Luther Burrell had made a real case for international inclusion and he was rewarded for another thunderous display when he finished off a fine move involving some slick hands between the Pisi brothers, George and Ken.

Saracens, to their credit, rallied, and the pack had a moment to saviour after spending the majority of the afternoon eating turf when Kelly Brown plunged over the line after a ferocious rolling maul, but fittingly it was to be the East Midlanders who had the last word, as James Wilson put Ken Pisi over following Myler's magnificent pass.

The final score was 41 – 17.  This wasn't just a thrashing, this was a statement.  And this time the statement is not "why not us?"…it increasingly looks like "it will be us".

What else was happening in the Premiership over the weekend?

 

Bath 15 – 13 Gloucester:  Bath came up trumps in a West Country derby at the Rec, but it proved a tight affair, despite utter forward dominance for the hosts.  George Ford hit 5 penalties but missed another 5 to allow the Cherry and Whites, who scored through Freddie Burns, within touching distance.

Exeter Chiefs 40 – 6 Worcester Warriors:  Dean Ryan's misery continued as Worcester were hammered at Sandy Park.  The Chiefs scored at will with Ben White (2), Dean Mumm, Phil Dollman, Damian Welch and Haydn Thomas all crossing for tries.

Harlequins 24 – 3 Sale Sharks:  Quins got back to winning ways at home as they cruised to victory over the Sharks.  Back rowers Luke Wallace and young Jack Clifford were the men to claim the key scores.

Newcastle Falcons 13 – 11 London Irish:  The Falcons continued their solid start to life in the Premiership with a crucial win over Irish in Newcastle.  Adam Powell scored the crucial try, countering an earlier effort from back-row Ofisa Treviranus.

London Wasps 22 – 12 Leicester Tigers:  Andy Goode was the man of the moment as the chunkster put in an inspired performance to make it six years at Adams Park without a win for the injury-ravaged Tigers.  England flyer Christian Wade scored the only try of the game.
 

Premiership Preview - Northampton Saints v Saracens

One of the reasons why we love sport, why we keep coming back time after time, is the drama.  And not just the on-pitch drama, the last gasp drop-goal or try, the illegal tackle or controversial red card – it's the off-field stuff as well.  After every game with niggle, or any game that has something significant riding on it, a new set of sub-plots are born.  One side wants revenge, one man has a vendetta against another for a sly elbow, and so on and so forth.  In a sense we are effectively watching one big episode of Eastenders, except with shorts, boots, mud, rugby balls and an entire sporting rule book thrown in.  Perhaps it's nothing like Eastenders then, but hopefully you get my point – we love the drama and subtext as much as the sport itself.

And that's why Saints v Sarries is my game of the week.  Remember the last time these two met?  Sarries were on the crest of a wave, having finished the regular season on top of the pile and with most commentators tipping them for the Premiership crown.  They just had to win at a ground they hadn't lost at against a Northampton side who had snuck narrowly into the playoffs.  No problem?  Wrong.  Saints showed up as the anti-Saracens, with no fuss or fanfare – and proceeded to bully the living daylights out of Saracens to an extent I have not seen before or since.  It was a lesson which will have hurt the men from north-London, and a lesson they will be dying to repay when they arrive at Franklins Gardens tomorrow.

So with the backdrop set, who are the protagonists?  Unfortunately, international call-ups has seen some of the big names with points to prove out of the frame for this match – think Courtney Lawes and Owen Farrell.  But look around and you will see the like of the Pisi Brothers, Luther Burrell, Sam Dickinson, Jaques Burger, Alex Goode and Schalk Brits will still be going toe to toe in what promises to be another epic encounter between these 2. 

So where do the weaknesses lie?  Well for Saints, the absence of Dylan Hartley and Alex Corbisiero seriously weakens their scrummaging platform, but they seem pretty well covered elsewhere in the backline.  The opposite can probably be said for Saracens, who have covered the loss of Billy Vunipola with Kelly Brown, but with Farrell off with England and Charlie Hodgson out injured, they have turned to Nils Mordt.  Don't get me wrong, Mordt is a solid player – but to throw a bloke with no starts this season – who also doesn't play fly half all that regularly – into the fray, is a risky move.  There is intrigue all over the pitch and a series of mouthwatering confrontations.

And you can bet Saracens will be hungry for this one – revenge can be sweet.

Northampton Team News

Northampton make five changes to the side that beat Ospreys last weekend.   Kahn Fotuali'i makes his full home debut, while Mike Haywood, Ken Pisi, Calum Clark and Sam Dickinson also come into the starting XV.

Starting Line up:  Foden; K. Pisi, G. Pisi, Burrell, Elliott; Myler, Fotuali'i; Waller, Haywood, Ma'afu; Manoa, Day; Clark, Dowson (capt), Dickinson.

Subs: McMillan, Waller, Denman, Van Velze, Nutley, Glynn, Waldouck, Wilson.

Key Player

Kahn Fotuali'i.  I predicted that this guy could be the signing – if not the player of the season – but, so far, Lee Dickson's terrific form has left Fotuali'i frustrated and me with egg on my face.  However, Dickson's form has been such that he seems a certainty to take part in the Autumn Internationals, which means the Samoan 9 can now get a run in the side to show what he can do – and he will relish the chance to face Saracens first up.  As with most Islanders, he relishes physical confrontation and has the quick feet to get out of trouble.  Sarries will be targeting him as a potentially rusty link in the side – it will be interesting to see how he faces up to the test.

Saracens Team News

Premiership leaders Saracens give a first start to Richard Barrington, with Mako Vunipola on international duty with England and Rhys Gill injured.   Fly-half Nils Mordt starts his first game of the season alongside scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth.

Starting Line up:  Goode; Tagicakibau, Wyles, Taylor, Strettle; Mordt, Wigglesworth; Barrington, Brits, Stevens; Borthwick (capt), Hargreaves; Brown, Burger, Joubert.

Subs: George, Auterac, Johnston, Botha, Wray, De Kock, Bosch, Ransom.

Key Player

Steve Borthwick.  Yes, he's about as exciting as the inside of a paper bag, but the former England skipper is so crucial to Saracens.  He's a leader, not just in the sense of being captain, but in terms of ensuring that the approach by his side starts physical and remains physical throughout the game.  Sure, he may not have the athleticism or raw strength of others, but his intelligent reading of the game and the set piece, in particular, adds balance to a monster Saracens pack.  He will have been particularly stung by his side's loss to Northampton last season and will have to ensure his side focus that enthusiastic aggression and desire to exact revenge in a productive way.

 

Key Battle

Calum Clark v Kelly Brown.  From being on the cusp of the England squad to not getting a start for Saints this season, Clark has cut a frustrated figure in the opening few games.  However, the absence of Tom Wood has given the powerful young flanker a chance to stake a real claim and build up some momentum.  With a good technique and a relentlessly physical and aggressive approach – occasionally too aggressive, as Rob Hawkins' mangled elbow can testify – the big blindside has all the qualities to neutralise the Saracens' gameplan.  That gameplan, with the absence of a recognised Premiership-quality fly half, will be to smash the Northampton pack to give Nils Mordt as smooth a ride as possible, and Kelly Brown's athleticism and intelligence at the breakdown will be a key component on that.  Who comes out on top here could tip the balance in the context of the game.

Prediction

When you look at the line ups for this game, you end up changing your mind about the likely winner than schizophrenic bookie.  Saints look like they have suffered more in the pack due to international call ups, with the front row in particular looking vulnerable.  If they struggled in the set piece against Leicester with Hartley and Corbisiero, how are they going to cope without them against Saracens.  However, the call ups have left Sarries fielding a rather slap-dash midfield, whilst Northampton are lucky enough to replace quality with quality.  Oh, Lee Dickson's not here?  That's OK, we'll just bring in one of the best scrum halves in Europe to replace him.  In a game of edges it is the visitors who look like they should edge the forwards battle – especially in the tight – whilst the hosts have the firepower to cause damage out wide.  Although the mantra is usually that the forwards will decide who will win, I just feel that, in front of Franklins Gardens, Northampton should have just enough to squeeze a win – provided they can win their own ball on set piece.  Saints by 3.

 

What else is happening in the Premiership this weekend?

Bath v Gloucester:  A cracking West Country derby that would have been my game of the weekend had it not been 1st v 2nd on Saturday.  Bath are in the better form and I expect them to pick up a win against the Cherry and Whites.  Bath by 9.

Harlequins v Sale Sharks:  Quins finally looked like they'd hit some form in the second half against Clermont but they will need to carry that on against a Sale side who have been resurgent this season.  Home advantage should just about do it.  Quins by 5.

Exeter Chiefs v Worcester Warriors:  The Chiefs have started to hit form of late and they look a real handful at home again – Sandy Park is not the best place for the Warriors to break their duck this season.  Chiefs by 12.

London Wasps v Leicester Tigers:  Wasps have been arguably the unluckiest side in the Premiership but they need to start converting narrow defeats into victories.  With the visit of a Leicester Tigers side who haven't won at Adams Park since 2007, and an unrecognisable backline thanks to injury and international call ups, this might the game to make that change.  Wasps by 3.

Newcastle Falcons v London Irish:  Another game which looks like it might have huge ramifications come the end of the season.  Irish have been impressively overperforming but Dean Richards men will have long earmarked this one as a must-win.  Falcons by 4.

Autumn Internationals - RuckedOver's England XV

Autumn Internationals.  Some say pointless money-spinners, others say glorious exhibitions key for measuring the development of a national side.  As a romantic, I’ll go with the latter – the next month or so is sure to provide us with some top drawer tries, big hits, hideous alternate strips and a depressing reminder of the north/south rugby divide (perhaps).  And, as usual, every man and his dog has an opinion on what the England team should be – and, as usual, I feel like I should chuck in my 2 cents worth.  Ruckedover’s England squad is below – let me know what you’d change...

Front Row

The front row, as is tradition, remains an area of comparative strength for England – even without the perennially injured Alex Corbisiero.  The Northampton man was my man of the match in the decisive 3rd Test for the Lions over the summer but, although he is a big loss in the scrummaging department, Mako Vunipola has acquitted himself impressively in the tight this term and remains a superb ball carrying option.  Plus, he has the advantage of being able to freak opponents out with his terrifyingly large earlobes.  A no-brainer for the number 1 shirt, although Joe Marler is now an experienced and powerful campaigner who will provide adequate back-up.

Hooker, on the other hand, is far more closely contested, with Dylan Hartley looking like he's scrubbed up on his ball carrying and linguistics to well and truly throw his hat back into the ring.  That said, Tom Youngs is the man in possession of the shirt, and his work rate in attack and defence is a real plus to the side – and he's coping with the new scrummaging laws better and better each week.  Despite baring a slight resemblance to Quasimodo, the Leicester hooker has done enough to hold off the challenge of the Saints captain but, with both men marshalling two of the best-functioning lineouts in England, that number 2 shirt is in good hands.  As long as Dylan's on best behaviour.

Tighthead is another position where the temptation is to shout the name of the man who's been in possession of the shirt for the last 4 years.  It's hard to believe he's just 26, but Dan Cole remains the premier tighthead in England despite increasingly looking like a Infernos nightclub bouncer.  His form hasn't been spectacular and he hasn't been winning the turnovers he's won in previous years, but class in permanent and his main rival, David Wilson, hasn't done quite enough to prise the shirt off him.

 

Second Row

That number 4 shirt is well and truly up for grabs now, with Courtney Lawes weighing in with a series of bone-jarring performances of late – but he's also added another string to his bow, carrying with far more venom off the inside shoulder than we've seen before.  The current incumbent – Joe Launchbury – is a superb talent who impressed last season and has looked sharp so far this year, even in a struggling Wasps pack.  There are still a couple of questions about his 'nastiness' though, or lack of it, and that does weigh against the cherub-faced lock.  For that reason, Lawes gets my nod at second row, although Launchbury is a dead cert to be in the squad.  The selection pool is looking increasingly rosey here, with Ed Slater also impressing early in the season.

However, for all of Lawes' virtues, he isn't the brightest crayon in the box and he needs his 'Victor Matfield' to rule the lineout whilst he goes about dismantling opposition players limb by limb.  There is one obvious candidate here, of course – Geoff Parling.  After an excellent Lions tour and a solid start to this season, he has really stepped up as a leader for this England pack.  With unrivalled lineout expertise and a phenomenal workrate, Parling was the only man – along with Chris Robshaw – to not completely embarrass himself against Wales at the Millennium Stadium this year.  His back up is a man who makes a welcome return the international scene, Dave Attwood.  Another lineout caller, he may lack the pure lineout nous and the workrate of Parling, but the Bath man is powerful presence in the tight and is getting back to his best – balancing out his natural aggression with intelligent calling at the set piece.

 

Flankers

The question on who you pick at blindside is made more difficult by the fact that everyone – usually Welsh – will tell you that England's opensides are not 'real' opensides and are actually blindsides.  Ignoring this waffle, the man who finds the path to the shirt clear following the unfortunate injury to Lions star Tom Croft, is Tom Wood.  The Saints flanker was bang in the middle of the frame for the captaincy, which has been handed to Chris Robshaw, but Wood offers similar leadership and graft, and perhaps a bit more athleticism around the park.  His performance against New Zealand last year was a perfect example of his qualities – powerful, physical, fast and seemingly everywhere.  With Croft injured, Wood's immediate backup is Exeter work horse Tom Johnson.  Despite having a face that looks like it's composed almost entirely of plastic, Johnson is a bundle of energy and can certainly add zip to a side, even if he lacks the out and out physicality of others.

At openside, all the talk of the summer was about Chris Robshaw's place being under threat from the excellent Matt Kvesic.  However, partly down to some strong early season form (in particular, a magnificent display against Clermont) from Robshaw and an anonymous series of displays by Kvesic at his new club, Gloucester, that argument has been put well and truly to bed.  The argument about England not succeeding because they lack a true 7 is drivel – South Africa won a world cup with two 6-and-a-halfs (Burger and Smith).  What matters is how they fit into a game plan – and Robshaw is one of the best for flat-out work rate.  He sits in the top 5 of every important forward-based chart in the Premiership – tackles, carries, offloads and turnovers – and still people question his ability.  His leadership is unwavering and his ethic an inspiration, and he looked like a one-man side at times against Wales on that fateful day in Cardiff.  For me, Robshaw is an easy shout at 7, and for the captaincy.  The talented Kvesic will have to show more at club level before being given a crack at that shirt.

 

Number 8

A short while ago big Ben Morgan seemed to have made that number 8 shirt his own, but some indifferent form behind a Gloucester pack currently as tough as damp paper bag has seen increasing pressure on his spot.  The man who the press and general public seem to want in is big Billy Vunipola, the chap who seems to be a result of cross-breeding a human with a rhinoceros – and he certainly impressed in England's summer tour of South America.  However, I'm yet to be convinced.  His ball control at the base of the scrum is poor enough that Saracens see it fit to play him at 6 rather than at 8, and his workrate and attitude still leave a fair bit to be desired.  The former will improve with experience, but the latter needs some individual application.  For that reason, I'd start Morgan to see how he performs in a solid pack, with Vunipola (who is failing to shine even in a dominant pack) on the bench for some hefty impact.  It's worth pointing out as well what a shame it is that the two form English number 8s – Dave Ewers of Exeter and Sam Dickinson of Northampton – aren't in the EPS.

 

Scrum Half

A very tricky one to call as Ben Youngs, the incumbent and Lions 9, has looked short of form and fitness on his return – despite improving in his last display.  The Leicester man missed pre-season with injury and looks to be carrying the effects of missing out on 3 weeks of good conditioning – those effects mainly being a couple of extra kilos of unwanted 'baggage'.  It's meant that the best parts of his game – namely his attacking threat around the fringes and the ability to speed the game up – have been lacking their usual 'zip'.  For that reason, if I was Lancaster, I'd give him the week off – for the Australia game at least – to shed a couple of pounds and give his body a break from impact.  That leaves the door open for Danny Care and his terrible haircut to take the reins at scrum-half, following a strong start to the season, whilst Lee Dickson, who is in outstanding form for Saints, is also pushing hard.  Dickson actually should be assured of a bench spot either way, as he offers something different to Youngs and Care – the starting spot is between those two.

 

Fly half

Naming Owen Farrell at fly half is definitely one of the easier decisions to make, despite it being standard procedure to ridicule him for a lack of attacking nous.  However, he grew into the 10 role during the Lions tour and looked to have picked up some good habits from Jonathan Sexton when it comes to attacking the line, whilst maintaining the strong kicking game and control that have been his best assets so far.  The Saracens man has looked sharp in the opening games of this season too, and is developing an eye for a gap as well as a strong relationship with Chris Ashton.  Farrell, despite not being the most naturally gifted of the 10s, deserves his shot.

The harder call to make is who should back him up on the bench.  The fashionable thing to do is put Freddie Burns straight in there, but his form for Gloucester has been disappointing to say the least, with little imagination to his game and his kicking from hand out of sorts.  He will benefit from playing games as opposed to bench duty.  That leaves the decidedly unfashionable Toby Flood and his gigantic ears as Farrell's back up, and I'm going to go against standard opinion and say that Flood is a classy operator in good form, with bags of experience and leadership skills.  Currently, it's a no-brainer to have him in the squad.

 

Centre

As usual, England's problem position – not least now that Brad Barritt and Manu Tuilagi are injured.  The absence of the latter, in particular, denies fans the opportunity to see one of the world's best carriers and strike runners outside a centre with a little more creativity – but it does present opportunities for others to stake a claim.  In the 12 shirt, there seems to be a straight shoot-out between Billy Twelvetrees, Luther Burrell and Kyle Eastmond.  I've got other plans for Eastmond, so I'll come to him in a minute, but I'm going to plump for the blonde-haired wonder for the inside centre spot.  Burrell looks like a great player – a strong carrier, hard tackler and a smooth distributor – but he has been caught out in his defensive positioning an alarming number of times early on.  Twelvetrees, on the other hand, offers superb distribution skills along with real authority in the midfield, as well as having the international experience to go with it.  This is his chance to make the shirt his own – he just has to resist the temptations to do everything himself and take the complicated option (i.e. the miss-7 pass) when a simple one will do.

Outside centre is another interesting call for Lancaster.  The general consensus seems to be to that it's a straight shoot-out between Joel Tomkins and Henry Trinder.  Tomkins is certainly the closest 'like-for-like' replacement for Tuilagi – a physical presence with the ability to make killer offloads.  But we haven't seen him do enough to really thrust him into prime position for international recognition in my opinion – he's still learning the game.  Trinder, on the hand, is the traditional outside centre with plenty of speed and a lightening outside break, much more the rapier than the bludgeon.  He also seems to have addressed his defensive failings and is certainly pushing hard for a starting spot, especially because of his relationship with Twelvetrees built up at Gloucester.  But I'm not going for either of these – I'd pick Kyle Eastmond, who partnered Twelvetrees so well in Argentina.  Like Tuilagi, he has out and out X-Factor (a completely different type of X-Factor, mind) with rapid feet, explosive acceleration and deceptive strength.  Having the option of a completely different kind of threat in the midfield could be a great asset for England (think Catt and Tindall in 2003) and will force oppositions to adjust their defensive patterns.

 

Wings

England seem to be blessed with a plethora of nearly men on the wing – blokes who look the business at club level and then fade into obscurity on the international scene.  But in Marland Yarde, they may just have found the real deal.  Blessed with serious pace, good feet and, now, some real strength, Yarde is just the athlete England want in their side.  He’s also shown a great eye for the tryline in club colours this year, having scored twice on debut over the summer, and he looks to have a good attitude that means he’s willing to work hard and get stuck into the dirty stuff as well. And Austin Healey made the worrying point that he’s still carrying about 4% too much body fat...meaning there’s still room for improvement.  He takes a wing spot ahead of a rejuvenated Ugo Monye, who has been unfortunately injured, and Dave Strettle, who has been in try scoring form for Saracens.  As for Mike Brown?  Well, wing was never really his position...

On the other wing, I’ve opted for captain popular himself, Chris Ashton.  Like him or loathe him, Ashton seems to have got his swagger back this year, popping up here, there and everywhere and hinting at a return to form that showcased him as one of the best finishers in world rugby two years ago.  Saracens’ new and more expansive game plan seems to be playing to his strengths and a great display against Toulouse, in which he was a constant thorn in the opposition’s side, proved that he may well be approaching his best once again.  He gets the nod just head of Christian Wade, who hasn’t quite managed to shine in a struggling Wasps side, but still looks like a class act, and Charlie Sharples of Gloucester.

 

Full Back

I mentioned that Mike Brown was never a winger, and that’s because he’s a damned fine fullback.  With Twelvetrees starting, the need for Alex Goode at 15 diminishes as the inside centre can take on second receiver roles, and Brown has shown himself to be the best attacking full back in the country – and the most consistent one too.  He may not be the quickest, but he is as wriggly as an over-excited puppy and has the strength to worm his way out of an extraordinary number of tackles – he will beat the first man on the counter attack every time, which cannot be said for the other contenders. 

Ben Foden is one such contender, but I challenge anyone to remember the last time Foden actually tore it up like he used to 3 years ago.  In fact, I can’t remember the last time he beat the first man when running a kick back.  He remains a reliable presence under the high ball, an intelligent footballer and a fine finisher, but in terms of form, Brown is streets ahead of the competition.

 

 

RuckedOver’s England XV to take on Australia

And so that’s it for our breakdown of the England side – I’d pick the squad below, but what changes would you make?

1.  M. Vunipola, 2. T Youngs, 3. Cole, 4. Lawes, 5. Parling, 6. Wood, 7. Robshaw (captain), 8. Morgan, 9. Care, 10. Farrell, 11. Yarde, 12. Twelvetrees, 13. Eastmond, 14. Ashton, 15. Brown.

SUBS:  Hartley, Marler, Wilson, Launchbury, B. Vunipola, Dickson, Flood, Trinder

Heineken Cup Review - Saracens 16 - 17 Toulouse

All kings must fall.  Toulouse, more than any other European side, will know that sentiment.  So long they were at the top table of Europe, crowning their dominance with a then record 4 Championships, but recently they have been forced to watch as the crown passed on to Leinster – and now there is every threat it may move on, sickeningly, to fierce rivals, Toulon.  But when the king falls, there is inevitably a clamour for the crown – and this year, Saracens have well and truly put their hand up.  It was just one of many reasons why this was such an intriguing fixture – the grizzled pedigree of Toulouse taking on the young pretenders to the throne, Saracens.  That and the fact the match was to be a showdown between two packs the size of a small herd of elephants in front of a Wembley crowd of 61,000.

And after a tentative start by both sides, where inside centre-cum-fly half Luke McAlister was off target with a long-range penalty, it then looked as if the record crowd could be in for a real treat, as Saracens roared into the lead early on with a well taken try.  A loose pass by McAlister, who was to have a poor game, was picked off by the Saracens' backline and Chris Wyles and Chris Ashton combined beautifully to send the former over for the game's opening score on just 8 minutes.  Nigel Owens checked for a forward pass, was satisfied and, following Owen Farrell's conversion, the hosts had themselves a 7 – 0 lead.

Saracens, this year, have been all about power – crashing through opponents with relish and using the momentum to unleash David Strettle and a rejuvenated Ashton on back-peddling defences.  It was, however, a taste of their own medicine in the exchanges following the try, as Toulouse demonstrated their pedigree by unleashing a potent mix of power and pace from all over the pitch.  At the heart of it all was the man keeping the revered Louis Picamoles out of the side, Gillian Galan.  The young number 8 may have a face like a podgy 13 year old, but his physique and raw power saw him barrelling through tackles and offloading with exquisite deftness to put the French side firmly on the front foot early on. 

The one thing that Sarries did have in their favour though, was an exceptional cover defence and the form of McAlister's boot, which missed two penalties in quick succession following infringements by the penalty machine that is Matt Stevens.  There was only so long though that the hosts could get away with their ill-discipline though, and when Strettle was adjudged to have tackled Yoann Huget without the ball, the England winger was sent to the sin-bin.  It's difficult enough to hold out Toulouse with a full side, but with 14 players the task became much harder – and the visitors took full advantage with an unstoppable rolling maul which resulted in hooker Christopher Tolofua crashing over for a score.  Scrum-half Jean-Marc Doussain, now kicking for the Frenchmen, converted to level the scores.

Saracens, to their credit though, began to gain parity in the tight exchanges, with Mako Vunipola, Jacques Burger and Alistair Hargreaves providing much needed shunt on the carry, although Mako's brother, Billy, was finding it difficult to make yards – largely thanks to the fact he carries far too upright.  It earned Sarries 3 attempts on goal, of which Farrell converted 2, and the first half ended with the hosts in command at 13 – 7 and the beleaguered McAlister leaving the game with a shoulder injury.

Toulouse, recognising that they were beginning to come off second-best in the forward battle, despite the thunderous presence of Galan, tried to mix things up by making changes to the pack at half time – including the introduction of veteran Guthro Steenkamp – but it made little difference as the hosts ramped up the intensity.  Billy Vunipola finally found his stride and began to make noticeable yardage as Saracens dominated the opening 10 minutes, with Toulouse making 34 tackles to Sarries' 2.  However, they were unable to take advantage and cross the line, despite Ashton coming close with a smart chip and chase, but their scrum was starting to get on top and it resulted in a penalty for Farrell, allowing the men in black to stretch out to a 9 point lead.

The pendulum, though, began to swing as the French side showed their experience in clawing their way back into the match, with French number 8 Louis Picamoles introduced to prove a point.  With Maxime Medard and Yoann Huget looking dangerous, the French side threw wave after wave of attack onto the hosts, who had the impressive Farrell to thank after two pieces of superb defence – including one turnover.  Despite the French becoming increasingly dominant though, Saracens were still sitting on a 9 point cushion going into the final quarter.

That wasn't too last, though.  After Doussain had pulled 3 points back, Rhys Gill was turned over in midfield and Toulouse kicked ahead, with a Huget tackle forcing Wyles to ground the ball behind his line after he had carried it over.  From the resulting scrum, Picamoles picked up and powered his way over the line from 5 metres to make a powerful statement both in the match and for his international credentials.  Doussain hit the conversion and, from nowhere, the French side had a 1 point lead with 10 minutes to go.

But the Londoners aren't favourites for the Aviva Premiership for nothing, and they began hammering straight back.  It summed up the game – it wasn't pretty, but you couldn't take your eyes off it.  Farrell had a chance to take the lead with a 55 metre penalty which proved just out of his range, before Kelly Brown made a superb break to set the England fly half up for a drop goal attempt with the last play of the game.  61,000 fans held their breath as Neil De Kock flung the pass back…and 55,000 groaned as a Toulon finger took the sting out of the kick and the ball fell agonisingly short.  The stadium, rocking before then, seemed bizarrely subdued as Toulouse celebrated a 17 – 16 win after an enthralling encounter.

It was a hugely significant win, not just in the context of the group, and not just in the context of the view that the French sides can't win away from home.  This was important to the very legacy of the tournament, should it not continue next year.  It looks like the old kings of Europe aren't ready to forget about their crown just yet.

What else was happening in the Heineken Cup over the weekend?

Pool 1:  Leinster picked up a gritty 19 – 7 win over the reigning Top 14 Champions, Castres, whilst Northampton gave Ospreys a mountain to climb with a 27 – 16 win over the Welsh outfit, despite not securing a bonus point.

Pool 2:  Cardiff Blues produced the shock of the round as they came out 19 – 15 winners at home against the reigning champions, Toulon.  Glasgow Warriors also picked up their first win with a hard-fought 20 – 16 win over the Exeter Chiefs.

Pool 3:  In the other game in pool 3, Zebre were disappointing as they were turned over 6 – 33 by a physical and clinical Connacht side.

Pool 4:  Scarlets and Racing Metro played out a dramatic and entertaining 26 – 26 draw at Parc Y Scarlets, whilst Clermont Auvergne overcame Harlequins 23 – 16 despite a dogged display by the Londoners.

Pool 5:  Leicester Tigers left it late to secure a bonus point win over Treviso, running out 34 – 3 winners at Welford Road.  Ulster, on the other hand, put in a magnificent display against Montpellier in France to win 8 – 25 and throw the group wide open.

Pool 6:  Munster overcame a gritty Gloucester side to run out 26 – 10 winners at Thomond Park, whilst Perpignan were too strong at home against Edinburgh, comfortably winning 31 – 14.
 

Heineken Cup Preview - Saracens v Toulouse

Despite being predominantly a rugby fan, I do have to admit being partial to other sports.  I will usually religiously watch anything that appears on TV and try most sports with relish, albeit with varying degrees of success (from poor to embarrassing).  That can range from NFL, to golf, to tennis, to cricket.  I’ve even been caught watching Australian league netball before, although the explanation that I was interested in the sport didn’t seem to convince my girlfriend.  I do though, like plenty of Englishmen, have a soft spot for football.  I can’t really watch it anymore, due to a combination of my team languishing in mid-table in the Championship and the fact that I hurl my shoe at the screen every time some ponce squeals and rolls around holding his ankle when somebody brushes past him.  But I do enjoy playing it and I do break the ‘no watching football’ rule for England.

Of course, watching England in football has been about as entertaining as a grass-growing contest over recent years, and that’s something anyone who has watched Saracens can relate to.  But, over the last few games, we’ve seen a transformation – an attacking verve that combines speed, intelligence and directness to the extent that it finally looks like the players are enjoying themselves.  And that too is true of Saracens of late.  So perhaps it’s appropriate that the Londoners continue their transformation from snooze-inducers to exponents of total rugby at the home of a side who have equally turned around their fortunes in the entertainment – and success – stakes.  Wembley is the venue for Saracens’ showdown against European heavyweights, Toulouse.

And I don’t mean heavyweights metaphorically, either.  Their fly half, Luke McAllister, weighs a pretty solid 95kg, whilst number 8 Gillian Galan - starting ahead of Louis Picamoles – weighs a colossal 120kg.  That’s just an indication on how Toulouse are approaching this game – raw power is at the forefront of everything they do.  With Yoann Maestree and Census Johnston lurking in the pack as well, this a set of forwards who will arrive at Wembley with the express objective of smashing their opponents off the park – route one style.  The selection of Poitrenaud’s kicking game ahead of the wonderfully talented Fickou at centre tells you all you need to know – Toulouse want territory and forward dominance.

That’s not to say that Saracens are fairies in comparison though.  Unless you’re referring to nightmarish, bulldozer fairies in the shape of the Vunipola brothers that is.  The thought of taking on this gargantuan French pack will be one to relish for the England men, but they’ll be backed up by a sharp mix of power and guile, with Schalk Brits and Ernst Joubert both smart operators in the loose.  The set up Saracens have gone for in the pack suggests that they will expect to match the visitors physically, but they also want to run them off the park. 

So Wembley, once again, is the place to be tomorrow night.  I may usually throw myself into most sports, but I wouldn’t be keen on being in the middle when these two packs collide...

 

Saracens Team News

The hosts, who beat Connacht 23-17 in their opener, make four changes for the four-time champions' visit on Friday.   Jacques Burger, Alistair Hargreaves, Richard Wigglesworth and Duncan Taylor are all included in the starting XV.

Starting Line up:  Goode, Ashton, Wyles, Taylor, Strettle, Farrell, Wigglesworth, M Vunipola, Brits, Stevens, Borthwick, Hargreaves, B Vunipola, Burger, Joubert.

Substitutes: George, Gill, Johnston, Kruis, Brown, de Kock, Bosch, Tomkins

Key Player

Billy Vunipola.  I personally think it’s worrying for England that Sarries don’t trust his ball control at the base of the scrum, but just having him on the park – even at blindside flanker – is a massive boost for the Londoners.  With a chest the approximate circumference of the meteor that starred in Armageddon and ridiculous tree-trunk legs, the big man is nigh-on impossible to stop on the gain line.  He’ll be facing up to a formidable and experienced Toulouse side though and, with both sides aiming to batter each other up front first up, the Australian-born England international will be a key figure in the front line of that battle.  Yardage is the order of the day.  

 

Toulouse Team News

Toulouse recall former All Black Luke McAlister and second-row Yoann Maestri to the side that beat Zebre.  Maxime Medard switches to full-back with Clement Poitrenaud at inside centre, whilst Luke McAlister and Jean-Marc Doussain come in at half-back.  Thierry Dusautoir returns the starting XV at openside flanker, whilst Schalk Ferreira and Census Johnston are the new props.

Starting Line up:  Medard, Huget, Fritz, Poitrenaud, Gear, McAlister, Doussain, Galan, Dusautoir, Nyanga, Tekori, Maestri, Johnston, Tolofua, Ferreira.

Substitutes: Ralepelle, Steenkamp, Montes, Lamboley, Millo-Chluski, Vermaak, Fickou, Picamoles

Key Player

Luke McAlister.  The former All Black is another with thighs apparently inherited from Godzilla (his nickname is Quadzilla), but it’s also fair to say that the Toulouse man has a fair drop of subtlety in his game.  With a howitzer boot, and sharp offloading game, it’s the fly-half’s running ability that mark him out as a real talent.  With power like a backrow – to the extent that Will Greenwood retired after being hit by him in 2005, because he looked up expecting to see a number 8, and instead saw a fly half – McAlister offers a unique threat with ball in hand that draws in defenders and creates space for those outside him.  Farrell will have a real test on his hands to keep the All Black quiet.

 

Key Battle

Jacques Burger v Thierry Dusautoir.  Despite the mouth-watering battles all over the park, the sight of these two grizzled warhorses going toe to toe may not win any beauty contests, but it sure will be explosive.  Burger has started the season in superb form, picking up man-of-the-match awards with monotonous regularity, whilst Dusautoir has also began to find the standards that saw him awarded the IRB Player of the Year in 2011 after a disappointing time last season.  Both are phenomenally aggressive around the park but also possess a classy technical side that see them cause no ends of problems if there’s even half a sniff of an offload.  And that, in a war between two sets of battering rams, could well be the difference. 

 

Prediction

It’s been documented pretty heavily of late that the French sides don’t travel with, but if playing Saracens at Wembley doesn’t get you up for it, then what will?  The French ooze class throughout their side but Sarries have looked in ominously good form this year and will fancy their chances – even if they are coming up against their sternest physical test of the season so far.  If the scrum can hold up against the powerful operators in the Toulouse front row, then Sarries should be able to play territory well enough to cause the visitors some problems and grab a crucial win.  Saracens by 8.

 

What else is happening in the Heineken Cup this weekend?

 

Pool One:  Leinster should have too much at home against a Castres side still not looking all that eager at participating in the Heineken Cup.  Northampton, meanwhile, should do the business against the Ospreys at Franklins Gardens.

 

Pool Two:  Cardiff face a real uphill battle against Toulon at home – especially if they play like they did in the first half against Exeter – and would do well to get anything out of the game, whilst the Chiefs face a tough visit to Glasgow where the Scottish side will be confident of getting their first win of the tournament.

 

Pool Three:  The other fixture in Pool 3 sees the unfancied Zebre and Connacht face one another in what should be a tight game – and Zebre will be confident of a first Cup win.

 

Pool Four:  Scarlets will face a tough home assignment against Racing Metro, but the French side will be expecting four points from that fixture – as will Clermont, who host the woefully out of form Harlequins on Sunday.

 

Pool Five:  Leicester will be confident of bouncing back from defeat with a home win against Treviso on Friday night whilst Ulster should find a trip to Montpellier just a step too far for them.

 

Pool Six:  Munster had a shocker last weekend but will be a different animal at home – as Gloucester should discover at their cost.  Perpignan, meanwhile, will be hopeful of a win at home against Edinburgh.