English coach Stuart Lancaster has made five changes to his side for the second test against South Africa in Johannesburg.
In a move sure to raise eyebrows, young flyhalf Owen Farrell has been dropped to the bench, replaced by the more direct Toby Flood in the number 10 jersey. Enforced changes at centre see Manu Tuilagi move to 12 in place of the injured Brad Barritt, with exciting young Jonathan Joseph handed a maiden test start in the number 13 jersey.
In another enforced change, David Strettle comes into the side at left wing, with Ben Foden moving to his more familiar fullback position in place of the injured Mike Brown. Although the starting pack is unchanged, a change on the bench sees Alex Corbisiero take over from Paul Doran Jones as reserve prop.
Alex Goode has also been included on the bench, occupying the spot held by Joseph last week.
15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 David Strettle, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Chris Robshaw (captain), 6 Tom Johnson, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler
Substitutes: 16 Lee Mears, 17 Alex Corbisiero, 18 Tom Palmer, 19 Phil Dowson, 20 Lee Dickson, 21 Owen Farrell, 22 Alex Goode
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Where is Hape? Injured?
This is the problem with English rugby imo. The squad changes far too much. No chance the build consistency and accumulate caps.
Alex Goode any relation of Andy?
@Bokhoring (Comment 2) : Nope.
Anyone care to speculate on how effective the Tuilagi/Joseph combo will be on defence?
@vanmartin (Comment 4) : its new… So I think it will be newish like 😉
Try as they will
Try as they might
These bleak men
Won’t win the fight
@Ben (Comment 1) : Hape was retired by Lancaster if memory serves me correct
@Bokhoring (Comment 2) :
The Sacarcens utility back
@vanmartin (Comment 4) : Well Manu’s defense is pretty good. As we saw in the 1st test. No idea what Joseph’s defense is like. I think he played sevens so he’s as fast as hell.
is this website dead? 😯
Spookwerf. 😈
One wouldnt think / know there is a Bok game tomorrow or a juniour world cup taking place in SA.
@Megatron (Comment 10) : Seems I`m not the only one who cares more about the Sharks than the bokke.
This break in super rugby really doesn`t do it for me.
Well since it’s all so quiet…
How well spoken is William Small-Smith! Seems a heckuva nice guy with a good head on his shoulders. Hope he goes a long way in SA rugby. Regardless of whether he’s one or the best or not, he’s definitely one of my favorite players.
@hendrikp (Comment 14) : Still don’t think he deserves to be picked at outside centre ahead of Jordaan.
@hendrikp (Comment 14) : well spoken compared to who, the incumbent captain? 😆
@Megatron (Comment 16) :
Eish, don’t patronize me
@FireTheLooser (Comment 15) :
I’d say it’s simply a case of fitting all the talented backs into the same backline. Jordaan is able to play wing, so why not!?
ouens, I’m sorry about this… it really does break my heart…. but there’s simply nothing to write about at the moment.
This 3-week break in Super Rugby is a killer
@hendrikp (Comment 17) : Jordaan certainly looked the part at wing against the English, after being shocking against Ireland.
Still, can’t say it sits well with me that an incumbent Super Rugby 13 can’t get picked in that position for the Baby. Boks
@hendrikp (Comment 17) : what impressed you, was it the “we hammered and hammered and kept hammering them” line or the “we knew we’d score 4 tries, um no we didn’t ag no we KNEW” 😆
@robdylan (Comment 19) :
He did look very very good, but I’d argue so did Small-Smith. Not quite there with Jordaan who, with another performance like that should be up for U20 Player of the Year, but up there.
@Megatron (Comment 20) :
So his grammar is terrible! 😆 You know what I meant.
@robdylan (Comment 19) : Lined up between the fullback and flyhalf were 4 centres, I wonder what the wings in this squad are thinking.
@Salmonoid (Comment 22) :
Probably that they should pick up their game!!
TBH I think Mbovane will make a better 7’s prospect long term. Quick on his feet and all, but with kicking playing such a big part nowadays, you can’t exactly include him on his performance under the high ball, and he’s not near being a ‘strong’ runner.
Rhule was a very late addition that never should’ve been (pathetic against Ireland) and only got in because of injury to Dean Hammond… and we can just be happy to avoid another Bulls winger, this time Ismaiel, from ruining our whole campaign! 😆
Feel a bit sorry for Marvin Orie.
Only player in the U20 squad not to see any action yet, and unlikely to do so.
At least he’s eligible next year also
@Megatron (Comment 20) :
@hendrikp (Comment 23) : how is julian savea’s “kicking”? how is he “under the high ball”
rubbish man!
@Megatron (Comment 26) :
Savea is incredibly strong runner, and plays in a country where he’s likely to see plenty of ball.
Can’t say the same for Mbovane.
Also Savea was U20 Player of the Year last year. Mbovane hasn’t cracked the SA teams starting-XV.
In the same league? I’d be more then happy if it turns out that way, but not at the moment.
@hendrikp (Comment 23) : would you consider ben smith, cory jane, richard kahui all “strong runners”?
@hendrikp (Comment 27) : nice deflection, how about answering my questions? 😀
@Megatron (Comment 28) :
Ben Smith a freakishly talented player with an excellent kicking game.
Cory Jane definitely doesn’t shy away from the defensive side of the ball.
And Richard Kahui is a confrontational sort of player, yes.
It was just an opinion. Let’s leave it at that, because you’ve obviously gone out and backed the guy, so this has hit a spot, 😆 .
@hendrikp (Comment 27) : do you think christian wade is a “strong runner”?
@Megatron (Comment 31) :
Tell you what. I’ll eat some humble pie when Mbovane shows me he can break some tackles.
He’s going to have a tough time even getting near the WP starting line-up, considering Habana is on till end of 2014, Aplon will probably still play a few years, and Gerhard vd Heever & Danie Poolman seem a bit more in line with what is expected of wingers in Cape Town.
@hendrikp (Comment 30) : no, i haven’t backed mbovane at all, i just find it funny when you use spurious, cliched one liners to basically dismiss a very talented player.
your opinion is rubbish
@hendrikp (Comment 30) : so in your mind, tshotsho is a less “freakishly talented player and shies away fron the defensive side of the ball”?
is willie le roux a “strong runner”?
@Megatron (Comment 33) :
An opinion I’m entitled to.
If you think different, then tell me why… Rather then being smug.
glad you guys found a way to entertain yourselves 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 36) : 😉
@Megatron (Comment 37) :
💡 😥 😕
@robdylan (Comment 38) : 😯
@robdylan (Comment 38) :
Forgot your medication again? 😉 😐 😡 😈 😯 🙁 🙄 😛 😳 😮
😆 💡 😀 👿 😥 😎 ➡ 😕 ❓ ❗
@robdylan (Comment 38) : @robdylan (Comment 38) : @Pokkel (Comment 40) : @vanmartin (Comment 39) : you okes are BORED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙄