JB

^^ And everyone hates the English for being arrogant?!??!?

Just seen England's line-up for Saturday. While I'm excited to see Flood starting outside Wilko, I'm gutted to see Haskell dropped for the fat, useless, arrogant lump Easter. One of our best-performing forwards dropped for one that offers us practically nothing other than jogging around being fat. I know a few people who've met him as well as he's apparently a word removed of the highest order. It's embarrassing that we start with such a plodder when I look at the dynamic 8s playing for other nations. Oh well. Hoping he proves me wrong. Glad to see Palmer in the side, although not at the expense of Lawes, who I like. Disappointed Joe Simpson doesn't make the bench - would've liked a look at him after how disappointing Youngs and Wigglesworth have been.

Absolutely right mate. Once England compete with the same urgency, aggression and nous at the breakdown as the top teams (and I include Wales and Ireland in that) then we can hope for a bit more from them. It would also help if we didn't have a scrum half who passed it anywhere but the receiver's hands!

With respect, I think you're wrong. All bar none of England's best performances/victories over the last few years have been when we've departed from the garbage people usually associate with us.

With England v France I think it depends which England turns up. If it's the one that plays an expansive, exciting game, such as we saw against the Aussies last autumn or Romania a couple of weeks ago, I think we'll win. If it's the play-it-safe dross we've seen more often than not, we're out. I think you can tell which it is within the first 5 minutes of a game. I would start with Jonny at 10, primarily for his awesome defence, but only if Flood is in at 12 as an additional kicking option to take a bit of pressure off Wilko. And because Tindall is rubbish.

Yep, by and large our players have been an embarrassment. The whole "need to let their hair down" thing doesn't seem to have taken into account a requirement for total professionalism in what should be the pinnacle of four years work. It's interesting to contrast our approach with that of one of the players of the tournament, Sam Warburton, who hasn't had a drink since the 6N in an effort to be in the best shape possible and focus on WC prep. Also, who's looking after Manu Tuilagi?! He's a cracking player and someone who at least looks like he gives a shit but reading about his gumshield fine he's saying how he coloured one in with a marker pen... I wouldn't have thought having highly toxic marker pen ink in your mouth is the best idea...

Couldn't disagree more about the citing. It was a unavoidable collision with no malice involved whatsoever. Armitage may have made a few minor mistakes (don't forget he's a makeshift winger) but has been more than solid. A few great takes from the high ball spring to mind, and he makes ground with the ball in hand more often than not. I'd say he's been in our top 3 or 4 performers so far. Not difficult though I know . Obviously wouldn't get in Ireland or Wales's side though.

Id take that as a positive. Armitage is not cut out at this level. Cueto and Ashton are Englands finishers. Go with them - the ball never seems to go wide often with England so you need someone there who'll do something with it when it does, not die with the ball. Not sure you've been watching our games mate (not that I blame you!) - Armitage has been easily one of our best players so far!

Cannot wait for Ireland v Wales! Both teams looking awesome so far. I'm hoping they smash the living shit out of each other though and that the winner has at least five or six players ruled out for the semi IF (and it's a very big one) we should get past France. England once again looking dopey and lacking anything approaching a competitive level of urgency, aggression and fluidity. Wilkinson's defence against the Scots was top notch I thought, despite a poor kicking display. Just putting this out there though - Ben Youngs is actually shit? Surprise, surprise Delon Armitage cited and suspended for a tackle no worse than we've seen a hundred times this world cup. It seems the irrational hatred of England is counting against us off the pitch as well!

Sorry but no.... just no. North is exactly what we've been crying out for since... forever really. A big, aggressive ball runner who will hit up the middle but all importantly, can finish. He's what? 6'3, 17 stone? Halfpenny is fast, very fast - and the natural successor to Shane after the WC for Wales but North is such a weapon. Everytime hes got the ball hes gone through tackles - Habana has faced some big boys but twice Norths been against him in his young international career and twice Habana has been taken off looking like a complete clearing in the woods defensively. Yep. Gutted a quality English player ends up playing for Wales! Let's hope the something doesn't happen with Ben Morgan. Now he would've been a great alternative to Waldrom!

Waldrom called up as cover for Easter. Another kiwi. This is getting seriously embarrassing.

James Haskell talking about the need to name and shame the guys who are letting the side down. However much I agree with his points, I'm not sure it was the best idea to air this in public. Any ideas who in particular he could be talking about?

Agreed. It's not as if the things we're ballsing up aren't straightforward either, which is the worry. Ashton clutching his arm at the end - hope it's nothing serious otherwise we're stuck with the bloody useless lump Banahan on the wing. I'm not sure how Johnno thought it was a good idea to go to a WC with only 2 out and out wings. Oh well. Call up Strettle or Sharples as Sheridan's replacement I reckon. On the plus side, we chucked the ball around with some purpose and ambition at times.

Fair play Wales, maybe a bit lucky but superior conditioning was telling and they ground out a win. Samoa were the better side and deserved to win. If only Paul Williams had not missed a couple of easyish kicks and they'd had a bit more composure near the line.

**** me, Andy Powell is shite!

The burglar can be as good to watch as any player in the world but bloody hell, he can also be a liability too. What was he doing with that no-look pass at the end?! Butchered an almost certain try and almost gifted Ireland one. That's his appeal I guess. Can't decide if I'm happy about the way the draw looks like panning out now. IF (and it's a very big one) we get past France in QFs then I don't fancy us against Wales or Ireland and it will be unbearable to lose to either of them ha ha. God forbid either of them win it...

Hmmm, 90,000 at Carlton vs Essendon at the MCG yesterday. Did they get that for the first round of matches in total at the RWC? It aint the World Cup's fault that there is **** all else to do in Melbourne. touche! Good on yer, Ponky! The RWC so far shows that the so-called "lesser" sides are getting better coached, physically bigger and more tactically aware - so that in a few years, in wouldn't surprise me to see the likes of the USA and Canada getting to the semi-final stages. Would still love to see a team like Tonga winning the cup, though - that would be awesome for the Pacific nations. Agreed. Having been to Fiji and seen how awesome the people there are (and played a bit of rugby with them), they're my second team. I really want them to get through their group. I would bloody love to see them win it. Just seen that Courtney Lawes has been cited. A bit harsh to say the least. Loved the way he stepped up and put himself about on Saturday. I'll be gutted if he misses any games.

Ha ha yeah I saw that. Although I've seen first hand what a bell end of the highest order he is!

Why? Wales will almost certainly face Australia in the quarter finals if they make it out of the group. The games against Fiji and Samoa become big games too, and Wales dont have the greatest record against the south Pacific sides. Cup rugby is all about results, yes, Wales will take a lot of heart for their performance against the Springboks, but I am sure they would rather have a win and some points on the table. It's quite simple, Wales have looked a far better team than us for a while now. For some time, England have looked one-dimensional. Against a better team than we faced, Wales produced a fantastic performance that makes me think they could be competitive against anyone. The likely QF against the Aussies will be one hell of a game that I can see going either way. England, on the other hand, look lacking in so many areas and based on our last few performances, I can't see us getting past France in the QF or Wales/Wallabies in the semis. Ben Dirs has written an excellent article on it on the BBC. As a proud Englishman, it really pains me to say it and I hate to be critical of my national team. Having gone to uni and lived in Cardiff, with loads of Welsh mates, I can't help but envy the passion of their support and how much it seems to mean to their players. I think we've got the players to be a hell of a side but the selection and coaching seems to be lacking.

I totally agree with you mate. England just haven't been playing well for too long now. Wales look stronger, quicker and hungrier.

Wales were awesome in almost every area. It sounds strange but I'd rather have had that performance and lost than England's and won. It bodes much better, not just for the rest of the tournament but the future as a whole. Wales look arguably like the best team in the northern hemisphere at the moment for me. The attitude of "a win is a win" that England seem to take is quite dangerous I think. Sometimes you'll need something a bit extra than just grinding it out to win a game. As for the kick though - I guess I'm in the minority but I genuinely thought it missed! It's not Wayne Barnes's fault as he was entitled to go with the decision of the two guys with the best view in the stadium. Haven't seen a replay since but I think there might also have been a hint of a forward pass from Priestland for Faletau's try...

You're right, perhaps Armitage could've made it easier but it should have been a simple pass either way to be fair, and a player of pretty much any decent level should've been able to make it. That said, I'll admit that I haven't seen it again since the game so I could well be wrong.

Thought Lawes was good. He stepped up to the physicality more than anyone else. Foden made one great break then completely fluffed the pass to Armitage - who also did well I thought - that would've sent him over in the corner.

Not sure what you call it, but on the short animation that plays before and after the ad break on the ITV coverage, has anyone else noticed that the image of the ball that forms looks like it takes a dump just before the words appear beneath it? That was at least one thing that raised a smile for us this morning .

That was utter, utter crap. 11 or 12 of those guys were an embarrassment to our country. We will never learn. When we play an expansive game (which we can do no matter what the detractors say) we look an infinitely better team. Since the Italy game in the 6N we've looked flat, bereft of ideas and for the most part lacking in physicality, both at the breakdown and in general (although Lawes put himself about). We have no creativity and our only plans seems to be to throw it to the wing as quickly as possible or try and barge our way through. Depressing. Not sure why Johnno seems to have abandoned the game plan that worked so well against the Aussies a couple of times last year. Changes are needed in the coaching staff if we're going to stop ourselves stagnating further. I'm sincerely hoping I'm singing a different song next week . Nice to see Haskell showing a bit of passion at the end . Oh and I wish BBC had the broadcasting rights. ITV are beyond shit. Ryder was getting the score wrong for about an hour after the game, saying we'd won by a single point. Tit.