Wilkinson back for the big stage

Martin Johnson pulled few surprises when he named England’s starting fifteen for their World Cup opener against Argentina on Saturday. The only absentee from a full strength side is wing Mark Cueto, who is out with a back injury; Delon Armitage comes in to replace the Sale man. 

Manu Tuilagi starts in the centre with Mike Tindall, who captains the side in the absence of Lewis Moody. Richard Wigglesworth starts at scrum half, with Jonny Wilkinson, playing in his fourth World Cup, regaining the number ten shirt once again.

It signifies an almost miraculous comeback from the hero of 2003, whose international career appeared to be all but over after a disappointing Six Nations campaign in 2010. After spending the previous few years out with injury or sat on the bench, England’s all time record points scorer is the leading man once again.

Wilkinson demonstrated a fresh approach and style during England’s warm up campaign; taking the ball at pace and playing flat on the gain line, allowing the strong running centre combination of Tindall and Tuilagi to pick lines and get in behind opposition. However, it’s not a completely new model, he still possesses two wonderful feet with which to find field position or to dissect the uprights, in whatever form is necessary. In defence, JW is still giving attackers the brick-wall treatment, retaining his mantel as his countries best tackling back.

At thirty-two years old, Wilkinson is still the fittest member of the England squad, eclipsing the rest of the squad during the various boot camps over the summer months. In fact, add all this together and maybe, just maybe Jonny is better now than he was in 2003. There are no doubts over his big-match temperament and an improved Jonny Wilkinson is a scary prospect for the rest of the world.

England team to play Argentina:

Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, Manu Tuilagi, Mike Tindall (captain), Delon Armitage, Jonny Wilkinson, Richard Wigglesworth, Andrew Sheridan, Steve Thompson, Dan Cole, Louis Deacon, Courtney Lawes, Tom Croft, James Haskell, Nick Easter.

Replacements:

Dylan Hartley, Matt Stevens, Tom Palmer, Tom Wood, Ben Youngs, Toby Flood, Matt Banahan.

RWC - Ones to Watch

Two days and counting until the 2011 RWC kicks off in New Zealand, with the hosts taking on Tonga in Auckland. Tournament Talk looks at the competitions potential Players of the Tournament in ‘Ones to Watch.’

                    

 Quade Cooper


 Australia’s charismatic playmaker has come of age in sparkling fashion this season with an array of eye-catching performances. His quick feet and eye for a gap are sure to cause havoc in the even the best of defences.

                                           

Conrad Smith

In amongst the All Blacks’ star-studded squad, Conrad Smith often goes unnoticed. Often seen as one of the games’ most under-rated players, Smith oozes class. His gliding running style and clever lines of running make him a sure contender for player of the tournament.

Will Genia

The form player coming into the tournament, Genia is a model scrum-half. Quick around the base with an accurate kicking game and precision passing, the Australian number nine is my bet for the tournaments’ top accolade.

Sergio Parisse

The influential Italian number eight may seem an odd choice to many people as a potential player of the tournament. However, if the Italians can topple the out of form Irish in the group stage and make it through to the quarter finals, anything can happen. If they do manage this, Sergio Parisse is sure to be one of the main reasons.

Dan Carter

Very little needs to be said about DC; New Zealand are odds on favourites to lift the World Cup and Carter will no doubt play a huge part in any potential success. The Kiwi’s talisman has been dominating International rugby for a number of years now and there is no reason to think he won’t continue doing so, come September 9^th. 

Hang your hopes on Hook

As far as World Cup preparations go, Wales’ was better than average. Their defeat to England in the first warm-up match, although disappointing provided a number of positives, most notably a strong second half performance.

The Welsh reversed the previous weeks result when the sides met in Cardiff; with a resolute Wales defence stealing the headlines this time round. The only try of the game was scored by James Hook, playing at full-back but standing in the fly-half channel as he weaved his way through the English defenders and powered over the line. However, the Welsh playmakers’ opportunities to create and finish these chances are being limited by the number on his back. Hook is Wales’ best player; he has a strong running game, good distribution, a solid kicking game as well as attacking flair in abundance. If Wales are to fulfil their potential and upset the odds at the RWC, James Hook must play at fly-half.

Supporters must omit memories and thoughts of interceptions and forced passes from his previous spell in the number ten shirt. Hook has grown as a player in the past few seasons and, if given the chance, could prove to be one of the players of the tournament in New Zealand.

Stephen Jones has been a fantastic servant to Welsh rugby and still has a huge role to play, but not as a starter. Jones’ role must now be as a ‘closer,’ much in the way Ronan O’Gara is. A player that can use their vast experience to play the territory game, accumulate points with clockwork-like goal-kicking and mentor the younger players through tough situations.

Wales should get through their group and on their day, are capable of beating anyone. 

Centre Stage

With only two warm-up matches to go before England jet off down under, it’s safe to say that ‘Johno’ will already know 95% of his final squad. An injury scare to Lewis Moody may lead to a small re-shuffle of the back-row options, but all in all, there are only a handful of places up for grabs; most notably in the back-row and the back three.

In the midfield, it looks like England will take all four of the initially selected centres. However, they may opt to omit one, with Armitage or Banahan able to offer another option in the middle. But what combination will the World Champions of 2003 go for? Tournament talk takes a look at the possibilities.

Hape & Tindall

The partnership used in England’s successful Six Nations campaign. Hape and Tindall give England solidity in midfield. They may lack in creativity as a pairing, but offer a solid defensive game as well as strong and direct ball carrying.

Flutey & Tindall

Ricky Flutey’s early form in Test rugby was fantastic and earned the New Zealand born centre a Lions call-up. His ability to act as a second distributor as well as a hard running inside centre probably put him ahead of Hape in the pecking order. Flutey and Tindall complement each other nicely and I think ‘Johno’ will opt for this combination when England face Argentina on September 10^th.

Tindall & Tuilagi

In Manu Tuilagi, England have found something very different; his South-Sea flair and style in attack and aggression in defence were on show for all to see against Wales. Despite a few defensive frailties, first exposed by O’Driscoll in the Heineken Cup, Tuilagi brings an X-factor to England’s back-line. A pairing of Tindall and Tuilagi would be strong and powerful but in all reality, Tuilagi may have to settle for a place on the bench and a role as an ‘impact player.’

Mike Tindall is almost certain to start the tournament and, with question marks over the fitness of Lewis Moody, the Gloucester man may be asked to captain the side. Delon Armitage and Matt Banahan can also play their part in the centre but barring an injury crisis, won’t be required to start a game there.

Follow the RWC 11 on Tournament Talk. Become a follower and keep an eye out for any new features. 

Photographs from RFU.com.

World Cup fever...

The training camps have been completed, the squads have been cut and the warm-up games have begun. If Rugby World Cup fever hasn’t got you yet, it’s definitely not far away. Well, I’m assuming you are a rugby fan and not just a lost football supporter trying to search ‘Rooney’ on Google.

The 2011 Rugby World Cup has already surfaced many questions; will a smaller nation upset the odds, much like Samoa did against Australia a short while ago? Which players will shine on the big stage? And will the All Blacks finally shift the ‘chokers’ tag from around their neck and exert complete dominance on the rugby world?

On the topic of smaller nations upsetting the odds, Samoa’s barnstorming display against Australia should really concern Wales and South Africa. As with every Pacific Island side, their performance was full of robust and aggressive tackling as well as dynamic ball carrying. But this time it had an added extra; a touch of class and a string of high-class, clinical finishes. Alessana Tuilagi will always steal the majority of Samoan headlines, but in Eliota Fuimano-Sapola they have a centre capable of breaking the down the strongest of defences. His flair and array of unorthodox passes and offloads could well prove to be a key factor in the Samoans’ campaign.

In 2003, a certain Jonny Wilkinson stole the tournament plaudits for a number of flawless displays as well as the winning drop-goal. 2007 was the year of the ‘Bok; Habana top scored with eight tries and Victor Matfield was the outstanding forward, with dominant performances in the line-out as well as strong work in the open. But who will be the star of 2011? Quade Cooper’s impressive performances in the Super 15 competition have certainly made him one to watch when the tournament kicks off in early September. A dominant Six Nations campaign from England’s Chris Ashton has also attracted much attention. But the flying Northampton winger is still to prove that he has what it takes to compete against the best in the world. 

However, in my opinion, it’s difficult to look past Daniel Carter. The Crusaders outside-half is the conductor of the All Blacks orchestra and having watched him during the early Tri-Nations clashes looks in commanding form.  Nine out of ten times, if DC gets its right, so do New Zealand.

In terms of competition winners, the script is written for New Zealand to shake off their doubters and win the Webb-Ellis Cup. The disastrous earthquakes that shook Christchurch and threatened the tournament itself will be sure to motivate the Blacks’. This combined with home advantage, a powerful pack and an elusive back-line could have destructive consequences for the rest of the world.

But we have heard it all before, in 2007 in fact. The French ended the dream that year in Cardiff and left New Zealand open to plenty of criticism; targeted mainly at their lack of ideas once ‘Plan A’ had been disrupted. If you’re looking for a winner elsewhere, England have proven to be a good tournament side in recent years. Australia are capable of tearing apart any side on their day, especially with the options they possess in the backs. But you can also never write the Springboks off, though on recent performances, the chances of them defending their crown look bleak. All shall be revealed come September. One thing is for sure, I won’t be hiding my colours in this blog, Swing low, sweet chariot…

Sign up as a follower of Tournament Talk for a slightly abstract look at the goings on in New Zealand. From match reports to opinion pieces, plus a team of the week page.  

Any comments and feedback are very welcome.