England in Australia

[Kawazaki]

I genuinely feel sorry for Adam Radwan. One of the fastest players in the world in any form of rugby and he's just ignored.

[Margin__Walker]

It was the tour that Rob Andrew managed because Johnson wasn't ready to take it on, wasn't it? And had a huge hissy fit declaring that some people would never play for England again due to their performances.

As I recall Ojo seemed waaaay too happy about his tries in a desperate losing cause - gave the impression he was much more interested in his own success than the team's.

Nah, that's not his style at all. Just checked and both pretty understated post try reactions.

Bigger issue for him was his off field indiscretions on that tour from memory.

[inactionman]

Matt Stevens?

He was actually good sometimes.

Solidish. But after winning world u21 player of the year I had higher expectations of him.

He was superb for Bath and made a very skilful ballhandling front row pairing with Lee Mears in particular (others have queried Mears getting a slagging, I'll do so again here - he was technically excellent but just not huge)

The problem was that - warmly encouraged by plank Harrison and others - Stevens proceeded to shove half of Columbia up his nozzle.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

How few caps to be considered truly below par?

Not sure we've seen many shouts for Burgess, who'd be perhaps too easy a call, but I've not noticed shouts for Turner or Morris in the props nor Hobson, I'd almost include Bell but he wasn't bad it was more we were forced into picking him. Shields along with Burgess might be too easy a shout but he's there, Walshe at 9 was worse than Perry, and he could be paired with Myler for the fun of it. Erinle, JTH and Francis all stank the place out in the centres as well as certain others mentioned.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

How few caps to be considered truly below par?

Not sure we've seen many shouts for Burgess, who'd be perhaps too easy a call, but I've not noticed shouts for Turner or Morris in the props nor Hobson, I'd almost include Bell but he wasn't bad it was more we were forced into picking him. Shields along with Burgess might be too easy a shout but he's there, Walshe at 9 was worse than Perry, and he could be paired with Myler for the fun of it. Erinle, JTH and Francis all stank the place out in the centres as well as certain others mentioned.

I reckon most people would agree that Burgess was a talented guy who should have been at least a year away from being anywhere near the England team. Most of the others weren't up to it in the first place.

[ASMO]

I think this fred has triggered PTSD episodes for many of us, names many of us had managed to erasevfrom memory have come flooding back

[Margin__Walker]

I think this fred has triggered PTSD episodes for many of us, names many of us had managed to erasevfrom memory have come flooding back

I feel this all my fault.

That said, it has been cathartic. No matter how bad things seem now, it could always be worse and is nowhere near as bad as it was then.

[Bullet]

Years ago I worked with a customer who claimed his mate had played for England and still should be but wouldn't elaborate.
It was only after a few drinks he told us it was Darren Crompton.

We took the piss for years

[Margin__Walker]

Was he in that odds and sods squad we sent to SA that time?

[sockwithaticket]

Was he in that odds and sods squad we sent to SA that time?

Yeah he was. Quite a few 30 something 1 or 2 cap wonders from that '07 tour. Mainly in the tight five.

Looking back I can't quite believe we were doing summer tours in world cup years.

[Kawazaki]

Did Peter Richards get mentioned?

[Margin__Walker]

Was he in that odds and sods squad we sent to SA that time?

Yeah he was. Quite a few 30 something 1 or 2 cap wonders from that '07 tour. Mainly in the tight five.

Looking back I can't quite believe we were doing summer tours in world cup years.

You probably have days as a pro rugby player where you realise you're overmatched and it could get a little scary. This was probably one of those days for these lads up front

1st test packs:

Danie Rossouw N8 8 N8 Nick Easter
Juan Smith F 7 F Andy Hazell
Schalk Burger F 6 F Chris Jones
Victor Matfield L 5 L Alex Brown
Bakkies Botha L 4 L Dean Schofield
BJ Botha P 3 P Stuart Turner
(capt.) John Smit H 2 H Mark Regan
Deon Carstens P 1 P Kevin Yates

[Bullet]

Was he in that odds and sods squad we sent to SA that time?

Can't find a squad list but looking at the forwards from 1st test is enough.
Don't know some of the names - Roy Winters?

Danie Rossouw N8 N8 Nick Easter
Juan Smith F7 F7 Andy Hazell
Schalk Burger F6 F6 Chris Jones
Victor Matfield L5 L5 Alex Brown
Bakkies Botha L4 L4 Dean Schofield
BJ Botha P3 P3 Stuart Turner
John Smit H2 H2 Mark Regan
Deon Carstens P1 P1 Kevin Yates

Replacements 
Gary Botha H16 H16 Matt Cairns  
Gurthro Steenkamp P17 P17 Darren Crompton
CJ van der Linde P18 F18 Roy Winters  
Johann Muller L19 F19 Pat Sanderson 

[Margin__Walker]

Have no recollection of Winters.

He actually started the 2nd test, with Skirving (!) at 8. They did at least bring Matt Stevens in for that one.

[sockwithaticket]

Was he in that odds and sods squad we sent to SA that time?

Yeah he was. Quite a few 30 something 1 or 2 cap wonders from that '07 tour. Mainly in the tight five.

Looking back I can't quite believe we were doing summer tours in world cup years.

You probably have days as a pro rugby player where you realise you're overmatched and it could get a little scary. This was probably one of those days for these lads up front

1st test packs:

Danie Rossouw N8 8 N8 Nick Easter
Juan Smith F 7 F Andy Hazell
Schalk Burger F 6 F Chris Jones
Victor Matfield L 5 L Alex Brown
Bakkies Botha L 4 L Dean Schofield
BJ Botha P 3 P Stuart Turner
(capt.) John Smit H 2 H Mark Regan
Deon Carstens P 1 P Kevin Yates

Reaching deep into the recesses of my memory banks, I seem to recall that one of the few enjoyable things about that tour was our front five of near-retired Prem pros handing the Boks their arse in the scrum. Not that that's the totality of forward play and I imagine peak Botha and Roussow running at you was a little more than the likes of Schofield were expecting to deal with at that point in their career.

[JM2K6]

How few caps to be considered truly below par?

Not sure we've seen many shouts for Burgess, who'd be perhaps too easy a call, but I've not noticed shouts for Turner or Morris in the props nor Hobson, I'd almost include Bell but he wasn't bad it was more we were forced into picking him. Shields along with Burgess might be too easy a shout but he's there, Walshe at 9 was worse than Perry, and he could be paired with Myler for the fun of it. Erinle, JTH and Francis all stank the place out in the centres as well as certain others mentioned.

It's not about how few caps they got. It's more about how really not good players picked up caps especially if they got more than you'd expect.

I mentioned Turner, but there's really no point mentioning too many players who picked up a cap here or there. JTH was an excellent club player who got a couple of appearances off the bench in wins over Scotland and Italy - not sure that's stinking the place out (you might be thinking of his poorer Saxons display(s) tbh). Erinle was mentioned as a joke. Myler got one cap off the bench!

It's the guys that were picked for more than just a cap or two that really defined those England teams. Hence Dan Hipkiss, Paul Sackey, etc. And we're talking the 2000s - JTH was 2012, Myler was 2013, Shields 2016ish, Francis the same...

[JM2K6]

Yeah he was. Quite a few 30 something 1 or 2 cap wonders from that '07 tour. Mainly in the tight five.

Looking back I can't quite believe we were doing summer tours in world cup years.

You probably have days as a pro rugby player where you realise you're overmatched and it could get a little scary. This was probably one of those days for these lads up front

1st test packs:

Danie Rossouw N8 8 N8 Nick Easter
Juan Smith F 7 F Andy Hazell
Schalk Burger F 6 F Chris Jones
Victor Matfield L 5 L Alex Brown
Bakkies Botha L 4 L Dean Schofield
BJ Botha P 3 P Stuart Turner
(capt.) John Smit H 2 H Mark Regan
Deon Carstens P 1 P Kevin Yates

Reaching deep into the recesses of my memory banks, I seem to recall that one of the few enjoyable things about that tour was our front five of near-retired Prem pros handing the Boks their arse in the scrum. Not that that's the totality of forward play and I imagine peak Botha and Roussow running at you was a little more than the likes of Schofield were expecting to deal with at that point in their career.

IIRC we were actually winning at half time in one of these matches

[Hal Jordan]

Did Peter Richards get mentioned?

Johnny May's spirit animal.

[shaggy]

Years ago I worked with a customer who claimed his mate had played for England and still should be but wouldn't elaborate.
It was only after a few drinks he told us it was Darren Crompton.

We took the piss for years

Played against Crompton at schools level where all he had was size. He had probably 6 inches in height and 5 stone advantage in size over me yet his side of the scrum was toilet. I know he improved plenty after that but at that age he was utter garbage compared to his main rival - Julian White.

[Margin__Walker]

[Margin__Walker]

And Oz

[inactionman]

And Oz

Hooper looks stoned off his tits.

[Hal Jordan]

Given the state of his face, he might have resisted arrest.

[ASMO]

Bring your ire here

[Gumboot]

I was planning on staying up for this but have had an exhausting couple of days and need to crash soon.

Go, Wobblies!

[ASMO]

I have already hidden everything breakable away except the TV...spent too much on that to smash it in anger

[Happyhooker]

I have already hidden everything breakable away except the TV...spent too much on that to smash it in anger

What are you typing that on?

[ASMO]

I have already hidden everything breakable away except the TV...spent too much on that to smash it in anger

What are you typing that on?

Phone, it has a tough case

[Happyhooker]

I have already hidden everything breakable away except the TV...spent too much on that to smash it in anger

What are you typing that on?

Phone, it has a tough case

I have faith that you can do it

[OomStruisbaai]

1st test about to start

[ASMO]

I like Flatman as a pundit

[Margin__Walker]

Looks like Cooper's out

[FalseBayFC]

Quade C confirmed out.

[ASMO]

Not sure thats going to hurt them too much, he has too many brainfarts for my liking (Russell lite). Australia probably will work better wirh a more safety first approach for this test.

[FalseBayFC]

What a beautiful stadium!

[Ymx]

Isn’t it supposed to have kicked off by now??

[ASMO]

Threads merged

[Paddington Bear]

Isn’t it supposed to have kicked off by now??

Was thinking that, won’t be starting until 11:05 at least

[notfatcat]

Can someone post the rugbyonthesofa link please - lost it when I changed computers and can't find it on google.

[ASMO]

God i am getting old, few year ago i would have been gunning the beer into me, now its a cup of tea and a shortbread biscuit.