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[freddiw]

England Unstoppable

England Are Here after 4 years back on the job for World Cup victory. Since when in 2003 they produced an amazing victory over Australia to take the World Cup for the first time in their history and hopefully for them, not the last. Since that wonderful day they have lost form, players and two coaches on there slump to seventh in the world rankings. With Brian Ashton in charge and a new 30 man squad England are going to be going into this world cup as underdogs and are unexpected to pass further than the Semi-Final stage.

The English have recently announced a solid 30 man World Cup Squad.

SQUAD

Forwards

George Chuter (Hooker)
Lee Mears (Hooker)
Mark Regan (Hooker)

Andrew Sheridan (Prop)
Matt Stevens (Prop)
Phil Vickery (Prop)
Perry Freshwater (Prop)

Steve Borthwick (Lock)
Ben Kay (Lock)
Simon Shaw (Lock)

Lawrence Dallagio (Flanker)
Lewis Moody (Flanker)
Tom Rees (Flanker)
Joe Worsley (Flanker)

Martin Corry (Number 8)
Nick Easter (Number 8)


Backs

Andrew Gommarsall (Scrum-Half)
Peter Richards (Scrum Half)

Jonny Wilkinson (Fly Half)
Olly Barkley (Fly Half)

Andrew Farrel (Centre)
Mathew Tait (Centre)
Jamie Noon (Centre)
Mike Catt (Centre)

Mark Cueto (Wing)
Paul Sackey (Wing)
James Simpson-Daniel (Wing)
Tom Varndell (Wing)

Jason Robinson (Wing and Full-Back)
Josh Lewsey (Wing and Full-Back)


England's World Cup Fixtures

VS USA
VS SOUTH AFRICA
VS SAMOA
VS TONGA

 

[Leicester Fox]

Glad to see Varndell in there but Hipkiss>>>Noon

 

[Highlander999]

Nice start mate. Hopefully you will get a big following

 

[freddiw]

Usa Announce their starting line up previous to the Opening game against England in three hours. England Will be announcing there starting 15 In the next half hour but first we will see what we think of the USA side.

USA Team:

1 Mike MacDonald
2 Owen Lentz
3 Chris Osentowski
4 Luke Gross
5 Mike Mangan
6 Louis Stanfill
7 Todd Clever
8 Henry Bloomfield
9 Chad Erskine
10 Mike Hercus (Captain)
11 Takudzwa Ngwenya
12 Vahafolau Esikia
13 Paul Emerick
14 Salesi Sika
15 Chris Wyles

Replacements:

16 Blake Burdette
17 Matekitonga Moeakiola
18 Alec Parker
19 Inaki Basauri
20 Mike Petri
21 Valenese Malifa
22 Albert Tuipulotu

KEY MAN

Mike Hercus is the USA captain and fly half. Hercus played for the Australian under 21 side and also played at Sale Sharks for 2 years. Hercus is 28 years of age and has awesome experiance and is the only man who can lead America to a big fight today against England. He has a good kicking ability and his vision in the game has been rated to that of Brian O' Driscoll. Today he will be facing up to a huge challenge and America will be looking to him to produce some magic in the backs and get some points on the board and try to beat an out of form England side.

 

[kookaburra69]

Great start mate,good luck

 

[Highlander999]

Nice work mate

 

[w3lshrugby]

Good start, would be wierd if you emulated England's actual performances!
Is this on PC or PS2/3?

 

[freddiw]

ENGLAND SELECTION

SQUAD
1. Andrew Sheridan
2. George Chuter
3. Phil Vickery
4. Simon Shaw
5. Ben Kay
6. Lewis Moody
7. Joe Worsley
8. Martin Corry (Captain)

9. Peter Richards
10. Olly Barkley
11. Tom Varndell
12. Mike Catt
13. Mathew Tait
14. Paul Sackey
15. Josh Lewsey



REPLACEMENTS
16. Andrew Farrel (Centre)
17. Mark Cueto (Wing)
18. James Simpson-Daniel (Wing)
19. Mark Regan (Hooker)
20. Lawrence Dallagio (Flanker)
21. Steve Borthwick (Lock)


UNAVAILABLE
Jonny Wilkinson (Fly Half)
Jason Robinson (Wing and Full-Back)


UNSELECTED
Jamie Noon (Centre)
Lee Mears (Hooker)
Matt Stevens (Prop)
Perry Freshwater (Prop)
Tom Rees (Flanker)
Nick Easter (Number 8)

KEY MAN

Tom Vardnell is starting today after the late injury of Jason Robinson who today twisted his ankle in training. Vardnell is 22 and has 3 England caps scoring only the one try. He is a quick inquisitive player who has the ability to take the attack to even the strongest defences in the world. Today he will be playing USA and the standard of their defense is not very high. Vardnell today will be looking to score some tries and try to keep his place in the England side for the next game against South Africa.

 

[domiw]

Good England Squad, wonder if Dallagio will make an impact in the last 20.

Good Luck

 

[freddiw]

USA Vs England

England 7-0 USA - 5 Minutes - Vardnell is put away by Tait to score a run away try and put England 5-0 up

England 7 - 3 USA - 12 Minutes - USA Penalty and Hercus kicks from 30 metres out easily

England 7 - 3 USA - 15 Minutes - England take possesion on their own 22 and Richards box-kicks straight to the American Full Back, Chris Wyles catches and runs straight through Mike Catt. After another 10 yards he has Emerick outside him but decides to try and beat Lewsey himself, instead he ends up in touch on the English 22 line.

England 7 - 3 USA - 23 minutes - After midfield play mouting to 8 phase England use the back line. In a good position on the 22 the ball is handed out to Barkley who offloads to Catt. Trying to beat his opposite number Catt knocks forward in the tackle and wastes a very good field position.

England 7 - 6 USA - 26 Minutes - A long distance Penalty and USA take the points, Hercus sinking the kick to put USA right in the game.

England 7 - 9 USA - 30 Minutes - Another mistake from the English pack in the ruck and Hercus once again sinks a tough kick to put USA ahead for the first time.

England 7 - 9 USA - 34 Minutes - Sackey catches a poor kick from Hercus and runs it up to the USA line attempting to beat the winger but is held and a penalty is called for holding on to the ball.

England 7 - 9 USA - 36 Minutes - England have been useless, not first to the rucks, static in the backs and wasting good positions time after time. They are looking like a side that shouldnt even be in the world cup and are here losing to USA.

England 7 - 9 USA - 39 Minutes - A huge kick from Hercus is caught by Lewsey who looks magical as he breaks the USA defence but is eventually caught on the USA 5 metre as it looked Like a deffinate try.

HALF TIME

England 7 - 9 USA - 44 Minutes - Scrum down, Hercus gives a pop to the big man Luke Gross who is sent back by a crunching tackle from Lewis Moody and knocks on in the tackle.

England 7 - 9 USA - 47 Minutes - Subs and England make 2 changes, Sackey has been removed for Simpson Daniel on the wing and Catt is off for Farrel in the centres. Hopefully these changes may bring some life to the England backs.

England 7 - 9 USA - 56 Minutes - A burst from Farrel is stopped by the USA defense but England are there quickly and the offload to Shaw sees him break 3 tackles before being taken to ground only a few metres from the try line.

England 14 - 9 USA - 59 Minutes - TRY TIME. After giving away possesion and seeing a fantastic up and under from Hercus chased by the USA backs, England are in a dangerous position and could conced a try. Hercus tries to cut out the inside centre but only results in Vardnell running onto the ball and breaking the defense to give England the lead and him his third try and only second in World Cup matches.

England 14 - 12 USA - 63 Minutes - Hercus slots another penalty and the score is 14-12 USA are still well in this game and have a serious oppurtunity for victory.


England 14 - 12 USA - 68 Minutes - Englands defense is holding as the USA attack mounts, trying to score time after time they eventually lose possesion after some good work from Moody on the floor. Barkley kicks safely to touch and England bring on Dallagio to replace Worsley for the last 12 minutes.


England 14 - 12 USA - 70 Minutes - A pop pass on the halfway sees dallagio palm the big man opposite him and then barge the full back. With only 10 metres to go the chasing winger catches him and stops another certain try. Very good start for Dallagio in such an important time.


England 14 - 12 USA - 80 Minutes - Olly Barkley kicks a penalty to finish the match and give England a pathetic 17 - 12 victory. See you Next time for England VS South Africa

Review

England came into this game with poor form and low confidence. Today they have done nothing to help there case. A weak USA side put them up to the fence with solid rucking and positive running in the backs. England have the potential to reak havoc against an opponent like this but today saw a static back line and an under whelming scrum who struggled to stand up to the USA forwards.

The game was slow with a very low standard of rugby being played and England looking as if they were not interested. Two men in the English side looked today as if they were on form, first Vardnell. The man who has such power and pace. His ability to destroy sides was shown today as he droke gaps and ran hard scoring two breakaway tries. The second Peter Richards. He was always looking to attack and although not supported by either his pack or numbers 10 and 12 he still fought hard and on countless times produced positive rugby, England were dissilusioned and pathetic in todays contest and lucky to come out with a win at all.

England's next encounter is with group favourites South Africa on Friday in Paris. The world champions have plastered their dressing rooms with the letters STW - standing for Shock the World - but at the moment it would be a shock if they manage to provide the Springboks with even a half decent contest.

 

[ivanvdm15]

South Africa is going to kick Englands but

 

[tonka998]

Not the best of starts for england there! but at least we won! I think its Doug Howlett with the most tries... im not 100%

 

[Jaztheman]

Jonah Lomu.

Nice win btw.

 

[kookaburra69]

Lucky win there mate,great pres!

 

[freddiw]

ROUND 1 REVIEW

POOL A

Pool A saw expected results with Tonga and South Africa winning easily. The only struggle was England who lacked displine and flare as they beat USA by only 5 points in a poor game of rugby with low quality running, rucking and set plays.

The player of the stage for this pool is Tongan winger LILO who ran all over USA to produce a sound 21-3 victory and put Tonga into a positive position for their next game against fellow pacific islanders Samoa.

POOL B

Pool B saw two huge yet expected wins for Wales and Australia. Wales playing rugby with flair, aggression and passion to ravage Canada 81-6 and show they are a side who can win this trophy. Australia's 65-0 win over Japan showed they are just as good and want to win just as much. The battle for first in this pool could be interesting

Player of the pool, hard to pick but easily deserved Hook scored a massive 4 tries and another 9 conversions and 6 penalties on top of that making himself score 56 points which is the fourth highest by any player in a world cup match. Only 3 points higher than Didier Camberabero of France

POOLS C AND D COMING SOON