Gifted but underperforming fly half dropped!!

Snickers Man

Sorry if anybody thought Christmas had come early but O'Gara stays where he is sadly. Unless Santa has a brand new number 10 for us in his sleigh this year.

However, England have the luxury of being able to drop Danny Cipriani for the All Blacks game next week.

Embarassment of potential riches or what?

toomevara

Snickers Man wrote: »

Embarassment of potential riches or what?

Cipriani has great potential, just too callow and possibly a smidgeon too fond of himself, but he'll come good. Flood's alright, but the AB's most definitely will not be quaking in their boots at the prospect of facing him, and if you think Flood's a better player that ROG, might I suggest you put the crack pipe down old bean.;)

I don't see an embarrasment of riches in that position in English rugby at all. Hodgson can't cut it at international level, Flood's mediocre at best and tbh, its not his best position imo, better off in the centre.

Ryan Lamb has completely failed to live up to expectations and as for poor old Wilko, what can you say...Shane Geraghty might just be the form fly half in the comp (Guinness Prem that is), but tbh, no real world beaters there...lots of sold club players sure, but any to come close to Carter/Giteau/Pienaar?..not by a long chalk.

Chucky the tree

This segment stood out for me. Makes the thoughts of throwing in Sexton in for the 6nations even more lcrazy.

Former Australia coach Eddie Jones, now director of rugby at Saracens, has suggested that rather than dropping Cipriani, Johnson should have named him at full-back.

“[Cipriani] didn’t seem to speak to anyone during the last 20 minutes at Twickenham (against South Africa),” said Jones. “You’ve got to look after him because his game is going to deteriorate under the pressure of expectation. He’s definitely struggling.

“I’d move him to full-back. He’s not an international No 10 at the moment. If playing that position has always been hard, well, it’s got harder.

"Play him at full-back, where his kicking game would be very useful to England. You could then move him up for the last 15-20 minutes. Matt Giteau [whom Jones nurtured as Australia coach] has only just had his first full season as a Test fly-half. That’s how difficult it is."

I am pie

We're playing the best 10 we have.

England have a more options at 10, however chopping and changing has done them no favours. Certainly no English 10 can lay claim to have had as much impact or scored anywhere near as many international points as O'Gara. Calling for him to be dropped for a big game (6N's - rankings decider etc) is foolish, end of story, no argument can sensibly be offered to the contrary.

We should definitely have imho played one of our other options against Canada. Ferris played his way into contention. Maybe Keatley or Sexton (not Wallace !!) would have benefited from game time with the team. I can't really see where the next opportunity for either, or any other contender, will be at 10. God help us if our current 10 is injured for the 6N's. We'd be f**ked !

premierstone

Snickers Man wrote: »

Sorry if anybody thought Christmas had come early but O'Gara stays where he is sadly. Unless Santa has a brand new number 10 for us in his sleigh this year.

However, England have the luxury of being able to drop Danny Cipriani for the All Blacks game next week.

Embarassment of potential riches or what?

Not exactly no, just they have at least half a dozen OH's that are far better than our second choice(whoever to foook that maybe) but nowhere even near the class of O'Gara.

anonymous_joe

Give them Wilkinson back and people will start worrying.

Flood's a 12, Geraghty's not as good as he seemed at first, but will probably finish up a very good out-half (and wouldn't we kill for him as an understudy? ^^) Hodgson's great at club level but awful in internationals...

Cipriani's being destroyed by the pressure. Would feel sorry for him if this sets him back too far. It's also a note of caution for all those clamouring for guys like Earls to have a more prominent role in teh side. If the team's playing well it can do wonders for their form, but if they end up in a weak side they really struggle and suffer.

I am pie

I am pie wrote: »

Certainly no English 10 can lay claim to have had as much impact or scored anywhere near as many international points as O'Gara.

Johnny Wilkinson is the leading international points scorer.

Sangre

Deleted User wrote: »

Johnny Wilkinson is the leading international points scorer.

And he hasn't played for the guts of 4/5 years either.

Stev_o

Sangre wrote: »

And he hasn't played for the guts of 4/5 years either.

And is more stiches and plates then a man aswell.

In fairness to Cipriani he shouldnt be playing this level so soon the guy is lucky to being playing so early after such a serious injury he would of been better of playing for Wasps and building his form up.

Flood is playing very well for Leicester and deserves the call up imo has developed a Andy Goode boot on him all of a sudden.

England are going through a 12 syndrome at the moment every decent looking OH they have got looks much much much more suited to a role at 12.

Oh well until Noon is gone from that backline no team should fear them. Why Johnson though picked most of his players from Wasps who have won only one match in the season so far and are 2nd last in the table is beyond me. A mix of Bath, Harlequin's, Leicester and maybe London Irish would have been a better sight for them.

[Jackass]

That's humiliating for Cipriani. He was all set to pitch his wits against DC to try and put his name up there as one of the best in the world. Now he;s not even in first 15.

He's got potential and when I saw him this season v Leinster he was the only wasps player on the pith trying to drag them through the match, but not surprised as there is a lot left to be desired from various aspects of his game. Another celeb sports superstar who's as well known for his modelling contracts and girlfriends off the pitch as he is for what he does on it.

A great oppertunity for him to learn from this. Keep his head down, focus on his rugby and do his talking on the pitch, don't blur the two lifestyles / professions.