Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Wilkinson out of Final Test?

  • 03-07-2005 4:40pm
    #1
    andyman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,641 ✭✭✭


    With Charlie Hodgson picked at Fly-Half for the Auckland game, and Wilko set to miss final Test. Who do you think should be picked at Fly-Half for the final Test?

    My guess is Ronan O'Gara. He has played well on this Tour without reward.

    Who should be picked at Fly-Half for the Final Test? 20 votes

    Ronan O'Gara
    0% 0 votes
    Steve Jones
    75% 15 votes
    Charlie Hodgson
    25% 5 votes


Comments

  • #2
    jank
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 13,018 ✭✭✭✭jank


    Yea I think ROG should get at least a try out anyway. The other fly halfs have done nothing to inspire confidence. Think jones will get it though


  • #3
    poobum
    Closed Accounts Posts: 592 ✭✭✭poobum


    andyman wrote:
    With Charlie Hodgson picked at Fly-Half for the Auckland game, and Wilko set to miss final Test. Who do you think should be picked at Fly-Half for the final Test?

    My guess is Ronan O'Gara. He has played well on this Tour without reward.

    on the radio ear;leir it said that there was still a chance he wouldnt be out! it was a 50-50 chance as far as i can remember!! or has there been updates? if not then this thread is pointless!


  • #4
    andyman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,641 ✭✭✭andyman


    I heard that there was a small chance of him playing. I doubt SCW would risk him.


  • #5
    zAbbo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,987 ✭✭✭✭zAbbo


    Gotta be Charlie Hodgson, the only fly half who has any kind of tour form, but i'd say he will go with Jones, O'Gara won't get a look in


  • #6
    MG
    Closed Accounts Posts: 823 ✭✭✭MG


    "We've lost the series and we've now got to look at playing either Stephen Jones or Charlie Hodgson next weekend." - Sir Clive Woodward

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4644205.stm

    ROG should take it is a compliment that SCW won't pick him.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    jank
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 13,018 ✭✭✭✭jank


    Thats a pity. ROG never really got a chance to impress really


  • #8
    andyman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,641 ✭✭✭andyman


    The thing with ROG which makes him better than the other 2 is that he can kick from long distances and he can kick brilliantly into touch, which Jones and Hodgson can't do as well as him.


  • #9
    Jivin Turkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,966 ✭✭✭Jivin Turkey


    I think its funny to see ROG run away with this after so many people complaining about Woodwards loyalty to English players.


  • #10
    MG
    Closed Accounts Posts: 823 ✭✭✭MG


    Jivin Turkey wrote:
    I think its funny to see ROG run away with this after so many people complaining about Woodwards loyalty to English players.

    The point is that Wilkinson has been an utter failure on this tour as his style of play is not conduicive to playing to a plan which might yield results. ROG is the best tactical kicker - putting him on the team sets the team up with a gameplan (kick for territory). S Jones also gives the team a gameplan of high tempo 7s style rugby. At least it's a gameplan but after seeing the NZ backs in action it might not be the right one. Hodgson just can't be trusted.


  • #11
    Jivin Turkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,966 ✭✭✭Jivin Turkey


    MG wrote:
    The point is that Wilkinson has been an utter failure on this tour as his style of play is not conduicive to playing to a plan which might yield results. ROG is the best tactical kicker - putting him on the team sets the team up with a gameplan (kick for territory). S Jones also gives the team a gameplan of high tempo 7s style rugby. At least it's a gameplan but after seeing the NZ backs in action it might not be the right one. Hodgson just can't be trusted.
    Going by that argument ROG should have been the test OH. No thanks.


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    andyman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,641 ✭✭✭andyman


    Charlie Hodgson is out of the final test so it's between ROG and Jones


  • #13
    Eoin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,263 ✭✭✭✭Eoin


    I think O'Gara has had plenty of chances to shine, and he hasn't done so. His goal kicking percentage is around the 60% mark compared to Hodgson's 80%.

    His distribution has probably been up there with the others (maybe the best), and his positional kicking has been very good - at times. His defense has been p1ss poor. I thought he was particularly average yesterday, although had a couple of good kicks to touch. Afterwards he was interviewed, and just like after the Welsh 6N game, he inexplicably thought he played well enough for a test spot (as was my interpretation).

    andyman - Is Hodgson deffo out? He has been the in form fly-half. If SCW doesn't trust his nerve for the big games, then it was a total waste bringing someone who was never going to feature at the weekend.


  • #14
    MG
    Closed Accounts Posts: 823 ✭✭✭MG


    Jivin Turkey wrote:
    Going by that argument ROG should have been the test OH. No thanks.

    Not necessarily. Behind a dominant pack Wilkinson would be probably first choice if match ready, which he clearly is not. However, despite all the Woodwards pre tour talk, the Lions pack couldn't dominate the all black pack. Jones would have been first choice if Woodward chose to play a high tempo game. ROG would be first choice when playing conservative kicking game. Having seen the all black backs in action playing high tempo rugby, you would have to doubt whether the Lions could match them. The conservative kicking game is a necessary option for the Lions to consider.


Advertisement