croft is a geniunely talented flanker who wouldnt pick someone who can be a garunteed go to guy in he line out but still score 2 trys against tke boks in SA its not like he cant turn over ball either
Goldenbanjo, you are not giving Croft enough credit.
You obviously don't see him play a lot, because he literally cuts people in half as his matchly ritual in most games. Against Bath he took out Barkley with the biggest hit of the season, it was huge. Don't believe me? Check the Independant's website for the match review.
Also check the stats for the first 2 Lions tests - Croft was our joint biggest stealer of ball in rucks - not bad for someone who gets knocked off the ball all the time.
who agrees that ferris is much better? im not saying anything bad bout croft i think hes a fantastic player, but ferris is bulkier and probably faster.........
ferris is bulkier but croft is a lot taller making him great at lineout!! he is also a lot quicker than ferris, now vardell has left leicster he isthere fastest player, including all the backs!
Depends. Croft is an ever present supportor and a multi factited playerbut he's not that great in bulldozing over the gainline. Perhaps thats why Dave Wallace was picked to partner him when Ferris was injured.
Personally, I was more keen on Ferris/ Martyn Williams to match up the physicality of the Boks, but Croft did very well.
I'm not trying to pick an argument but why would you have had Martyn Williams rather than Wallace if you wanted to match RSA's physicality? I know Williams is a nugget but he's not as physically dominating as Wallace in that department. Williams is more of a link man, I feel. I would have liked Wallace, Heaslip, Ferris. :)
Yeah, he had more than matched Rocky. England can have lot of pace in the back row in Croft/ Steffon/ Haskell. Not that I don't like Mad Dog, just need to give Steffon a chance. I know people say a lot about Haskell's lack of thinking seeing he's only 24, shouldn't we give him exposure?
@vinniechan I completely agree, but if you're going to give him exposure, give it to him in a position which is, in my opinion, in need of change. Nick Easter is slow and ponderous, and not that big, with Haskell's speed and strength, he'd make an ideal number 8, although I don't think we should cast Ward-Smith aside. I also agree with you about Steffon, he's capable of keeping up Moody's 'in your face' attitude.
Not sure about DWS. He isn't exactly young and giving him exposure from scratch now ahead of other young players is a gamble. Even I like Moody, Mad Dog mode doesn't always work and Steffon has a lot more power than people realise. Rees is consistent enough to hang onto the 7 shirt in the long run. Haskell is a good cover for 8 but not a long ter m solution. Watching Easter, I can't believe people used to complain the pace of Captain Cozza...
@vinniechan Haskell is a good cover, but I reckon experience will give him that flare that many people think he's missing. Courtney Lawes is another player who I think had a massive impact on the Australia game, his and Croft's performances were exceptional. Steffon is without a doubt more powerful and possibly faster than Moody, but Moody's the sort of experienced player the team needs, just like Tindall, Shaw, Thompson and Wilko. I'd love to see Courtney Lawes and Shaw start in a game.
Players at the age of Mad Dog must deliver every match to justify their selection. Steffon is without a doubt faster than Moody. Just that Moody does get away with not being penalised a lot. I am not sure about making him a captain tho, for it takes away the chances of young players so it remains to be seen. Lawes and Youngs have all their time in the world and they should be looking at 2015.
@vinniechan I agree with you about Moody, it's exactly the same with Shaw, Tindall and Johnny, the only difference is that I can't really see anyone challenging for Shaw's or Tindall's place. I actually think Dylan Hartley would make a really good captain, and I think he's a great player. England need to give experience to all of their young players if they are to stand a chance in 2015, I think 2011 might be too soon for that.
Tindal is slightly off pace but yes his all round game is the best at 13. Shaw played his way into the Lions last season but this season is a yr too far. Palmer has always played well every time he puts on an England jersey (15 tackles in the 1st Test against the Aussies, an offload to put Ashton through a gap for the try in the 2nd). He never got a string of games together because Borthwich and Shaw were always ahead.
@vinniechan I think Palmer's a great player, but I heard talk that without him we wouldn't have a 'lineout player', surely Croft is capable of managing the lineout? Why Borthwick was ever in the team, and captain no less, is beyond me. But I think that the Physicality of Shaw, Steffon and Haskell, combined with the athleticism of Lawes and Croft, would make a great pack. I wouldn't rule out Palmer, but he seems to me, to be a very good choice for substitution.
Well, Shaw 2009 was on fire. His age is starting to show now
Palmer is an all rounder: good work in the loose, good at what a second row does in general with a nice pair of hands.. Kennedy is another line out expert. I don't mind Borthwick as a player but I don't think he should have clung on to the shirt. Hartly needs to sort his throw out and that's the only thing stopping him from being a top player.
@vinniechan If I were picking a squad for 2011, I think 5 years is a long time for new players to emerge, then I'd have: 1.Sheridan (providing he is at match fitness), if not then Wilson. 2. Hartley (C) 3. Cole 4. Shaw 5. Lawes 6.Croft 7. Armitage 8. Haskell 9. Youngs 10. Flood 12. Hape 13. Tindall 11. Vainikolo 14. Ashton 15. Foden
Cueto took up Lewsy's mantle as the rock of our back 3 and really carried those around him. Without him we would have leaked tries like hell. No one young players can match that just yet so leave him there for 2011 despite his decline in pace. Ashton given a few years time can be that. I'd start with Palmer and bring on Shaw for impact so he wouldn't need to pace himself out. What has Barkley done to deserve this shit from England.
For 2011, Moody still has value and Rees who was there and did that in 2007 and will be there by 2015 deserve to step up. By 2015, Rees will have a huge role to play in what will be his 3rd RWC. Rees is more all round and consistent, making him my preferred starter and Armitage delivers more impact. It's down to management (completely out of their depth for the moment) to pick horses ofr courses.
@vinniechan To be honest, I was massively dissapointed by johnson's lack of willingness to mix'n'match the team in the six nations, he had so much talent, but persisted with Borthwick, who is crap, and there was almost no dynamism to the back row. Seeing how much of an effect having new players on the pitch had on the recent Australia test, I hope he'll be willing to make more changes.
The management has a habit of persisting with decisions that don't work until they do to justify them. Problem is, they do it with old guards whose days are numbered and trigger happy at dropping youngsters when they make the first mistakes.
@vinniechan Exactly, but I think they're attitude has changed now with the introduction of Youngs, Flood, Ashton, Foden, Lawes, Palmer etc. and I think everyone can see the benefits of young talent in the side.
I have sympathy for Care. Read the list of scrum halves we've gone thru since 2007 and none has held on to the shirt for a long term. Rumours from Leicester forum Harry Ellis complained about reverse coaching in the England camp and I totally think it was possible that England coached youngsters out of their flair. Sorry. Rob Andrew must go. Nothing good has come under his reign the knowledge that he gets paid 4M quid a yr in the recession is enough.
@vinniechan I agree, Haskell has been criticised before for a lack of attacking flare, I think it could have something to do with his coaching. Danny care is a great scrum half, but I think Youngs is a much more solid choice with the 9 shirt.
@RugbyHitsRUs Haskell for lack of attacking flair? Was he playing cricket? My concern is too much flair from Haskell throw away penalty. Care was promising when he first came out, but he really needs to cut that 2 steps sideways b4 every pass. What pains me was Youngs played well by restoring a bit of common sense at 9: get the ball out first and foremost, or get on with wuteva u see fit. It's so basic that there's no reason think y Care can't do it .
Haskell for lack of attacking flair? Was he palying cricket? My concern is too much flair from Haskell throws away penalty. Care was promising when he first came out, but he really needs to cut that 2 steps sideways b4 every pass. What pains me was Youngs played well by restoring a bit of common sense at 9: get the ball out first and foremost, or get on with wuteva u see fit. It's so basic that there's no reason think y Care can't do it and that pains me
@RugbyHitsRUs Haskell for lack of attacking flair? Was he playing cricket? My concern is too much flair from Haskell throws away penalty. Care was promising when he first came out, but he really needs to cut that 2 steps sideways b4 every pass. What pains me was Youngs played well by restoring a bit of common sense at 9: get the ball out first and foremost, or get on with wuteva u see fit. It's so basic that there's no reason think y Care can't do it .
Haskell for lack of attacking flair? Was he playing cricket? My concern is too much flair from Haskell throw away penalty. Care was promising when he first came out, but he really needs to cut that 2 steps sideways b4 every pass. What pains me was Youngs played well by restoring a bit of common sense at 9: get the ball out first and foremost, or get on with wuteva u see fit. It's so basic that there's no reason think y Care can't do it.
Quite the contrary, I'm more concerned about "too much flair" from Haskell that throw away penalties. Youngs is a great talent but look at the difference he made simply by restoring common sense at 9: get the ball away first and foremost, or wuteva u see fit get on with it and don't f*ck around. It's so basic that there is no reason Care can't do (once he cut that 2 steps sideways before every single pass) that makes me despair.
I was saying, if Stephen Ferris was picked on the blindside instead of Croft, there would be a chance Martyn could have been picked instead of Wallace cox of physicality of Ferris.
I like Croft, but I am of the opinion that he's not a blasting ball carrier.
Croft is a 6 who stands on the wing almost all day. Croft consistently gets knocked off the ball at ruck time, will never make a big hit, is hewn down like a tree too easily. He is a good lineout jumper and he does do some good things, but relatively rarely in comparison to Ferris who is more rounded, dynamic and stronger. If you want to make the argument that croft is faster (it is a tight call) then why bother having a proper flanker, like Ferris? stick varndell in at 6 if you want pace...
i think the fact of the matter is, no matter how much you argue ad winge, ferris wasn't in the lions sqaud and he didnt tour in sa. croft did. and he did a good job and showed some of the older flankers in the business how its done. you can say all day about getting knocked off the ball. but they were against the team at the top of the world, martyn williams got knocked off the ball all the time. the sa are strong and facing spies, burger, kankowski or whoever in that form is hard.
Fair shout that Ferris is a good player but the fact you're insinuating Croft is a poor player is frankly ridiculous - He was one of the players of the test series and the idea of him being weak is a pretty redundant one for anyone having watched him play sufficiently. "Getting knocked off the ball" may happen occasionaly to any player but he simply wouldn't survive at Leicester, England or for the Lions if it were consistently true.
I'm sorry, but whenever I have seen croft play, he gets knocked off the ball. This is not good enough for a flanker. It is not an 'occasional' thing with Croft. It is a 'matchly ritual' of his. It's like his day isn't complete without a centre knocking him on his bum. LOL. Croft is deemed such a great player because he is a 'different' sort of flanker, and it's strange to see that kind of gas from the 6. But if you want a 6 to do what a 6 should do, don't pick croft.
...and if you want your 6 to be faster than most of a backline, pick flipping Varndell!
granted, croft is a good lineout jumper.
I'd put him as the lineout winning second row who does the running rather than the grunt work. He's a 5 in my opinion. Or even a 14. Definately not a 6. Ferris/Elsom/Dusatoir would (and do) eat him at 6. :) my opinion.
Varndell is a great talent, standing 1.94 tall weighing 95 kg with a lot of pace. The only problem is, he's so lazy!! He's very good at finishing, granted. But when you get into a dog fight which happens 99% of the time in top level rugby and need someone to come off the line to look for work in attack and run that extra yard for cover tackle, he just doesn't do it. This is why he can't surged to slightly off pace Cueto and got leap frogged by Ashton.
what? ferris was in the lions squad and he did tour in SA. he had the test shirt in the bag without a doubt until he got injured. luckily for the boks.
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I just do not understand Tom Croft.
TheFakeAssGangsta1 5 months ago
tom croft one of or if not the fastest no:6 in the world
soleeisoufika101 10 months ago 7
croft is a geniunely talented flanker who wouldnt pick someone who can be a garunteed go to guy in he line out but still score 2 trys against tke boks in SA its not like he cant turn over ball either
OMCZ123 1 year ago
Goldenbanjo, you are not giving Croft enough credit.
You obviously don't see him play a lot, because he literally cuts people in half as his matchly ritual in most games. Against Bath he took out Barkley with the biggest hit of the season, it was huge. Don't believe me? Check the Independant's website for the match review.
Also check the stats for the first 2 Lions tests - Croft was our joint biggest stealer of ball in rucks - not bad for someone who gets knocked off the ball all the time.
icemanmike 1 year ago
croft cant do things like this for england cos there not good enough at the moment
cf355en 2 years ago
who agrees that ferris is much better? im not saying anything bad bout croft i think hes a fantastic player, but ferris is bulkier and probably faster.........
rhysospreys8 2 years ago 2
ferris is bulkier but croft is a lot taller making him great at lineout!! he is also a lot quicker than ferris, now vardell has left leicster he isthere fastest player, including all the backs!
peshayuk 2 years ago
Depends. Croft is an ever present supportor and a multi factited playerbut he's not that great in bulldozing over the gainline. Perhaps thats why Dave Wallace was picked to partner him when Ferris was injured.
Personally, I was more keen on Ferris/ Martyn Williams to match up the physicality of the Boks, but Croft did very well.
vinniechan 2 years ago 3
I'm not trying to pick an argument but why would you have had Martyn Williams rather than Wallace if you wanted to match RSA's physicality? I know Williams is a nugget but he's not as physically dominating as Wallace in that department. Williams is more of a link man, I feel. I would have liked Wallace, Heaslip, Ferris. :)
GoldenbanjoDJ 2 years ago
What I meant was, much as I love Croft, if you pick Martyn alongside him you'd hve no ball carrying option.
I think Wallace is the sort of slightly bigger 7, little more all round and better at the hard graft than Martyn.
Of course your choice would have been great if not for the injury of Ferris
vinniechan 2 years ago
@vinniechan ....I agree. Good point.
stevenbenjamincole 2 years ago
@vinniechan Seeing Croft's recent carrying abilities against Australia, I reckon him and Martyn would work well together.
RugbyHitsRUs 1 year ago
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vinniechan 1 year ago
@RugbyHitsRUs
Yeah, he had more than matched Rocky. England can have lot of pace in the back row in Croft/ Steffon/ Haskell. Not that I don't like Mad Dog, just need to give Steffon a chance. I know people say a lot about Haskell's lack of thinking seeing he's only 24, shouldn't we give him exposure?
vinniechan 1 year ago
@vinniechan I completely agree, but if you're going to give him exposure, give it to him in a position which is, in my opinion, in need of change. Nick Easter is slow and ponderous, and not that big, with Haskell's speed and strength, he'd make an ideal number 8, although I don't think we should cast Ward-Smith aside. I also agree with you about Steffon, he's capable of keeping up Moody's 'in your face' attitude.
My England back row would be:
6: Croft
7: Armitage/Moody
8: Haskell/Ward-Smith
RugbyHitsRUs 1 year ago
@RugbyHitsRUs
Not sure about DWS. He isn't exactly young and giving him exposure from scratch now ahead of other young players is a gamble. Even I like Moody, Mad Dog mode doesn't always work and Steffon has a lot more power than people realise. Rees is consistent enough to hang onto the 7 shirt in the long run. Haskell is a good cover for 8 but not a long ter m solution. Watching Easter, I can't believe people used to complain the pace of Captain Cozza...
vinniechan 1 year ago
@vinniechan Haskell is a good cover, but I reckon experience will give him that flare that many people think he's missing. Courtney Lawes is another player who I think had a massive impact on the Australia game, his and Croft's performances were exceptional. Steffon is without a doubt more powerful and possibly faster than Moody, but Moody's the sort of experienced player the team needs, just like Tindall, Shaw, Thompson and Wilko. I'd love to see Courtney Lawes and Shaw start in a game.
RugbyHitsRUs 1 year ago
@RugbyHitsRUs
Players at the age of Mad Dog must deliver every match to justify their selection. Steffon is without a doubt faster than Moody. Just that Moody does get away with not being penalised a lot. I am not sure about making him a captain tho, for it takes away the chances of young players so it remains to be seen. Lawes and Youngs have all their time in the world and they should be looking at 2015.
vinniechan 1 year ago
@vinniechan I agree with you about Moody, it's exactly the same with Shaw, Tindall and Johnny, the only difference is that I can't really see anyone challenging for Shaw's or Tindall's place. I actually think Dylan Hartley would make a really good captain, and I think he's a great player. England need to give experience to all of their young players if they are to stand a chance in 2015, I think 2011 might be too soon for that.
RugbyHitsRUs 1 year ago
@RugbyHitsRUs
Tindal is slightly off pace but yes his all round game is the best at 13. Shaw played his way into the Lions last season but this season is a yr too far. Palmer has always played well every time he puts on an England jersey (15 tackles in the 1st Test against the Aussies, an offload to put Ashton through a gap for the try in the 2nd). He never got a string of games together because Borthwich and Shaw were always ahead.
vinniechan 1 year ago
@vinniechan I think Palmer's a great player, but I heard talk that without him we wouldn't have a 'lineout player', surely Croft is capable of managing the lineout? Why Borthwick was ever in the team, and captain no less, is beyond me. But I think that the Physicality of Shaw, Steffon and Haskell, combined with the athleticism of Lawes and Croft, would make a great pack. I wouldn't rule out Palmer, but he seems to me, to be a very good choice for substitution.
RugbyHitsRUs 1 year ago
@RugbyHitsRUs
Well, Shaw 2009 was on fire. His age is starting to show now
Palmer is an all rounder: good work in the loose, good at what a second row does in general with a nice pair of hands.. Kennedy is another line out expert. I don't mind Borthwick as a player but I don't think he should have clung on to the shirt. Hartly needs to sort his throw out and that's the only thing stopping him from being a top player.
vinniechan 1 year ago
@RugbyHitsRUs
OK, let's pick for 2015 (potentially 2019)
1. Wilson, 2. Hartley/ Paice, 3. Cole, 4. Parling, 5. Lawes 6 Haskell/ Croft/ Robshaw 7. Rees/ Armitage/ Saul. 8. Haskel/ Dawson/ Crane/ Narraway 9. Youngs/ Hogson/ J.Simpon 10. Flood/ Cip. Geragty 12. Allen/ Barrit 13 Stop pillage league players 11. Ashton 14. Monye 15. Foden/ Ababdonan
Others should be in the radar
Micky Youngs, Jon Golding, Tait (just need to recover a bit)
Manager: Sack Rob Andrew
vinniechan 1 year ago
RugbyHitsRUs 1 year ago
@RugbyHitsRUs
Cueto took up Lewsy's mantle as the rock of our back 3 and really carried those around him. Without him we would have leaked tries like hell. No one young players can match that just yet so leave him there for 2011 despite his decline in pace. Ashton given a few years time can be that. I'd start with Palmer and bring on Shaw for impact so he wouldn't need to pace himself out. What has Barkley done to deserve this shit from England.
vinniechan 1 year ago
@RugbyHitsRUs
For 2011, Moody still has value and Rees who was there and did that in 2007 and will be there by 2015 deserve to step up. By 2015, Rees will have a huge role to play in what will be his 3rd RWC. Rees is more all round and consistent, making him my preferred starter and Armitage delivers more impact. It's down to management (completely out of their depth for the moment) to pick horses ofr courses.
vinniechan 1 year ago
@vinniechan To be honest, I was massively dissapointed by johnson's lack of willingness to mix'n'match the team in the six nations, he had so much talent, but persisted with Borthwick, who is crap, and there was almost no dynamism to the back row. Seeing how much of an effect having new players on the pitch had on the recent Australia test, I hope he'll be willing to make more changes.
RugbyHitsRUs 1 year ago
@RugbyHitsRUs
The management has a habit of persisting with decisions that don't work until they do to justify them. Problem is, they do it with old guards whose days are numbered and trigger happy at dropping youngsters when they make the first mistakes.
vinniechan 1 year ago
@vinniechan Exactly, but I think they're attitude has changed now with the introduction of Youngs, Flood, Ashton, Foden, Lawes, Palmer etc. and I think everyone can see the benefits of young talent in the side.
RugbyHitsRUs 1 year ago
@RugbyHitsRUs
I have sympathy for Care. Read the list of scrum halves we've gone thru since 2007 and none has held on to the shirt for a long term. Rumours from Leicester forum Harry Ellis complained about reverse coaching in the England camp and I totally think it was possible that England coached youngsters out of their flair. Sorry. Rob Andrew must go. Nothing good has come under his reign the knowledge that he gets paid 4M quid a yr in the recession is enough.
vinniechan 1 year ago
@vinniechan I agree, Haskell has been criticised before for a lack of attacking flare, I think it could have something to do with his coaching. Danny care is a great scrum half, but I think Youngs is a much more solid choice with the 9 shirt.
RugbyHitsRUs 1 year ago
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vinniechan 1 year ago
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@RugbyHitsRUs Haskell for lack of attacking flair? Was he playing cricket? My concern is too much flair from Haskell throw away penalty. Care was promising when he first came out, but he really needs to cut that 2 steps sideways b4 every pass. What pains me was Youngs played well by restoring a bit of common sense at 9: get the ball out first and foremost, or get on with wuteva u see fit. It's so basic that there's no reason think y Care can't do it .
vinniechan 1 year ago
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@RugbyHitsRUs
Haskell for lack of attacking flair? Was he palying cricket? My concern is too much flair from Haskell throws away penalty. Care was promising when he first came out, but he really needs to cut that 2 steps sideways b4 every pass. What pains me was Youngs played well by restoring a bit of common sense at 9: get the ball out first and foremost, or get on with wuteva u see fit. It's so basic that there's no reason think y Care can't do it and that pains me
vinniechan 1 year ago
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@RugbyHitsRUs Haskell for lack of attacking flair? Was he playing cricket? My concern is too much flair from Haskell throws away penalty. Care was promising when he first came out, but he really needs to cut that 2 steps sideways b4 every pass. What pains me was Youngs played well by restoring a bit of common sense at 9: get the ball out first and foremost, or get on with wuteva u see fit. It's so basic that there's no reason think y Care can't do it .
vinniechan 1 year ago
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@RugbyHitsRUs
Haskell for lack of attacking flair? Was he playing cricket? My concern is too much flair from Haskell throw away penalty. Care was promising when he first came out, but he really needs to cut that 2 steps sideways b4 every pass. What pains me was Youngs played well by restoring a bit of common sense at 9: get the ball out first and foremost, or get on with wuteva u see fit. It's so basic that there's no reason think y Care can't do it.
vinniechan 1 year ago
Comment removed
vinniechan 1 year ago
@RugbyHitsRUs
Quite the contrary, I'm more concerned about "too much flair" from Haskell that throw away penalties. Youngs is a great talent but look at the difference he made simply by restoring common sense at 9: get the ball away first and foremost, or wuteva u see fit get on with it and don't f*ck around. It's so basic that there is no reason Care can't do (once he cut that 2 steps sideways before every single pass) that makes me despair.
vinniechan 1 year ago
@vinniechan
how is martyn philips more appropriate to match up the physicality of the boks than david wallace?
mustainerulesxx 2 years ago
I was saying, if Stephen Ferris was picked on the blindside instead of Croft, there would be a chance Martyn could have been picked instead of Wallace cox of physicality of Ferris.
I like Croft, but I am of the opinion that he's not a blasting ball carrier.
vinniechan 2 years ago
Croft is a 6 who stands on the wing almost all day. Croft consistently gets knocked off the ball at ruck time, will never make a big hit, is hewn down like a tree too easily. He is a good lineout jumper and he does do some good things, but relatively rarely in comparison to Ferris who is more rounded, dynamic and stronger. If you want to make the argument that croft is faster (it is a tight call) then why bother having a proper flanker, like Ferris? stick varndell in at 6 if you want pace...
GoldenbanjoDJ 2 years ago
exactly right
Mikey2936 2 years ago
i think the fact of the matter is, no matter how much you argue ad winge, ferris wasn't in the lions sqaud and he didnt tour in sa. croft did. and he did a good job and showed some of the older flankers in the business how its done. you can say all day about getting knocked off the ball. but they were against the team at the top of the world, martyn williams got knocked off the ball all the time. the sa are strong and facing spies, burger, kankowski or whoever in that form is hard.
jeg3009 2 years ago
Mate, he gets knocked off the ball in European rugby too, not just against the then best team in the world.
And I don't rate Martyn Williams as highly as most people either.
Croft showed older flankers what it is to have pace. That is all. Technically poor and weak for a 6.
GoldenbanjoDJ 2 years ago
@GoldenbanjoDJ
Fair shout that Ferris is a good player but the fact you're insinuating Croft is a poor player is frankly ridiculous - He was one of the players of the test series and the idea of him being weak is a pretty redundant one for anyone having watched him play sufficiently. "Getting knocked off the ball" may happen occasionaly to any player but he simply wouldn't survive at Leicester, England or for the Lions if it were consistently true.
fergiesloveshack 1 year ago
@fergiesloveshack
I'm sorry, but whenever I have seen croft play, he gets knocked off the ball. This is not good enough for a flanker. It is not an 'occasional' thing with Croft. It is a 'matchly ritual' of his. It's like his day isn't complete without a centre knocking him on his bum. LOL. Croft is deemed such a great player because he is a 'different' sort of flanker, and it's strange to see that kind of gas from the 6. But if you want a 6 to do what a 6 should do, don't pick croft.
GoldenbanjoDJ 1 year ago
...and if you want your 6 to be faster than most of a backline, pick flipping Varndell!
granted, croft is a good lineout jumper.
I'd put him as the lineout winning second row who does the running rather than the grunt work. He's a 5 in my opinion. Or even a 14. Definately not a 6. Ferris/Elsom/Dusatoir would (and do) eat him at 6. :) my opinion.
GoldenbanjoDJ 1 year ago
@GoldenbanjoDJ
Varndell is a great talent, standing 1.94 tall weighing 95 kg with a lot of pace. The only problem is, he's so lazy!! He's very good at finishing, granted. But when you get into a dog fight which happens 99% of the time in top level rugby and need someone to come off the line to look for work in attack and run that extra yard for cover tackle, he just doesn't do it. This is why he can't surged to slightly off pace Cueto and got leap frogged by Ashton.
vinniechan 1 year ago
what? ferris was in the lions squad and he did tour in SA. he had the test shirt in the bag without a doubt until he got injured. luckily for the boks.
mustainerulesxx 2 years ago 18
@mustainerulesxx croft stood up really well to be honest
scottmasterliam 10 months ago 2
@rhysospreys8 i agree, ferris was a guaranteed starter for the tests against the springboks had he not been injured.
mustainerulesxx 2 years ago 13
@mustainerulesxx tom croft replaced him fabulously though
i like ferris a lot though but im glad crofty got his chance
scottmasterliam 1 year ago
i think he needs to get a bit bigger physically
MadHunta1234 2 years ago
when you stand next to him in person you realise how big he really is. I dont think he needs to be any bigger at all. He's a giantt of a man
ILoveBeckySoMuch 2 years ago 2
he is my friends brother
sincy123 2 years ago
6ft 5in, 240 lbs, and still runs 100m in under 11 seconds. Insane.
rob12192 2 years ago
Player of the tour i think between him and shaw and roberts
pazza20001 2 years ago
hes soooo goood.
his height is a great extra lineout option
his pace and skills make him a greatflanker
scoonez 2 years ago 2