Who be England Fullback in the Autumn Internationals?

I like Ben Foden , I think he is quick, illusive and more often than not he breaks the first line of defence. Jason Robinson was a one off but this guy reminds me of him. Having said that Cipriani would be my choice at fullback . His attacking brain given the chance to strike from anywhere wins it for me. His goal kicking offers the team a second option which will be a plus but its his ability with ball in hand and his running lines enabling him to go himself or to put team mates in space is what makes me believe he is our man. He is not ready for fly half yet , he tries the unexpected to much which he can do from full back but not fly half. My type of fly half should be a General not a Caviler, run the team, direct play and most importantly galvanize the side. Its why as good as he was, a New Zealand side with Carlos Spencer at 10 was not as controlled and productive as a New Zealand side with Andrew Mehrtens at 10.
Cipriani's injury knocked his confidence yes, and it has taken a while to stake a claim again but from fullback with less pressure on him I believe we could see his potential.

Joseph Ting

My New Season

For an individual player, I believe there is no point more important than pre-season. It’s the place where you can wallow in mediocrity, or really push on from the previous campaign. This season I did the latter and went on three training camps, two with my academy and one with England. A wide range of skills and techniques were used to challenge me, and as a scrum half, my main objectives were to bulk up and gain more consistency with my passing. Gaining these skills will hopefully enable me to continue my ultimate quest to become a professional rugby player. Having already played four matches before the start of my school season I was ready to impress and feel I did so in my debut for the 1st XV. My main goal for this season is to cement my place in the national squad and to get the right balance between playing for my school, club, county, academy, division and then hopefully England.

Tom Chapman

The New Rugby Season.

So the new rugby season is upon us! pre-season over, summer beer sweated out, its time for the real fun to begin again tomorrow. Saturday's being dragged round the shops or lunches round the in laws are over . From now until April, Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings are unconditional rugby times. Whether your a player, a coach or supporter, wives and girlfriends know that if the lawn needs mowing , the windows need cleaning or the vacuuming doing it most probably will still need doing come April.
By two o'clock tommorow the new kits will have been unwrapped , warm ups in full flight, dirty old supporters blazers and ties on for the 60th year , Guinness, Spitfire and london pride will be in full flow, stands of the Premiership or local side touchlines will be filling up in antisipation for that all important kick off .
You can be certain of a few things , there will be winners and there will be losers, the poor old ref will be offered some glasses by someone in the crowd, they will cheer, they will clap and they will certainly moan but most of all there will be a warm feeling of happiness because the rugby season for 2009/2010 would have began.

Joseph Ting