Manu Tuilagi

 

He is a major loss. I would go as far as saying he is the most effective backline player in England. Their has been lots of injuries and musical chairs with positions. 
I dont think he should ever have represented England though. It was only a matter of time before their was going to be a Kevin Pieterson of Rugby. Playing for your own country is completely different to playing for someone else's in terms of honour and respect. 
England will rely on their pack if they are going to win - or make it past the quarters.Their style of play is pretty similar to South Africa. When the forwards get momentum, they are hard to stop.

 Deportation is an option

 He really isn't the most effective back line player in England...I take it you don't watch much of our Rugby, Sharkbok ? The likes of Henry Slade, Elliot Daly, JJ, Christian Wade, Kyle Eastmond...the list goes on.....are all as or more effective than him. And besides, he has been out injured for a very long time, who knows how well he would play or even if he would play again ? I am afraid that I have never rated him that highly and no, he should not have played for us. Yes, he has been here a long time, but he did not even gave the correct Visa status when he was playing competitively and, by rights, should have been deported. His behaviour has not been good at varying times and Stuart Lancaster is totally correct. 
But, as I say, at least we drop players that hit women and have criminal convictions. Unlike other countries. 

 Thanks Becs for diverting attention from bad boy Manu elsewhere . Lets just concentrate on Manu for this post aye

 He did post those bunny ears behind the PMs head. Lack of respect seems to be an overwhelming theme.

I don't understand what it is that makes the Islanders so prone to violent behaviour. They have considerable natural flair for rugby, which is continually marred by petulant acts of violence. Now this?

Sharkbok. He is a useful player, but not a perfect one. To be quite honest the combination of Eastmond and Barritt last year was a big step in the right direction. Manu is good in contact, but he isn't the best decision maker and is very suspect on defece to say the least. England won' t miss him that much.

 Lestat, I like you and all that but don't generalise about "Islanders".

 I am not generalizing the Islanders in general

But in the rugby world, there has been a very big problem maintaining discipline. Especially when things don't go their way. No other nation has disciplinary issues on that level. I particularly like Samoa, I always root for them, but it really sours the mood watching them descend into some truly horrific off-the-ball cheap shots. I could not believe the head shot on Pretorius in 2007, no punishment, but Schalk got banned for clashing with a player in the air! A four game ban initially!!

 we are very excitable Lestat

 Terrible that is what it is

 Jonathan Joseph is ridiculously good and I would of picked him ahead of Tuilagi for the RWC even if Tuilagi didn't hit the police officer and was fit to play. 
I'm a huge fan of the Bath backs and Watson, JJ and Ford would start for my England team. 
One player that's a big let down though is Banahan, he's a 6ft 7 and 110kg wing! And is really quick, has all the tools but doesn't have the Rugby brain.

 do u have a picture of Banahan Shezza?

 Is Sam Burgess on Stuart Lancaster's radar?

 Sam seemed to have dropped off the radar in the last few weeks.

 Don;t know. The UK Tabloids were really singing his praises a couple of weeks ago and then blank. I am not sure whether he was even in the England Team vs Wales.

Sam Burgess began at center where he looked lost, played the last few games at flank and looks a lot better. I think the RWC has come a bit too early for him and he should concentrate on learning as much as he can of the game before the end of the season.

 Huge loss for the Poms. 

...someone need to post that pic of him in the team photo with the British PM - funny as  

 ...dunno whether a push constitutes a "petulant act of violence" but a good opportunity for the Samoan bashers to put the boot in that they could'nt pass up all the same..

 Lestat "I'm not generalising Islanders...but Islanders have problems with discipline"... Riiight.

 Poi-e, I'm not generalising either, but acording to Lestat, Saffas are very stupid. I'm sure you agree on that, but I'm sure he gets things wrong from time to time. Relax.

 


Genius.
That one jumping off the boat was really good also.

 Sam Burgess has never played for England and is currently playing Flanker for Bath. He is still learning the game. 
Tuilagi has never been the best thing since sliced bread for me and JJ is only one player...as I said, Henry Slade and Elliot Daly should both be in the squad let alone players like Eastmond, Wade etc. 
He was throttling a taxi driver, when the two females tried to cuff him, he pushed them in the chest. He also smashed a wing mirror on the taxi etc. 

 ...thanks for clearing that up becs...sounds more likely Dr Tuilagi was giving free  breast examinations then as opposed to assault...

 Well Tuilagi did play for England and was instrumental in their last win against the AB's. Lancaster will be devastated I'm sure.

...and a simple thyroid examination on the taxi driver..  

 No need Brycie, it's obvious he was as high as a kite!  

 ...taxi drivers shouldn't be driving around off their faces then should they..

 Agreed, but who can blame them?

WTF, your defence of a Card's Islander generalisation is to assume I agree with his Saffa generalisation ?  Dial the sanctimony back a notch would you Draad I has merely highlighting the irony in his statement.

...maybe the taxi  driver was singing along to his crappy Punjabi music ..that could be highly irritating..

 Poi-e, sorry if something got lost in translation. I wasn't trying to defend Card. I was actually saying he tends to be insulting to all nationalities, Saffas included,  and you should not feel singled out....then again, I'm sure he's got some extra dislike installed for anything NZ related, but don't worry, he ain't too fond of Oom Mike either!

 Gee its lucky that Armitage could be excluded for playing in France rather than for his assault charge [ although as I recall Wilkinson was OK to play in France and be selected]Moral dilemma averted ,sanctimonious brits breathe sigh of relief ! 
PS : Good thing Tuilagi had fitness issues eh ? Made it easier to not select him no doubt .

 Clearly you know nothing of the policy not  to select players that have been in trouble with the Law, wardad ? Maybe you should look up why Danny Care was dropped from the Squad before you talk utter rubbish. As I say, we actually act against players that get into trouble with the Police here and particularly those that slap women, unlike in other countries. 
Wilkinson was picked on a short term basis under the exceptional circumstances clause. 
Armitage and Abendanon will not be in the England Squad. 

 First you post this about Tuilagi then you try to deflect any criticism with your holier than thou nonsense .So what is your point exactly ? That your lot is morally superior to anyone else ? Only thing you forgot to do is your usual name dropping nonsense .So be careful up on that high horse you rode in on ,you might hurt your butt when you fall off.

England is the moral authority of the worldAsk all the working class that make up most of their population.
The rich upper-class are about 5% of the population - but own all of the land through inheritance. The private element of England have it easier than anywhere in the world. An old boy's club that has all the inside information on business opportunities. 
England like to talk about themselves if they are all James Bond's, but really they are more like Austin Powers
It is allmost like the English get down trodden in their own country- and it makes them feel better by trying to do the same to other nationalities.
It is only in private schools where kids are allowed to play rugby. Just another social division to tell some kids they are better than others, and the rest are worse than others.

I'm liking the Brits more now that Labour and the Liberals are toast. A country run by C onservatives and the colonials north of the border can't be all bad. Great picture with the PM, that probably got him a few votes!