Lawes in, Botha dropped

Lawes in, Botha dropped

28 Nov 2012

Lock Courtney Lawes replaces South African-born Mouritz Botha in England’s match-day squad for the Test against the All Blacks on Saturday.

Head coach Stuart Lancaster announced a 23-man squad, which saw two changes made.

Lawes is called up after recovering from a serious knee injury, and will make his Test return this weekend. Botha, who failed to make a solid impact off the bench against the Springboks and lost the ball into touch from the final kick-off in the 16-15 loss at Twickenham, is dropped.

Gloucester flyhalf Freddie Burns also comes in for the injured Toby Flood. Saracens pivot Owen Farrell is set to start against the All Blacks.

England 23-man squad:

Forwards – Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), James Haskell (London Wasps), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), David Paice (London Irish), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, c), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), David Wilson (Bath), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers),

Backs - Chris Ashton (Saracens), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Freddie Burns (Gloucester), Danny Care (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish), Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).


71 Comments

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  • 1.Namblack: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 08:03 am

    Dragon droppings

  • 2.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 08:32 am

    Lawes brings plenty of tattoo and colour to the test team, nothing else
    Lancaster is desperate, Mallett will be the Poms coach by the Six Nations’ time

  • 3.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 08:46 am

    Richie (New Zealand)
    08:09 AM Wednesday, 28 Nov 2012

    This incident, like Adam Thompson’s, was 100% provoked. Both the Scottish and Welsh player who got touched up were deliberately getting in the way in an attempt to slow the All Blacks down and stop individuals being as effective as they could. It’s the only way the Northern Hemisphere can beat us and I’d go as far as saying they cheating to slow us down. Just wait for the England match this weekend – they will cheat in an attempt to slow us down and use other tactics to try and get some ABs yellow/red carded too.

  • 4.Brads: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 08:47 am

    It is great to see assistant coach Andy Farrell talking up the England teams chances against NZ.

    He has apparently identified weaknesses his team can exploit.

    Good luck on that.

  • 5.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 08:51 am

    paul saarbo (Whakatane)
    08:29 AM Wednesday, 28 Nov 2012

    They’re not playing Tiddly Winks Chris. A winning style of rugby is hard and ruthless, unfortunately there will be casualties. The incident happened early in the game when emotions are high, I reckon it was a clean out that went slightly wrong, this is a mitigating factor…not guilty.

  • 6.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 08:51 am

    r2 (Australia)
    08:29 AM Wednesday, 28 Nov 2012

    Andrew Hore, thank you for taking one for the team. Let it be remembered by all teams that there is and will always be an enforcer in the All Blacks. Take cheap shots of any AB player and you will get it back, be warned. It may not be an AB policy but it will be done.

    Cheers Andrew.

  • 7.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:07 am

    Where’s the Campo thread?

    I want to get stuck into THAT conversation.

  • 8.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:15 am

    @Tacitus-7: Let me guess: You agree wholeheartedly with Campo?

  • 9.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:16 am

    @Taahirah-8:

    Indeed. The Dancing Girls are a great addition. The female commentators, not so much.

    A bit of a laugh, actually.

  • 10.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:19 am

    @4Brads,

    I swear, its like these people who get into coaching positions are just plain stupid.
    The right response would be:
    The AB’s are the world champions, and on a great run. We are looking forward to measuring our progress & tactics against them in what will be a great experience for our young team.

    So simple!

  • 11.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:19 am

    @Tacitus-9: Its not PC.
    But its true.
    Sorry, Sarah.

  • 12.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:20 am

    Campos tweet: “Why does the smh get a girl to write about rugby. Growden who was a great journo and now we have someone who has no idea about the game!” he tweeted.

    “Really sad to see journos attacked based on their gender. Or a grown woman referred to as a ‘girl’,” Pocock said on Twitter.

    Former league and union player Wendell Sailor also criticised the comment.

    “Well good morning to u Campo & I have to say u are on ur own with this comment, it’s 2012 champ,” he tweeted.

    From News24 – copy and paste of the day complete.

  • 13.gunther: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:24 am

    hahah

    I think Campo was just sticking up for his old mate.

    How did that Supersport search for a lady presenter go?

    Not well I’m guessing.

    I nominate ruckles.

    I could listen to her talk about the tight loose all day.

  • 14.katman: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:26 am

    I saw a bunch of people playing touch rugby on the Rondebosch sports fields at Keurboom park after work the other day – about a dozen guys and two girls. And one of those girls could step like you won’t believe. And when the ball rolled all the way down to the path, she ran after it, picked it up and hoofed it back with a massive torpedo kick that Naas would have been proud of. And she didn’t even look butch. I reckon she’s more qualified to comment on rugby than anyone here.

  • 15.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:27 am

    @katman-14:

    Ja whatever, Katman.

  • 16.katman: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:29 am

    @Tacitus-15: What does that mean? That you don’t believe I saw this? Or that you still can’t accept this, even if it’s true?

  • 17.gunther: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:32 am

    @katman-16:

    I think he’s unsure about the torpedo kick.

  • 18.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:34 am

    @katman-16:

    1. That I’m sure she was impressive – for a girl.

    2. That just because she is decent at touch rugby doesn’t have any bearing on whether she will be a credible rugby commentator. I’m sure Mat Proudfoot, Kobus Wiese and Owen Nkumane are **** at touchrugby and have zero sidestepping ability, but that has nothing to do with their credibility when commentating on rugby matters on TV.

    3. That your post is therefore taking us on a nice but irrelevent side track as far as the issue is concerned.

    4. That I’m in a bit of an argumentative mood today.

    So, my post meant kind of all the above, and some more stuff. I trust it clarifies the matter.

  • 19.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:35 am

    This is gonna be good

  • 20.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:35 am

    @18 Tac – those 3 are pretty kak commentators too. But your point is still valid.

  • 21.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:36 am

    Oh and as for Pocock and Sailor – these PC softc*cks are so worried about their public image, it’s scary.

  • 22.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:36 am

    @BULLET-20:

    Was trying to think of the fat ones.

  • 23.gunther: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:37 am

    @Dawn-19:

    He’s putting the grrrr into grrrravitas.

  • 24.katman: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:38 am

    Anyway, that enough about chicks. LEt’s move on to the other two issues of the day:

    1.) I see Quade Cooper is now confirmed as fighting on the undercard of Sunni Bin vs Fransie Botha. I thought Sunni Bin tweaked a titty and had to be counseled over the scheduled time of the fight? Or is it back on? And is there a greater day in sport than getting to see both Sunni Bin and Cooper get the sht kicked out of them within the space of an hour?

    2.) Who is going to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge? Please tell me it won’t be fookin Westwood again. As far as Poms go, he’s alright, but it’s got to be a Saffa this year. My money’s on Louis, all R150 of it.

  • 25.katman: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:40 am

    @Tacitus-18: Ja, I should have stopped and asked for a soundbite. But let’s also be frank here: just about anyone can out-commentate the current Supersport studio congregation.

  • 26.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:40 am

    @katman-24:

    Nah. The chicks topic is far more interesting.

  • 27.katman: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:41 am

    @Tacitus-26: No, I’ve already changed it.

  • 28.gunther: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:45 am

    @katman-24:

    A third topic seeing as we are talking about supersport presenters.

    who will be the next vitim of the supersport presenters curse?

    My money is on Andy Cap.

    He’s dodgier than a three-wheeled cortina.

  • 29.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:46 am

    @Dawn-19: This is going to be a special thread :)

  • 30.katman: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:46 am

    @gunther-28: I think the Capster already has a smorgasbord of skeletons waiting to tumble from his closet. All it needs is a little shake.

  • 31.gunther: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:49 am

    @katman-30:

    indeed.

    in postman parlance a lot of undelivered letters.

    so what odds are you giving?

    the same as the Proteas never winning a world cup?

  • 32.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:49 am

    @gunther-28: He fits the ‘P’ profile, down to the greasy hairpiece.

    His Lambie adoration makes Puma’s seem ‘one night standish’ by comparison.

    Grillerig.

  • 33.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:50 am

    @gunther-23:

    :lol:

    The undisputed king of gravitas

  • 34.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:51 am

    @22 Tac
    LOL – I knew what you were getting at. I found it amusing too!

  • 35.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:51 am

    @Tacitus-26:

    You wanna talk about chicks?

  • 36.gunther: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:53 am

    Arnie G is another one who looks like he might fail a roadworthy.

  • 37.katman: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 09:57 am

    @gunther-36: As would Owen’s rear suspension.

  • 38.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 10:00 am

    :lol:

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-32:
    fark me

    :lol:

  • 39.Mr Black: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 10:02 am

    I agree with Campo.

    I get shivers down my spine when Elma has anything rugby related to say.

    And to be fair the couple of lady bloggers on this site enhances my view of ladies and rugby knowledge :)

  • 40.gunther: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 10:03 am

    @Dawn-33:

    The Zion King.

    Hakunamatata.

  • 41.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 10:10 am

    @gunther-40:

    I still think STBUR is ahead of him by a nose in the gravitas stakes

  • 42.gunther: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 10:11 am

    @katman-37:

    Indeed.

    Like a thirty year old Golden Arrow bus.

  • 43.gonzo: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 11:06 am

    @Brads-4: Of course he’s talking up his chances. According to him they were the better team vs RSA. I’ve also seen three English players referring to the flukiest try you’ll ever see – in fact it was Ashton, who screwed up a two-on-one, Parling, who lost every second line out, and Youngs, and I have a feeling he was the one that kicked the ball into Pieterson. None of them are willing to accept they just couldn’t create anything for 80 minutes.

    But somehow the ABs vs England is always a cracker, no matter how **** they are playing.

  • 44.bryce_in_oz: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 11:10 am

    @katman-24:

    Khodr Nasser would never allow any of his puppets to fight even 1/4 decent opposition in their first 20 odd fights… look no further than his first bread-winner Anthony Mundine…

    It’s only a few more weeks before Cooper converts to Islam like the above…

  • 45.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 11:12 am

    melodie robinson knows her rugby, she doed a goid job on Reunion.

    http://mobile.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.php?c_id=1&objectid=1844601

    our own zeena isaacs also knows her stuff.

  • 46.bryce_in_oz: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 11:16 am

    Georgina Robinson has had some great columns the past season on rugbyheaven… Campo is just miffed he’s been the laughing stock of Australian journalism circles for years… so much so he’s had to go back to RSA with his tail betwixt his legs after his DHS debacle…

  • 47.katman: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 11:22 am

    @bryce_in_oz-46: But can she goose-step?

  • 48.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 11:28 am

    As long as there’s whiskey in the jar, uncle Hughie will keep stumbling over his own words.
    Without the Lions I guess he and Joel will be confined to schoolboy rugby during the S15

  • 49.Atreides: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 11:29 am

    @Mr Black-39: She doesn’t commentate. She just reads tweets. Do SS think we’re all illiterate? I mean, I can read stupid tweets by rugby players if i feel like it, why do i have to have some airhead read them out to me like a 3 year-old during story hour?

    Maybe next year they’ll give her more of a role and have her read Facebook posts too, and show us Pinterest pics. Can’t wait.

  • 50.Atreides: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2012, 11:31 am

    @katman-24: Sunni;s going to get his lunch handed to him. A mate I trained with in Jhb has sparred with him, he punches harder than anyone I’ve ever seen

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