Tough on Tait?
Balshaw bags full-back slot in front of Tait, Vainikolo on the bench
Last updated: 31st January 2008
Tait: Unlucky?
England coach Brian Ashton has named his team to face Wales on Saturday - and sprung a few surprises in the process.
Luke Narraway is set for his international debut after being named at number eight in place of the injured Nick Easter.
Mathew Tait, arguably England's man of the match in the World Cup final loss to South Africa last year, has been overlooked from the entire 22.
Instead, Gloucester's Iain Balshaw has been given the nod at full-back, while club colleague Lesley Vainikolo has been handed a seat on the bench.
The Tongan-born winger is joined amongst the list of replacements by Wasps duo Danny Cipriani and Tom Rees, who have both been in excellent form for their club.
What do you think of Ashton's XV? Does Tait deserve the chop? Is Narraway the right way to go? Should Vainikolo be on the bench?
Send skysports.com your views and we will print a selection of the best.
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Comments
Simon Northcott says...
I believe they should play Wilkinson at 15. Cipriani at 10. Tait and Hipkiss in the centres. This would be a back line to challenge at the nex world cup. I would drop Vickery completely and bring in fresh players. Regan should go, paving the way for Chuter to claim his jersey. In the second row I would have Kay and Deacon, both potentials for the next world cup, and I would give Kay the captaincy.
Posted 13:50 31st January 2008
Marc Fernandes says...
I think we should see what happens. The thing is there are some exciting young players around and Mr Ashton is going to be spoilt for choice over the next 4 years. Give him time. As For Tait...what a shame as he is such an exciting player.
Posted 10:07 31st January 2008
Trevor Alinf says...
It is easy for people to criticise Ashton but what would happen if we put all our youngsters to the slaughter? He would be criticised and sacked for not getting the results. Why look to the next World Cup when our next game is on Saturday? The team has been selected to win the match. Narraway has had an outstanding season topping tackle counts and breaking the line with sharpe angles. It is easy to say Tait should start but his club form at full back alone is not worthy of a call up. Cipriani is not ready to start international rugby and his frailties will be exposed by (well maybe not saturday's Osprey team) France and Ireland. For someone who is making giant steps it is worth blooding him slowly otherwise a Henson-Tait situation will put a stop to his development.
Posted 22:21 29th January 2008
Trevor Alinf says...
It is easy for people to criticise Ashton but what would happen if we put all our youngsters to the slaughter? He would be criticised and sacked for not getting the results. Why look to the next World Cup when our next game is on Saturday? The team has been selected to win the match. Narraway has had an outstanding season topping tackle counts and breaking the line with sharpe angles. It is easy to say Tait should start but his club form at full back alone is not worthy of a call up. Cipriani is not ready to start international rugby and his frailties will be exposed by (well maybe not saturday's Osprey team) France and Ireland. For someone who is making giant steps it is worth blooding him slowly otherwise a Henson-Tait situation will put a stop to his development.
Posted 22:20 29th January 2008
Joe Peake says...
At last! I thought mine was a voice in the wilderness re Balshaw. In my opinion he's a ditherer who will get himself (and the team) into trouble at the back. Josh Lewsey is way ahead of him in both attack and defence. Thank you all - I thought I was going mad!
Posted 21:55 29th January 2008
Matt Stenning says...
Ashton's reasoning for leaving tait out is flawed. He states that the six nations is not the place to trial a player in a new position and yet he was prepared to play cueto at 15 in the world cup having only ever played there once or twice. I have nothing against balshaw but he is too unreliable under the high ball and if true to form will only last 20 mins in an england shirt. Ashton is right to pick tindall. He is playing better than he did in 2003 and as a Bath fan i watched him singlehandly keep the cherry and whites in the game at the rec a few weeks ago. Also i would like to see the volcano against Banahan to see who is the real impact wing. Banahan is as quick, bigger, as difficult to stop from 10 metre's as the vlocano but has better ball retention, a kicking game and a rugby union brain ie wont run away from the support as much. Cannot argue with the pack, Vickery as a Talisman for the first 40 min when its tight, Stevens to take over when the game opens up.
Posted 21:01 29th January 2008
Pete Waylan says...
Is Balshaw the secret love child of Ashton? I can't imagine any other reason to pick him.
Posted 19:45 29th January 2008
David Brown says...
This is typical of English selection, the most promising player to come out of the world cup is dropped. How can a manager who is promising attacking rugby leave out our best attacking back, does Tindall really offer more? Good news on the token youngsters though.
Posted 19:43 29th January 2008
James Bailey says...
Tait is unlucky, but on form you have to go with Balshaw. He has his moments under the high ball but going forward there is no better full back. It looks a good team, but I'm not sure about Vickery and Sackey. Vickery is passed his best and Matt Stevens is far superior in every aspect. Sackey has just recovered from illness and in my opinion not good enough to make the team anyway. By the time the 6 nations finishes I think Sackey's place will be taken by "The Volcano" What more does Simpson-Daniel have to do to get in the team? The guy is the biggest attacking threat in the premiership and has been overlooked again!! Strettle is very good and has been unfortunate to be playing in a team on the back foot in recent weeks. He deserves to be in the team and given the chance after missing the world cup.
Posted 19:39 29th January 2008
Ed Keith says...
Absolute disgrace that Tait is not even in the team nevermind the 22. He is the only player in that back line that can actually cut a defence into pieces. Disgusing. I really do question Ashton some times. One word - Outrage !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 19:32 29th January 2008
Alex Woodhead says...
I'm shocked at the inclusion of Balshaw in the squad let alone the starting line up, hes never ever produced the goods regually for england compaired to Tait who was well, well he was magnificent utter superb against most opposition in the world cup, not only has his defense got alot better, but his attack is almost unparraled in english rugby at the moment, another thing i do'nt understand is why include young players in a training outfit, and against possibly one of the weaker side in the 6 nations not try them out, Cipriani is a guy i've kept my eye on and he is the futrue of english rugby, along with other young guns, Croft, Tait, Strettle, Haskell, they all really shud be starting if not just to see them in action, English selectors have bin idiots for years and always will be idiots in every sport to be honest. I personally want to see an attacking side that we all know england can produce, anyone agree?
Posted 19:29 29th January 2008
John Foxley says...
ok first of all why is Tait not in the team? Alot of people here have been saying play him et fullback I personally would have him at centre outside Flood. I know he plays fullback for Newcastle but I think we just need more spark from midfield and I dont think Tindall is any more than a crash ball player who will just slow our game down.
Posted 19:22 29th January 2008
David Paxton says...
For me it was Tait vs Tindall and Tindall rightfully won. I don't see Tait at fullback. However, how Balshaw jumped ahead of Lewsey and Abendanon I'll never know. Yes, Abendanon might have some frailty in defense, but if this is the objection, how does Balshaw figure in the equation. Saying all this though, I think it sad the amount of Balshaw abuse that's on here. When he has stayed fit he has been a very effective attacking player. John Clarke said above 'He has had plenty of chances to prove his critics wrong, but has failed everytime he has put on the shirt.' Typical of the anti-Balshaw nonsense.
Posted 19:07 29th January 2008
Joss Hawkins says...
I believe Tait should be playing full back and Balshaw dropped. I think it's not only a better choice, but unfair on a player who was one of the most passionate and skillful players in the world cup campaign. It's not a good messgage to reward that by leaving him out the squad. Nevertheless I feel secure with Balshaw at the back, his performances of late have been impressive and a couple of years ago he would have walked into the team playing like that. I guess it's a good sign that we have the strength in depth so that such a quality player like Tait is not guarenteed a spot.
Posted 18:30 29th January 2008
Andy Macey says...
I cant understand why Balshaw is even in the squad,Cipriani would have been a much better choice at full back.
Posted 18:25 29th January 2008
Jerry Sturgess says...
Really disappointed by Brian Ashton's first selection after the world cup. He has made some exciting changes but surely this was the time to blood a few more faces. The back three ooze quality if they get space although Tait should be on the bench. I hope Wigglesworth gets a run as he should have started ahead of Gomersall. Vickery is not the player he was and to name him captain is not the way forward!
Posted 18:24 29th January 2008
Tom Eales says...
How an earth Iain Balshaw is in the training squad, let alone the match day squad and starting line up is beyond me!. He is past his prime...if he ever had a prime that is. I'm slightly disapointed that Rees is not starting, as Ashton could have so easily put Moody to Number 8, with the two Wasps youngsters Rees and James Haskell, either side of him.
Posted 17:34 29th January 2008
Mr Chips says...
Looking at this england team there seems to be several weak positions. Firstly and most obviously Balshaw who is suspect defensivly and under the high ball! Strettle who I am a big fan of but just hasn't reached anywhere near his best after his injury. Flood who is a good premiership player but lacks the x factor at international level. Gomersall who I feel is purely being picked on his strong world cup showing. I do however feel that England's very strong pack will carry them, however with more thought having gone into the backs selection they could have also had a strong set of backs!! Tait? Simpson-Daniel? Lewsey?
Posted 16:17 29th January 2008
Keith Rostron says...
What short memories people have. After the World Cup it was supposed to be the time to let Brian Ashton experiment and bring in new combinations of players with an eye on the long game. After this game England have 3 away games where other players can be tried who may already have a track record of performing well away from home. France have made wholesale changes and are probably prepared to lose some games to establish a new winning team eventually. Balshaw is a very good player but has played at times when he was not fit and should have cried off but felt that it was necessary for him to turn out. Can you forget how Balshaw terrorised Wales on his debut every time he got the ball ? He is now a more rounded player both in attack and defence and Brian Ashton knows him well and has faith in his ability, so why not give him a chance at HQ ?
Posted 16:17 29th January 2008
John Clarke says...
Having waited with eager anticipation for the announcement of the England team that was going to face Wales I was very disappointed to see Ian Balshaw¿s name on the team sheet. He has had plenty of chances to prove his critics wrong, but has failed everytime he has put on the shirt. I don¿t knock his passion for the game, but the quality is just not there. Mathew Tait is a future England regular, and need s to gain experience at the highest level. Danny Hipkiss is another talent that I feel should be a 1st team regular. He has shown week in week out for Leicester he has the talent to play with the top brass of English rugby. I am pleased to see Luke Narraway in the side. I think some players need to be blooded the hard way, especially against the old enemy, and with the experience within the side they can drag him around the field and he can show his metal to everyone doubting his selection. I think he can cut it at the top. Brain Ashton needs to be positive and aggressive in his game play. Flair can be left to the Kiwi¿s, England just need to be clinical and do the basics right, and a Grand Slam is not so far out of sight.
Posted 16:11 29th January 2008
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