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England seems to be creaking back into life but whether they have time to fine tune their attacking game remains debatable

Quotes of the week

England v France
3.30pm, Saturday - Sky Sports 2

Early August but the sun tan lotion is away before we even applied it.

The World Cup feels as if it is upon us... Lawrence Dallaglio is brooding, England seem to be creaking back into life but whether they have time to fine tune their attacking game remains debatable...

Wales are in crisis....Australia are steadily closing into view and New Zealand, still the best, are looking beatable.

Is Henry holding a hand of aces or has their deck again been exposed too early....

All these questions, let's get to yours....

Email Stuart Barnes

SIMPLE STUART

A simple question Stuart. Lawrence Dallaglio... would you be taking him to the World Cup? Personally, I can't see how we leave a player with his leadership, experience and potential for impact from the bench at home. Thanks, Chris, Ashover, Derbyshire.

STUART SAYS: Chris, A simple answer, yes I would - he looks in great shape. I see him as a key man and team leader.

GARETH v GARETH

Dear Stuart, Please can you explain the thinking behind Gareth Jenkins' decision to field a third choice side against England at Twickenham on Saturday. I understand that everyone needs to be given a run in the warm-up matches but given that England and Wales could well meet again in the World Cup quarter-final final I think that Jenkins has thrown away any psychological edge Wales may have held over England following their win in this year's Six Nations. Wales still have Argentina and France to play before the World Cup begins and although they will no doubt field stronger sides in those two games there is still no guarantee of victory, which would leave them heading to the France with three defeats, no confidence and no momentum behind them. England looked to have bulked up hugely since their return from South Africa and it makes you wonder exactly what the Welsh have been doing in their World Cup training camp. Jenkins is a passionate and proud Welshman but after watching the debacle at HQ and his general obsession with the so-called 'Welsh way' I wonder if he is genuinely cut out for the rigours of coaching at the highest level. It may have been a warm-up match but it was still England against Wales and whether they are playing each other at rugby or tiddlywinks winning is paramount and I think Jenkins will struggle to keep his job if this continues much longer... Thanks, Gareth, Putney.

STUART SAYS: Gareth, Some coaches use the `judge me on the World Cup' as a subtle cover. Bernard Laporte has played the bluff card for years and Jenkins seems to be in similar mode. Field a weak team and claim it will be different with the best XV. That may be so but with such a dreadful win/loss ratio in recent years, Wales need to take a few risks, field strong teams and get some morale boosting wins. He is a lovely man but I have more than my share of doubts, especially as his management is hand picked and inexperienced. He needs dissenting opinion but one wonders whether he is prepared for the tough stuff.

REFFING THE AUSSIE SCRUM

Stuart, I wonder if you have been watching the Tri-Nations over the summer and, if so, whether you have any comments on the Australian scrum, and more to the point, the way it has been refereed. As far as the Tri-Nations is concerned, I couldn't care less who wins and watch for the entertainment, but if I were a Bok or All Black fan, I would have been hopping mad at the way the Australian scrum got away with murder. They were in all sorts of trouble all the time and Matt Dunning seems to spend more time on his elbows and knees than his feet but they just seem to get away with it. They should be penalised consistently and spend large parts of the game playing with 14 or 13 men. But they aren't, and the referees seem to be bottling it or are unable to call it. My worry is that when Ireland come across them in the World Cup, we will get the same thing and that is what allows their back row and backs, worthy of all their praise, to keep them in games and tournaments. What do you think? Patrick Horan, Munster.

STUART SAYS: Patrick, Indeed I have closely monitored the Tri-Nations and watched the streetwise Australians negate and wrestle their way around their scrum problems to the extent I do not think that area of the game will cost them a single big match. Having said that, they are also an improved scrum, something we in the Northern Hemisphere have not pointed out with similar alacrity....as for Ireland being worried by these tactics, I wouldn't be surprised if Eddie O' Sullivan replicates them at certain times this tournament....ps New Zealand and Ireland is a cracking 20-1 for the final, and I know you boys across the Irish Sea love a punt.

On that gambling note, I thank you for the continued interest through summer and apologise for my period of hibernation. But even as summer arrives so too does the final lap into the World Cup, let's talk this through.

Until next week, Stuart Barnes