³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

He was my MotM. Had a superb game.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

I could not understand, at the time, how Tom Palmer was not made MOTM. He had an absolutely superb match. He didnt stop working, his line out catching was class and he kept getting over the gainline and putting the Welsh defence on the back foot. If he continues this form then I can easily see him being a star for England this 6N.

Palmer was class against Wales, physical, dynamic, solid. It was one of the best games iv seen Flood have too. Should be a good test against the Italians for Cole, but i think he can hold his own.

Wales are struggling though, i think Scotland will turn them over, in fairness there is not all that much to choose between Scotland Wales and Italy. I also think if Ireland where to lose O'driscoll, O'Connell and a couple of others which is likely to happen in the next year or so, then they would be grouped with them 3 teams mentioned above.

In terms of quality, France could field 2-3 teams in this years tournament and neither would finish in the bottom 3.

I hope England win it, and Scotland and Italy get a couple of wins each.

Finally, if i was Dylon Hartley, i wouldnt have been able to resist asking Gatland did his words taste nice last saturday?? As he was clearly made to eat them. maybe next time he sould concentrate on his own players as wales to me look like a team inept of ideas.

Tom Palmer is a shining example of why the RFU are being a little blinkered by saying that going forward, they do not want to consider players who play in France. Admittedly we don't want to see a mass exodus of talent but moving to Stade has undoubtedly reinvigorated Palmer and turned him from a solid league performer and into a top class international. There are several other cases of the move turning around players carreers; Stephen Jones and JW to name but a couple.

Maybe a compromise needs to be found........

Agree with 1 & 3. He was dominant and giveing MotM to Flood was just lazy.

If fit, the partnership of Palmer and Laws at 4 & 5 is as good as any in the world. Almost as good as the glory days of Jonno and Kay.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

I have to say I had a great deal of time for Palmer's performance on Friday night although I do not think he was the best second row on offer in the six nations fixtures last weekend - that prize has to go for Scotland's talented lock Richie Gray. An absolute man mountain who made so many try saving tackles I almost lost count. Imagine a Lions team with those two bad boys anchoring the scrum... Brilliant!

When Wasps signed Palmer in 2006 I wasn't sure he was what we really needed at the time. I was wrong big time. He was brilliant in partnership with Simon Shaw as we went on to win the Heineken cup in 2007 and the premiership in 2008. His final season with us wasn't his best (although the same could be said for others in the squad that season). But his move to France has rejuvenated his career and it has definitely benefited both him and England.

Its a shame he didn't get man of the match on Friday. But I'm sure Johnno and others have told him how important he is to the team.

He played well, but before getting too excited it's worth remembering the disintegration of the English lineout against SA in the Autumn.

Can't still work out why it took him so long to 'come of age'. We (England) have been looking for performances like this for a long time - dare I mention that MJ started with Steve Borthwick for a considerable amount of time. Can imagine that Palmer and Lawes will have some competition from Attwood come 2012.

Still a very talented player, coming of age, albeit slightly later than may expected.

I don't know why but he reminds me of Richard Hill (differrent position I know) in the way he plays, neat tidy in the right place at the right time. Shame Laws is injured and remember SA are still a step up in lineout work.

Fantastic player.

The big question is whether is how MJ will cope with the reintroduction of Attwood when he his ban is elapsed.

A second row of Lawes and Attwood would combine 2 6'7, 18+ stone hard cases and would take physical to a new level!

perhaps Attwood will go in the bench?

"I have to say I had a great deal of time for Palmer's performance on Friday night although I do not think he was the best second row on offer in the six nations fixtures last weekend - that prize has to go for Scotland's talented lock Richie Gray. An absolute man mountain who made so many try saving tackles I almost lost count."
agree entirely with this! richie gray was imense.
"Imagine a Lions team with those two bad boys anchoring the scrum"
maybe, although my thoughts on saturday were all about a lions 2nd row of gray and lawes! and a back row of wood, barclay and heaslip... oh no, its too early to be thinking lions!
anyway, palmer was good as was wood. we've got some real competition for places developing which is the key thing in pushing overall performance forward.

How come England can pick players based in clubs in other countries? New Zealand and Australia refuse point blank to do this. Surely there are plenty of quality England-based players to choose from, especially given the enormous size of the English union?

average player, average team. Scraped past a poor Welsh pack, would be surprised if he shines against either the French or Irish. Naturally would be put in his place against the allblacks on home soil.

buck rogers summed him up perfectly ,, very average , played against a poor welsh offering up front and well, the italian lineout was worse than the local town team. he is shouting his mouth off now lets see what hes saying after he gets buried by Paul O Connell

I am a fan of Palmer - but the complete forward?

Not so sure about that. I would still love to see more of him in the loose - and when you think our forwards' try conversion rate when 5m from the opposition line is so weak - there must be scope for improvement.

I still don't think we have much coordination in the forwards around the park - too often they are still picking and driving for no logical reason, and when they are first receiver, they are generally stationary.

This is far from a complete forward, and far from a complete England set of forwards - Wells still needs to up his game. Has done for a few years!

17. At 09:18am on 12 Feb 2011, mikabendigo wrote:

How come England can pick players based in clubs in other countries? New Zealand and Australia refuse point blank to do this. Surely there are plenty of quality England-based players to choose from, especially given the enormous size of the English union?
-----
Are you trying to say we get an unfair advantage? If so that's a new low for rivals. It's the choice of the country as to which players they pick, not some sort of rule that we have an exception to.

Much like Ireland, a lot of countries try to keep their players internal, as those players are then used to playing with each other come the internations. So in fact its advantage for them to do so.

We were following that line with trying to stop Wilkinson going to France. I guess it stopped, and it is judged that they are capable of gelling as a team.

if england are the big boys tell me why they pick a yankee prop a south african prop and an ex kiwi rugby league player in the centre.. can palmer please just shut up, people hate england becase of his sort of comment , they win a few games and all of a sudden it all over the press they will win the worl cup///pllleeeeeaaassseeeee

Karlwbrown.

Would you like to show us just where it is "all over the press they will win the world cup"?

Again people like you let the grey mist of complex cover your eyes before putting the brain into gear.

You truly are a silly person making stupid comments. No doubt not long left school and struggling to make use of a state certificate to get a job.

Would you also like to mention which is the wonderful side you call yours that is going to do so much?

Silly post. Silly person!