England V France

[Mich the Tester]

Richie Gray from the Scottish Squad is 6ft 10", 20 stone and still looks and plays like an effeminate fop!

Obviously shares some ancestors with Matt Banahan.

[PAH]

Wilkinson to start

When you realise the 'whippet' is 6' 8" and weighs 16+ stone, and that they are going a lot faster when they hit you...

True. It's easy to forget how tall most of them are.

There must be a minimum weight rule so you don't get featherweights being demolished by human tanks.


Looks like Wilkinson will start, with maybe Flood taking Tindall's place if he isn't fit.

BBC Sport - Rugby World Cup 2011: Jonny Wilkinson to start against France

[Mich the Tester]

True. It's easy to forget how tall most of them are.

There must be a minimum weight rule so you don't get featherweights being demolished by human tanks.


Looks like Wilkinson will start, with maybe Flood taking Tindall's place if he isn't fit.

BBC Sport - Rugby World Cup 2011: Jonny Wilkinson to start against France

The height of players is often exaggerated in the match programmes; they measure them standing on a hard floor wearing studded boots, and rugby studs are longer than football studs (18mm). You'll find when you meet top players that they're often about an inch or so shorter than listed. Doesn't make them small though.

As for size; there are still places for small men; Shane Williams is one of the best wingers in the world.

[DodgyAgent]

The height of players is often exaggerated in the match programmes; they measure them standing on a hard floor wearing studded boots, and rugby studs are longer than football studs (18mm). You'll find when you meet top players that they're often about an inch or so shorter than listed. Doesn't make them small though.

As for size; there are still places for small men; Shane Williams is one of the best wingers in the world.

I am over 6 ft then

[Arturo Bassick]

Flood appears to get the team motivated. What do you think?

I think Flood is a fantastic option. His style leads to more expansive rugby and when it works we see England at their best so yes he motivates.
Problem is he seems to fold under pressure and one mistake be gets another until he seems to lose any idea of what he is doing. Jonny still seems to be able to deliver the one that matters even after a torrid series of misses.

[Pondlife]

I am over 6 ft then

He said studded boots, not spiked heels.

[Mich the Tester]

I am over 6 ft then

Indeed; if you ever get into a good team and are measured up for the match programme you'll be suprised how big they can make you. It's a psychological game with lots of exaggeration going on; utterly pointless in my view. I remember all the exaggerated claims about how fast Jonah Lomu was; people saying he could run 100m in 10.5 seconds, which was wildly exaggerated. He was fast, sure, but no faster than most other international wings, and in fact Rory Underwood turned around, ran after him and caught him in about 10 metres during the 95 world cup; unfortunately he couldn't stop him because he was genuinely big for winger in his day. Most top wingers will run 100m between 10.9 and 11.2 seconds; they might however do better at 60 metres. That makes them about 2/10 seconds quicker than top flankers; don't underestimate how quick the back rows and second rows are these days.

[Pondlife]

As for size; there are still places for small men; Shane Williams is one of the best wingers in the world.

This try resulted in his father Mark Williams winning £25,000 from a £50 bet placed almost 10 years previously that he'd one day become Wales' leading try scorer


I like that (assuming it's true).

[Mich the Tester]

This try resulted in his father Mark Williams winning £25,000 from a £50 bet placed almost 10 years previously that he'd one day become Wales' leading try scorer


I like that (assuming it's true).

Smart Dad, fantastic player; good job for him that he's Welsh because MJ seems to have a preference for big wingers.

[Churchill]

A friend of mine played for Wales. He's a short-arse!