Yes I’d like to see Haskell carrying a few balls through the SA’s. He tends to stay on his feet long enough for the rest of the forwards to get there and is all elbows – I’d expect him to syb for 8 as you suggest unless there’s and injury.
We also need someone with a decent flare to fire up twickers a bit. I watched the Dallaglio documentary though other day and his emotion and attitude on the pitch is incredible.
Also read some psychology about why the AB’s win so much – apparantly up to 10% of thier ability is casued by the fact that both they AND the opposition expect them to win – vis a vis England 2003. If you don’t know already, have a read about all the mind games woodward played with the team – “Fortress Twickenham”, “No’s” of tries that will be scored printed all over the changing room walls etc – even in the oppos’s room. I remeber that famous (England V Aus?) moment when they lined up for the Anthems on the wrong side and when asked to move Jonno stated “No, we are England”. It may come across arrogant but in the players mind they were the best, they came to win, and weren’t going to lay down or be told what to do by anyone.
Where’s all that now? All we have is “Well, you know its a young team and its ok to come 2nd at the moment blah blah”
Like Dalaglio said, “Lose in an England shirt and be too embarrassed to go out and get the Milk in the morning”
