Westwood v Hock : Sun Aug 12, 2012 6:48 am  

What a battle, these two both need to start every game for England. We need to get away from picking Jokers like Wilkin and JJB or putting loose forwards in to accomodate them. Both great players and the cream of SL in their position.

Re: Westwood v Hock : Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:42 am  

Don't tell Northampton Saint, he reckons Wilkin is better than Westwood. Wilkin wouldn't just have stood up to Hock last night; he would also have written something mean about him afterwards on his blog.

Re: Westwood v Hock : Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:53 am  

Wollyhood wrote:

What a battle, these two both need to start every game for England. We need to get away from picking Jokers like Wilkin and JJB or putting loose forwards in to accomodate them. Both great players and the cream of SL in their position.

Well said, at last a bloke with good sense, again, well said Sir!

Re: Westwood v Hock : Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:58 am  

Agree with the original post. Putting aside my feelings about Gareth Hock - both should start for England.

Re: Westwood v Hock : Sun Aug 12, 2012 8:05 am  

Both unfashionable forwards rough tough and a throw back to when forwards were beasts love em

Re: Westwood v Hock : Sun Aug 12, 2012 8:51 am  

The difference though is that Westwood has now learned to channel his aggression into hard but legal play. Hock still turns into a caveman-thug when the match is going against him. Two examples: elbowing Westwood in the tackle ( which he got away with ) and chasing way out of the line in an attempt to flatten Briers, which just created the huge hole from which Hodgson set up Monaghan's try.

Play like that against the Aussies ( where, let's face it, the matches are usually going against England ) and Hock will be a cert for a red card.

Re: Westwood v Hock : Sun Aug 12, 2012 8:57 am  

NRL style players who would play well against Australia given the chance. I think Hock is a bit of a friend, but he's decent.

Re: Westwood v Hock : Sun Aug 12, 2012 9:07 am  

Good tussle between the two but by far the best encounter was Tomkins trying to square up to Hill. Hilly swats him away like a fly, then when they are about to scrum down, Ratboy walks over to Hilly and pats him on the shoulder and starts a laugh and a joke with him as if nothing happened. All mouth and no action, that lad.

Re: Westwood v Hock : Sun Aug 12, 2012 9:08 am  

Hock needs to learn to channel his aggression in a different way , rather than turn into a thug he needs to use that aggression into his play within the rules ! Westwood has changed his play in a similar way since smith came in , he was a penalty machine before that Hock could learn from this !
I do wonder though if Hock has the brain power to do this !

Re: Westwood v Hock : Sun Aug 12, 2012 9:14 am  

Working with someone like Smith would do wonders for Hocks game.