there's a big difference though between having potentialy world class players in 11 positions, and having 2 world class players in almost every position, as england had 10 years ago.

1- Corbiseiro
2- Hartley
3- Cole
4- Lawes
5- Palmer
6- Croft
7- Robshaw
8- Morgan
===============

3 very good players in cole, lawes and croft, but not a world cup winning pack.

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Woodman wasn't all that, Sheridan was much better and I think Corbs or Vunipola will both be better come 2015. Hartley and Thompson are close but I would go Thompson. Cole is a much better player than Vickery, no question. I would take Courtney Lawes over Ben Kay every day of the week. Hill was ridiculous, that guy was ten times more important than Wilkinson. Speaking of which I think Flood is better than Wilkinson, better for the backline. Wilkinson was a better at scoring points but if you want a comparisom of how they played look at our form in 2011 with and without him. He had the fortune of playing alongside Greenwood, another player under-rated in that team. Ashton is better than Cohen was. Lewsey played full-back and a case can be made that Foden is better, but I love Josh so won't say it myself
So that makes 8-6 with a draw for full-back in a more optimistic light!!

you massively underrate some off the 2003 players.

woodman and vickery before their injuries were 2 of the finest props ever produced in the british isles.

flood looks to me a vastly improved and matured player who can now command the back line. he's not in the same class as 2003 wilkinson though who was as good a defensive 10 as there has ever been.

lewsey was 14 in that side. he was a much better player then than a few years later and was only in the side because the senstional dan luger lost interest in the sport for personal reasons. cohen was one o the best defensive 11s ive ever seen.

1,3,4,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,14,15 are absoloute shoo ins for 2003 imo. dont forget that england put out a 2nd team in 2002 that beat wales's first team by 40 points and nearly beat france in marseilles.

Josh Lewsey was full back. Wilkinson was then like Morne Steyn a few years ago. Yes, he kicked all his points, his drop goals were amazing and he could tackle. He didn't ever in his career fire his backline, like I said he was lucky to play alongside Greenwood. I understand that many people and especially the media saw it different but I prefer Flood now. George Ford in three years could also be better.
The forwards won that world cup, but specifically it was the back row, Johnson and to a lesser extent Thompson. We were ten times the England of today but I stand by everything I said.

when you say wilkinson "could tackle" it sounds like you're saying he could do a job there if asked. the fact is though that he was the best tackling fly half in the history of international rugby.

i was wrong about 15 and 14. forgot robinson switched to 14 during 2003.

nevertheless, foden nor ashton would get into the england first team during that period. robinson was probably the best back 3 player in the history of english rugby, and cohen and luger were probably the best pair of wingers in the history of england rugby.

i am also astonished about your comments on woodman and vickery.

i agree that the most important players in that side were 1. johnson 2. hill, but let's face it it was england's best front row of all time, best 2nd row of all time, best back row of all time, best half back pairing of all time, and best back 3 of all time. not a bad combination, yet still only 'good enough' to win the w.c. in extra time.

for that reason alone, i would say that any expectation of england's current side lifitng the next world cup are fanciful.

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