| England win but wait on Phil Vickery |
|
|
|
| Written by Zico Kelly | |||||||
|
Monday, 10 September 2007
|
|||||||
 England began their World Cup defence with a 28-10 victory over the USA - but captain Phil Vickery could miss next Friday's showdown with South Africa. Vickery faces an anxious wait to discover whether or not he will be cited for a blatant first-half trip on Eagles centre Paul Emerick. Online betting shop BetUS.com has England +800 to win the Rugby World Cup 2008.The incident went unnoticed and unpunished by referee Jonathan Kaplan, but video replays at Stade Felix-Bollaert suggested Phil Vickery's action was premeditated. The match citing commissioner has 48 hours to lodge a complaint against the Wasps prop, who could then face a disciplinary hearing. The last thing England need is their captain in hot water. Olly Barkley, a solid replacement for Jonny Wilkinson, helped himself to 18 points through a try, two conversions and three penalties, while wing Jason Robinson and flanker Tom Rees also added touchdowns. Much of England's play was scrappy and without any real direction, and better teams than the United States would have made them pay. It was only England's 17th win in the last 41 Tests since being crowned world champions, although head coach Brian Ashton will undoubtedly see it as a worthwhile exercise in terms of dusting off cobwebs. But England failed to collect a bonus point, and they finished a poor game reduced to 14 men when number eight Lawrence Dallaglio was sin-binned. Eagles captain Mike Hercus booted a penalty and converted substitute prop Matekitonga Moeakiloa's second-half try, yet England should have won far more convincingly. They should still reach the quarter-finals, which is where the journey could end, given how their deficiencies should be ruthlessly exposed by better teams than the United States. BetUS.com has posted rugby betting odds to win the World Cup 2008:
Australia: -350 New Zealand: +250 England: +800 France: +7000                        |
|||||||
| Last Updated ( Monday, 10 September 2007 ) | |||||||