[2015 Six Nations] England

[goodNumber10]

Yeah it's on Twitter also....

Like I said he should be playing LV or on loan to a championship side for 2-3 games.......... Bath & England are really gonna mess this up

 

[ratsapprentice]

Going to the championship would be a terrible idea.
Big target for someone to "impose" themselves on.

 

[goodNumber10]

Going to the championship would be a terrible idea.
Big target for someone to "impose" themselves on.

Don't be daft.

 

[ratsapprentice]

He'll be playing LV on Saturday anyway.

 

[Maverick1987]

36 and JJ according to the Mail... Burrell ruled out.

Where did it say that ? In the small article I read all it said was that JJ was going to start . No mention of his centre partner ?

You got a link ?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Headline of the article.

 

[Maverick1987]

Headline of the article.

Must different regional then . In my paper it's on the same page as castrogiovanni

 

[Maverick1987]

Not that I don't believe you just I wouldn't have minded having a read

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Just had a look on the DM website and Burgess is mentioned in 5 headlines on the first page on rugby union articles.
Mental.


Sub headline for that article above, on the website, has: "

• Sportsmail understands that Billy Twelvetrees is likely to be preferred at inside centre

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ru...ime-position-start-England.html#ixzz3QQZ5Gma6 "

Presumably they got some more info after going to print.
The fail are rarely wrong about England rugby news, so I wouldn't be surprised to see those two named next Wednesday/Thursday, whichever day it is we'll name our side.

 

[Peat]

I would agree if our other scrum halves were Smith or Genia but they are just the same mould as Simpson but without the electric pace. I think he is worth at least 30 minutes against Italy (no offence to them but they aren't really a threat) to see what he can bring. Did anyone else think that Fearns looked more effective than Waldrom ? I know that he was playing tired players but in defence he rattled some people.

Well, nothing else apart, I don't think 30 minutes against Italy are worth anything for anyone as a test because they're not a threat, so success means nothing, and its only thirty minutes, so failure means nothing either. If Simpson's worth the go, then he should be in for more than Italy; and if he's only worth Italy, he shouldn't be in for that.

As for Simpson, well, I wouldn't but I don't feel that strongly because the end result would be pretty like our current lot... roll on Robson/Townsend/Braley/Spencer/Fowles/every other young scrum-half I've forgotten.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

So from various "in the know" media types, it looks like we're going to see:

1. Marler/Corbs (flip a coin - though Marler slightly ahead)
2. Hartley
3. Wilson(/Cole if not fit)
4. Kruis
5. Attwood
6. Haskell
7. Robshaw
8. Binny
9. Wigglesworth
10. Ford
11. May
12. 36
13. Joseph
14. Nowell/Watson (flip a coin)
15. Brown

16. Youngs
17. Corbs/Youngs
18. Cole/Brookes
19. Kitchener
20. Easter
21. Care/Youngs (Flip a coin)
22. Cipriani
23. Watson/Nowell



Only surprise is Wiggy being touted as first choice 9. It makes sense as he's in the best form/most consistent of the 9s named, and this close to a world cup age doesn't mean anything as long as they're still able to do a job in 7months time.

 

[Tony Manx]

So from various "in the know" media types, it looks like we're going to see:

1. Marler/Corbs (flip a coin - though Marler slightly ahead)
2. Hartley
3. Wilson(/Cole if not fit)
4. Kruis
5. Attwood
6. Haskell
7. Robshaw
8. Binny
9. Wigglesworth
10. Ford
11. May
12. 36
13. Joseph
14. Nowell/Watson (flip a coin)
15. Brown

16. Youngs
17. Corbs/Youngs
18. Cole/Brookes
19. Kitchener
20. Easter
21. Care/Youngs (Flip a coin)
22. Cipriani
23. Watson/Nowell



Only surprise is Wiggy being touted as first choice 9. It makes sense as he's in the best form/most consistent of the 9s named, and this close to a world cup age doesn't mean anything as long as they're still able to do a job in 7months time.

Will Greenwood reckons Vunipola at LH?

 

[ratsapprentice]

That's his preference... the list Olyy made is what the media are saying the squad will actually be (they get drip fed leaks throughout the week by someone in the setup).

 

[Tony Manx]

That's his preference... the list Olyy made is what the media are saying the squad will actually be (they get drip fed leaks throughout the week by someone in the setup).

Right!

 

[TheSaffycen]

For someone so knowledgeable I think Matfield has really got this wrong.
He believes that our Lineout will be a weakness and that Wales will look to target us there.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31036331

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

For someone so knowledgeable I think Matfield has really got this wrong.
He believes that our Lineout will be a weakness and that Wales will look to target us there.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31036331

I certainly hope Wales don't try to target us there, because the Welsh lineout is renouned for being really strong as well as the Welsh ability to deal with and control driving mauls...

 

[j'nuh]

So from various "in the know" media types, it looks like we're going to see:

1. Marler/Corbs (flip a coin - though Marler slightly ahead)
2. Hartley
3. Wilson(/Cole if not fit)
4. Kruis
5. Attwood
6. Haskell
7. Robshaw
8. Binny
9. Wigglesworth
10. Ford
11. May
12. 36
13. Joseph
14. Nowell/Watson (flip a coin)
15. Brown

16. Youngs
17. Corbs/Youngs
18. Cole/Brookes
19. Kitchener
20. Easter
21. Care/Youngs (Flip a coin)
22. Cipriani
23. Watson/Nowell

Only surprise is Wiggy being touted as first choice 9. It makes sense as he's in the best form/most consistent of the 9s named, and this close to a world cup age doesn't mean anything as long as they're still able to do a job in 7months time.

I thought that the best 9 performances under Lancaster was arguably Dickson right at the start, mainly because his passing game was a lot better than the stuff Care/Youngs have shown since. I'm okay with a 9 that isn't that flash, I just want them to execute the basics well and give the rest of the backline the chance to show their ability.

Looking at that backline, if it doesn't work out in attack, the problems have to be tactical.

I certainly hope Wales don't try to target us there, because the Welsh lineout is renouned for being really strong as well as the Welsh ability to deal with and control driving mauls...

Huh? Dunno about on our throw in, but on their throw in, Hibbard is notoriously weak on his darts. It's not like a train wreck of an issue for him, but it is notably a problem in most games, one or two balls being overthrown or not straight. It's something that we can target/unsettle them on. Meanwhile, our lineout was safe in the Autumn with Attwood/Kruis. Admittedly, we had Wood back then. It will be interesting to see if Wood is as important to the lineout as Lancaster made him out to be.

 

[Peat]

For someone so knowledgeable I think Matfield has really got this wrong.
He believes that our Lineout will be a weakness and that Wales will look to target us there.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31036331

Hmm. The pieces of the unit are all there but the understanding levels are possibly going to be a little short and it wouldn't be a surprise if timing was off occasionally. It is the sort of situation where a team can pick up more from competing than they might normally expect to. So yes, of course they'll target us there.

I don't see anything to disagree with in his actual quotes tbh - nowhere does he use the word 'weakness', he merely talks about a problem that needs solving and which will be targeted to see whether we have.

 

[goodNumber10]

I thought that the best 9 performances under Lancaster was arguably Dickson right at the start, mainly because his passing game was a lot better than the stuff Care/Youngs have shown since. I'm okay with a 9 that isn't that flash, I just want them to execute the basics well and give the rest of the backline the chance to show their ability.

don't underestimate how important it is to have a 9 that can dart, that fragment of doubt in a backrows head is decison making time for your 10.

Much like a 10 who just ships it on to the next man without doing anything puts his outside backs under pressure a 9 who "just passes" does little than put his 10 under pressure.

i like wigglesworth though, he's the best tactical kicker and against wales we'll be going to the air a lot.

Looking at that backline, if it doesn't work out in attack, the problems have to be tactical.

i guess so, attack is the hardest part to get right, any number of things can knock it off balance....

 

[Irishkid]

If Wigglesworth plays and Simpson can't get in the 23 then there is something wrong.