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Highly unlikely that Murley tours IMO. I’m a huge fan, but he’s currently injured and has spent most of this season that way. He’s really not had much of a chance to press his case and in the meantime, Selightholme has had a brilliant season.

Possibly. The Saints set-up feels more like a collective effort with Dowson as the figurehead. Vesty obviously deserves a lot of credit for their attack, but the difference-makers this season seem to have been more on the defence and S&C. Dowson seems to be doing a good job of providing the...

End of an era indeed. Saracens will be a different animal without Farrell, the Vunipolas and Maitland. Goode can’t have many more miles left on the clock either. Dowson and Vesty seem to be doing a fine job at Saints with a great brand of rugby and a lot of English talent so I’m very pleased...

I don’t think it’s that odd at all TBH. He has a lot of good competition and has had a mixed season. Earl is the man in possession of the shirt and I’d question whether Mercer has done any better than Dombrandt, Barbeary or Willis? I do think he’s a fair bit better than Fisilau who looks...

I can’t see Oghre making it. I expect our hooker options to be George, Dan and on of LCD or (preferably) Langdon. I like Oghre, I just don’t see him making it at test level. Blamire, Blake and Riley can feel hard done by to have been left out. Walker less so. Atkinson surely doesn’t tour...

True. Maybeit’sth3 kind of encouragement Atkinson needs to get back on track? It’s highly unlikely he’ll make the full squad so a harmless (if a bit pointless) boost for a player with potential.

Atkinson is an odd choice. He hasn’t looked up to much since leaving Wasps underwhelming at Tigers and now Gloucester. Hopefully time as first choice at Gloucester will see him get his mojo back, but no way he should be anywhere near an England squad right now, even if it is just a training...

I thought we were getting a training squad announcement today? Feels a little late now if it is going to be today …

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/ce55x05vpejo Not sure how true the rumoured recall for Cory Hill is?

I mostly like this although I’d make the following swaps: Blamire > Walker Atkinson > Skinner Thorley > Heward Mercer > Beard Obviously I’m not suggesting Mercer as a centre or Atkinson as a 10. As a Quins fan, Walker and Beard are out for me. It might only be a training squad but both have...

Well let's make it fair to begin with … 4 of the players in the side are not English so wouldn't have been eligible for selection anyway and as you already said, 2 were in the squad, so we're actually only debating 9 players. If I had to pick one of your reasons above, it would be 'wealth of...

Not sure how much credence to give to this: https://www.planetrugby.com/news/revealed-the-four-south-africans-that-are-top-of-englands-wishlist-including-the-peerless-counter-attacking-threat Not for me thanks.

Blimey. Are they keeping anyone?

I didn’t know he had signed for Saints. With Iyogun, Haffar and now Green, you have a nice stable of promising young props.

Fair enough. I'd be happy enough with that (Harper). Sinckler has a lot of self confidence. I like that he wants to test himself, but I think he may have a hard time given how deeply average he's been since moving to Bristol.

We’ve normally got plenty to choose from but with quite a few injured, we’re a bit more depleted than we’d like to be. Maybe Dugdale has an outside shot?

Can you paraphrase for those of us that aren’t Telegraph subscribers?

Ah yeah, missed those. 3 regular starters is a good return from that crop. Stockdale had his time in the sun too but definitely peaked early.

The pathway hasn't been super productive for England in recent years, but as I said earlier, it's by no means an issue that is specific to us. Looking at a direct head to head, of the two 23-man squads from the 2016 final, the return is pretty modest from an established international POV. For...

I think it's just more extreme with the props. Looking at those old squads, loads of players haven't made it. It's also not specific to England. If you look at the other home nations as an example, the conversion rate from U20s to regular international starter is pretty low.