[2013 EOYT] England

[TRF_Olyy]

Tomkins was a good league player - not a world beater but good for Wigan and did well enough internationally. Looked better than he did for England/Saracens, anyhow.
Eastmond was a potential superstar - really really good. A lot of people were very upset to see him leave, and a lot would be happy to see him back.

 

[ratsapprentice]

From what I've read, a lot of people think Kyle would have been England's first choice half back by now.

Corbs is out of action for between 3 and 6 months according to the DM.
Seriously worrying for his career... at least he has his history degree.

 

[j'nuh]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25071807

Oh no. How will England ever cope?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Didn't see the match today... but could you imagine a 12. S. Burgess 13 Tuilagi midfield.

Dear lawd.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Elliott Daly had a good game yesterday guys...just sayin. About the only Wasps guy to save face. He was brilliant under the high ball, and his kicking out of hand better than Goode's was by far on the day.

Article from the independent on sunday was highlighting his possible future in the England centre.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...n-give-england-a-maa-nonu-moment-8959852.html

 

[Patchey]

Yeah I heard he was the only Wasps back to play competently. Although he started at 15 right?

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I think we need to get daly and may into the set up as soon as possible, they are both players who can cover multiple positions and we need that in the team.

I know it's far off but when does Lancaster change up the eps for the 6 nations?

 

[Maverick1987]

Didn't see the match today... but could you imagine a 12. S. Burgess 13 Tuilagi midfield.

Dear lawd.

I thought that on Saturday whilst watching league . The size of them I reckon they would just naturally cover half the pitch !!

 

[ratsapprentice]

Ladies and gentlemen... England's next enforcer:

And also: http://www.espn.co.uk/england/rugby/story/207395.html

 

[Patchey]

Is that really Dave Atwood? He looks about twelve without his scum cap on!

Regarding Gustard and the EPS, I have only one emotional response,

 

[ratsapprentice]

Yep, that's him!

I dunno about Gustard, I don't know how much of Saracens' vulgarity is down to him, only a little bit I suspect.

The two English coaches I'd really like to see earmarked for future senior roles are Rob Baxter and Alex king.

 

[B10]

Here's my two cents worth for the 6 nations team:

1. Marler / Mako
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Launchbury
5. Lawes
6. Wood
7. Robshaw
8. Billy V / Morgan (form player)
9. Dickson
10. Farrell
11. Yarde
12. 12Trees
13. Daly
14. Wade
15. Brown

Subs
16. Webber unless Tom Youngs can sort himself out over the next 2/3 months
17. Mako / Marler
18. Wilson
19. Attwood
20. Billy V / Morgan / Kvesic
21. B.Youngs / Care
22. Burns
23. May

I will stick pins in my eyes if Barritt (or Tomkins) plays 13! He's been a good stop gap for us while the youngsters gained experience but time to try new options. Sorry Brad.

With Corbs, Parling & Manu to come back in I think that's a very handy squad.

Over to you Stuart!

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I've heard a lot of conflicting views about how Lee Dickson has done in the internationals. Lots of people claim he was terrible and really don't like him for England, whilst others including Lancaster say he was excellent. I don't really know what camp to join. Actually yes I do, I'm joining the "I want Joe Simpson to start performing at a consistently high level and in so doing push a claim for England so that we don't have to have both Youngs and Care at the same time " camp. Is that a camp? Well it is now anyway.

I also want to know whether Kvesic is going to be the player he looks like he could be or whether he's going to break our hearts. If its the latter he should at least have the decency to tell us so that we can move on.

I think this thing about Flood going to France is good news for Burn's development so I'm looking forward to seeing whether that transpires. If it means he's always at least in the squad for England games then he'll at least have the chance to stake a claim from the bench from time to time.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I've heard a lot of conflicting views about how Lee Dickson has done in the internationals. Lots of people claim he was terrible and really don't like him for England, whilst others including Lancaster say he was excellent. I don't really know what camp to join. Actually yes I do, I'm joining the "I want Joe Simpson to start performing at a consistently high level and in so doing push a claim for England so that we don't have to have both Youngs and Care at the same time " camp. Is that a camp? Well it is now anyway.

I also want to know whether Kvesic is going to be the player he looks like he could be or whether he's going to break our hearts. If its the latter he should at least have the decency to tell us so that we can move on.

I think this thing about Flood going to France is good news for Burn's development so I'm looking forward to seeing whether that transpires. If it means he's always at least in the squad for England games then he'll at least have the chance to stake a claim from the bench from time to time.

So I like Dickson simply because he passes the ball quickly and Marshall's his forwards. People moan that Dickson flaps his arms about but that's only before a box kick or slow ball. The thing is he does need to run a bit more but unlike the rest of the English backs a player who can actually pass!

On to kvesic, I don't think he is going to get ahead of robshaw simply because Lancaster wants two pints of difference. Is he stronger? Faster? Makes more meters? Tackles more? Tackles harder? Turns over more ball?

I like him as a player but I can't see him getting much of a go. I know people don't rate robshaw but he is a bloody good flanker and has good stats.

On to the backs. Why don't we just pick most of the Gloucester backs? With our forwards it would a dangerous team!
Maybe not realistic though

10 burns
11 yarde
12 trees
13 trinder
14 may
15 brown

Sharples on the bench. That's much better than our current set and the familiarity of the 4 players playing together would really help.

 

[Patchey]

I've heard a lot of conflicting views about how Lee Dickson has done in the internationals. Lots of people claim he was terrible and really don't like him for England, whilst others including Lancaster say he was excellent. I don't really know what camp to join. Actually yes I do, I'm joining the "I want Joe Simpson to start performing at a consistently high level and in so doing push a claim for England so that we don't have to have both Youngs and Care at the same time " camp. Is that a camp? Well it is now anyway.

I also want to know whether Kvesic is going to be the player he looks like he could be or whether he's going to break our hearts. If its the latter he should at least have the decency to tell us so that we can move on.

I think this thing about Flood going to France is good news for Burn's development so I'm looking forward to seeing whether that transpires. If it means he's always at least in the squad for England games then he'll at least have the chance to stake a claim from the bench from time to time.

Going to Glos may well have stunted his chances of pushing on from his early potential. Playing behind that fight five must be hell for any back row. Both he and morgan have looked average this season and you can't really blame them for it. Can anyone think of a back row player who thrive under those kind of conditions?

 

[Peat]

We've probably had worse players than Dickson, but for my money he's not good enough. He's a selected as a distributing scrum-half and I don't think he's a top quality international distributing scrum-half. He doesn't have anything else going for him either. If he gets the Six Nations gig, that's a pretty damning indictment of Youngs and Care. Realistically, all three need a bit more from their pack to perform. I like what I'm seeing from Simpson, but he'd need that extra performance as well.

Kvesic is still only 21, he's had bad luck with his pack this season, bit early to start questioning whether he'll be all he could imo.

If Burns gets the same amount of game time in a 10 jersey that Flood did from the bench, the main thing he'll developed is splinters in his bum.

 

[Patchey]

We've probably had worse players than Dickson, but for my money he's not good enough. He's a selected as a distributing scrum-half and I don't think he's a top quality international distributing scrum-half. He doesn't have anything else going for him either. If he gets the Six Nations gig, that's a pretty damning indictment of Youngs and Care. Realistically, all three need a bit more from their pack to perform. I like what I'm seeing from Simpson, but he'd need that extra performance as well.

Kvesic is still only 21, he's had bad luck with his pack this season, bit early to start questioning whether he'll be all he could imo.

If Burns gets the same amount of game time in a 10 jersey that Flood did from the bench, the main thing he'll developed is splinters in his bum.

I guess the hope is that if Flood does leave and Burns moves to replace him at Tigers as well as at England, as is being heavily hinted at, he'll develop into a player who can't just be left riding the bench. I don't know whether that theory holds to be honest, have seen absolutely no evidence in the last two years to suggest Farrell will be dropped for any reason other than injury.

 

[ratsapprentice]

If Burns gets the same amount of game time in a 10 jersey that Flood did from the bench, the main thing he'll developed is splinters in his bum.

And 50 caps.

 

[Patchey]

And 50 caps.

Here's a depressing thought, both Alex and Andy Goode have more caps than Freddie Burns. Indeed I think they both have more starts as well.

 

[Peat]

I guess the hope is that if Flood does leave and Burns moves to replace him at Tigers as well as at England, as is being heavily hinted at, he'll develop into a player who can't just be left riding the bench. I don't know whether that theory holds to be honest, have seen absolutely no evidence in the last two years to suggest Farrell will be dropped for any reason other than injury.

I like this dream, but sadly agree most with the bit in bold. If they're going to persist with Farrell ahead of one more talented fly-half, I presume they're probably going to persist with him ahead of another.

And 50 caps.

Your point being?