[2013 EOYT] England

[ratsapprentice]

That Flood has had plenty of opportunity.

 

[Peat]

That Flood has had plenty of opportunity.

Over half his caps came as not-starting 10. He's only had one spell of longer than 5 games as incumbent. He's shared most of his international career with one of the automatic picks of his generation.

Considering how public perception paints Flood on the issue, Burns would probably be safer nowhere near the bench and not picking up a bunch of caps with no chance to shine.

Anyway, Toby Flood was irrelevant to the point. The point is that if Freddie Burns gets the same amount of time from the bench that Flood has been getting recently, bearing in mind that Burns can't slot into the midfield like Flood can, then he won't develop. The only thing he'll get is a bunch of caps that people will use to say "He's had his chance".

edit: Not that Flood hasn't had a shot, but its nothing like what is commonly made out, and frankly should have been enough to see him ahead of Farrell - but that's neither here nor there.

 

[B10]

Thought this article was interesting. http://www.express.co.uk/sport/rugb...rt-Lancaster-s-strategies-for-being-easy-prey

"It's difficult. Stuart wants us to attack differently from the way we used to," Ashton said.


"He wants a wing to be a wing. I've always preferred not to be standing on the wing but Stuart wants us to be there when the chances come, as they don't come very often. The coach decides what's best for the team – I just have to fit in with that template."

Maybe this is why Ashton's had so many chances under Lancaster. He wants to give Ashton time to see if he can adapt his game to staying on the wing. I would say he has failed! So let's get Wade or May on the right wing now.

 

[Peat]

That sounds like a man who doesn't expect to keep his place, thank gods.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Playing devils advocate: Kvesic looked far better getting smashed for Worcester every week than he has getting smashed for Gloucester every week.

 

[Patchey]

Playing devils advocate: Kvesic looked far better getting smashed for Worcester every week than he has getting smashed for Gloucester every week.

Granted. Although I don't think Wuss's pack ever capitulated as much as Gloucester during the early part of this season did it?

 

[j'nuh]

Wuss last year > Glos this year (so far)

Anyway, although he's not playing to his potential, Kvesic is still amongst the best players at Glos at the minute. He's nearly always amongst the top tacklers and has by far the biggest breakdown presence. The thing stopping him from playing for England is that he gives away a penalty nearly as regularly as he makes a turnover. 7s are known for giving one or two away, but Kvesic needs to work more on bringing his penalty count/obvious offences down. He's nearly there and certainly doesn't lack for work rate and speed over the ball, but he needs to be a bit smarter at knowing when to roll away from rucks, or leave the ball etc. I'm disappointed not to be seeing too much of a running game yet, but that might be because of the lack of quality of possession. He'll develop his carrying game if he's given the opportunities at the highest level.

I don't blame him being in a weak pack though. 7s can thrive in those environments, because you have a lot of opposition rucks to work off of. Seymour/Braid at Sale demonstrate this well enough. For me, it's coaching that's the problem. Nearly every Glos forward is playing beneath their potential, and it points to a systematic problem imo.

 

[Crapspray]

Maybe this is why Ashton's had so many chances under Lancaster.

I'd still put my money on over-conservatism, a lack of a real alternative, and then luck through injury. If he and Goode aren't binned in February I'll give up hope of Lancaster ever fashioning an attacking backline. No matter how much or what he says to the media. That and not letting Trinder, JJ, or Daly have a go at 13.

 

[Maverick1987]

I'd still put my money on over-conservatism, a lack of a real alternative, and then luck through injury. If he and Goode aren't binned in February I'll give up hope of Lancaster ever fashioning an attacking backline. No matter how much or what he says to the media. That and not letting Trinder, JJ, or Daly have a go at 13.

I'd go with a 36 Burrell centre partnership if the letters form is still good by then . Hopefully 36 will be playing better and with a back 3 of wade yarde and brown we might actually look dangerous

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I love what Ashton is actually saying though. Which is I Ashton can't play on the wing. Ummm am I missing something here. Why the he'll be a winger if you can't play on the wing.

It would be like a fb with no pace - Alex Goode

A 12 who can't create space - Barrett

A 13 who can't pass - tuilagi

Actually Ashton fits right in!

Oh and Farrell has none of the above

 

[Patchey]

What is it with promising English players and getting a spring of injuries the moment they get a call up?


https://twitter.com/Rugbyworldmag/status/406398248774279168

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

What is it with promising English players and getting a spring of injuries the moment they get a call up?


https://twitter.com/Rugbyworldmag/status/406398248774279168

Ashton has a lot of voodoo dolls

 

[j'nuh]

On the topic of Ashton, he's opening up a rugby academy.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/england-winger-chris-ashton-sets-2857928

 

[Bada-Bing!]

So now England have the following out of the 6Ns:

1. Corbisiero
2. Parling
3. Tom Croft
4. Tuilagi
5. Yarde
6. Tomkins

Well, look on the bright side, it will test England's strength in depth and give players like Wade, Trinder, M Vunipola etc more experience at test level. So when we do get the above players back fully fit, England will have one hell of a squad to face the ABs in the summer; which we will need even more with not having a full strength XV in the 1st test.

 

[Crapspray]

For Christ's sake. Cue Wade getting run-over on the way into the training camp. Then cue Lancaster playing Foden and Ashton again, because playing two talented wingers is a bridge too far. Come to think of it, I don't think we've ever seen Lancaster play two good wingers at once.

If Yarde's not fit then Brown, Daly, Foden, May, Wade, and Watson in the EPS for me. Ashton needs to be taken behind the shed and tearfully shot. It's the kindest thing.

11. May
14. Wade
15. Brown

23. Foden (Ideally Daly, but I don't want to make dreams my master.)

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Maybe there is some curse so when we say we will play someone they get injured? I propose we say we will play our worst possible team then at the last second change it and ensure the new choices are covered in bubble wrap until the game.

 

[Patchey]

For Christ's sake. Cue Wade getting run-over on the way into the training camp. Then cue Lancaster playing Foden and Ashton again, because playing two talented wingers is a bridge too far. Come to think of it, I don't think we've ever seen Lancaster play two good wingers at once.

If Yarde's not fit then Brown, Daly, Foden, May, Wade, and Watson in the EPS for me. Ashton needs to be taken behind the shed and tearfully shot. It's the kindest thing.

11. May
14. Wade
15. Brown

23. Foden (Ideally Daly, but I don't want to make dreams my master.)

I think he played Sharples and Monye together in a couple of non-capped games?

 

[Peat]

I think he played Sharples and Monye together in a couple of non-capped games?

They both played against Fiji, Monye dropped and Sharples got the nod for Australia and got run over by Cummins, neither has been seen since.

 

[Patchey]

He played two real wingers in a capped game? Wow.

I miss Monye and Sharples, either would have done a much better job than Ashton and Brown on the wings.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'm a big fan of Monye, too.
He's becoming more well rounded as a winger in his age as well - often, with real pacey players, as they get older they just get sh**ter as they don't have the speed to make them stand out (*coughSACKEYcough*) however Monye has many more strings to his bow, and is probably the strongest (physically) winger in the prem - remember seeing him literally pick up an opposition forward who was diving for the line, and carry him away from the whitewash.