[2013 EOYT] England

[Aristodemus]

If Flood gives up and leaves then that surely is a black mark on Lancaster and Farrell Sr. I hope it isn't a sign of things to come.

 

[alexrugby]

Damn interesting match against New Zealand on this autumn

A little lack of luck ..

 

[The Jones Boy]

Luck evens out over time, lets see how your mob get on down under?

 

[alexrugby]

Luck evens out over time, lets see how your mob get on down under?

I didn't get what you mean on this post, but if you mean all the teams lack luck against ABs then you're right

 

[Maverick1987]

Just watching Exeter vs Toulon . If jack nowell doesn't get some recognition from Lancaster soon then he never will

 

[ratsapprentice]

Nowell is already in the Saxons.

And I agree, although he's probably a 13 or 15 in the long term, he is probably the best fit winger we have at the moment.

 

[Maverick1987]

Nowell is already in the Saxons.

And I agree, although he's probably a 13 or 15 in the long term, he is probably the best fit winger we have at the moment.

Think he got MoM in the end too . Some of the lines he was running were awesome . Certainly doesn't lack confidence !!

 

[ratsapprentice]

Looks like someone agrees...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/Nowellsy15">@Nowellsy15</a> well played today mate looking forward to watching your career go from strength to strength.
<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Futuretalent&amp;src=hash">#Futuretalent</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23skills&amp;src=hash">#skills</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23pace&amp;src=hash">#pace</a></p>&mdash; Bryan Habana (@BryanHabana) <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanHabana/statuses/409366282115760128">December 7, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[SelimNiai]

As endorsements go thats a belter

 

[Patchey]

With Foden having a persistent knee injury I think there is scope of Nowell or Daly to come into the squad as full back cover at least. Miles Benjamin is also starting to be talked up as an option on the wing, apparently he did well at the weekend?

 

[ratsapprentice]

I can see Nowell as being a good replacement for Brown, pretty similar in some ways... they can both be relied on to beat a ton of defenders, even in fairly congested positions.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'd bring Elliot in for Goode and Nowell in for Foden.

Benjamin played well on the weekend, but that's once this season - his bad games more than cancel out this one good one. If he's consistent with these performances then I've no qualms in him being in/around the squad, but I'll wait and see on that one...

 

[ratsapprentice]

I think if Benjamin can score a few tries, and show he can take high balls and tackle then he could be a good shout.
But we need players who can beat defenders without relying on being put into space - which they are unlikely to be given in an England shirt.

I'm fairly confident in the guys we have available outside of Ashton, Goode and Strettle.

 

[Peat]

As I said - the Benjamin hype train is refuelling. I didn't say it had left the station yet. He will need more games, and to successfully show off a rounded package of skills too as well. That said, I am very pleased to see him start to take some footsteps back to form.

Nowell is doing everything he can and I'd love him to get the nod.

 

[Patchey]

Thats pretty much what Flood said when he was interviewed about Benjamin after the game. Great game, if he racks up some game time at that level of performance then he should be in the England squad.


Moving off at a tangent, what do we think of Tom Wood at the moment? I'll tell you while I'm asking in a bit...

 

[Peat]

Wood to me is a solid 7/10 international flanker. Has some great games, has some quieter ones. Will never be remembered next to Richard Hill, will probably never fear for his squad place until we find someone who will. Alternately, the ousting of Robshaw from openside/prolonged fitness from Croft might do it.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Agree 100% ^

Kvesic supposedly played out of his skin against Edinburgh, Morgan too.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I think people really under estimate what wood does. He does all the grunt work a blind side flanker should. You need a player like wood on the pitch tackling, rucking, good in the line out, does his part in the loose.

The only way I see him being ousted is by someone who does that bit is also more physical. Wood is by no means a soft touch though.

Lancaster says you need two points of difference to come in to the team so what flanker has two points better than him?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Ceviche.

Faster, more powerful, better over the ball.

Just needs to get some good form.

(him displacing Robshaw that is)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Carl Fearns.

1. F**kin' A
2. F**kin' B.