[2013 EOYT] England

[ratsapprentice]

Todays game will be very interesting.

36 vs Barritt

 

[Patchey]

Todays game will be very interesting.

36 vs Barritt

He's back? That was quicker than I thought ii would be.


In attack 36 will easily have the edge. He's been looking very sharp filling in at fly-half over the last few rounds.

Defense will be far more intriguing. Clearly an area the management team prize very highly. Barritt is one of the world's best defensive 12s so its a case of how does 36 compare.

Can't wait.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Think 36 has been written off by a lot of people, very unfairly.
He'd 100% be my first choice 12 going in to the Six Nations regardless of who's fit/isn't/who wants to still play union/who doesn't.

 

[Maverick1987]

Apparently Farrell has a 87% kick success rate this year

Compared to Halfpennys 83%

So they said on bt sport anyway

 

[Prestwick]

And Burns which was down in the low 50s apparently?! Crazy!

Goode has a success rate of 81%.

Still can't beat Chris "Money in the Bank" Paterson's success rate of 99.999999%. Can hand on heart say that I've never saw Paterson miss a kick. From anywhere. Ever. Even from his own try line.

 

[Patchey]

Apparently Farrell has a 87% kick success rate this year

Compared to Halfpennys 83%

So they said on bt sport anyway

I don't believe that. I really don't. He's at 60% in this game at the moment.

A few pointers from the Glos/Sarries game after the first half:

Twelvetrees is the source of Glos's creativity, Burns looks lost.

Barritt shown a bit more going forward than normal. However with Bosch outside him (who is having a stormer) he doesn't need to do much. Note to England, if we've going to play Barritt we need a creative 13 outside him.

Goode and Strettle are better than normal. IMO that still makes them pretty average but hey.

Austin Healey has come up with some classics regarding upcoming EPS selection. Apparently Wigglesworth and Strettle will be in the EPS and Ford 10, Farrell 12 is a distinct possibility for the first 6N test against France. I think I misse Stuart Barnes...

 

[Maverick1987]

I don't believe that. I really don't. He's at 60% in this game at the moment.

A few pointers from the Glos/Sarries game after the first half:

Twelvetrees is the source of Glos's creativity, Burns looks lost.

Barritt shown a bit more going forward than normal. However with Bosch outside him (who is having a stormer) he doesn't need to do much. Note to England, if we've going to play Barritt we need a creative 13 outside him.

Goode and Strettle are better than normal. IMO that still makes them pretty average but hey.

Austin Healey has come up with some classics regarding upcoming EPS selection. Apparently Wigglesworth and Strettle will be in the EPS and Ford 10, Farrell 12 is a distinct possibility for the first 6N test against France. I think I misse Stuart Barnes...

I've just checked I the aviva stat site Farrell at 81% 1/2penny at 83%

I think I'd rather play tuilagi with a creative IC or play tuilagi at IC and play trinder in OC

 

[McTallshort]

And Burns which was down in the low 50s apparently?! Crazy!

Goode has a success rate of 81%.

Still can't beat Chris "Money in the Bank" Paterson's success rate of 99.999999%. Can hand on heart say that I've never saw Paterson miss a kick. From anywhere. Ever. Even from his own try line.[/QUOTE]

Seem to remember him turning down anything behond 40 metres, gave it to Parks of Godman instead basically saying your sh*t so it wont make a difference if you miss.

 

[Maverick1987]

Here's where I got the stats from

http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/KickingStrikeRate?comp_id=436

 

[Patchey]

Burns charged down stupidly in his own 22 again. Really looks lacklustre. I'd pick Farrell and Cips over him in this form.

 

[Maverick1987]

Burns charged down stupidly in his own 22 again. Really looks lacklustre. I'd pick Farrell and Cips over him in this form.

And ford, steenson, geraghty, slade and even andy goode

 

[McTallshort]

Burns charged down stupidly in his own 22 again. Really looks lacklustre. I'd pick Farrell and Cips over him in this form.

Busted flush, one season wonder etc etc...unless he signs for Tigers then its just a small dip in form.

 

[Patchey]

Well of course!


Binny showing a bit of immaturity there. Robs on for England?

 

[Maverick1987]

Busted flush, one season wonder etc etc...unless he signs for Tigers then its just a small dip in form.

I think it's a mix of a dip in form and playing behind the worst pack in England by some distance wether he moves to Leicester or not

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Gloucester are butchering their game vs Sarries. Wouldn't know that they had a 2 man advantage.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I wouldn't be adverse to Wiggy being back in there - he's not a world beater, but he doesn't go to absolute s**t like some of our others...

Dan Robson has looked very good off the bench for Gloucester, and has impressed me quite a lot in the past too.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I agree re Wigglesworth - simple because he has a decent pass... but that's why Dickson is in there.

Robson should be in the Saxons IMO, won't be ready for the senior squad for a while yet.
But it would be good to get him in the mix, he's got a good, well rounded skillset.

 

[Patchey]

If we're going to have a Sarries 9 I'd pick Spencer. I have never understood why they've messed about with De Kock for so long when they have one of the best young scrum halfs in England on their books. He occasionally gets a chance at LV level but aside from injuries rarely plays Prem or HC game, Baffling.

 

[Toby Sweeney]

I think Goode is certainly going to be in the squad the fact is he's been playing at the top of his game recently, plus Sarries are playing the best in the premiership at the moment.

 

[Peat]

Sarries form should not be doing their players any favours. If anything, it should make the coaches skeptical about the inclusion of every one of their players. Same with Saints. Because it is very easy to look good at a top club and it doesn't really prove anything. The environment and demands at international level are different.

The first and foremost factor in international selection should be their suitability for international rugby, which for all the checklists or two points of difference, is mainly shown by playing well in international rugby. Alex Goode hasn't done this. About the only thing he does to the required standard is his positioning for receiving kicks and his ability to kick back. That should not be sufficient. That, although an incredibly important and underrated trait, should not excuse the lack of security he has provided under the high ball and as the last line of defence, or the complete nothingness he has offered ball in hand. The top of his game in an England shirt does not appear to be good enough. So he should not be in the squad.

But he will, partially because Lancaster does seem convinced that how well a club is going is part of it, partially because he and Andy Farrell really like the safety of his positioning.