[2014 Mid-Year Tests] England

[austingtir]

So what have we concluded is England going to bring a half decent team down here pre WC for like the second time ever?

 

[Patchey]

So what have we concluded is England going to bring a half decent team down here pre WC for like the second time ever?

Yes. But that the first test is a bit of a write off / joke / odd one.

 

[ratsapprentice]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ru...istian-Wade-sprint-training-camp-America.html

England head coach Stuart Lancaster could send Christian Wade for specialist sprint training in America if the Wasps wing fails to recover from surgery in time for the summer tour of New Zealand.
The 22-year-old is still hoping to feature in the three-Test series against the All Blacks, but Sportsmail understands that he may be flown to the States if a foot injury prevents him from making the trip. 'They (England) have got some links with institutes in America, which could be good,' said Wade.

'I've spoken to Stuart (Lancaster) about the New Zealand tour and the games after that. He's said that he will take quite a large squad and if I'm ready to play, then he will want me to come.'​

​

 

[goodNumber10]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ru...istian-Wade-sprint-training-camp-America.html


[/COLOR][/LEFT]

I really don't see Wade as an international winger.

 

[Patchey]

I really don't see Wade as an international winger.

Heresy!

 

[ratsapprentice]

I do.

I accept that, ultimately, his size may count against him - but he's a phenomenal player.

England U18's vs Portugal:



Some big lads in there!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I really don't see Wade as an international winger.

I sought of agree.

I think he will rightly get a chance though, although I have only really seen him in one tough game that was the B&I Lions vs Brumbies match and all he did was get sucked in the ruck which is fine if you are built like Tualigi he didn't touch the ball for ages.

But he is certainly one of the best attacking wingers in the NH.

 

[goodNumber10]

That Portugal game doesn't change my mind.

He's an exciting player to watch that's for sure, but i don't see him getting the time or the space he gets at premiership level. He could be a Shane Williams type player but i think some of his core skills still need to come up a fair bit for that.... at present i accept that in a footrace he's mustard, but past that i'm unconvinced.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Portgual game? That was an U18's game from last week... nothing to do with Wade - he's 22!

Wade is so much more than just pace - his agility is completely unrivaled and he has very strong footballing skills.

As seen here with his two try assists:



he doesn't need space either - look what he does in is second try here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W6sbnsgh9w

Show me a current international winger who can do that in practice - let alone in a game.

 

[nickdnz]

I love Wade - I haven't seen a more exciting prospect from an English winger...ever.

What I love about England is that they seem to be content to pick a player like Jack Nowell - a guy who can run hard at stuff and tackle, but in my opinion has about as much creativity and for lack of a better word "x-factor" as most backrow forwards. Christian Wade is in my opinion extraordinary. His defense is not really all that bad, if he was bigger but had the same tackle rate - it would go unnoticed. At some point England have got to think to themselves "how much good has having big, solid, safe wingers really done for us in the past...".

 

[ratsapprentice]

I agree with you... although I think you're being a bit harsh on Nowell, who isn't really a winger.
He's a FB in the same mould as Brown - although is probably a couple of years away from being as effective going forward.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, think that's incredibly harsh on Nowell.
I'm presuming you've not watched him for Exeter, or when he was in the u20s?

Also, it's not like England aren't picking Wade - we try every time we can, he's just constantly injured. The last time he was fit during internationals was last summer, where he played for England vs Argentina and then went off to link up with the Lions in Australia. He's not exactly being snubbed.

 

[ratsapprentice]

He's not constantly injured - I know what you meant - but someone who isn't familiar with him might take that to mean he's injury prone.
The two injures he's had that have stopped him playing for England are the only ones I can remember in his 3 year premiership career.

 

[j'nuh]

But Nowell isn't likely to step in as a fullback for England for a long time yet. Brown has the spot for now, Foden is probably second-choice when fit, and I'd like to think Daly would be the next in line (not sure Lancaster sees it the same way though). Which would mean that in the short and medium term, Nowell is a winger for England, and I think nickdnz's criticism of Nowell is pretty fair then.

Wade, Yarde and May are the wingers for England for me.

 

[goodNumber10]

Portgual game? That was an U18's game from last week... nothing to do with Wade - he's 22!

Ha! i didn't check the dates and just presumed the left winger was wade from a few years ago... lol!

he doesn't need space either - look what he does in is second try here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W6sbnsgh9w

Show me a current international winger who can do that in practice - let alone in a game.

I'd say quite a few could do that - Savea, Puitau, Dagg, Tomane, JP P, North.

I think you're over egging the pudding there with what he did againts a below par Gloucester side and what happens in international games where that would get shut down a LOT quicker.

He's a good player, i just remain unconvinced - I don't know what you want me to say.

 

[goodNumber10]

I love Wade - I haven't seen a more exciting prospect from an English winger...ever.

What I love about England is that they seem to be content to pick a player like Jack Nowell - a guy who can run hard at stuff and tackle, but in my opinion has about as much creativity and for lack of a better word "x-factor" as most backrow forwards. Christian Wade is in my opinion extraordinary. His defense is not really all that bad, if he was bigger but had the same tackle rate - it would go unnoticed. At some point England have got to think to themselves "how much good has having big, solid, safe wingers really done for us in the past...".

[video=youtube_share;IOgA2CO4u-w]http://youtu.be/IOgA2CO4u-w[/video]
http://youtu.be/IOgA2CO4u-w

 

[ratsapprentice]

None of those players you mentioned can step like that.

Wade has looked at least as strong an individual threat as George North has in the premiership.

 

[goodNumber10]

how can you say none of those players can step like that?

Dagg, first try and at 2:11 & 2:15 (against France)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88ibCo0Ipg4

Look at Piutau stand up the 11 on the first try in this, then at 39: the step go and step, check his stepping at 1.02 Wades not even in the same league:

*Edit: check his stepping at 3:08



North first try test 1 lions is as good as wades in that clip you posted (IMHO),

The try you're higlighting is good, but bags of space to work in past the first step and he's just coming off his left like any good winger should, against a stacked defence.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I think you're the first person I've seen to question his attacking prowess.

Piutau is pretty impressive, and I concede he is probably capable of that too.
It's funny you should mention Piutau though, because there is an interview somewhere (can't find it at the minute) where he endorses Wade as an England player.

He's shown over the last two years that he is clearly the most potent English individual try scorer - teams are just as scared of him as they are Manu.
I'm not saying his game will definitely transfer to the international level as easily as Manu's does, but the potential is there.

 

[Peat]

I like Nowell. While there's no doubt that his tackling and full-back skills helped get him the England wing gig this 6N, he's more than that and has showed that in the Premiership. He's got very good footwork, which allied with his strength, allows him to make something in tight spaces. He lacks the out and out pace you'd want for an international wing, so he's not quite elusive enough, but he's certainly useful. The try he laid on for Mike Brown against Scotland was a very tidy piece of work. Considering our resources on the wing that tournament, I feel that Nick's criticism is a little off.

I love Wade though. His pace and agility are exceptional. Whether he has the all round game at international level - defensive positioning, kick chase, kicking blah blah blah - to ensure the team prospers is up for question. But if England fail to find out, it would be a crime.