[2014 Mid-Year Tests] England

[ratsapprentice]

A little update on the Burgess front - seeing as though we're talking about back-rowers - Ford wants him to play 8... like this:

4. Garvey
5. Attwood
6. Houston
7. Louw
8. Burgess

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I'd also like to see Bill/Ben at 6/8 sometime. I think it's going to be a combo we end up using sometime simply due to injury - unless we use Launch/Lawes as 6 cover - so if an opportunity comes up to test it a little, that'd be grand.

Realistically though, I'd expect the World Cup back row to be Wood/Croft/Robshaw/Morgan/Vunipola (not all at once before anyone says it) providing everyone is fit. Someone will have to go great guns to persuade Lancaster to take 6 back rows along imo.

For the WC.

wouldn't mind a pack of
1) Marler
2) Hartley
3) Cole (reckon this time off will do him a world of good).
4) Lawes
5) Launchbury
6) Wood
7) Robshaw
8) Vunipola

16) Youngs/Ward
17)
18) Wilson/Sinkler (Sinkler coming on in the 2nd half with around 30 mins would wreck havoc)
19) Slater (Biased as am a tiger fan but a great leader and cover 6 very well, when I have seen him in great form would work well with Youngs in the lineout)
20) Morgan (same reason as Sinkler great impact sub to have punching holes in stretch defensives)

With players like Croft, Attwood, Haskell etc in the squad.


Croft is said to be back fit in May.

Could see him in the barbarians game if Tigers aren't in the final.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

A little update on the Burgess front - seeing as though we're talking about back-rowers - Ford wants him to play 8... like this:

4. Garvey
5. Attwood
6. Houston
7. Louw
8. Burgess

Don't see him making it to the WC set up tbh great talent but how quickly will he pick up all the forward tricks will be key. He should of made the decision last year really.

That pack certainly has some weight about it.

 

[McTallshort]

For the WC.

wouldn't mind a pack of
1) Marler
2) Hartley
3) Cole (reckon this time off will do him a world of good).
4) Lawes
5) Launchbury
6) Wood
7) Robshaw
8) Vunipola

16) Youngs/Ward
17)
18) Wilson/Sinkler (Sinkler coming on in the 2nd half with around 30 mins would wreck havoc)
19) Slater (Biased as am a tiger fan but a great leader and cover 6 very well, when I have seen him in great form would work well with Youngs in the lineout)
20) Morgan (same reason as Sinkler great impact sub to have punching holes in stretch defensives)

With players like Croft, Attwood, Haskell etc in the squad.


Croft is said to be back fit in May.

Could see him in the barbarians game if Tigers aren't in the final.

Marler instead of Corbs?

 

[Patchey]

Marler instead of Corbs?

I'm assuming Tigs is discounting Corbs because of his knee. Depressingly I think he may be right.


If that is next season's Bath back row then Big Ewis is going to have to become a Bath fan. Thats outrageous.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I don't think many people think him playing in the WC is realistic - I doubt even he does.

Our pack is going to be huge - with our academy lock Will Spencer hopefully becoming a fully fledged first team player we will have a ridiculously massive second row.

Garvey - 127kg
Attwood - 123kg
Spencer - 121kg

We are one of the few club sides who could put out a 950+kg pack

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Don't know how bad Crobs knee problem is.

With Cole and Croft I have a good idea of the injury and there expected come back.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Without wanting to be pessimistic - from the outside it seems like Corbs is going to play very little rugby for the rest of his career.

 

[McTallshort]

Thats bad news

 

[Patchey]

He;s been penciled in my Saints to return before the end of April but there hasn't been much word on exactly how well the operation he had was. Obviously him training with the EPS during the Six Nations was a good sign, but as he hasn't played since then maybe something else went wrong.

I think its possible he could, if well managed, be kept fit for international duty but I guess the question is, of he isn't able to play regular domestic games, will be stay in form and is it fair on props playing week in and week out for him to be chosen ahead of them.

 

[ratsapprentice]

To be clear that's complete speculation on my part - but I the last player I recall having issues like this was Tom Rees.

**** - I just realised Tom Rees is only 29 and would likely still be an England player if it wasn't for his injuries.
Rees - Robshaw would have been nice to see.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Our pack is going to be huge - with our academy lock Will Spencer hopefully becoming a fully fledged first team player we will have a ridiculously massive second row.

Garvey - 127kg
Attwood - 123kg
Spencer - 121kg

We are one of the few club sides who could put out a 950+kg pack

I look at Bath next year with Burgess and think damn, they should win the league. They have some of the best back play and a forward pack that can match even the French teams.

On the England topic, Billy sometimes has a 6 on his shirt but he plays exactly the same game from when he has an 8 shirt on. Billy and Morgan wont go through enough work to make it a viable option. The most physical/biggest pack England can put out that will actually work in my opinion

1.Marler 113kg
2.Hartley 110kg
3.Wilson 122kg (looks fatter)
4.Attwood 115kg (looks bigger)
5.Slater 119kg
6.Fearns/Launchbury 114kg/117kg
7.Haskell 114kg
8.Vunipola 126kg
So a pack of 933-936 kg not too shabby

 

[Patchey]

To be clear that's complete speculation on my part - but I the last player I recall having issues like this was Tom Rees.

**** - I just realised Tom Rees is only 29 and would likely still be an England player if it wasn't for his injuries.
Rees - Robshaw would have been nice to see.

I've always thought Rees is one of the great lost players of English rugby. Might seem a bit OTT but he had so much potential. He'd be in his prime right now as well.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I look at Bath next year with Burgess and think damn, they should win the league. They have some of the best back play and a forward pack that can match even the French teams.

TBH you look at the teams like Bath, Sarries, and Tigers and they have the depth to compete against a lot of French teams just injuyies at the wrong time doesn't help them.

Teams like Quins and saints are just lacking that extra depth but have very strong 23.

It's just keeping that depth that is the trouble.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Going by the ERC listings (which I feel are significantly more accurate than RFU/Club listings) , that pack looks like this:

1.Marler 114kg
2.Hartley 113kg
3.Wilson 122kg
4.Attwood 123kg
5.Slater 112kg
6.Fearns/Launchbury 118kg/115kg
7.Haskell 111kg
8.Vunipola 128kg

That's up to 941kg.


On the Hughes front - great player who I'd love to see playing for Samoa or Fiji.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Yeh with Hughes it sounds like it between England, Samoa and Fiji.

Reckon Samoa would be the better fit for him.

 

[TheSaffycen]

6. Leo 7.Lam 8.Hughes
bloody brilliant back row.

 

[goodNumber10]

I've always thought Rees is one of the great lost players of English rugby. Might seem a bit OTT but he had so much potential. He'd be in his prime right now as well.

agreed mate, i thougth he was a phenomenal player... he had great skills and the physical presence to mix it up at international level. Was genuinley gutted when he retired.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I remember thinking Haskell at 6 and Rees at 7 & narroway 8 would be the English back row for years to come! What did I know as none of them cemented what I thought they should.

What a shame.

 

[McTallshort]

I remember thinking Haskell at 6 and Rees at 7 & narroway 8 would be the English back row for years to come! What did I know as none of them cemented what I thought they should.

What a shame.

Its a very competitive area of rugby so you have to stay well a head of the competition to survive at International rugby. Rees although never convinced me was unlucky with injury, Narroway never really had the ability at that level and HAskell lost focus at a few key times although given current form I could see him back in England colours.