[2014 Mid-Year Tests] England

[goodNumber10]

Lol! because i don't think he should tour it's a vendetta? turn it in it's not a personal thing, i just wanted to point out that what i said earlier in the week was highlighted today.

You reckon he's made great strides in defense, and today he got exposed in at least two of the trys where he just didn't make any effort at tackling - it was classic Cipriani - the challenge on Flood was amazing.

 

[goodNumber10]

thinking about the centre pairing i've a feeling we'll see Tuilagi at 12 in the second/third test.

 

[Crapspray]

I hope not. The ostensible aim is to have the ability to play either side of a ruck/scrum; Tuilagi doesn't really fit into that... unless Goode is picked at 15. If that's not a good enough reason, I don't know what is.

The easy thing, if 36 is out, is to move Burrell and bring back Tuilagi, but I'd really like to see Eastmond there. Is England's defence frail around inside centre? Roberts and Bastareaud didn't exactly make holes. Defensively, it seems as if the role is to choose whether to blitz or drift; I don't think that'd be a challenge for Eastmond. I can't think of any other reason that could be used not to play him. Maybe because of what Tuilagi did last time he played the All Blacks?

Also, PDJ can sod off. The depth at tighthead needs to be slightly more than "Let's hope Thomas doesn't get too annihilated in the scrum!". I thought when Stevens retired so too did the idea of a prop being able to collapse at tighthead and loosehead, making him and PDJ redundant at international level.

Speaking of which, (I've been out of the loop a while) is Cole going to be fit by the tour? Or is he out for the summer? I remember it being mentioned as six-week thing, but they said that about Corbisiero too...

 

[goodNumber10]

cole is out for the summer tour.

completely agree RE: Tuilagi/Burrell... would prefer to see Eastmond in - all this si going to come down to who gets to the final though.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Not sure you could really call Burrell a "playmaker"... Eastmond and 36 are the only two in contention you could IMO.
I don't think he really has much ability in that regard - no more than someone like Barritt does anyway - he just uses it more often.

 

[TheSaffycen]

We all know what will happen, Ford at 10 and Farrell at 12.

 

[goodNumber10]

We all know what will happen, Ford at 10 and Farrell at 12.

don't think they would run that as a starting midfield but stranger things have happened.

Tuilagi will start at 13, Burrells form has sadly dropped off in comparison to the 6 nations. So unless Tigers make the play offs (which is not inconceivable after watching them the last couple of weeks) then it's all a discussion as to who partners him.

 

[Crapspray]

Not per se. As you said, he uses more often- certainly more so than Tuilagi. The lesser of two evils.

Obviously Eastmond is the better choice for the tactic; the other reason would be to see whether Tuilagi can be played and not have the default option for the backs become "Manu bosh!".

 

[ratsapprentice]

Just seen Yarde's tries on prem.tv.

Very impressive - he's looking sharp.

Roko looked good in the Army game too - there was a carry in the first half where he absolutely destroyed about 4 guys in a row - and his try showed how lethal his right foot step is.
Yarde on the left, Roko on the right looks like it has pretty good potential to me.

 

[goodNumber10]

Just seen Yarde's tries on prem.tv.

Very impressive - he's looking sharp.

Roko looked good in the Army game too - there was a carry in the first half where he absolutely destroyed about 4 guys in a row - and his try showed how lethal his right foot step is.
Yarde on the left, Roko on the right looks like it has pretty good potential to me.

I'd be happy with that... I have had my doubts about Yarde in the past but once he was gone from the England set up you noticed he was missing and he makes defences panic.

I just wonder how they will gel with Brown.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Anyone know when the touring squad is announced?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Next Thursday I think.

The same article said that it's Wilson, Thomas, Brookes and PDJ.
Not unhappy about Brookes - couldn't argue with him being second choice at this point - but PDJ just dumbfounds me.

Yarde's attacking stats from yesterday:

146m from 14 carries.
12 defenders beaten.
4 clean breaks.

 

[Patchey]

So regardless of the final we're missing Cole, Corbs, Twelvetrees, Nowell ? Greeeeeat.

Telegraph seems to think Sinckler isn't going to tour... but PDJ is.

First::mellow:

Then::lol:

Now:

Torygraph must be talking cr*p with this. PDJ has been on the bench for Quins all season and shown absolutely nothing. Sinckler has clearly taken to propping like a fish to water and at times has monstered much more experience proprs. The only reason i would give this rumour any credit is that a lot of commentators seem to massively miss what Sinckler is doing and talk a lot about how Quins are having to support him. This is rubbish and to be expected of BT Sport commentators but is a tad worrying all the sale.

-----

Cips did indeed have a good game today, even tackled Mullipola on the rampage at one point! Just to go back slightly to the earlier point I made about judging his defense. I wasn't saying anyone has claimed Ford, or any other Premiership 10, has massive defense. However Cips has clearly shows to be a more than competent defender at Premiership level (as has Ford) which is the only metric we really have to judge him right now. I guess I just fail to see where any opposition to him over another player who is effectively in the same position comes from.

-----

Everyone should watch the official Wasps/Newcastle highlights and revel in the glory of Pests' 3rd and 4th tries. Just watch Daly and ask yourself two questions. Why has he yet to get a cap? and, Could Tuialgi do that?

 

[ratsapprentice]

The only reason I can think of that Sinckler wouldn't tour is from an injury/well-being perspective.
He's young and his skeleton will not have fused - as we've seen with Cole TH is a very strenuous position.
I would still take him with this in mind though, as Wilson will play the majority of the time unless injured.

 

[Patchey]

I think if he hasn't had any problems after a very intense season he should be okay. But its a good point, one to consider.

I guess PDJ is our 'next' tighthead after him though. Ugh.

 

[ratsapprentice]

He might have a problem - that's my point.
Dan Cole didn't know he had one until his season was over.

 

[Patchey]

Fair point. i guess if you're playing in such a physically demanding position problems can spring from nowhere.

 

[j'nuh]

So regardless of the final we're missing Cole, Corbs, Twelvetrees, Nowell ? Greeeeeat.

Cole: with or without injury, I would very much like him to take a summer off. Cole was first-choice for the most part in Castro's last season at Tigers, then a Lions tour, then starting nearly every game and putting in 80 minute games for Tigers for most of this season... I'd like to give him a rest, or 10-15 min appearances otherwise.

Corbs: is it a blow, when you come to expect him to be unavailable? I actually wonder whether having so much time out of the game and playing very little rugby under the new engagement rules would mean that he wouldn't even be first-choice at this point.

Twelvetrees: biggest blow in my probably biased opinion. Burrell-Tuilagi is not an option for a lack of a playmaker for me. Would be a great chance to see Eastmond, but Twelvetrees has the shirt nailed down normally imo.

Nowell: quite easily replaceable tbh.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Thomas/Brooke's/PDJ as our 2nd/3rd/4th is a terrifying prospect - _they're all horrendous at scrummaging.

 

[goodNumber10]

Cips did indeed have a good game today, even tackled Mullipola on the rampage at one point! Just to go back slightly to the earlier point I made about judging his defense. I wasn't saying anyone has claimed Ford, or any other Premiership 10, has massive defense. However Cips has clearly shows to be a more than competent defender at Premiership level (as has Ford) which is the only metric we really have to judge him right now. I guess I just fail to see where any opposition to him over another player who is effectively in the same position comes from.

Go back watch Tigers first try, and then Toby Floods First try (forget which number try that is) - Cipriani is directly at fault for both.

The first because he makes no effort to step in one channel as they roll around the corner, he mkes the Munipola tackle i the next phase but tigers are over the gain line and rolling in waves because he doens't step in and hit Thompson. You can literally see him go - NAH! I don't fancy that.

The Flood one he has him lined up and flail his arms around his shoulders. He's defending at 12/13 and hardly comes off the line and just makes no attempt to tackle Flood.

Like i said his decision making in defence is not good, in a one on one he's ok - which is why he shows up cover tackling... but when in the first line, off 2nd/3rd phase, he's just not interested and others carry his workload.