[2014 Mid-Year Tests] England

[TRF_Olyy]

I think Kitchener is a deserved call up - been brilliant for Tigers, when not injured.

 

[Patchey]

I guess. I just haven't heard lots about him this season to be honest, maybe because of the injuries.

Reckon this changes the possible BaBaas squad a bit:

1 Ross Harrisson
2 Tommy Taylor
3 Will Collier
4 Charlie Matthews / Graham Kitchiner
5 Michael Paterson
6 Tom Johnson
7 Matt Kvesic
8 Dave Ewers
9 Dan Robson
10 Danny Cipriani / Henry Slade
11 Jonny May / Charlie Sharples
12 Sam Hill
13 Henry Trinder
14 Marland Yarde
15 Chris Pennell

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie
17 Kerian Brookes
18 ???
19 James Gaskell
20 Graham Kitchiner / Jamie Gibson
21 ???
22 Freddie Burns
23 ???

Unless I've missed someone still no idea who with be replacement loosehead, scrum half (Youngs will surely be saves for the first test?) and the final backs sub.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Just realised that Tait wasn't on the list of names - very surprised about that.

Also at both Buchanan and Gray being named - they're both OK, and I could understand one, but both....? Then again there isn't that much depth with Hartley/Haywood unavailable atm, Youngs out of the tour and Webber possibly still crocked so there as a maybe.

 

[Patchey]

God, I completely missed that! Very odd.

Yeah, Bucanan and Gray are only there because there isn't anyone else tbh! One will play the BaBaas but if either tours it'll be a mistake.

RFU twitter says Webber and 36 expected to be fit, maybe for first test, Hartley not recovering as fast as expected and Brown will start training next week.

I guess stairs omission does at leasts suggest Daly and/or Watson will be added.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

We should put James Haskell and James Gaskell on at the same time for ****s and giggles.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Throwing my hat in the ring with a BaaBaas prediction:

1. Catt
2. Gray
3. Collier
4. Kitchener
5. Paterson
6. Gibson
7. Wallace
8. Ewers
9. Robson
10. Slade
11. Varndell
12. Hill
13. Trinder
14. Sharples
15. Pennell

16. Taylor
17. Harrison
18. Brookes
19. Matthews
20. Gaskell
21. Simpson
22. Cipriani
23. Watson



I think Haskell will be named but I'm not sure he'll play in this - If Gaskell is in the squad just for this game then it suggests he's almost certainly in the 23, and I can't see either of Gibson or Wallace making the test side, so I reckon they'd get them game time here.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Varndell/Sharples/Watson back 3 would be ridiculously fast !! Counter attacking with them would absolutely deadly, forgot how good the barbarians squad is- Jesus Christ

 

[Maverick1987]

Yeah, Gibson was a shock to me too. Its almost as if they've gone 'Well we can't get our first choice loose forwards yet, lets pick some of the available ones at random and see what they're like'. Not necessarily a bad move to look at new options but it should probably be done in a more structure way.

IMO Gibson, Gaskell, Kitchiner,Buchanan and Grey are all lucky to be there/probably shouldn't have been picked.

Matthew, Collier, Sinckler, Slater, Ward, Harisson, Wallace are all positive new additions.

I think Kitchener is a good player . At least 5th in the lengthening queue of licks we have atm but still a quality player

 

[goodNumber10]

I guess. I just haven't heard lots about him this season to be honest, maybe because of the injuries.

Reckon this changes the possible BaBaas squad a bit:

1 Ross Harrisson
2 Tommy Taylor
3 Will Collier
4 Charlie Matthews / Graham Kitchiner
5 Michael Paterson
6 Tom Johnson
7 Matt Kvesic
8 Dave Ewers
9 Dan Robson
10 Danny Cipriani / Henry Slade
11 Jonny May / Charlie Sharples
12 Sam Hill
13 Henry Trinder
14 Marland Yarde
15 Chris Pennell

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie
17 Kerian Brookes
18 ???
19 James Gaskell
20 Graham Kitchiner / Jamie Gibson
21 ???
22 Freddie Burns
23 ???

Unless I've missed someone still no idea who with be replacement loosehead, scrum half (Youngs will surely be saves for the first test?) and the final backs sub.

Yarde won't play int eh Baa Baas game, he'll travel ahead of that weekend.

 

[goodNumber10]

RFU twitter says Webber and 36 expected to be fit, maybe for first test, Hartley not recovering as fast as expected and Brown will start training next week.

A selfish little part of me wants 36 to not be available so Eastmond gets a run at 12 in New Zealand.

Also didn't Tait get injured on Friday?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Just realised how many hookers are in the squad so far: they must be anticipating Hartley not recovering in time.
If webber doesn't either then we'll have no capped hookers going into the tour....
(Or did gray get one or two last summer? Either way: not ideal)

 

[ratsapprentice]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Nothing like a good knee drain! <a href="http://t.co/G9KT1gFHk2">pic.twitter.com/G9KT1gFHk2</a></p>&mdash; Rob Webber (@robwebber2) <a href="https://twitter.com/robwebber2/statuses/468129241343987713">May 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[willutalk]

Is it me or is there a complete lack of Bath players in the squad!
I can barely count 2! what is Stuart doing?

 

[ratsapprentice]

It's you...

They aren't announcing players who still have domestic commitments.

Just realised that Paula Doreen-Janine hasn't been included!
Looks like that one isn't going to happen then.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Feels goodman.

 

[willutalk]

They aren't announcing players who still have domestic commitments.

Ahhhhh!
hopefully there will be the inclusion of more Bath players after the Amlin final

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Ahhhhh!
hopefully there will be the inclusion of more Bath players after the Amlin final

I reckon there'll be quite a few.

I think we'll see with Catt, Wilson, Attwood, Ford, Eastmond, Watson and Rokoduguni and potentially Joseph, Garvey and Fearns too.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Garvey is injured.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

A selfish little part of me wants 36 to not be available so Eastmond gets a run at 12 in New Zealand.

I'd like to see how a 36-Tuilagi combination would gel at 12-13. We've yet to see them play 80 mins in an England shirt together and this will more than likely be the first choice WC centre pairing.

 

[j'nuh]

I'd like to see how a 36-Tuilagi combination would gel at 12-13. We've yet to see them play 80 mins in an England shirt together and this will more than likely be the first choice WC centre pairing.

I hope their time at Tigers together might give them an understanding of each others' games.