[2014 Mid-Year Tests] England

[ratsapprentice]

When is Lancaster going to announce the Bath/Wasps contingent who are joining the core squad flying out to NZ? They're supposed to fly out tomorrow aren't they? So, must be today at some point.

The final squads for the New Zealand tour and the Barbarians match will be announced at 12pm on Monday, May 26.
"We'll train today and tomorrow and have a larger group for Thursday and Friday," Lancaster added. "Then, following an assessment of the weekend's games, we will meet and narrow down selection for the Barbarians and New Zealand tour and announce both squads on Monday."

I think the touring squad is leaving towards the end of the week.

Farrell and Mako are doubtful for the premiership final.
Supposedly still ok to tour though.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I think the touring squad is leaving towards the end of the week.

Farrell and Mako are doubtful for the premiership final.
Supposedly still ok to tour though.

The first group of players will fly to New Zealand on May 27 (arriving May 29) and the second group will fly on June 2 following the Aviva Premiership final and Barbarians game and join the squad in Auckland on June 4.

The first squad departs on Tuesday to arrive in NZ on Thursday according to http://www.superxv.com/42543/3/cipriani-in-englands-initial-squad-for-nz-and-baabaas#.U4H25Se9KSM.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Went back and had a look at Corbs vs Wilson, my opinion:

1 - Wilson goes in, Corbs follows and has him on toast. A result of Corbs' strength and Dunn's weakness probably.
2 - Wilson goes straight and it's even - PJ gets done for going around.
3 - It's 50/50 and both go in.
4 - Crobs tries to go around but Wilson holds him out.
5 - PJ penalised - nothing of note.
6 - Corbs gets on Wilson's outside shoulder and goes straight across.
7 - Corbs gets on Wilson's outside shoulder and goes straight across.
8 - Waller is on and does the same.
9 - Corbisiero drives across - can't see it fully from the camera angle.


The outcomes were heavily influence by the result of the first scrum and Corbs' reputation IMO - not entirely unprecedented.

 

[goodNumber10]

nice analysis mate, is the game online? i'd like to go back and watch a few things myself...

 

[ratsapprentice]

Not online as far as I can see.

I think Webber is going to be fit and in NZ.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Apparently Mako and Farrell both struggling with injuries after the HEC final.
Mako expected to miss at least the Prem Final, Farrell left the MilStad in one of those big plastic boot things.


Hopefully both turn out to be rumours.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Neither are rumours - but Farrell is supposed to be ok for test 2 and 3.

Bear in mind he sustained the injury before the game - so with rest he should be find I would imagine.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...nds-tour-to-New-Zealand-with-knee-injury.html

Telegraph (which isn't the most reliable) suggests Mako's injury could be ligament damage; if confirmed by a scan on Monday will rule him out of the tour.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If Mako's out then I hope Waller tours and benches.
Nothing against Mullan, but I think Waller has more potential, and is the better option now as well.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I dunno... Mullan played pretty damn well for Wasps in their play-off games.

I don't see the point in rushing in Waller, who realistically isn't ever going to be more than squad cover.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hmm, I guess. Mullan (presumably) playing in the first test will count towards him as well.

I don't agree on the second point though - Waller's been one of the form looseheads in the premiership this season. Been far better than Mako, for example, who has (apart from an end of season resurgence) had a distinctly average year.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Not seen anything to suggest Waller has anything in his locker to effect an international game, personally.

Listen to this err'body: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b044j6xl

In particular... his response to the last question.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Interesting! When's his contract up?
Definitely don't want him when he's in France, but if he came home.......



Edit: Just seen he renewed earlier this season.

 

[ratsapprentice]

He could try and break his contract though - RWC might be a big draw.
Mourad could go either way on that...

Maybe that was what Lancaster told him when he went over there - "I'll pick you if you come back".
Having that straight from the horses mouth might go some way to encouraging him to do it.

Anyway... we'll see - it's unlikely though, IMO.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

To be fair: Boudjellal is pretty mental.
It wouldn't be absolutely out of this world for him to loan him to, say, London Irish until the RWC is over.

Far fetched, I know, but Boudjellal does seem to want the best for his playthings and has said several times he wants to see Armitage play for England and if they do the double this season, it'd get the Top 14 ***le monkey off of Toulon's back.

That said, I doubt he'd want to lose Armitage for a year even with Gorgodze coming in.



All incredibly unlikely, as you said.
Steffon will stay at Toulon, Lancaster won't pick him, the tabloids will ***** and moan and the world will keep on turning.

 

[Big Ewis]

Interesting! When's his contract up?
Definitely don't want him when he's in France, but if he came home.......



Edit: Just seen he renewed earlier this season.

mmmyes, he did...France are playing some fantastic Rugby at the moment...brilliant. We're keeping Kockott and Juan Smith and others away from the South Africans, we're keeping Steffon Armitage away from England judiciously...I like how we removed Hosea Gear from NZ a while back and Sivivatu was a fantastic steal...Giteau was a magnificent theft, and we kept Aus away from that gem for years...
No, I've got to say...France are just nailing it, but those countries are producing more guys at those positions. We need to focus harder on our game, but we're getting there.

 

[goodNumber10]

Not seen anything to suggest Waller has anything in his locker to effect an international game, personally.

Listen to this err'body: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b044j6xl

In particular... his response to the last question.

that's linking to a champions league special -- what are we looking for?

 

[ratsapprentice]

The very beginning - Steffon Armitage interview.

 

[goodNumber10]

the who knows?

Wouldn't read too much into it.

 

[Patchey]

Exact squads for the BaBaas and first test announced below:

http://www.rfu.com/news/2014/may/ne...rce=Social&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=2014

I'll let it sink in a bit before commenting.


NZ SQUAD:

Loose-head props
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Matt Mullan (London Wasps)
Tight-head props
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Hookers
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Joe Gray (Harlequins)
Dave Ward (Harlequins)
Rob Webber (Bath Rugby)
Locks
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)
Back rows
James Haskell (London Wasps)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Scrum halves
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Fly halves
Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks)
Centres
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
Wings
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Marland Yarde (London Irish)
Full backs
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors)

BAA BAAS:


Loose-head props
Nathan Catt (Bath Rugby)
Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks)
Tight-head props
Will Collier (Harlequins)
Kyle Sinkler (Harlequins)
Hookers
Rob Buchanan (Harlequins)
Tommy Taylor (Sale Sharks)
Locks
Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers)
Charlie Matthews (Harlequins)
Michael Paterson (Sale Sharks)
Back rows
Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs)
James Gaskell (Sale Sharks)
Jamie Gibson (Leicester Tigers)
Luke Wallace (Harlequins)
Scrum halves
Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby)
Joe Simpson (London Wasps)
Fly half
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Centres
Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)
Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Wings
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)
Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby)
Full backs
Elliot Daly (London Wasps)
Rob Miller (Sale Sharks)