[2014 Mid-Year Tests] England

[ratsapprentice]

He was in Auckland visiting family apparently I hope so because if Kitchener, Kruis, Stooke are viewed as behind Paterson, my head would explode.

As would mine.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

How come? There's a reason he's made every "team of the season" going.
It's clearly because he was already in NZ, but that's not to say he's not deserving of a callup.

 

[Patchey]

He was in Auckland visiting family apparently I hope so because if Kitchener, Kruis, Stooke are viewed as behind Paterson, my head would explode.

Yeah that's what I thought.

I mean he's a good player, probably international standard, but he shouldn't be above all those guys in our pecking order!

 

[ratsapprentice]

Because he's a Kiwi - because he's not exactly got a big future ahead of him (this is a development game) and because we have enough athletic LH locks at our disposal.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Meh, he'll easily still be playing come 2019 world cup so even if we persisted with him (which we won't) it's not like it's a waste of time. Just because he's not 19 doesn't mean he's on the verge of retiring.
He's played at least as well as the others named this season, is qualified for England, so makes sense to look at him. In terms of this call up he already knows the calls and is all ready in country.

 

[ratsapprentice]

If they need to have someone cover lock for a game on Tuesday they only had two options - Patterson or Symons.

The opinion I was agreeing with was that he shouldn't be ahead of Kitchener, Kruis and Stooke - not that he isn't the obvious candidate for Tuesday.

 

[Patchey]

Symons would have been. Really interesting pick, albeit in disregard of the overseas player rule.

 

[Darwin]

Symons would have been. Really interesting pick, albeit in disregard of the overseas player rule.

You are forgetting Symons is a kiwi now. We traded him for Paterson remember

 

[Patchey]

Nooooooooooooo!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Interested to see how Lancaster approaches the Crusaders game.
Will he use it as a chance to try out the new guys or to give game time to his preferred backups? i.e. Pennell vs Goode at 15 etc. Does he have a clear "dirttrack" and "test" side system?
I imagine starters vs Crusaders won't be considered for the final test, which would make things awkward.
Also, is one of Attwood/Slater injured, cause they called up Paterson? Is Slater even there? I can't remember who did/didn't tour, and Wikipedia is no help.

I'd like to see something like this (with what I reckon Lancaster will pick, in brackets):

1. Catt
2. Ward (Gray)
3. Sinkler (Thomas)
4. Attwood
5. Slater
6. Johnson
7. Kvesic
8. Haskell
9. Dickson (Wigglesworth)
10. Cipriani (Myler)
11. Foden
12. Eastmond (Barritt)
13. Trinder
14. Watson
15. Pennell (Goode)

16. Gray (Ward)
17. Waller
18. Thomas (Sinkler)
19. Paterson
20. ????? Binny? Lawes?
21. Wigglesworth (Dickson)
22. Myler (Cipriani)
23. Goode (Pennell)

 

[goodNumber10]

Is like to see Pennell given a people run out.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Crusaders lineup to face England second string on Tuesday morning confirmed:

Crusaders: 15 Tom Taylor, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Reynold Lee-Lo, 12 Kieron Fonotia, 11 Nafi Tuitavake, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 George Whitelock (captain), 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Joel Everson, 4 Jimmy Tupou, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Tim Perry.

Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Matt Todd, 21 Andy Ellis, 22 Adam Whitelock, 23 Rob Thompson.

http://www.planetrugby.co.uk/story/0,25883,16024_9349461,00.html

 

[goodNumber10]

this is fascinating:
Lancaster on one Team:
http://impresscoaching.eu/2014/06/vblog-stuart-lancaster-one-team-motivation

Lancaster on yesterdays game:

"We're not that far behind and they know that the gap is closing"

http://www.rfu.com/news/2014/june/news-articles/150614_lancaster_post_2

 

[Big Ewis]

Lancaster on yesterdays game:



http://www.rfu.com/news/2014/june/news-articles/150614_lancaster_post_2

interesting to watch. I like that guy. And it's interesting how although NZ remain miles ahead of England in the skill department and things like combinations on attack and all that, it's true, the gap is closing indeed. England's workrate, power and intensity matches and sometimes overtakes this All-Black squad.
I still predict a whitewash, but England will have proven what they're worth atm, and continue to show promising signs for the near future. They didn't have to, they easily could've disappointed and seen this tour become a big disillusion.

I know this mid-year tour isn't over yet, but I feel England v New Zealand in November will be a huge battle and a big chance for England to pick up the most timely confidence-boosting win before the RWC, and the kiwi fans will certainly fear that fixture no matter what they say. And I don't mean to start a debate on the next end-of-year tour, but the biggest test for England in my opinion is hosting the Boks. They haven't played them since their bad 2012 form days, and playing the AB no less than three times so recently they've sort of already tasted that poison already. For me, the Boks are a bigger 'test' and a more important fixture than Eng NZ.

 

[goodNumber10]

I agree. I think the Boks power game could be a real un-doer of England.

 

[ratsapprentice]

In fact, four backs have emerged as casualties from the dramatic encounter at the Forsyth Barr Stadium. Head coach Stuart Lancaster said: 'Owen Farrell has a knee injury, an MCL (medial cruciate ligament). He got a bang in the second half. It's one we have to assess after a 24-hour period.

'Danny Care's shoulder is sore from the weekend but it's a joint injury so it's going to hurt. Billy Twelvetrees and Luther Burrell both picked up ankle injuries.'

But he spoke of making 'subtle tweaks' up front for the final Test, with Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes and possibly Billy Vunipola likely to be in the starting pack.

One player in contention for a recall is Bath centre Kyle Eastmond, with Lancaster saying: 'His performance in the first Test means he is a genuine contender this week.'

Burns/Eastmond/Manu combo quite likely to come back in if that holds true.

 

[goodNumber10]

Burns/Eastmond/Manu combo quite likely to come back in if that holds true.

I've heard worse news...

 

[Patchey]

In truth South Africa scare me more than NZ right now. To any Kiwis reading this that's not because I think you've got some mystical, all powering giving aura that is slowly sapping away or anything, or that I think we're actually a better team than the All Blacks.

However South Africa have SO much power that the only way to beat them is to put your all into achieving parity up from and then be better out wide. NZ have show that for the last two seasons. That is something I don't think we can do.

Obviously we haven't played the Bols since 2012 and our pack is much better now than it was then. Bottom line is though that on our best day we can beat NZ and even when we're not at our very best we can run them close but we have yet to show the same against South Africa.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Burns/Eastmond/Manu combo quite likely to come back in if that holds true.

What's the source Rats? RFU website?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I've heard worse news...

Agreed.
Not looking forward to Savea vs Ashton, mind.