2014 QBE Internationals [EOYT] England

[TRF_Olyy]

I mean it's not terrible. There's some very good players in there, but it leaves me feeling a little deflated.

 

[j'nuh]

So Twelvetrees is in the squad after all. I still don't think he'll start. I think Lancaster's thinking will be that Twelvetrees is theoretically a great player for England to have, and if his form takes an upturn in the next year, he'll have learnt the drills and be comfortable to slot in.

I think that's Lancaster's thinking in general - in positions where he knows exactly who he wants (in the forwards and half-backs), he selects his favourites so that they can get game time. In positions where he's still uncertain, he'll have more players than necessary so that they all learn the drills, so that he can chop and change according to form later.

I actually think the squad is, in general, rather good. My only criticisms would be no Cips, no Slade, Clark included and Goode ahead of Foden.

I think this is our best selection of wingers in a very long time. And that we've picked only two fullbacks indicates that fullback-on-the-wing is basically a dead experiment now.

 

[goodNumber10]

Cips & Ashton out, Clarke in......

WOOF!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>England have announced their squad for the 2014 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QBEInternationals?src=hash">#QBEInternationals</a>: <a href="http://t.co/CywPHxA4E2">http://t.co/CywPHxA4E2</a> <a href="http://t.co/Qj09RbdMFW">pic.twitter.com/Qj09RbdMFW</a></p>&mdash; England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) <a href="https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/status/524893405672124416">October 22, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[ratsapprentice]

Does a saxons game vs a b-side club team really count as an international game?

Well - you can judge what he does in the context of an England team featuring guys that are in the senior squad, for my money he has consistently outperformed them.

 

[Patchey]

I mean you could reasonably pick the following team from that squad:

Marler, Hartley, Wilson, Kruis, Lawes, Clark, Robshaw, Billy; Dickson, Myler, Barritt, Burrell, May, Yarde, Goode.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

No Ben Foden, but Alex Goode is chosen instead??? I just don't get why Lancaster rates Goode that highly; why not choose Watson (or is he injured)? No Ashton at least, but also no Christian Wade, which is a shame

 

[thechosenfamily]

First post on here so be kind please.

Hoping that Wade gets a shout to the squad even if he is only used as an impact sub with his pace.

Glad Ashton has gone

A little surprised although not upset that Cipriani is not there.

If that were the squad would you expect Barritt and Twelvetrees to start?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I mean you could reasonably pick the following team from that squad:

Marler, Hartley, Wilson, Kruis, Lawes, Clark, Robshaw, Billy; Dickson, Myler, Barritt, Burrell, May, Yarde, Goode.

 

[profitius]

I'm not surprised to see Cipriani left out. He looked like a headless chicken against Munster.

 

[Patchey]

Exactly Olly.

And the thing is, I didn't deliberately pick the worst or least experienced players in every position. It's a team I wouldn't be that surprised by Lancaster picking.

 

[j'nuh]

It's quite revealing that we have more backs in the squad than forwards. It's clear where Lancaster still has question marks over who should be selected.

Exactly Olly.

And the thing is, I didn't deliberately pick the worst or least experienced players in every position. It's a team I wouldn't be that surprised by Lancaster picking.

I'll eat my hat if Lancaster picks a team even close to that.

I think Lancaster will go with:

Brown, Rokoduguni, Burrell, Barritt, Yarde, Farrell, Care; Marler, Hartley, Wilson, Launchbury, Lawes, Wood, Robshaw, Vunipola
Webber, Mullan, Brookes, Attwood, Morgan, Youngs, Ford, Goode

Centres are definitely the ones that are tough to predict. I have absolutely no idea what to expect there.
Wings to a lesser extent. I don't think Lancaster will ignore the season Rokoduguni has had so far. Will be interesting whether he picks Yarde, who seems exactly the type of winger that Lancaster wants, or May who is in great form. Nowell - I have absolutely no idea on what his chances are.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Well on the squad-
Front Row- I'm happy with, atleast a player in each position will be added.
Second Row- I wanted Kruis there in a way, but as others have said he is to similar to the others. Too me he is like a bit more physical Launchbury but without that dynamism at sets Launch apart. Kitchener would have added something different, I think that Tigers poor form might have had something to do with selection.
Back Row- We've been talking about Clark all morning nothing left to add. Should have put Ewers/Kvesic/Fraser in there.
Scrum Half- Care will be picked so it doesn't really matter.
Fly Half- Myler is a good player for the Saxons level but not the AI. At least Ford should get time but Cipriani has to be there.
Centres- Twelvetrees inclusion is a joke really. People can be annoyed by Kruis but at least he has shown some form this year and adds a bit of utility in that he has played 4,5,6,but Twelvetrees is a poor club 10 and can't play anywhere else. Slade should be there.
Wingers- Very happy even if Wade is not included.
Full back- Brown obviously but Goode ? The experiment has failed and that is that. We don't play him as a second playmaker so why have him ? Foden or Watson are miles better than tubby.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

First post on here so be kind please.

Hoping that Wade gets a shout to the squad even if he is only used as an impact sub with his pace.

Glad Ashton has gone

A little surprised although not upset that Cipriani is not there.

If that were the squad would you expect Barritt and Twelvetrees to start?

Welcome to the forum and you're off to a flying start there

Personally I hope 12tress is there as a cover option and not 1st choice.

 

[goodNumber10]

so i'd pick:

Marler
webber
Wilson
Lawes
Attwood
Haskell
Robshaw
Vunipola
Care
Farrell
Yarde
Barritt
Burrell
Roko
Brown

 

[Patchey]

It's quite revealing that we have more backs in the squad than forwards. It's clear where Lancaster still has question marks over who should be selected.


I'll eat my hat if Lancaster picks a team even close to that.

I think Lancaster will go with:

Brown, Rokoduguni, Burrell, Barritt, Yarde, Farrell, Care; Marler, Hartley, Wilson, Launchbury, Lawes, Wood, Robshaw, Vunipola
Webber, Mullan, Brookes, Attwood, Morgan, Youngs, Ford, Goode

Centres are definitely the ones that are tough to predict. I have absolutely no idea what to expect there.

Centres tough to predict and inconsistent? Nothing new there!

I don't actually think that the XV I listed would be his first choice, but an injury or two, combined with a Lancaster esque head scratching selection and you could easily see that team starting or at least on the pitch at the same time.

Look at NZ or Aus's squads and pick a team that isn't the first choice one and it would be no where near as depressing. That's the issue with our squad.

I think Roko and Yarde will be the wingers. Barritt and Burrell the centres and they'll starts Farrell despite his lack of game time. So basically what you suggested! Uninspiring eh?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Nowell in the 23 shirt would be nice.

For mine:

1. Marler
2. Hartley
3. Wilson
4. Launchbury
5. Attwood
6. Haskell
7. Robshaw
8. Vunipola
9. Care
10. Farrell
11. May/Yarde
12. Eastmond
13. Barritt/Joseph
14. Rokoduguni
15. Brown

16. Webber
17. Mullan
18. Brookes
19. Lawes
20. Morgan
21. Dickson
22. Ford
23. Nowell

Don't really have a big issue with Kruis over Kitchener - injury cover anyway.
Very happy that Nowell has been included.
Interesting to note that in the press conference Lancaster stated that Myler would have started the first test down under had he not been in the prem final.

 

[j'nuh]

Well on the squad-
Front Row- I'm happy with, atleast a player in each position will be added.
Second Row- I wanted Kruis there in a way, but as others have said he is to similar to the others. Too me he is like a bit more physical Launchbury but without that dynamism at sets Launch apart. Kitchener would have added something different, I think that Tigers poor form might have had something to do with selection.
Back Row- We've been talking about Clark all morning nothing left to add. Should have put Ewers/Kvesic/Fraser in there.
Scrum Half- Care will be picked so it doesn't really matter.
Fly Half- Myler is a good player for the Saxons level but not the AI. At least Ford should get time but Cipriani has to be there.
Centres- Twelvetrees inclusion is a joke really. People can be annoyed by Kruis but at least he has shown some form this year and adds a bit of utility in that he has played 4,5,6,but Twelvetrees is a poor club 10 and can't play anywhere else. Slade should be there.
Wingers- Very happy even if Wade is not included.
Full back- Brown obviously but Goode ? The experiment has failed and that is that. We don't play him as a second playmaker so why have him ? Foden or Watson are miles better than tubby.

It's really not that bad. If Twelvetrees were selected instead of another 12, then I'd see the complaints. But Lancaster has named Twelvetrees in addition to all of the other 12s that are realistic options for the WC (Eastmond, Burrell, Barritt). So he's not really wasting space or anything. I think Lancaster is just casting a wide net, so that as many centres learn the drills as possible, so he has more freedom to chop and change later.

 

[thechosenfamily]

Welcome to the forum and you're off to a flying start there

Personally I hope 12tress is there as a cover option and not 1st choice.

My choice would be Burrell and Barritts but 12trees did play reasonably well in the Autumn Internationals last year but has struggled for form since IMHO.

Roko and Yarde would seem to be a sound choice on the wings.

 

[TheSaffycen]

It's really not that bad. If Twelvetrees were selected instead of another 12, then I'd see the complaints. But Lancaster has named Twelvetrees in addition to all of the other 12s that are realistic options for the WC (Eastmond, Burrell, Barritt). So he's not really wasting space or anything. I think Lancaster is just casting a wide net, so that as many centres learn the drills as possible, so he has more freedom to chop and change later.

Sam Hill and Slade ahould be there instead of him.

From the squad I would pick
Marler, Webber, Wilson, Lawes, Launchbury, Haskell, Robshaw, Vunipola, Care, Ford, Nowell, Barritt, Joseph, Rokoduguni, Brown

Hartley, Mullan, Brookes, Attwood, Morgan, Dickson, Farrell, May

 

[Patchey]

Sam Hill and Slade ahould be there instead of him.

This.

Sam Hill has been phenomenal. If we assume Billy T is fourth in line to the 12 shirt why not bring Hill in for experience as a reward for being one of the best 12s in the Prem.

This is coming from someone who has spent most of the last year few sing Twelvetrees as well.