2014 QBE Internationals [EOYT] England

[Patchey]

Haha well done fellas, just giving back some of the love we have got from you over the years.

Yeah, hush your gums.

 

[Maverick1987]

Haha well done fellas, just giving back some of the love we have got from you over the years.

You will still be getting it as long as the Tongan keeps stopping you from bombing against Australia too .....

 

[Geordie]

Its interesting different opinions on Clark.

Speaking to several Saints fans and many of them think Clark has completely justified his selection this time as opposed to previously in that hes starting to fill the potential he had.

From another forum

"He's much more than a work horse. His clearing out is superb (a skill that gets often missed) and his ground work is a class above most of those players mentioned imo. His tackling is agressive and often drives people back rather stoping them, these things are just as important as carrying. He's not a flashy player agreed but he's a players player and does high quality work, his physicality is quite unique for a English player."

He's very much a lancster kind of forward / back rower. And at 6'4 nearly 18 st he covers 6/7/and lock.

Also whilst i wouldnt expect a team mate to criticse, Tom Wood is singing his praises...

Tom Wood has praised "stalwart" Calum Clark following the flanker's positive displays for the Northampton Saints so far this season.

The 25-year-old has played his part in the Saints' run of five wins from seven games this campaign, particularly catching the eye in the 20-11 European Rugby Champions Cup defeat at the hands of Racing Metro last weekend.

"Cal's got a huge engine," the Northampton Chronicle quotes Wood as saying. "He's full of heart and desire and he puts his body on the line week in, week out.

"He hasn't had a huge amount of luck with injuries and suspensions and he's been in the trenches a lot when the internationals have been away from Saints. He's an absolute stalwart, he grafts, he leads during the week doing his own thing. He's very professional.

"He gets his reward in big games playing like he does. He's a warrior in there for us and we rely a lot on him for energy and physicality. He's very good at the breakdown, a big heavy man, and much heavier than you'd think for his agility and his work rate. He goes really well in our pack."

 

[goodNumber10]

He's very much a lancster kind of forward / back rower. And at 6'4 nearly 18 st he covers 6/7/and lock.

I nearly made that point yesterday

"He hasn't had a huge amount of luck with injuries and suspensions"

Luck?

LUCK?

he's had more luck than most, considering. He's lucky to still be allowed to play the game after that arm breaking incident, he's lucky he didn't get prosecuted by the police for ABH.

 

[Geordie]

I agree the suspension comment was a bit lacking in thought from Tom Wood.

 

[Mr Ruggleby]

I agree with something I read on the wasps board where someone said something to the effect of:

We're in danger of assembling a team to get to the semi final of a world cup but without the flair to win it outright.

The exclusion of Cipriani, inclusion of Clark, and also the exclusion of Wade are examples - yeah I know, Wades made mistakes in recent weeks but to be fair was demanding selection for the last 2 years until he sustained an untimely injury.
I don't like the message which seems to be that you can be in poor form and stay in the squad - as long as you're big enough! Neither 36 or Burrell have been in great form. Both have made mistakes in big games. The moment Wade has a few blips he's suddenly out of the picture.

I understand the sentiment, but if you look at the last 3 teams to win the world cup, they weren't exactly bursting with flair. The fact is, when it comes to finals rugby, teams feel the pressure and play percentage rugby with an emphasis on reducing errors and solid defence. To that end, I think Lancaster's logic behind selecting players who have a proven record in high pressure finals, is hard to argue with.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

According to this:
http://www.therugbyblog.com/stuart-lancaster-to-be-the-best-it-is-not-about-the-flash-stuff

Lancaster is looking to bring in Slade, Kvesic, Watson and Wigglesworth this weekend.

Also spouts some BS about Cipriani/Myler in the first two answers.

 

[goodNumber10]

don't have an issue with anything he said there - cip's consistent, i dunno seems a little unfair as i think he's been so this season, but i think he comes across quite honest in that interview.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I hope that the players he brings in are just brought in by the back door - and their exclusion from the initial squad was due to technical EPS fiddling.

 

[TheSaffycen]

I said I wanted Brad and Kyle in the midfield. It works in the way we want with the inclusion of our wingers in attack, and is solid in defence. If Myler is at 10 though, we need to have Burrell and another big guy. His go to move is taking the ball to the line and giving it too a big guy. I doubt it will work at intl' level though.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I think Haskell's illness might mean he has very little part to play. He's still in hospital.

 

[TheSaffycen]

what's wrong with him ? I guess Kvesic is next in line.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Some new faces for England, good to see new blood coming through

 

[ratsapprentice]

what's wrong with him ? I guess Kvesic is next in line.

Viral infection - it's the reason he didn't play vs Leinster and wont play this weekend.

 

[goodNumber10]

what's wrong with him ? I guess Kvesic is next in line.

Man flu! *** not joking***

he's in hospital with a really serious viral infection.

***rats beat me to it.

 

[thechosenfamily]

Returning to something said earlier in this thread I can't help but be more than a bit optimistic not for the Autumn Internationals necessarily but the RWC

Just revisited the list of players missing through injury not including Haskell

Alex Corbisiero (shoulder), Dan Cole (neck), Tom Croft (knee), Tom Johnson (neck), Geoff Parling (concussion), Chris Pennell (groin), Ed Slater (knee), Mako Vunipola (knee), Tom Youngs (shoulder).

Plus of course the current crop of fringe players Cips, Wade etc.

Now there will always be injuries, that's the unfortunate truth of any sport, but you add these back in and it adds up to one hell of squad.

 

[Geordie]

The problem with that list though is this:
Alex Corbisiero (shoulder), Dan Cole (neck), Tom Croft (knee), Tom Johnson (neck), Geoff Parling (concussion), Chris Pennell (groin), Ed Slater (knee), Mako Vunipola (knee), Tom Youngs (shoulder).

Corbs - Will he ever get genuinely fit again. Been such a long time since he has been.
Cole - Hopefully
Croft - Ditto Corbs...and i dont like him as a 6 anyway.
Johnson - Quality premiership flanker...not a great international
Parling - Quality lock...but Kruis, Attwood even Barrow and Stooke will make his battle much harder.
Slater - See Parling, but probably more chance than Parling of getting back in.
Pennel - Will face challenges from Foden, Nowell (probably moving to FB ) Watson (Probably moving to FB ) etc
Mako - Dont rate a prop who cant scrummage...and he has competition from Waller for that spot
Tom Youngs - 3rd choice for England behind Hartley, Webber.

 

[thechosenfamily]

The problem with that list though is this:
Alex Corbisiero (shoulder), Dan Cole (neck), Tom Croft (knee), Tom Johnson (neck), Geoff Parling (concussion), Chris Pennell (groin), Ed Slater (knee), Mako Vunipola (knee), Tom Youngs (shoulder).

Corbs - Will he ever get genuinely fit again. Been such a long time since he has been.
Cole - Hopefully
Croft - Ditto Corbs...and i dont like him as a 6 anyway.
Johnson - Quality premiership flanker...not a great international
Parling - Quality lock...but Kruis, Attwood even Barrow and Stooke will make his battle much harder.
Slater - See Parling, but probably more chance than Parling of getting back in.
Pennel - Will face challenges from Foden, Nowell (probably moving to FB ) Watson (Probably moving to FB ) etc
Mako - Dont rate a prop who cant scrummage...and he has competition from Waller for that spot
Tom Youngs - 3rd choice for England behind Hartley, Webber.

Valid points all but flip your points and say even scratch those and add in yours, still adds up top more strength and depth than I think I've see in a good few yeasr.

 

[Geordie]

Very true

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Corbs does seem to be riddled with injuries but previoulsy it has been a recurring knee problem. This time it's his shoulder so hopefully that's just bad luck and he can get back to playing.