2014 QBE Internationals [EOYT] England

[TRF_Olyy]

Slightly O/T, but still England related:
Anyone know why Ross Moriarty has delcared for England (at least at age grade)?
I know he was born in England, but he grew up/went to school/started playing rugby in Wales, and has ex-Wales internationals for a Dad/Uncle.
Just seems a little strange that he'd jump ship to England at u18, u19 and then u20 level. He played for England before he signed for Gloucester, as well. I think he was at Hartpury at the time, but I would've thought Wales would've been sniffing about, especially by the time he hit 19s/20s

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Probably a similar reason why Jake Ball is playing for Wales, he plays for an English club and probably just associates with England more. It's not entirely unheard of for people to feel attachment to the country of their birth over the country of their upbrining (and in some cases attachment to a country they've never ever been in, see Americans with Ireland).

 

[ratsapprentice]

Because he's smart.

 

[Peat]

Anyone know why Ross Moriarty has delcared for England (at least at age grade)?

Google is your friend!

"Were you tempted to play for Wales not England?

No, because I was at an English club and England approached me first." - http://www.rugbyworld.com/in-the-mag/hotshots/hotshots-gloucester-back-row-ross-moriarty/

Going from the articles about, Moriarty was a full-back when he left Swansea for Hartpury (possibly related to his dad getting a job at Glaws?) and going nowhere; he switched to back row at Hartpury and started making a career off of that. So it stands to reason the Welsh didn't notice him first.

Being a cynic for a moment, I'm wondering if he thinks he'll earn more money and glory as an England player...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Faaaaiiirrr enough!

 

[Jbobo]

Because he's smart.

I agree, at least he might actually get a run out.

 

[j'nuh]

If you play for the England U20s, you can still play for England or Wales at full level.
If you play for the Wales U20s, you are tied to Wales.

Bit of a no-brainer for anyone caught in between the two really.

If someone is caught between the two, and picks Wales, that really would be telling.

-----

Is anyone else starting to get worried about England's 15 options? Brown hasn't looked great for England for the last few games and I'm not sure who the alternative should be. (This seems to be a common problem with England 15s: players being great for a season or two, then tailing off spectacularly. Happened with both Armitage and Foden.)

So in the aftermath of the NZ game, I'd be looking at this for next week:

1. Marler
2. Hartley
3. Wilson
4. Attwood
5. Lawes (if fit)
6. Robshaw
7. Kvesic
8. Vunipola
9. Difficult one. Care just about.
10. Ford
11. May
12. Eastmond
13. Barritt
14. Rokoduguni
15. Brown

16. Webber
17. Mullan
18. Brookes
19. Kruis
20. Morgan
21. Youngs
22. Farrell
23. Watson

 

[Peat]

Yup, had meant to mention that bit about the U20s...

And yes, I'm worried about Brown, worried about the options, not sure about our scrum-halves, and am doubtful as to whether Lawes should be running out next week.

 

[goodNumber10]

If you play for the England U20s, you can still play for England or Wales at full level.
If you play for the Wales U20s, you are tied to Wales.

Bit of a no-brainer for anyone caught in between the two really.

If someone is caught between the two, and picks Wales, that really would be telling.

-----

Is anyone else starting to get worried about England's 15 options? Brown hasn't looked great for England for the last few games and I'm not sure who the alternative should be. (This seems to be a common problem with England 15s: players being great for a season or two, then tailing off spectacularly. Happened with both Armitage and Foden.)

So in the aftermath of the NZ game, I'd be looking at this for next week:

1. Marler
2. Hartley
3. Wilson
4. Attwood
5. Lawes (if fit)
6. Robshaw
7. Kvesic
8. Vunipola
9. Difficult one. Care just about.
10. Ford
11. May
12. Eastmond
13. Barritt
14. Rokoduguni
15. Brown

16. Webber
17. Mullan
18. Brookes
19. Kruis
20. Morgan
21. Youngs
22. Farrell
23. Watson

yeah, very worried about Brown, he seems to have gone to complete pieces. i'd quite like to see Watson or even Cipriani (yeah i said it) start at 15 .

 

[TheSaffycen]

Cipriani would be a interesting selection at 15, quick and creative so he could play in the Le Roux mould. Have Farrell at 10 and then in the centre Eastmond and Barritt/Tuilagi and you have a lot oof creativity in our backline.

 

[j'nuh]

Cips could be a great 15, but I'd expect him to get some experience for club there first, and I don't think Sale would see it as beneficial to play him there.

Hope Wuss come back up/Pennell moves to another side (Glos? please?). He made a real breakthrough in getting into the England squad... he could have been getting a shot sooner or later if Brown doesn't return to form.

And yeah, there is Watson and Nowell. Watson appears to be ahead of Goode given that he was at 23 and Goode was not.

That said, it appears that Lancaster is settled with Brown, so it would probably take some monumental cock-ups on Brown's part to lose his place now.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Right changes to make from this week
Lawes --> Kruis Only due to injury though, I believe his tackling and carrying will be very useful against a big Bok team.
Wood --> Haskell Just not very good, he is a good lineout option I guess. I could even see Kruis move to 6 and long term Launchbury move to a 6.
Farrell---> Ford Fit to play and South Africa don't have a recognised 7 so he shouldn't be under as much pressure, Cipriani would be a good move.
Barritt---> Played okay but I would like to see Burrell or Tuilagi play. I wouldn't be against another start.
Brown---> Watson is very quick, let him run with Habana and Hendricks. Also send him down De Villiers channel to exploit his lack of pace.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Definitely need to see someone to come in for Wood - I don't think he's really doing anything different, but the balance of the pack has been thrown without Launchbury.
He made a load of tackles, but that was basically it. I think the guys in line to replace him are equally capable of hitting a high number of tackles, whilst having a much larger presence at the breakdown.
The build up to Faumuina's try was awful - we put them under absolutely no pressure in the ruck.

I would be extremely surprised to see either of Brown or Farrell dropped.

Mike seemingly had the blinkers on the entire game - he literally just put his head down and ran into contact every time he got the ball.

Youngs' passing is still utterly abysmal. I can't believe we don't have one of our younger SH's in the EPS.

Been a long time since I've been very happy with both of our wingers.

 

[j'nuh]

It just had to happen that as we begin to solve our centre/wing issues, problems emerge in the half-backs and 15.

Not sure which young 9s you mean rats. Robson hasn't had enough time/impressed enough to stake a real claim atm and Spencer's getting no time at Sarries.

 

[ratsapprentice]

What good is a SH that can't pass properly?
I'd back Robson to do a better job right now.

I still don't understand how Brown didn't take that pass - gilt-edged opportunity blown.

 

[Patchey]

What good is a SH that can't pass properly?
I'd back Robson to do a better job right now.

I still don't understand how Brown didn't take that pass - gilt-edged opportunity blown.

I think he just wasn't expecting it. It was a perfect flat past but it basically bounced off the ends of his fingers, which I guess means he was too deep and couldn't get there.

I think Savea might have got him anyway? But who knows?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Cipriani's worst ever rugby has been playing at 15.
I wouldn't ever want to see him there again, and I doubt he'd want to play there again either.


If we're looking at replacing Wood then it definitely has to be Haskell. 100%.

 

[Wendigo7]

I still think we should look at a backline of:

9. Cook
10. Ford
11. Yarde
12. Eastmond
13 .Tuilagi
14. Wade
15. Watson

in reality it wouldn't happen but I come from the old school of get the best attacking threats on the field and drum in defence into them. Ford will never lose his gifts and is the best 10 by a mile. Seeing Eastmond and wade attacking and having some attacking structure would be nice.

wonder what Farrell trains them to do.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Would Haskell be fit for the next game? Also I'm wondering if we should look to replace Farrell Snr on the coaching staff, just what has he really brought to England?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I don't think we should necessarily replace Farrell, but he should never have been anything more than a defence coach, and that's what he should be now.