[2015 Six Nations] England vs Italy (Round 2)

[Boring Ian]

Corbs scrummages like a jelly baby off the back of a lay-off

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I heard somewhere that Cobisiero went off injured in the LV game this weekend, so I'm not sure if he'll be an option in any case.

How cna one man be injured so much?

 

[Peat]

Believe Parling is due back and think he'll be straight back into the 23.

 

[yaboyjj]

How cna one man be injured so much?

'Precautionary' substitution because of a lower leg injury apparently- they seem to be playing it down at Northampton, but I never know whether to trust injury 'news' these days (especially from Northampton or Leicester).
^ yes I expect Parling will go straight to the 19 shirt- he should have to fight to displace Kruis though.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

why do you think Kitchener will come in for Croft?

He was an unused sub vs Wales, and was mainly there (imo) as a lineout specialist - something Kitch is too.
Twickenham vs Italy is a much nicer atmosphere to blood a new guy and we really need a lock on the bench. I think that Lancs went for the experience of Croft and Easter, knowing that both could do a job in the 2nd row and wouldn't be daunted by the Welsh crowd.

That said, Kitchener is our 6th choice lock so maybe Lancs won't be arsed about getting him game time, knowing Lawes is not far off a return, and Launch will be back by the summer.


Edit: Just realised I pretty much mirrored @yaboyjj 's post



On Parling I keep thinking "Is he really gonna be good coming straight back in? Is he really actually that good? He's pretty slight, and he's only really a lineout guy." Then I remember how bloody good he was slotting straight back into the England side last time (was it Autumn? Summer?) and just generally how good he's been for England. If he came into the 23 I wouldn't be massively upset, even if I do want to see Kitchener blooded. The RWC is only 7months away, and there's plenty of time for the young guys to come through afterwards.

 

[goodNumber10]

He was an unused sub vs Wales, and was mainly there (imo) as a lineout specialist - something Kitch is too.
Twickenham vs Italy is a much nicer atmosphere to blood a new guy and we really need a lock on the bench. I think that Lancs went for the experience of Croft and Easter, knowing that both could do a job in the 2nd row and wouldn't be daunted by the Welsh crowd.

That said, Kitchener is our 6th choice lock so maybe Lancs won't be arsed about getting him game time, knowing Lawes is not far off a return, and Launch will be back by the summer.


Edit: Just realised I pretty much mirrored @yaboyjj 's post



On Parling I keep thinking "Is he really gonna be good coming straight back in? Is he really actually that good? He's pretty slight, and he's only really a lineout guy." Then I remember how bloody good he was slotting straight back into the England side last time (was it Autumn? Summer?) and just generally how good he's been for England. If he came into the 23 I wouldn't be massively upset, even if I do want to see Kitchener blooded. The RWC is only 7months away, and there's plenty of time for the young guys to come through afterwards.

yeah, that all makes sense.

 

[yaboyjj]

England have named the squad for Italy:

Forwards

Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
Calum Clark (Northampton Saints)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Corbisiero (Northampton Saints)
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
Nick Easter (Harlequins)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, captain)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Backs
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks)
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Myler not in the squad, which might be significant (Cips 3rd choice now?), Barritt back in also. Shame that Slade drops out.
RFU site seems to suggest that Wood and Wilson won't be available for Italy and are just in the camp along with Lawes and Tuilagi to aid recovery from injury.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I think Myler is injured, or at least has a "strain".

Hopefully Danny can get some game time in the Italy game - realistically we should be looking to put the game to bed before an hour is up, so 20minutes of Cips vs a tired defence....brutal.

 

[The Jones Boy]

+1
Can we PLEASE see Cipriani on for at least a half of a rugby match so we can see where he is at on the pitch.

 

[Peat]

He was an unused sub vs Wales, and was mainly there (imo) as a lineout specialist - something Kitch is too.
Twickenham vs Italy is a much nicer atmosphere to blood a new guy and we really need a lock on the bench. I think that Lancs went for the experience of Croft and Easter, knowing that both could do a job in the 2nd row and wouldn't be daunted by the Welsh crowd.

That said, Kitchener is our 6th choice lock so maybe Lancs won't be arsed about getting him game time, knowing Lawes is not far off a return, and Launch will be back by the summer.


Edit: Just realised I pretty much mirrored @yaboyjj 's post



On Parling I keep thinking "Is he really gonna be good coming straight back in? Is he really actually that good? He's pretty slight, and he's only really a lineout guy." Then I remember how bloody good he was slotting straight back into the England side last time (was it Autumn? Summer?) and just generally how good he's been for England. If he came into the 23 I wouldn't be massively upset, even if I do want to see Kitchener blooded. The RWC is only 7months away, and there's plenty of time for the young guys to come through afterwards.

I'd like Kitchener to get some time. I think he's a very accomplished player who'd do well in an England shirt. Obviously we have such absurd depth that going forwards we could pretty much ignore him, but the chance is here and it would be nice to give him a chance.

I really like Parling and think he is often criminally underrated by England fans. I think he is probably our most consistent lock, our most intelligent lock, and the best leader among them. Others hit harder, ruck better, carry better... Parling just works and works with very few mistakes. I would go so far as to say that, with everyone fit, Parling is my third choice starting lock behind Launch and Attwood. I'd probably have Lawes benching as he's more of an impact player, but I would start Parling ahead of Lawes. I might even start him ahead of Launchbury tbh, circs pending - Launch has a bad tendency to fade if overplayed, but I've yet to see Parling have a bad game (I think).

Would I chuck him right back in? Not sure tbh, although it's not like he's had a long layoff. There's something to be said, imo, for letting Parling feel his way back in with Leicester and giving Kitchener Italy. But then part of me wants to try the Attwood-Parling partnership straight-away as that one could see major international use (I might be being too harsh, but I still have Kruis quite a distance behind the main 4). As I can see pluses most ways I look at it and it's a safe win, I'm happy with whatever Lancaster does, but my gut says he'll use this game to build for the rest of the tournament, and that means having the big guns in.

 

[Chistera]

+1
Can we PLEASE see Cipriani on for at least a half of a rugby match so we can see where he is at on the pitch.

Agree, there's been so much talk of him in the media, time to see him on the pitch now! Wasn't so impressed by his European Champions Cup performances but he should strive with all these speedy and talented backs around, only to feed with timely passes. With Care coming on too, it would make for such an exciting back line for England!

 

[B10]

Zanni and Campagnaro injured for Italy.

I'd pick same side but with 12trees in for Burrell. Think we will need a kicking option at 12 at the Aviva so give Billy and Ford some game time together.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Zanni and Campagnaro injured for Italy.

Masi to the centres and McLean back to FB?
We could have a LOT of fun if Ford kicked some bombs in his general direction and sent Watson after them - McLean's absolutely shocking under the high ball.

 

[Boring Ian]

What does everyone think of Vendetti?

Thought he looked really dangerous a year or two ago but not seenmuch of him since...

 

[TheSaffycen]

I really liked the guy, really powerful house at 13/14. I think he went to Perpignan (spelling) and they're now in Pro D2. Might be harder for him making the squad over guys in Pro 12 and ERC.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Corbs scrummages like a jelly baby off the back of a lay-off

I would love to see 16 jelly babies scrummage...

 

[goodNumber10]

Paul Wallace on Full Contact.

"You don't play one out runners against Italy, you have to attack wide, especially Campagnaro who is weak in defence"

This was on Sunday night before Campagnaro was injured.

#truisms

 

[TheSaffycen]

Parling has been ruled out for the Italy game.

 

[yaboyjj]

Parling has been ruled out for the Italy game.

I hope Kitchener gets a chance on the bench as the specialist lock- It would be telling if he didn't, because Lancaster has made it clear that it was the one change he was likely to make for the Italy game.
It sounds as if Wilsons injury is a bit worse than first anticipated- losing strength in one arm doesn't sound too good (a bit like Cole's past injury isn't it?), anyway, it should give Brookes a good oppertunity to make the bench spot his own.

 

[Peat]

Unchanged match day 23.