[2015 Six Nations] England

[Peat]

But isn't it odd that Easter simply leapfrogged Waldrom into the full squad? I mean, Lancaster talks about Easter being experienced and all, but he hasn't had a minute inside a Lancaster camp. Waldrom has been in and out of it fairly regularly, and has a bunch of experience himself, and is in cracking form


tbf, Lancaster's experienced options were very thin when he took over, partially because of a few retirements and partially because MJ's failings. The England squad for the 2011 WC was:
Hartley, Mears, Thompson, Cole, Corbisiero, Stevens, Wilson, Deacon, Lawes, Palmer, Shaw, Croft, Haskell, Moody, Wood, Easter, Waldrom, Wigglesworth, Simpson, Flood, Wilkinson, Hape, Tindall, Tuilagi, Armitage, Ashton, Banahan, Cueto, Foden

Of this 30, 8 were too old (32+) to have a realistic England future and another 5 had less than 10 caps. The young enough and experienced options open to Lancaster were:
Hartley, Cole, Corbs, Lawes, Stevens, Wilson, Deacon, Croft, Haskell, Youngs, Flood, Hape, Armitage, Ashton, Banahan, Cueto, Foden

Between players not being good enough (Stevens, Deacon, Hape, Banahan, Cueto), injury (Croft, Corbisiero), France-movers (Armitage), you end up with:
Hartley, Cole, Lawes, Wilson, Haskell, Youngs, Flood, Ashton, Foden

Some of these just didn't really kick off under Lancaster (Youngs, Ashton, Foden, Haskell until now). And none of these players are 60+ cappers. They were all around 10-30ish caps. So yeah, not a particularly experienced squad to inherit.

Lancaster's failing, for me, is that he squandered too many caps in his rebuilding process by reacting too late to failed experiments/selections.

As I said - there's been some good reasons. But if you're saying he had no choice, I'm going to disagree vehemently. He had experienced players and chose not to use them. Take Haskell. You say he didn't really kick off. I say he put in a big performance that was instrumental in us getting a draw out of that third test in South Africa but never really received many starts as a result. Bluntly, I'd say he still hasn't kicked off for Lancaster. He's put in some very good games against top opposition, and his club form's been impeccable, he has a lot of international attributes and is our most experienced forward. But he hasn't kicked off and has never started two games in a row for Lancaster. Whose fault is that? Haskell's or Lancaster?

Is it Foden's fault that after a solid Six Nations in 2012, Lancaster moved him to the wing and then only gave him one further start at full back? Did Lancaster do enough to play to Flood and Ashton's strengths? How comes Wilson only played 281 minutes between the end of World Cup and the 2014 Six Nations?

Talking about players being too old is bullcrap as well. The comparison between him and Schmidt came up; well, last year, Schmidt won a 6N with no small number of geriatrics, one of whom definitely won't make the World Cup and another couple who might not. But he's got a trophy and a confident squad to drop players into. We've got no trophies and a squad that's coming under pressure. Playing some older guys to help settle the transition and maybe win something - nothing wrong with that. I accept Nick Easter is not BOD, but the principle remains sound (and was used with Botha and Dowson, save they didn't actually have experience). Not to mention the fact that Nick Easter's back in the squad age 300, while Charlie Hodgson would probably be in the squad if he hadn't retired because some *** told him he wasn't needed long term. A prime example of valuing experience.

Not to mention the other experienced guys outside of the squad. Tait's the most versatile and experienced outside back in the country, and was playing some lovely stuff, but he's away. Monye's the best defensive wing available and a Lions tourist, but ignored. Would have been a far better fit than Strettle. Christ, Cueto would have been a better fit than him.

Not saying every decision has been wrong. But there's been a good pool of guys with experience available and he's basically ignored it as much as possible. If experience has been a key issue, Lancaster's made some big mistakes.

 

[Crapspray]

I guess you haven't seen Clarke okay this season then? He has been fantastic, 10 times better than wood.

Slightly awkward... I happen to think that Wood was perhaps England's worst forward of the autumn. A penalty machine, whose dog at the breakdown was completely missing. Now he's shed weight he's basically a smaller, slower Tom Croft. I'd have Haskell and Kvesic ahead of him on current form to be honest.

I might also not like Clark because I think it's ridiculous that Cipriani being an egotistical ****** got him years of exile, whereas deliberately inflicting serious injury (as just one example...) doesn't seem to tar Clark at all in Lancaster's eyes. But then again, he "knows him from his time at Leeds".

I'll add: the only reason I thinks he's there is he's Lancaster's prototypical flanker. That is, he's 17st with a good engine. Given I was raised on the blindside being a big tackler and the openside being a little ****, I dislike Lancaster's tendency for bland 6s and 7s.

Gareth Evans.

It's ridiculous that he was overlooked completely imo.

Mea Culpa. I haven't seen him play much apart from the Sarries game when Morgan was injured. On the basis of that (and him having two functioning legs) why not have him ahead of Crane?

 

[McTallshort]

Slightly awkward... I happen to think that Wood was perhaps England's worst forward of the autumn. A penalty machine, whose dog at the breakdown was completely missing. Now he's shed weight he's basically a smaller, slower Tom Croft. I'd have Haskell and Kvesic ahead of him on current form to be honest.

I might also not like Clark because I think it's ridiculous that Cipriani being an egotistical ****** got him years of exile, whereas deliberately inflicting serious injury (as just one example...) doesn't seem to tar Clark at all in Lancaster's eyes. But then again, he "knows him from his time at Leeds".

I'll add: the only reason I thinks he's there is he's Lancaster's prototypical flanker. That is, he's 17st with a good engine. Given I was raised on the blindside being a big tackler and the openside being a little ****, I dislike Lancaster's tendency for bland 6s and 7s.



Mea Culpa. I haven't seen him play much apart from the Sarries game when Morgan was injured. On the basis of that (and him having two functioning legs) why not have him ahead of Crane?

Ha! thats true im a tigers fan and even I think hes crap

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Burrell getting shown up in defense against Racing Metro. So from unforced errors last week to missing tackles this week, his form is right off.

 

[ratsapprentice]

And his inconsistency when passing left to right.

 

[McTallshort]

12.Farrell
13.Barrett

I thought that earlier this week and given Burrells speed bump impressions this afternoon I reckon its a certainty now.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Burrell getting shown up in defense against Racing Metro. So from unforced errors last week to missing tackles this week, his form is right off.

Burrell and mylers defence was terrible!!! No idea who to have at 12 now

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

12.Farrell
13.Barrett

I thought that earlier this week and given Burrells speed bump impressions this afternoon I reckon its a certainty now.

Please say you are joking... That will be any hope of an England attack extinguished. We will be back to the 2013 mentality of scoring few tries whilst every other team will have moved on. With such talent available at 12 and 13, to stick without someone who is defence and someone who is only there because a better 10 has come along will be dire.

 

[Irishkid]

There is one man Eastmond.

 

[Peat]

Parling goes off early against Ulster.

Tait, incidentally, looks the best player on the pitch so far (in the three minutes I've been watching)

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

If parling is injured then Kitchener will be involved in the 23.

Leicester will be most likely without:

Slater
Parling
Kitchener
and poss Thorn

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

So I think we are going to have

Marler Hartley Wilson
Attwood parling
Haskell/Clarke vuinipola robshaw
Youngs ford
Barritt burrell
May brown watson

That's what I think we will see in my Lancaster eyes

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wouldn't be completely against a Barritt/JJ midfield.
I would've wanted Burrell/JJ, but as someone on the Sale forum said: This is the Burrell that got released early by Sale, not the one tearing up trees for Saints in more recent times.

 

[McTallshort]

Please say you are joking... That will be any hope of an England attack extinguished. We will be back to the 2013 mentality of scoring few tries whilst every other team will have moved on. With such talent available at 12 and 13, to stick without someone who is defence and someone who is only there because a better 10 has come along will be dire.

Willing to bet a fiver that's the centre pairing for the wales game.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Willing to bet a fiver that's the centre pairing for the wales game.

I will take you up on that and go for Barrett/JJ

 

[McTallshort]

I will take you up on that and go for Barrett/JJ

That's the one you want and I would be happy with but its not the one that will be picked

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Don't know the extent of Wood's injury, but social media saying he's missing at least the Wales test.
Hopefully that means Haskell will get a proper run in the side (or at least two consecutive starts...).

Be interesting to see if Lancaster brings in a replacement - I think it'll be Waldrom if he does.


Same goes for Parling - interesting to see if he's replaced in the EPS. Going off of the Saxons guys then I'd like to see Garvey called up, though Day would be the more like-for-like replacement.

 

[yaboyjj]

Don't know the extent of Wood's injury, but social media saying he's missing at least the Wales test.
Hopefully that means Haskell will get a proper run in the side (or at least two consecutive starts...).

Be interesting to see if Lancaster brings in a replacement - I think it'll be Waldrom if he does.


Same goes for Parling - interesting to see if he's replaced in the EPS. Going off of the Saxons guys then I'd like to see Garvey called up, though Day would be the more like-for-like replacement.

Shock call up for Itoje!!
Garvey seems like a good call, but doesn't he play most of his games at 6 now? I've not really been worrying about lock injuries too much up to now (although launch/lawes is a big loss), but it's at the point now, that one more injury and alarm bells will start ringing (if not already).

Waldrom isn't really a natural replacement for Wood though, as he's an 8 or nothing.. really hope it's one of kvesic or Ewers (no holding my breath).

 

[Maverick1987]

This is a good thing for england even though I wouldn't wish injury on anyone . Hopefully whoever comes in takes their opportunity with both hands (as long as it's not Clarke)

 

[goodNumber10]

hhhhmmmmm! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...nly-been-called-up-to-Englands-periphery.html

Looks like Lancaster reads my articles

The romantics have been out in force after Bath's stunning victory in Toulouse last weekend, urging England to pick the Bath midfield and to play in a similar vein in Test rugby's jungle full of big boys. It would be suicide.

As Lancaster said: "Bath played exceptionally well but Toulouse did not defend the way Wales would probably defend. If you look at the reality of the game, the way Wales defend, they have got a 14-man defensive line a lot of the time. Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies will try to dominate the gain line without a doubt and Wales' game will centre a lot around dominating the gain line.

"As a consequence you have got to be able to defend the gain line and you have got to be able to get across it yourself. Sometimes when you are playing against [big] defensive sides you can't play around them, you can't move them around and get round the edges because they have got such good defensive width, so you have to play through them."

As Lancaster points out, Bath have their physicality elsewhere in the backline, through wingers Matt Banahan and Horacio Agulla.

England do not have that out wide, with Anthony Watson and Jonny May sure to start. So to select Ford, Kyle Eastmond and Joseph en bloc is not likely to be an option.