[2015 Six Nations] England

[Ragey Erasmus]

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

Looks like Lancaster reads my articles

NZ are quite capable of playing around the Welsh, the last 10 minutes of their game shows that. Eastmond may struggle with a gainline game but I'm very confident in JJ's ability to hold his own as well as any in the England centres whilst offering more options in attack. His leg drive isn't too shabby either.

 

[goodNumber10]

NZ are quite capable of playing around the Welsh, the last 10 minutes of their game shows that. Eastmond may struggle with a gainline game but I'm very confident in JJ's ability to hold his own as well as any in the England centres whilst offering more options in attack. His leg drive isn't too shabby either.

England are not New Zealand. our exploitation of space in the wide channels isn't even in the same league as theirs - having said that New Zealdn can play the gain line game when they need to - Carter and Smith (C) and Fekitoa and Seave and Smith (B) can all boss the contact.

 

[yaboyjj]

Sooo Lanky wants to play gatlandball against Wales? Can't see much logic in it tbh, surely it just plays straight into their hands.. on todays performance at least, Burrell/Barritt are not going to play Roberts/Davies at the bosh game and come off best (it will be a very distant second best).
Who have given Wales the biggest problems in the last year? NZ, Ireland and Australia, all of whom played smart heads up players rather than bosh merchants. Incidentally the team who Wales had success against was SA. I'm not saying Eastmond/Joseph is ideal, but I'd rather that than have selectors looking around desperately for a big-ish centre in Tuilagi's absence to play as his double (Which is why Burrell will probably play- hopelessly out of form and a turnstile in defense as he is)

 

[Maverick1987]

Sooo Lanky wants to play gatlandball against Wales? Can't see much logic in it tbh, surely it just plays straight into their hands.. on todays performance at least, Burrell/Barritt are not going to play Roberts/Davies at the bosh game and come off best (it will be a very distant second best).
Who have given Wales the biggest problems in the last year? NZ, Ireland and Australia, all of whom played smart heads up players rather than bosh merchants. Incidentally the team who Wales had success against was SA. I'm not saying Eastmond/Joseph is ideal, but I'd rather that than have selectors looking around desperately for a big-ish centre in Tuilagi's absence to play as his double (Which is why Burrell will probably play- hopelessly out of form and a turnstile in defense as he is)

I think they will go for a lock tight defence and play territorial . The Welsh lineout is notoriously shaky and hopefully we can get to them at scrum time . I'm feeling hopeful of a win . I think we will see Barritt/JJ against wales tbh

 

[TRF_Olyy]

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).

True, but it's what I think Lancaster would do.



That Telegraph article is interesting. I didn't expect the Bath midfield to play, but the way Gatland talks makes me think we're looking at Barritt/Burrell or Farrell/Barritt in the midfield, depending on whether he thinks Burrell is up to it defensively - put two guys there who'll tackle everything on or behind the gainline and sod the attacking gameplan, just wing it.
Also makes me think that Ford won't start.

 

[goodNumber10]

Sooo Lanky wants to play gatlandball against Wales? Can't see much logic in it tbh, surely it just plays straight into their hands.. on todays performance at least, Burrell/Barritt are not going to play Roberts/Davies at the bosh game and come off best (it will be a very distant second best).
Who have given Wales the biggest problems in the last year? NZ, Ireland and Australia, all of whom played smart heads up players rather than bosh merchants. Incidentally the team who Wales had success against was SA. I'm not saying Eastmond/Joseph is ideal, but I'd rather that than have selectors looking around desperately for a big-ish centre in Tuilagi's absence to play as his double (Which is why Burrell will probably play- hopelessly out of form and a turnstile in defense as he is)

i don't think that he's advocating warren ball at all.

I think he's saying you need to be able to play both through and around them - he saying you have to have players who can do both and play what ever the game needs.

regardless you have to be able to go forward before you can go around that's a simple truth in modern rugby, as he says bath play gain line just not through their mid-field.

True, but it's what I think Lancaster would do.

That Telegraph article is interesting. I didn't expect the Bath midfield to play, but the way Gatland talks makes me think we're looking at Barritt/Burrell or Farrell/Barritt in the midfield, depending on whether he thinks Burrell is up to it defensively - put two guys there who'll tackle everything on or behind the gainline and sod the attacking gameplan, just wing it.
Also makes me think that Ford won't start.

Farrell at 12 doesn't give England the gain line impact they desperately need.

i really think we lacked any directness in the AI's, it has to come from somewhere in the team.

 

[Irishkid]

Vunipola against Faletau is massive.

 

[Peat]

i don't think that he's advocating warren ball at all.

I think he's saying you need to be able to play both through and around them - he saying you have to have players who can do both and play what ever the game needs.

regardless you have to be able to go forward before you can go around that's a simple truth in modern rugby, as he says bath play gain line just not through their mid-field.



Farrell at 12 doesn't give England the gain line impact they desperately need.

i really think we lacked any directness in the AI's, it has to come from somewhere in the team.

+1 this post.

Although I think what Lancaster's really really saying is "I'm not playing Eastmond and Joseph together for obvious reasons so wise up people".

Also, interesting to note Nowell lined up at 13 for Chiefs - totally optional for them, they had Whitten and the huge Fijian lad back in the team as well. Slade/Hill/Nowell - now that's a tasty unit.

 

[Patchey]

Wood's injury may end up being a blessing is disguise, much as I hate it that is takes a player getting hurt for any serious selection changes to be made. If he isn't for Haskell will start for sure.

With Parling out presumably we'll have to call up out seventh choice lock on the squad? We have some ridiculous depth in the row right now. I was really looking forward to the Attwood/Parling combo though.

I'd quite like to see Wigglesworth start, with Care on the bench. I think we need a nine with a very solid basic skill set and a good boot to help settle us, because the quality of ball we were getting from the base of the ruck in the autumn was inconsistent at best. Never thought I'd see the day when I was asking for his inclusion....

True, but it's what I think Lancaster would do.



That Telegraph article is interesting. I didn't expect the Bath midfield to play, but the way Gatland talks makes me think we're looking at Barritt/Burrell or Farrell/Barritt in the midfield, depending on whether he thinks Burrell is up to it defensively - put two guys there who'll tackle everything on or behind the gainline and sod the attacking gameplan, just wing it.
Also makes me think that Ford won't start.

You're vision of the future is bleak and full of horror.... (And possibly correct).

 

[ratsapprentice]

I think the depressing thing is that he'll pick players on the basis that they need to offer brute gainline threat, but actually apart from Manu, none of our centres do that particularly well.

Burrell/Barritt can sort of do it, but even then they aren't really metre-eaters... they just demand to be tackled.
Which a centre combo like Wales have will not be particularly challenged by - at all, actually.

 

[Patchey]

You could argue he'd be better selecting some inside backs who are good at putti those outside them in space in order to get over the gain line, rather than wrecking balls.

 

[TheSaffycen]

I think that for this game we need to start with Ford. IMO he is our best tactical kicker and he will hopefully get us into the Welsh half. In the centre we need to have Joseph, we need someone who will actually scare Davies and Roberts and having a big bruiser won't do that. I also like the fact we have two speed merchants on the wing so hopefully we can exploit the weaknesses of Cuthbert and North. So my backline
9.WW 10.Ford 11.May 12.Barritt 13.Joseph 14.Watson 15.Goode

 

[Patchey]

I think that for this game we need to start with Ford. IMO he is our best tactical kicker and he will hopefully get us into the Welsh half. In the centre we need to have Joseph, we need someone who will actually scare Davies and Roberts and having a big bruiser won't do that. I also like the fact we have two speed merchants on the wing so hopefully we can exploit the weaknesses of Cuthbert and North. So my backline
9.WW 10.Ford 11.May 12.Barritt 13.Joseph 14.Watson 15.Goode

Stop with your Goode madness!!!

Swap Goode for Brown and Watson for Nowell, with Watson on the bench, and I'd be happy with that.

Do we think Lancaster is going to wait for the Saxons game before calling up another few forwards? Itoje as a bolter anyone?

Also, what was Hartley binned for yesterday?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hartley was binned for grabbing the scrumhalf's leg from the bottom of a ruck stopping a dart for the line.
Nothing malicious or anything and most players would've done the same in his situation. I don't really like Hartley but I don't count it as a black mark against him, even with his previous.


Call up itoje, then get Beaumont into the saxons, then call him up to the EPS.
Itoje/Beaumont second row would last us the best part of 15 years


Also I don't get the calls for Goode. It's not like his form has suddenly sky rocketed, hes always been really good for Sarries but never translated that to international level. I don't think that will have changed in the last 12 months.

 

[McTallshort]

Hartley was binned for grabbing the scrumhalf's leg from the bottom of a ruck stopping a dart for the line.
Nothing malicious or anything and most players would've done the same in his situation. I don't really like Hartley but I don't count it as a black mark against him, even with his previous.


Call up itoje, then get Beaumont into the saxons, then call him up to the EPS.
Itoje/Beaumont second row would last us the best part of 15 years


Also I don't get the calls for Goode. It's not like his form has suddenly sky rocketed, hes always been really good for Sarries but never translated that to international level. I don't think that will have changed in the last 12 months.

Thought Billys lad was an 8 not lock

 

[goodNumber10]

I think the depressing thing is that he'll pick players on the basis that they need to offer brute gainline threat, but actually apart from Manu, none of our centres do that particularly well.

Burrell/Barritt can sort of do it, but even then they aren't really metre-eaters... they just demand to be tackled.
Which a centre combo like Wales have will not be particularly challenged by - at all, actually.

yeah, look at how few metres Burrel makes, it's astonishing how poor he is:



and here:

http://youtu.be/Xgf-B98C9KQ?t=13m55s



- - - Updated - - -

You could argue he'd be better selecting some inside backs who are good at putti those outside them in space in order to get over the gain line, rather than wrecking balls.

you "could" argue that.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Thought Billys lad was an 8 not lock

He plays both but long term he's a lock - we're overstocked on locks, which is the main reason why he's been in the back row. Most games he plays 60 at 8 then moves to the row for the final 20.
He's starting at lock today vs Munster.

 

[Patchey]

But I suppose you *wouldn't* would you Andy...I mean @goodNumber10 :0

 

[goodNumber10]

But I suppose you *wouldn't* would you Andy...I mean @goodNumber10 :0

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Matt Banahan is doing very well in the air for Bath again. I rate Johnny May but he is more a player for a team that keeps possession. If England play a kicking game, might Banahan be the better option for kick chases?