[2015 Six Nations] England

[Crapspray]

I'm worried we are going to get another bumming at Cardiff... Why do we walk into these things with a huge list of injuries every time? Someone needs to look at this.

The injury list isn't that bad. Bar the locks and Tuilagi, the rest probably wouldn't have started. In the mean time England have regained four lions front-rowers and an experienced blindside. We're also playing a much better ten (even Farrell playing would be a vast improvement on his 2013 self) and two actual wingers (both of whom can actually tackle).

Compare:

1. Marler (one stone lighter)
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Launchbury (one stone lighter)
5. Parling
6. Croft
7. Robshaw
8. Wood (one stone heavier?!)

9. Youngs
10. Farrell
11. Brown
12. Barritt
13. Tuilagi
14. Ashton
15. Goode

with (my preference)

1. Marler
2. Hartley
3. Wilson
4. Attwood
5. Kruis
6. Haskell
7. Robshaw
8. B. Vunipola

9. Care
10. Ford
11. May
12. Barritt
13. Joseph
14. Watson
15. Brown

The only definitely weaker place is the second row, which still isn't a huge step down from the 2013 pair. I don't see how we'll get a bumming. A loss is possible, and Wales are slight favourites with the bookies, but our set piece is stronger. Provided the defence holds the gainline, then Wales will probably run out of ideas and the crowd out of voice.

The big if for me is whether the forwards generate quick ball on our possession. If they do, even with Barritt slowing down the midfield, that backline will tear chunks out of the Welsh defence.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I really think that Waldrom will be called into the squad after the Saxons game and then go straight onto the bench.
Lancaster likes to have an 8 on the bench, and Binny can't play the full 80, especially at test level intensity/the amount of ball carrying he'll get through.

 

[yaboyjj]

You make a good point- the comparison is not looking too bad, that 4,5,6,7,8 pairing was so lightweight it beggars belief, in fact the whole pack was.
I still think that Nowell would be a better pairing with May- I like Watson, but his tackling was pretty poor yesterday (should have finished that try too) and we need another truck it up option.

 

[TheSaffycen]

I really think that Waldrom will be called into the squad after the Saxons game and then go straight onto the bench.
Lancaster likes to have an 8 on the bench, and Binny can't play the full 80, especially at test level intensity/the amount of ball carrying he'll get through.

Look at the amount of work he went through against Munster and Clermont, how can you say he can't go the full 80 ? Against Munster he made 70 meters from 17 runs, also made 12 tackles. Against Clermont he made 15 tackles and also 48 meters from 11 carries. Every collision was massive and he knocked off Kayser and Chouly 2 guys who we will be up against this tournament.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That wasn't meant as a slight against Binny, I love him. I'm just saying that if you've got Waldrom on the bench you can completely run Binny into the ground for 60mins then bring on a like for like replacement.

Binny's fitness has definitely improved but international rugby is a step up again, and he'll be targeted massively, it's only natural a player of his style will tire and make less impact as the game reaches the later stages.

 

[Wendigo7]

Barritt and Joseph is destined to fail.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Kyran Bracken believes that Easter would be a contender for the second row.
http://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-union/news/article/504/9671560/six-nations-kyran-bracken-believes-nick-easter-capable-of-covering-at-second-row-for-england

 

[j'nuh]

Barritt and Joseph is destined to fail.

Is it written in the stars?

If Barritt has to play, Joseph would in theory be the player I'd like to see partner him. The centres would then lack a distributor which isn't ideal, but we were once able to get an attack going with a Hape-Tindall centre partnership, so there's still hope. Ford can vary it up from 10, so you can attack with a few options still (provided the wingers are allowed to come inside and forwards vary it up to give him options/dummy runners).

My problem with Barritt (or another uninspiring player) at 13 is that the attack kinda stops there. Eastmond doesn't have many options with Barritt outside him running uninspiring lines. He can miss-pass, but that's rarely a good idea. He can use Barritt as a dummy runner, but how often do we have players looping behind Barritt? You kind of reduce Eastmond to a player that just passes it down the line. For me, Barritt can do that and Joseph can make runs to link up with the back three.

Ideally, Tuilagi-Joseph could be very fun.

 

[Patchey]

Kyran Bracken believes that Easter would be a contender for the second row.
http://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-union/news/article/504/9671560/six-nations-kyran-bracken-believes-nick-easter-capable-of-covering-at-second-row-for-england

Kyran Bracken needs to be sectioned...

 

[goodNumber10]

Kyran Bracken needs to be sectioned...

he is an absolute idiot.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I think BB and JJ could work really well together.
BB's passing is so underrated it's ridiculous. I'm not saying he's an Eastmond-esque player, but he's a decent passer and it's made out like he's never made a pass in his life.
Pair him with Ford at 10 and JJ at 13 and that could work very well. He's not the most attacking 12 in the world, but he'll have a very good attacking 10 and 13 either side of him, so then England also benefit from the defence/defensive organisation of Barritt at 12 while having some pretty special attackers.
The more I think about it the more I want it to happen, to be honest. We won't have much bosh-power in the backs, especially with Roko out, but hopefully Ford/May/JJ can unlock defences in a different way.

 

[Patchey]

Just rewinding a little to talk about my man crash Daly, anyone else think he's done a bit of a Matt Tait? Gone from incredibly exciting utility back prospect to bloody good but overlooked 15 who can do a job elsewhere? He's just skipped the massive injury list and World Cup Final...

I think Daly should move clubs IMO, to somewhere he can play full back and where the team's defense is a little more reliable. I don think he's going to kick in any time soon playing most of his rugby at 13. He's in the same situation he was when Southwell was around, can't play full back because there are too many players the club feel they need to pick ahead of (Millar...).

he is an absolute idiot.

Amen.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I think BB and JJ could work really well together.
BB's passing is so underrated it's ridiculous. I'm not saying he's an Eastmond-esque player, but he's a decent passer and it's made out like he's never made a pass in his life.
Pair him with Ford at 10 and JJ at 13 and that could work very well. He's not the most attacking 12 in the world, but he'll have a very good attacking 10 and 13 either side of him, so then England also benefit from the defence/defensive organisation of Barritt at 12 while having some pretty special attackers.
The more I think about it the more I want it to happen, to be honest. We won't have much bosh-power in the backs, especially with Roko out, but hopefully Ford/May/JJ can unlock defences in a different way.

If that back lot does click though, it will be very entertaining rugby. That's a big if though.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Just rewinding a little to talk about my man crash Daly, anyone else think he's done a bit of a Matt Tait? Gone from incredibly exciting utility back prospect to bloody good but overlooked 15 who can do a job elsewhere? He's just skipped the massive injury list and World Cup Final...

I think Daly should move clubs IMO, to somewhere he can play full back and where the team's defense is a little more reliable. I don think he's going to kick in any time soon playing most of his rugby at 13. He's in the same situation he was when Southwell was around, can't play full back because there are too many players the club feel they need to pick ahead of (Millar...).

Yeah, I was looking forward to seeing how he played/settled at 13 after Miller moved to Wasps, but all it did was show that he's far better at 15 than 13.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Perhaps you all just bought into his hype a little too much.

"He'll be amazing, if only..."

 

[goodNumber10]

Perhaps you all just bought into his hype a little too much.

"He'll be amazing, if only..."

I always have said he's being played int he wrong positions... 15, 13... he needs to move in.

 

[TheSaffycen]

I always have said he's being played int he wrong positions... 15, 13... he needs to move in.

He could be a Giteau-esque player. But he doesn't have a great range of passing or a tactical kicking game, he just has a lovely balanced running and long range boot. Personally he is a 15, but a good strike runner who can link up with his winger if he doesn't eat up all the space. Too me he is an slightly less impressive in his prime Foden.

 

[goodNumber10]

personlly i think his passing game is better sort than wide. It's those long floated passes i can't stand...

I think at 12 he'll be better zipping them, and he's got a decent enough sweeper kick.

 

[Peat]

We won't have much bosh-power in the backs, especially with Roko out, but hopefully Ford/May/JJ can unlock defences in a different way.

This I believe to be true; No bosh power = no unlocking. If you can't stretch them or put them on the back foot, the Welsh will be up in our boys' faces like a cat on your girlfriend's Christmas present and all the jinky guys will have no space and no chance.

And, while I'm not saying the bosh has to come from the backs, on recent evidence its not really coming from the forwards either.

Now, not saying Ford/Barritt/Joseph won't work; but in England's current context, the best thing for it how defensively secure it is and Ford's tactical kicking. Our best chance with that unit would be to hoon it downfield whenever we don't have set-piece ball or a turnover. And I don't think that will be popular.

Either our pack works out how to present good ball; or we gamble on some of our big men in the backs; or we play territory. I think it's one of those three. Hoping the wee men will conjure up some magic out of mediocre ball is probably just not going to work.

edit: I've always believed Daly is a 15. Imo, for 12, he lacks the inside step and/or physicality.

 

[Patchey]

I always have said he's being played int he wrong positions... 15, 13... he needs to move in.

He does looked to have bulked up a bit, maybe a shot at 12 wouldn't be too bad an idea.

Totally agree with Olly.

Maybe he'll be a mid-twenties bloomer? Not everyone can break through at 21/22.