[2015 Six Nations] England

[nickdnz]

Eastmond, Wade & Armitage are all in the same boat now they are incredibly unlikely to be picked until after the RWC so there's no point in really talking about them as options. I think May is probably there now as well I'll be shocked if he gets recalled as anything other than for backup/warmup games.

Please, England has four matches before the next Rugby World Cup, and based on their current record I expect most of their back-line to be considered settled, dropped and pick up again several times before September.

 

[lucky number 7]

Eastmond is probably the best option at 13 IMO

 

[yaboyjj]

World cup team:

1. Corbisiero
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Launchbury
5. Lawes/Kruis
6. Itoje (my bolter- come at me!)
7. Robshaw
8. Morgan
9. Robson
10. Ford
11. May
12. Tuilagi
13. Joseph
14. Watson/Roko (form depending)
15. Brown

Subs: Vunipola, Hartley, Brookes, Attwood, Ewers, Simpson, Cipriani/Slade, Eastmond/Roko

 

[hanabartle]

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[Maverick1987]

Eastmond is probably the best option at 13 IMO

Joseph and Tuilagi are undoubtedly our best options at 13. We need to play the players that suit the game . Had Tuilagi been fit he would have been the best option at 13 against Ireland last weekend . It's all very doom and gloom on here though . Every player that played last weekend had the capability of putting in a shift to win that game imo it's got nowt to do with selection and was all on Joe Scmidts tactical genius and the Ireland teams ability to play to those tactics amazingly well . Well played Ireland and move on if you ask me ...

 

[lucky number 7]

Ah I think there's a need for the scythe rather than the hammer in that backline. Eastmond has the bit of guile I like.

 

[Maverick1987]

Ah I think there's a need for the scythe rather than the hammer in that backline. Eastmond has the bit of guile I like.

Joseph has that too . I think our biggest job before the RWC is to find a partnership and stop swapping and changing . Oh and get rid of Twelvetrees lol

 

[lucky number 7]

Yeah **** twelvetree's he's a big ****ing blonde tacklebag.

 

[Maverick1987]

Yeah **** twelvetree's he's a big ****ing blonde tacklebag.

If we took Eastmond, Tuilagi, Burrell, Joseph and Slade as our centres for the RWC I'd be a happy man ...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It's a shame we're so close to the RWC as I'd really love to see Slade and/or Hill given at shot at the 12 shirt.

 

[Maverick1987]

It's a shame we're so close to the RWC as I'd really love to see Slade and/or Hill given at shot at the 12 shirt.

Yeh definitely Slade . Imo Hill has still got a bit of learning to do but is doing really well . It's a shame Burgess got picked ahead of him in the Saxons game tbh

 

[goodNumber10]

Hill was great against Bath at the weekend.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeh definitely Slade . Imo Hill has still got a bit of learning to do but is doing really well . It's a shame Burgess got picked ahead of him in the Saxons game tbh

Yup, that still annoys me.
He's got almost zero chance of being involved in the world cup, Bath have said several times they see his future in the backrow - why give him the Saxons 12 shirt?
I can understand Bath using him in the centres, to involve him in the game, but it's not senior England international sides jobs to educate him in how to play the sport :huh:

 

[ncurd]

Yup, that still annoys me.
He's got almost zero chance of being involved in the world cup, Bath have said several times they see his future in the backrow - why give him the Saxons 12 shirt?
I can understand Bath using him in the centres, to involve him in the game, but it's not senior England international sides jobs to educate him in how to play the sport :huh:

The other bad part of that is Burgess has a couple of weeks away from the Bath coaches who have planned how to train him. So it actually put his learning curve back a bit probably. All round bad decision Burgess after his injury is never going to be ready for the RWC.

 

[McTallshort]

If we took Eastmond, Tuilagi, Burrell, Joseph and Slade as our centres for the RWC I'd be a happy man ...

Yeah me too but do we take 5 centres? or is it 4 with 3 fly halves?

 

[Peat]

The point of Burgess in the Saxons was to acclimitise him to the England set-up in case he's able to make the WC squad which they're clearly praying for.

Personally I think there's a half-case to be made for Hill being out best option at 12 at the moment.

Eastmond is probably the best option at 13 IMO

Wouldn't work. Simply too small to be exposed to that many one on one tackles. There's a reason Bath have never tried him there.

 

[chippieolamus]

Yeah me too but do we take 5 centres? or is it 4 with 3 fly halves?

Slade covers 10, 12 and 13, then it'll be Ford and Cips/Farrell.

 

[goodNumber10]

Slade covers 10, 12 and 13, then it'll be Ford and Cips/Farrell.

I would put money on Farrell being the 1st choice 10 again by the time of the world cup.

there is no way Lancaster won't show faith in OF after sticking by him for four years. It's really a shoot out between Ford and Cips, but i'd be surprised if Slade goes (even though i'd love him to).

 

[Jbobo]

The point of Burgess in the Saxons was to acclimitise him to the England set-up in case he's able to make the WC squad which they're clearly praying for.
.

Do you think Lancaster should take a punt on him in the warm ups and possibly bring him along anyway? Or do you think it's a gamble you do not need to take?

If he was Welsh, i'd have more than half a mind to really give him a shot because he is obviously a talent but still not ready, at least on first appearances. Would it not be wise to try him out in one big game now rather than later? Seems like he'd thrive or fall. I kind of feel the same about Anscombe. If Wales had done better at the start of this tournament i'd like to think he would get a chance at least from the bench. It's probably much more political than I am considering though.

 

[McTallshort]

Do you think Lancaster should take a punt on him in the warm ups and possibly bring him along anyway? Or do you think it's a gamble you do not need to take?

If he was Welsh, i'd have more than half a mind to really give him a shot because he is obviously a talent but still not ready, at least on first appearances. Would it not be wise to try him out in one big game now rather than later? Seems like he'd thrive or fall. I kind of feel the same about Anscombe. If Wales had done better at the start of this tournament i'd like to think he would get a chance at least from the bench. It's probably much more political than I am considering though.

No because he doesnt deserve selection, thats not being harsh its the truth. Is he one of the best English qualified centres? No not yet anyway. Let him stay at Bath and continue to learn his trade if he wants to stay in Union when hes not selected.