[2015 Six Nations] England

[msf]

That looks a lot better than the present team, now if only they had decent coaches we might actually win something meaningful...

 

[LiRFCMatt]

All this combinations talk was getting me thinking, and just for fun, take a look at this team for the 2019 World Cup, almost all of whom have been capped already, ages in 2019 included on the right:

1 Corbisiero 30
2 Cowan-Dickie 25
3 Cole 31
4 Lawes 30
5 Launchbury 27
6 Itoje 24
7 Kvesic 26
8 Vunipola 26
9 Youngs 29
10 Ford 26
11 Nowell 25
12 Slade 26
13 Tuilagi 27
14 Joseph 27
15 Watson 25

It will also be a very experienced side by that stage, a large number with a world cup or two under their belt headed into 2019.

 

[msf]

The bosh team:

1. Vunipola
2. Youngs
3. Brookes
4. Atwood
5. Lawes
6. Ewers
7. Fearns
8. Vunipola
9. Wigglesworth
10. Farrell
11. Banahan
12. Burrell
13. Tuilagi
14. Rokoduguni
15. Brown

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Ok, Burgess for Burrell, and I had to pick Wigglesworth because there is no English Mike Phillips.

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It would be fun to see that team play, even though it might be a bit one-dimensional.

 

[LiRFCMatt]

The bosh team:

1. Vunipola
2. Youngs
3. Brookes
4. Atwood
5. Lawes
6. Ewers
7. Fearns
8. Vunipola
9. Wigglesworth
10. Farrell
11. Banahan
12. Burrell
13. Tuilagi
14. Rokoduguni
15. Brown

- - - Updated - - -

Ok, Burgess for Burrell, and I had to pick Wigglesworth because there is no English Mike Phillips.

- - - Updated - - -

It would be fun to see that team play, even though it might be a bit one-dimensional.

Think Wales but wearing white.

 

[msf]

Haha, Fazball!

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Actually, sod the backs, but why not play that forward pack, just to see what it can do?

 

[yaboyjj]

How about the flying oompa-lumpa team!

Thomas
Youngs
Mullan
Lawes
Gaskel
Croft
Wood
Clifford
Simpson
Ford
Wade
Eastmond
Joseph
May
Sharples

average weight of ~13st
:lol:

 

[msf]

Haha, again, sod the pack, but why not try that backline against someone like Samoa? It would be more entertaining than one of Lancaster's teams. Just put Watson in for Sharples and you would have a pretty scary-looking backline.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Croft out for 4- 6 Months

He has the worse luck with injuries.

Feel so sorry for him.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Don't think luck has anything to do with it... no more than it determines his ability to run fast - his body is fragile.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Don't think luck has anything to do with it... no more than it determines his ability to run fast - his body is fragile.

With that injury taking him right up to the World Cup and him being 29, it wouldn't be an unfair call to say he'll never play for England again. Seems a shame tbh, I've liked him when he has played.

 

[Raggs]

Team I'd like to see come 2019.

1. Marler (Don't think Corbs is going to shift him to be honest)
2. LCD
3. Cole
4. Lawes
5. Launch
6. Billy V
7. Kvesic
8. Hughes

9. Robson
10. Ford
11. May
12. Tuilagi
13. Joseph
14. Wade
15. Watson

16. George
17. Mako
18. Thomas
19. Attwood
20. Itoje
21. Simpson
22. Farrell
23. Daly

-----

Pack.
Scrum should be very good. Lineout should be solidish (depending on LCDs progression) with 3 good options. Breakdown should be possible to actually do what we're trying to do now, minimum manpower for maximum effect. Plenty of serious carriers in that pack.

Backs.
Danger. Every position is a serious threat. Should be able to play at speed, with the carriers in the pack, and Tuilagi, generating front foot ball in the toughest of conditions should be possible. Could be a bit limited in distribution, but both Joseph is less selfish already, and Wade is very good at distributing. Watson with a bit more experience will hopefully become the same.

Bench.
Purpose of the bench is to be able to mostly play the same game, but with the possibility of solidifying our set piece and defense, tightening the game up and closing it out on power and territory. Sort of relies on Daly being able to take over wing from Wade or FB from Watson.

 

[Patchey]

We're doing 2019 teams already! :0 I wonder how many of is would have, just before these weekend of the 201 6N, been able to predict the 2015 RWC team?

 

[Tony Manx]

We're doing 2019 teams already! :0 I wonder how many of is would have, just before these weekend of the 201 6N, been able to predict the 2015 RWC team?

Or indeed still can now with any total accuracy!!!

 

[j'nuh]

tbh, I don't think there will be a total squad clearout between 2015 and 2019. There will be a lot of the 2015 WC squad at the 2019 WC.

 

[Peat]

We're doing 2019 teams already! :0 I wonder how many of is would have, just before these weekend of the 201 6N, been able to predict the 2015 RWC team?

The team - no - but I think a lot of people could have got *fairly* close to a squad, at least in the forwards. Tom Youngs is the only forward likely to be involved in the 2015 WC who would have been completely off the radar in 2011 - even Billy Vunipola was being murmured about by the real forward thinking.

The backs, well, they've been a crazy enough ride. That said, I feel only Burrell and Nowell were really unexpected - I distinctly recall people predicting Watson to make the team, even back then. Things could change again yet.

The only place I'd feel confident trying to predict 2019 now is the tight five, and even then, I could get those all wrong easily, as there's plenty of options...

... everywhere else in the team, I feel the incumbents are easily overtaken*, barring 8 and 13, where you have big battles for the shirt.


*notably off the pace in some areas, not that England will easily produce players better than them.

 

[LiRFCMatt]

Team I'd like to see come 2019.

1. Marler (Don't think Corbs is going to shift him to be honest)
2. LCD
3. Cole
4. Lawes
5. Launch
6. Billy V
7. Kvesic
8. Hughes

9. Robson
10. Ford
11. May
12. Tuilagi
13. Joseph
14. Wade
15. Watson

16. George
17. Mako
18. Thomas
19. Attwood
20. Itoje
21. Simpson
22. Farrell
23. Daly

-----

Pack.
Scrum should be very good. Lineout should be solidish (depending on LCDs progression) with 3 good options. Breakdown should be possible to actually do what we're trying to do now, minimum manpower for maximum effect. Plenty of serious carriers in that pack.

Backs.
Danger. Every position is a serious threat. Should be able to play at speed, with the carriers in the pack, and Tuilagi, generating front foot ball in the toughest of conditions should be possible. Could be a bit limited in distribution, but both Joseph is less selfish already, and Wade is very good at distributing. Watson with a bit more experience will hopefully become the same.

Bench.
Purpose of the bench is to be able to mostly play the same game, but with the possibility of solidifying our set piece and defense, tightening the game up and closing it out on power and territory. Sort of relies on Daly being able to take over wing from Wade or FB from Watson.

This boy will be storming his way in to the first team, I have no doubt about that. What a player he is.

 

[msf]

My team for 2019:

15. Daly
14. Watson
13. Tuilagi
12. Atkinson
11. Joseph
10. Ford
9. Cook
8. Vunipola
7. Kvesic
6. Wood
5. Lawes
4. Launchbury
3. Thomas
2. Yeandle
1. Vunipola

16. Youngs
17. Corbisiero
18. Cole
19. Matthews
20. Clifford
21. Spencer
22. Mills
23. Wade

Three players are out of position in the backs, but this was the only way to get the 3 massive talents we have at outside centre into one team, and I think they are all good enough footballers to be able to adapt (and they have all played those positions before). I don't know if Atkinson will be able to displace 12trees at Gloucester, as it's another situation where the incumbent is the inferior player but also the captain. Yeandle doesn't seem to be on the radar at the moment, but he should be - he throws accurately, makes tackles and is a decent ball carrier.

 

[goodNumber10]

My team for 2019:

15. Daly
14. Watson
13. Tuilagi
12. Atkinson
11. Joseph
10. Ford
9. Cook
8. Vunipola
7. Kvesic
6. Wood
5. Lawes
4. Launchbury
3. Thomas
2. Yeandle
1. Vunipola

16. Youngs
17. Corbisiero
18. Cole
19. Matthews
20. Clifford
21. Spencer
22. Mills
23. Wade

Three players are out of position in the backs, but this was the only way to get the 3 massive talents we have at outside centre into one team, and I think they are all good enough footballers to be able to adapt (and they have all played those positions before). I don't know if Atkinson will be able to displace 12trees at Gloucester, as it's another situation where the incumbent is the inferior player but also the captain. Yeandle doesn't seem to be on the radar at the moment, but he should be - he throws accurately, makes tackles and is a decent ball carrier.

No Slade or Itoje? Do you not rate them?

Agree on Cook though, think he could be a great Scrum half.

 

[LiRFCMatt]

I don't see any reason why Nowell wouldn't hold his place until then and then the 2023 world cup, either at wing or full back.

 

[msf]

Yeah, Slade and Itoje will definitely be in the mix, I was just trying to go for some less obvious selections.

If Nowell is still in the team then, I hope he will have learnt how to pass to supporting players. I don't think hes a bad player, but at the moment hes nowhere near as clinical as Joseph or Wade when it comes to taking chances.