[2018 November Tests] England v South Africa (3/10/18)

[Mr Ruggleby]

Manu out Ashton in FFS

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[Mr Ruggleby]

Hurray for pointless procrastination instead of working (I cheated a bit and made Whiteley go up agaisnt Curry):

1. Steven Kitsoff
2. Malcom Marx
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Pieter Steph du Toit
6. Siya Kolisi
7. Tom Curry
8. Duane Vermulen
9. Ben Youngs
10. Owen Farrel
11. Aphiwe Dyantyi
12. Ben Te'o
13. Jesse Kriel
14. Jack Nowell
15. Elliot Daly

16. Jamie George
17. Ben Moon
18. Wilcow Louw
19. RG Snyman
20. Zack Mercer
21. Danny Care
22. George Ford
23. Manu Tuilagi

I'd swap Itoje for PSDT and put him on the bench ahead of Snyman. Otherwise I'd agree.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Manu broken shock! I think I heard it best summed up on here in about 2015- "Manu Tuilagi is made of biscuits".

 

[Bada-Bing!]

At least we've got Wing cover on the bench now.

Manu should just retire from international duty. His body can't it.

 

[ncurd]

Might explain the bonkers Te'o call

Still FUUUUUUUUUUUU

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sigh

 

[MikeTheNative]

Did the injury happen today or was it known about and they were just hoping he would be fit?

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Not a great surprise, but really feel for him.

Surely Jones now has to forget his dream of shaping the team and tactics around Manu and Binny and accept they can only ever be bit part players at best. Sadly they're not reliable enough to build the team around and their replacements just don't carry the same degree of like for like threat. Hopefully they'll both get, and stay, fit but those are pretty long odds.

The Burgess twins were on TV this morning. They looked big strong lads, wonder if they've got any brothers who might fancy giving union a go.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Or benched him to accomodate Slade tbh- seems like we always end up wanting Manu with ability to play 12- was Te'o a 12 or 13 for Leinster?

I think he played both, I remember him more at 13 though but that might not be accurate due to me repressing those years. It didn't really matter anyway MO'C was the coach so centres didn't get to do much, too many inside balls off 10.

 

[spartan32]

He has to be the most brittle islander in living history!!! Next to Binny of course.

Well I think that's blown it for England. I really don't think we have it in us to play flowing passing rugby, and to win via guile, and we now have no one who is going to make even the slightest dent in the SA hulks.

Quite frankly it would need something truly exceptional from this set of green horns.

 

[spartan32]

So now Ashton is in how's the 2nd half going to look?

Assuming no injury enforced changes, what would be the plan? Ashton doesn't bring anything onto the girls that's not already there, apart from freshness I guess. If fords coming on then Faz surely moves to 12 rather than leaving the field.

Just don't think this is going to go well

 

[Mr Ruggleby]

Manu should just retire from international duty. His body can't it.

I'm not sure you can say that based on the training - he hasn't even seen the pitch! I think we as fans and EJ as coach need to stop putting some much hope into Manu and Billy, but I don't think that means the lad should retire just because we can't move on otherwise.

update: It's a minor groin strain and he's being held out as a precaution, fit to train from Sunday apparently.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...h-england-south-africa-springboks-rugby-union

Supposedly not that bad an injury and will return to training on Sunday.

 

[ncurd]

Ford/Farrell/Slade (which we know kind of doesn't work), Te'o is not going to last 80 mins. I wouldn't play Ashton unless required by injury.

 

[Mr Ruggleby]

Ford/Farrell/Slade (which we know kind of doesn't work), Te'o is not going to last 80 mins. I wouldn't play Ashton unless required by injury.

Rogue shout: Farrell/Slade/NowellorDaly with Ashton to the wing?

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I'm not sure you can say that based on the training - he hasn't even seen the pitch! I think we as fans and EJ as coach need to stop putting some much hope into Manu and Billy, but I don't think that means the lad should retire just because we can't move on otherwise.

update: It's a minor groin strain and he's being held out as a precaution, fit to train from Sunday apparently.

Based on that he can't last the last two training camps without breaking down and not having taken to the pitch in 4 years for England. He's had problems with his groins for years. And even groin strains can take 3 weeks to recover (despite reports he'll be ready by Sunday) from and with his history no doubt will reoccur. I would not be surprised if he is released back to Leicester to continue treatment and doesn't return.

He needs to show he can last the rest of the season to be considered for next year's RWC squad. He seems to always be rushed back after playing handful of games for Leicester and then get picked for England only to reinjure himself.

 

[Scotty]

Manu out Ashton in FFS

Omd well more fool us for believing he would make it.

 

[Scotty]

Game to finish
Ford
May
Faz
Daly
Nowell
Ashton

Daly is a 13 by trade and a good one and ashton is better in attack from fullback running lines off daly, this wouldnt worry me and would worry me less than ending
Ford
May
Faz
Slade
Ashton
Daly

 

[spartan32]

Game to finish
Ford
May
Faz
Daly
Nowell
Ashton

Daly is a 13 by trade and a good one and ashton is better in attack from fullback running lines off daly, this wouldnt worry me and would worry me less than ending
Ford
May
Faz
Slade
Ashton
Daly

That first possibility does have a lot of pace, however playing Ashton at FB at international seems suicide. Unless you're suggesting putting Nowell to FB, but even that doesn't fill me with confidence.

If Ashton is only there for injury cover then it's a total waste of a seat. Why not bench someone who can actually come on to make a difference. What's happened to EJs finishers? I would suggest wing is the one position that needs to e worried about the least. Why not put an extra forward in there, maybe someone distinctive in the back row?

Or a better utility back? Just seems a bit rubbish.

 

[Nudger]

He has to be the most brittle islander in living history!!! Next to Binny of course.

Well I think that's blown it for England. I really don't think we have it in us to play flowing passing rugby, and to win via guile, and we now have no one who is going to make even the slightest dent in the SA hulks.

Quite frankly it would need something truly exceptional from this set of green horns.

We managed to beat them last time out