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

Morgan's exclusion is certainly confusing,
EJ seems to have never really rated him, which is crazy cause he's exactly the kind of 8 he likes.


As mentioned above, I've no real issues with the experience levels of the backrow - definitely would have started Morgan, but the experienced options we could bring in are all way worse than the guys in there (Haskell? No thanks).
Work rate
 
Much as I like Mercer, I just can't see Jones starting him at 8. I reckon he might be planning to pull a fast one with Shields at 8, Wilson at 6 and Mercer on the bench. That would give both more starting power and more bench impact than Shields, Curry & Mercer with Wilson on the bench. Given the absence of Lawes and Launch I'm assuming Itoje will play the whole game at lock.

Dai Young certainly saw Brad the Saviour as an 8. When Shields signed for Pests he said "Alongside his natural talent, Brad is recognised for his immense physicality and high work-rate. He has made a number of eye-catching performances, particularly at no. 8, but his versatility to play at 6 will also be beneficial to the squad".
 
I've a nasty feeling well see
4. Kris
5. Stooke
6. Itoje
7. Curry
8. Shields

19. Mercer
20. Wilson

Itoje has actually had a decent amount t of time at 6 this season, and I think I he'll want him at 6 to counter the Saffer power; which also leads to Stooke ahead of Ewels. This then allows Shields at 8 and keeping both Wilson and Mercer out of the starting line-up.
 
We need to actually play the way the best players availible are suited to playing not forcing a style, we seam to think that England because of 2003 must play Orkz Rulze OK! but we haven't had that team in a long time. Infact I'd say part of our problem over the past year or so is we've too reliant on bish bash bosh (while Binny has been injured making the entire game plan useless).

Focus on quick ball, focus on getting out wide. Ford & Farrell have show on multiple times they have the vision and skill as a twosome to make the right call and put players into space. I'm glad we might actually be focusing on doing that again instead of kicking it away like a bunch of mugs.


Hmm ... who knows what Eddie is planning. If he could get the Japanese to play that way, I'm not sure why he can't achieve it with England?

He seems wedded to the idea that our players lack the skill/pace to do so, regardless of the evidence to the contrary only to persist with tactics that plainly don't work.

It infuriates me.
 
4. Kris
5. Stooke
6. Itoje
7. Curry
8. Shields

19. Mercer
20. Wilson

JS80285001.jpg
 
Stooke's never really registered on my radar. Isn't Ewels above him in the pecking order? And neither is even the best lock at their club.

Torygraph reckons Moon, Hartley, Williams, Kruis, Ewels, Itoje, Curry, Shields, Youngs, Farrell, May, Tuilagi, Slade, Ashton, Daly. Bench: Hepburn, George, Sincker, Wilson, Mercer, Care, Ford, Te'o.

I may go for a lie down to let that compute.
 
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Stooke's never really registered on my radar. Isn't Ewels above him in the pecking order? And neither is even the best lock at their club.
Yes, but stooke is the more powerful player, and especially given our absentees, I think he'll pick the power player wherever he can.

Oh, and yes, Attwood really should be in there as an option
 
Stooke's never really registered on my radar. Isn't Ewels above him in the pecking order? And neither is even the best lock at their club.

Torygraph reckons Moon, Hartley, Williams, Kruis, Ewels, Itoje, Curry, Shields, Youngs, Farrell, Tuilagi, Slade, Ashton, Daly. Bench: Hepburn, George, Sincker, Wilson, Mercer, Care, Ford, Te'o.

I may go for a lie down to let that compute.

Hope not, we'll only be fielding 14 players.
 
Early whispers:
Kitshoff
Marx
Malherbe
Eben
PSDT
Siya
Duane
Warren
Ivan
Handre
Aphiwe
DDA
Jesse
Sbu
Willemse

Trevor
Bongi
Wilco
RG
Lood
Papier
Elton
Cheslin

That pack is not quite as heavy as some have feared, Warren and Siya are both ball players, PSDT back at lock means we aren't running the "3 huge beefy locks" strategy.
 
Early whispers:
=
4. Eben
5. PSDT
19. RG
20. Lood


That pack is not quite as heavy as some have feared, Warren and Siya are both ball players, PSDT back at lock means we aren't running the "3 huge beefy locks" strategy.

We may not be starting with that strategy, but based on that early whispers team it certainly looks like that is the plan in the second half. PSDT to flank, Duane to 8th man and throw on the additional locks.

Would be a very odd one if we ended up playing Vermuelen as a flank though. Still could see Notshe slot into the reserves though which would make things a bit lighter again.
 
When's the actual team announcement tommorow?

I think both teams will be announced today. Rassie always announce his teams on the thursday before the match around lunch time.

As for the early whispers surrounding the SA team, I can certainly see the plan that Rassie is trying to go for with that type of team. but it's a bit of a gamble having Whiteley and Duane start together. I guess Rassie wants to give both of them a run, and whoever screws up the most or gets injured first, will then revert to one of them covering 8, PSDT moving back to 7 and RG or Lood taking PSDT's spot in the locks. But the problem with this is, should someone like Siya or Eben get injured first, it could create a problem later in the game.
 
I think both teams will be announced today. Rassie always announce his teams on the thursday before the match around lunch time.

As for the early whispers surrounding the SA team, I can certainly see the plan that Rassie is trying to go for with that type of team. but it's a bit of a gamble having Whiteley and Duane start together. I guess Rassie wants to give both of them a run, and whoever screws up the most or gets injured first, will then revert to one of them covering 8, PSDT moving back to 7 and RG or Lood taking PSDT's spot in the locks. But the problem with this is, should someone like Siya or Eben get injured first, it could create a problem later in the game.

No gamble at all. While he hasn't featured at flank yet on test level, Vermeulen certainly fits the mold, enough said.

As for him pairing up with Whiteley in the loose - I don't see any short-comings there at all. Yes they both play 8, but are vastly different players in character & attributes. Most importantly we know either of them are warriors who leaves nothing on the pitch. There is enough to motivate that this type of selection is beyond that of an accommodating purpose and, if anything, leaves the question of why this hasn't been tried before.

It's just unfortunate that Mostert won't be part of this game, because the right result here and he could find himself struggling to get back into the starting team.
 

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