[2018 November Tests] England vs Australia (24/11/18)

[Derpus]

I'm done guessing what this England team will do. They seem to go from the sublime to the rediculous from one week to the next. If we show up like we did against Japan, well it could be a long afternoon. However show up like we did against NZ and we could well put a record home score against the Aussies.

As for a team, well it might be good to test a few lads against a stronger opposition. Like others I'd like to see Cockas get another run, with Ashton out there's every chance he could get a run, although EJ may play it safe with Nowell.

Interesting Care has gone. Wiggy is solid, but he's no game changer. Francis again seems interesting. I've never seen him really shine, but he too seems solid.

Glad to have seen Faz sterling up another gear over the NIs. He really is turning into a world class player and seems to really have a positive impact on the team as a whole.

Will we ever see Manu again? Personally I think not. EJ will go through the effort of wrapping him in cotton wool only for him to get injured in the Prem just before the 6N and so on and so forth. The guys a rugby stripper. You can look, but you can't touch.

Anywho enough rambling. No prediction for Saturday. Just hope for a good game to end the NIs.

I have a sneaky feeling hes being coy about Tuilagi because of the doubt over Pocock. I reckon they both might play.

 

[Scotty]

I really hope francais isnt picked to play. He's good but we dont want to take chances. I rate him but just no.

If no manu its simple, stay with the same 23 that played in NZ bar players that arnt available. We played well amd thats is a strong team to build around when players return so id say we go.

Moon
Hartley
Sinkler (hes played well as a starter)
Itoje
Lawes
Shield
Underhill
Wilson

Youngs
Farrell
May
Teo
Slade
Cockanasiga
Daly

Hepburn
George
Williams
Ewels
Hughes (or hill if hughes isnt up to it)
Wiggs
Ford
Nowell

Bring back
Mako/genge for moon/hepburn
Launch for ewels
Billy for hughes( keep wilson in the 23)
Underhill for shields(giving a back row of 6 underhill 7 curry 8 billy 20 wilson)
JJ for slade
Watson for nowell or Cockanasiga (depending what we need)

We have one hell of a squad when fit but just my thoughts.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Nowell out injured https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46298621

Yet another injury... RFU seriously need to stop turning a blind eye to this and properly address the issue. I swear we pick up more injuries than any other international team.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Nowell out injured https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46298621

Yet another injury... RFU seriously need to stop turning a blind eye to this and properly address the issue. I swear we pick up more injuries than any other international team.

Not good for Nowell, but should guarantee Joe a start.

Agree that our injuries are ridiculous, and not for the first time. Obviously much worse than any other country ever, but would be interesting to see some data.

 

[Derpus]

Not good for Nowell, but should guarantee Joe a start.

Agree that our injuries are ridiculous, and not for the first time. Obviously much worse than any other country ever, but would be interesting to see some data.

Isn't it because your players get flogged in the domestic season. I read somewhere that your players play nearly double the amount of games (or maybe it was minutes) a typical southern hemisphere player would.

I also read Marler intentionally tried to get suspended because his workload was so excessive.

 

[BPM]

Nowell is another who seems to increasingly injury prone.

On the plus side, it gives Cokanasiga another chance. If he can build upon his performance last week against Tier 1 opposition, he'll definitely have put himself in a good position for a place in the World Cup squad.

He brings a power option none of our other wingers can offer and if he can show that he's even passable under a high ball and defensively, that could be enough. Given the propensity of our other power carriers in the backs to get injured (Tuilagi/Te'o), he'd be a useful option.

 

[MarkyH]

Its always sodding training. I know EJ trys to replicate intensity in training but you just can't do that all the time. Its insane.

I remember before the 6N game Vs Wales this year, even in the warm up the players looked knackered because of the intensity of the warm up. Yes we won, we scored early and looked shattered the rest of the game.

Resting, gentle practice is as good for the mind as it is the body. We don't need to train hard ALL the time. Its not the games they play, its EJ and the coaching team going to hard.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

In the latest in his series of thesaurus swallowing utterances John Mitchell says he feels "emotively connected" to the England side.

This guys use of language nearly has me in tears... in a good way!m

EDIT: Aussie pack weak, NH ascendant, England win etc

 

[McTallshort]

Nowell out injured https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46298621

Yet another injury... RFU seriously need to stop turning a blind eye to this and properly address the issue. I swear we pick up more injuries than any other international team.

Reminds me of the 2001 Lions team. GH and his staff flogged the players that hard there was barely a team to take the field in the final test.

You have to strike a balance between intense training and rest and the noises have been coming out for a while about EJ methods.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I think this is also a leadership group issue, who need to tell EJ and coaching staff to back off training. 2003 RWC was a prime example of Johnno and co telling Woodward they'd overtrained before the Wales QF match and to adjust accordingly.

 

[Which Tyler]

Isn't it because your players get flogged in the domestic season. I read somewhere that your players play nearly double the amount of games (or maybe it was minutes) a typical southern hemisphere player would.

I also read Marler intentionally tried to get suspended because his workload was so excessive.

They do get flogged in the domestic season - but you also read wrong, both times

You have to strike a balance between intense training and rest and the noises have been coming out for a while about EJ methods.

Not just noises - Eddie specifically told us he would do this last year; and then we were all shocked when he actually did something he'd told everyone he was going to do - completely blindsided us.
This AI window, I don't think we've seen the attrition rate any higher than for any other team.

Who's withdrawn hurt since joining the camp?
Lawes - injured by Saints
Manu - was always going to happen
Ashton - Cramp during a match, not training
Nowell - Hamstring - we don't know if from training or playing; but a pretty common injury for wingers

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Curry injured during a match

Was Kruis during training?

Obano got put out for almost the season by an England training session.
Vunipolas were at Saracens I think?

 

[Which Tyler]

Curry injured during a match

Was Kruis during training?

Obano got put out for almost the season by an England training session.
Vunipolas were at Saracens I think?

Curry and Kruis are good points - both from playing, not training (Kruis went off on the tractor-stretcher thing didn't he?)
Obano wasn't this season (nor were JJ or Watson whilst we're naming people injured a good long time ago)
Both Vunipolae (and Isiekwe) injured during the Champ Cup window.

Hughes and Lozowski banned

 

[Nudger]

Nowell out injured https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46298621

Yet another injury... RFU seriously need to stop turning a blind eye to this and properly address the issue. I swear we pick up more injuries than any other international team.

Nowell's an injury waiting to happen

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Manu gives some light at the end of the centre tunnel, but Faz, Te'o, Slade is so boring looking.

 

[Nudger]

Curry injured during a match

Was Kruis during training?

Obano got put out for almost the season by an England training session.
Vunipolas were at Saracens I think?

Kruis during the match

 

[curtbob7]

They do get flogged in the domestic season - but you also read wrong, both times
Not just noises - Eddie specifically told us he would do this last year; and then we were all shocked when he actually did something he'd told everyone he was going to do - completely blindsided us.
This AI window, I don't think we've seen the attrition rate any higher than for any other team.

Who's withdrawn hurt since joining the camp?
Lawes - injured by Saints
Manu - was always going to happen
Ashton - Cramp during a match, not training
Nowell - Hamstring - we don't know if from training or playing; but a pretty common injury for wingers

Was doing just fine at Tigers. Eddie had him doing weighted sprints, Geordan Murphy was fuming when he found out the cause of Manu's latest injury in England camp.

Curry?

Cramp and Hamstring injuries usually point to prep and fatigue so I think its fair to say overall and in these cases England and Iddiiii are to blame.

P.S. im happy with that team. England by 7

 

[Nudger]

Manu gives some light at the end of the centre tunnel, but Faz, Te'o, Slade is so boring looking.

First time I got Eddie's selection right

 

[MarkyH]

Happy with that team too. Don't think the centres are too boring. Its well balanced. Would like to finish with Ford, Farrell, Tuilagi tho

 

[Nudger]

Back 3 cover ?? Does Slade move to fullback if necessary?