[2018 Six Nations] England Squad

[Which Tyler]

Yes, of course being in the England team creates good bonds, especially on tour.
I do think the smaller nations build better bonds, as they're more consistent in selection (they have to be), so they're in camp with the same people more, and as they're selected from smaller pools of players, so inevitably have more club combinations with pre-existing bonds.
Of course, underdog tags also help build that drive menfality, and build bonds; though I think the "everyone hates us" thing works pretty well there for England - even if we're too busy hating the Aussies to care much about hatred coming from the Welsh or Scot.s... we've just got bigger fish to fry

 

[TommiG88]

Anything on our injuries? Not much been said about Watson or Simmonds?

 

[BPM]

The team I'd like to see for Scotland:
1. Vunipola
2. Hartley
3. Williams
4. Launchbury
5. Itoje
6. Underhill
7. Simmonds
8. Hughes
9. Care
10. Ford
11. May
12. Farrell
13. Te'o
14. Watson
15. Brown

16. George
17. Marler
18. Cole/Sinckler (depending on how Sinckler goes for Quins)
19. Lawes
20. Mercer
21. Robson
22. Joseph
23. Nowell

At 3 I'm not suggesting Williams for Cole as a permanent change but Williams has been impressive in the chances he's had off the bench; a real physical presence, so I'd like to see what he could do with a start.

Dropping Lawes is a hard call; for me it's between him and Itoje but one of the locks has to go. Going into this tournament I really liked the idea of a lock at 6 but it's really not working out. For me Lawes gets dropped because his set piece just isn't up to scratch for an international lock.

I really like the back row I've put out; I've dropped Robshaw partly to see what the team is like without him but mostly because he's just not as good as the other options. If Hughes is unfit then I'd bring Robshaw straight back in to start with Simmonds to 8; the same goes for if Simmonds is injured, just bring Robshaw straight back in. If both are unfit then Robshaw and Mercer to start with Kruis coming in on the bench and Lawes covering the back row but that is a pretty dire situation if it happens.

I'm bringing Te'o back in at 13 because for me it's pretty 50/50 between him and Joseph so I'd like to see us do what Ireland do with Healy and McGrath - alternate them each game. Come the World Cup I'd like to see them be more or less interchangeable between who starts and who's on the bench, depending on the opposition.

If Watson's injured then I'd bring Nowell in to start with Daly coming onto the bench if fit; if not then Earle who I really want to see get some game time this 6N.

Eh? Aside from one wonder tackle, Underhill is nowhere near Robshaw. He may get there one day, but he certainly isn't the better player now.

Generally we agree on most things, but I am genuinely amazed by that statement.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Eh? Aside from one wonder tackle, Underhill is nowhere near Robshaw. He may get there one day, but he certainly isn't the better player now.

Generally we agree on most things, but I am genuinely amazed by that statement.

Personally I just prefer Underhill. As a workhorse he makes more tackles and those tackles are just so physical. I really value physical hitters in teams, especially with the kind of game plan that England play with and for that reason I rate his added physicality over the other aspects that Robshaw brings. If you don't agree then fair enough, not many people seem to agree with my viewpoint on this but it is the viewpoint that I hold.

 

[Scotty]

Eh? Aside from one wonder tackle, Underhill is nowhere near Robshaw. He may get there one day, but he certainly isn't the better player now.

Generally we agree on most things, but I am genuinely amazed by that statement.

Underhill isnt at robshaws level as a 6 just as watson isnt at browns level at 15 but they will be, id still be happy to start underhill and watson vs scotland as we need to get them up to the level they need to be for when the others are injured. But right now with injury to daly i do think it best to have brown starting for that game. May nowell watson is strong but id rather daly

So i 100% agree with toby's team for scotland.

Just once id like to see, when fit:

Mako
George
Sinkler
Itoje
Lawes
Underhill
Simmonds
Billy

Care
Ford
Daly
Farrell
JJ
Nowell
Watson

Thats going to be our strongest team for the world cup IMO (except scrum half god knows who i want their)


I also think underhill and robshaw need to be 6s and 7 in emergancy, same as simmonds 7 and 8 in emergancy as now. Mercer/b curry as back up 7s i hate the robshaw underhill combo it has no go forward at all.
Back row depth?
6 Robshaw Underhill
7 Simmonds Mercer B Curry
8 Billy Hughes.

But just my thoughts on stuff, feel free to disagree completly people as im sure you will

 

[MarkyH]

While I see value in retaining Robshaw, I still quite like your line up. If the Curry bros keep improving, especially in the area's of the game they are already good at we should have quite a lot of depth in that backrow.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Would have Willis ahead of Mercer.

 

[MarkyH]

Would have Willis ahead of Mercer.

That the Wasps lad? Played well in the Anglo Welsh last week. Haven't seen much else of him tho.

 

[Which Tyler]

That the Wasps lad? Played well in the Anglo Welsh last week. Haven't seen much else of him tho.

He's this season's Slade/Itoje/Underhill.
Looked very good in a couple of matches and is therefore a world class player that only an idiot would keep away from the international squad; not even slightly overhyped...

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

He's this season's Slade/Itoje/Underhill.
Looked very good in a couple of matches and is therefore a world class player that only an idiot would keep away from the international squad; not even slightly overhyped...

You're talking to a chiefs fan, they know all about overhyping players...

That being said also got MotM yesterday and in pretty much every game he has played has stood out.

 

[Which Tyler]

You're talking to a chiefs fan, they know all about overhyping players...

That being said also got MotM yesterday and in pretty much every game he has played has stood out.

It's Sam Simmonds that I feel sorry for - 2017/18 was supposed to be HIS Messianic year; and he's been displaced already...

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

You're talking to a chiefs fan, they know all about overhyping players...

That being said also got MotM yesterday and in pretty much every game he has played has stood out.

He stood out, but I think a lot of that can go down to us being utter dog ****

 

[ratsapprentice]

My kind of 6, is Willis.

 

[Scotty]

Would have Willis ahead of Mercer.

Mercer and willis are 2 totally different players, i totally agree willis is a great player and deserves a shot but think with what england currently need is carrying off the bench, which is what mercer is better at.

Mercer 20
Willis 21
Underhill 21
B/T Curry 19
Simmonds 23

Great to see we have some great young talant to replace the likes of robshaw/hask. In the back row

 

[Giraffatitan]

Mercer and willis are 2 totally different players, i totally agree willis is a great player and deserves a shot but think with what england currently need is carrying off the bench, which is what mercer is better at.

Not that I disagree, I'd also have Mercer above Willis at this point, but he was Wasps top carrier yesterday. He also seems to have far better breakdown skills than Underhill/Mercer from what I've seen

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

He stood out, but I think a lot of that can go down to us being utter dog ****

Nah he also stood out v Sarries this season.

i'm just saying that in the list Scotty put out he put Mercer down at 7 and when it comes to 6/7 i would prefer Willis to Mercer right now.

 

[Scotty]

Nah he also stood out v Sarries this season.

i'm just saying that in the list Scotty put out he put Mercer down at 7 and when it comes to 6/7 i would prefer Willis to Mercer right now.

We havnt had an out and out jackling 7 in a long time tbh and he is a traditional 7 competing every ruck. Hes a decent carrier but not as good as simmonds/mercer. My point is its about what england need more than who fits the 7 position. I like the underhill simmonds billy, back row we lose the jackling at the rucks compared to willis, but underhill puts dominant hits in, simmonds is every where tackling and can get you on the front foot and billy is a dominant carrier. If one is missong out and you want willis in at 7 which i agree is his position, then id drop underhill/robshaw. And put simmonds/mercer at 6

Our back row of lawes robshaw and underhill was not good against Wales. We had nothing going forward to get our backs quick ball, maybe when back up to full strength with genge sinkler hughes billy all fully fit again and more power in the front row we can bring in a jackling 7 lile willis.

And just for the record i dont doubt willis has some serious talant and is going to be great player for england, i just dont think its now

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

There are some excellent young players in the mix. But virtually all are unproven internationally. I just want to see Eddie picking a unit with a view to that being his first choice in Japan and playing them together whenever injuries allow.

There are only 3 spots plus a sub in each game. Some good players will miss out. This is elite level sport, no-one said it was easy and if they're good enough they'll be in. If they're not, well tough on them, but the competition can only benefit the team.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

There are some excellent young players in the mix. But virtually all are unproven internationally. I just want to see Eddie picking a unit with a view to that being his first choice in Japan and playing them together whenever injuries allow.

There are only 3 spots plus a sub in each game. Some good players will miss out. This is elite level sport, no-one said it was easy and if they're good enough they'll be in. If they're not, well tough on them, but the competition can only benefit the team.

Especially, I hope Clifford can hit good form after he comes back from injury in a month, because he's been out of the reckoning for a while

 

[higgik]

What about playing
4 Itoje
5 Kruis
6 Launchbury
7 Simmonds
8 Hughes

Sorry for Lawes, but Itoje offers better line out option. Launchbury looks like he is coming into so great form and has better handling skills. This set up gives power pace and handling skills.