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[2018 Six Nations] England Squad

I'm still disappointed. Our back row is a mess, and Eddie needs to hold his hands up. This has been coming in my opinion.

Playing a lock at 6 is not working. Wales beat us at the breakdown, and Ireland have no wrapped up the championship. I hope to see Ewers called up and would like Mercer on the bench. Underhill at 7, Robshaw dropped.

Hartley needs to go and Cole's days are numbered.

Other than that, I wouldn't change much. Would like to see Robson given a chance but it's not going to happen.
 
I don't think cole days are numbered really. (Although i am a biased one eyed Tigers fan).

I do think he needs a summer off, he's been playing rugby for pretty much 12 months currently and he usually plays 80 minutes. (Hopefully with Logo back fit that will stop). For a TH prop that is a hell of alot of work.

Since 2016 he's played 3626 minutes of rugby. that's the equivalent of 45 80 minute games in 75 weeks.

He's just been flogged by Tigers, England and the Lions.
 
http://www.givemesport.com/1264322-...al&utm_campaign=Tribute-Pages-laika-III-1sted

Can't help finding this quite concerning from EJ. "We got beaten at the breakdown and we've got to find out why." We all know why Eddie, it's because you've got 2 passengers in the front row, a lock at 6 and a 6 at 7. But this makes me think that somehow he doesn't see that. My major worry is that EJ's attempt at solving this will simply be to bring Hask back in at 7.
 
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For me, the biggest problems England had after the 2015 world cup were the breakdown and set piece.

2 and a half years later and we still don't have a dominant scrum and still look clueless at breakdowns. We still have no real international options at 7 and simply would not be able to field a back row in the same mould of Scotland's at the weekend.
 
curtbob7 said:
For me, the biggest problems England had after the 2015 world cup were the breakdown and set piece.

2 and a half years later and we still don't have a dominant scrum and still look clueless at breakdowns. We still have no real international options at 7 and simply would not be able to field a back row in the same mould of Scotland's at the weekend.
Click to expand...

Wales will lend you one if you give them a 2nd row. :p What happened to that Clifford guy? I thought he was meant to be up and coming.
 
I know its bad to blame injuries but lets be honest if first and bench choice were available we'd probably have far less of an issue. The problem is a lot of these injuries have been sustained so rather than a stop-gap like Wigglesworth for Youngs which would be fine for a game or two we've ended up playing people completely out of position Robshaw at 8 just to maintain the side so people can slip back in. In reality we should of used injuries to blood new players and maybe they'd have been ready.

Now we are between a rock and a hard place you don't want to bring in new players mid-tournament but its clear the current plan is not as effective as it is with first choice guys playing. Also no coach ever makes wholesale changes its why teams go stagnant after an initial boost. The closeness of the world cup doesn't help either...

Honestly I wouldn't expect any surprises in selection until after the world cup unless we have to start a bolter between now and then.

So could France please injure Hartley, Cole & Brown please.
 
TobyBeastTeague said:
My major worry is that EJ's attempt at solving this will simply to bring Hask back in at 7.
Click to expand...
FFS you're probably right


Clifford isn't the answer, He's no more a 7 than Robshaw or Haskell are.
If anything him being fit and firing harms our breakdown as he's a great bench option, meaning Underhill drops out
 
Lets look at what we potentially have in terms of 7's then.

The curries (still young, still developing)
Evans (getting zero game time)
Underhill (isn't really an out and out 7) -Robshaws replacement.

7's who are EQP: Kvesic, O'Connor, Thompson, Willis, Wallace

Feel free to add...
 
curtbob7 said:
Lets look at what we potentially have in terms of 7's then.

The curries (still young, still developing)
Evans (getting zero game time)
Underhill (isn't really an out and out 7) -Robshaws replacement.

7's who are EQP: Kvesic, O'Connor, Thompson, Willis.

Feel free to add...
Click to expand...
Wallace, if he stays fit, is fantastic as a 7. He has been class at quins for a long time at has made the EPQ a couple of times
 
6. Underhill
7. B Curry
8. Billy (Or Hughes for now)

Simmonds in the 20 shirt (Robshaw for now)

Moving forward

6. B Curry
7. Simmonds
8. Billy

Hughes in the 20 shirt

Willis first reserve for now, can cover all 3.

I'd have no problem starting Underhill and Curry now, they won't make us weaker, and have the potential to be a lot better. Watching the prem highlights now (extended BT sport ones) and Curry looked good for Sale (again) and took a couple of lineouts too, and he looks to be involved a lot at the breakdown, with good hands in the loose. As for Underhill he's perfectly destructive in the tackle, and aggressive enough to put the opposition on the back foot at the ruck, a perfect 6.

Also, different position, but Tuilagi looks a lot sharper for Tigers.
 
Knee Jerk reactions aren't required...but realisation that we do have a few areas of weakness that can be targeted. Ireland hammered us at the breakdown last year and Scotland have now done the same.

1.
Sort the back row out. Stop this 3 lock malarkey. Fix that breakdown issue

2.
We need to identify a FB who can replace Brown...BUT absolutely no one is putting their hand up.

3.
Itoje and Cole look absolutely out on their feet. Maybe give them a breather

4.
Genuine lack of leadership on the pitch. Or lack of intelligence to adapt the play / tactics in game.
 
If players were at full form and dreaming of a 'never gonna happen' squad...

1. Genge
2. George
3. Sinckler
4. Launchbury
5. Itoje
6. Robshaw
7. Simmonds
8. Vunipola
9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Daly
12. Farrell
13. Joseph
14. Nowell
15. Watson

16. LCD
17. Vunipola
18. Williams
19. Lawes
20. B Curry
21. Robson
22. Slade
23. Tuilagi

P.S. this post is just a coping behaviour to help me deal with the pain, please just ignore and leave me to cry...
 
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I want a knee jerk reaction :D Thing is us fans know exactly where our issues are, and we have for a long time. Despite our success, we've not been wholly convincing, but we've been good enough to win games. We knew the backrow wasn't balanced, and we know Brown isn't the best FB option. We don't have enough depth at 9 in the EPS.

I don't think we would be weaker by playing them now. We can test some of them out in SA too, and I agree with @Geordiefalcon about resting players too, I'd definitely consider it for the SA tour.

And if none of this works, by introducing potential, then we go back to basics, and do what EJ is doing now for the Autumn.
 
England have 14 more tests before the RWC warm-up games. 14 tests to seemingly refurbish half of the pack, and we know that at least 2 of those tests we are without players who (IMO) would play major parts in that refurbishment, Genge, Sinckler, Simmonds and Vunipola. Eddie's really backed himself into a corner on this one.
 
Vunipola still doesn't dominate at scrum time. Marler doesn't pull up trees either. Its frustrating.
 

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