[2018 Six Nations] England Squad

[curtbob7]

Been in training camps with them hasn't he.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Underhill and Nowell have picked up injuries Nowell out for at least the championship by the sounds of it.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Well, ****.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Who's next in line for the back 3 bench spot?

Edit: lol forgot about Solomona
Been on fire the last two weeks to be fair,
Not as well rounded as some other options but is an incredible finished, and with his shirt chipping game he makes defences **** themselves anywhere in their own half

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Who's next in line for the back 3 bench spot?

Daly. Unless Eddie wants to start him....

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Who's next in line for the back 3 bench spot?

Edit: lol forgot about Solomona
Been on fire the last two weeks to be fair,
Not as well rounded as some other options but is an incredible finished, and with his shirt chipping game he makes defences **** themselves anywhere in their own half

Guessing, Brown, Watson, Daly will be the back 3 options.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

In terms of stat collection - already done for you:
https://www.therugbyforum.com/threa...-england-04-02-2018.40642/page-16#post-887406

Zach Mercer: 190cm; 105 kg (BMI: 29.09)
Sam Simmonds: 184cm; 103kg (BMI: 30.42)

Louis Picamoles: 192cm; 116kg (BMI: 31.47)
Sergio Parisse: 196cm; 112kg (BMI: 29.15)
Taupe Faletau: 189cm; 110kg (BMI: 30.79)
Jamie Heaslip: 192cm; 110kg (BMI: 29.84)
Kieran Read: 193cm; 110kg (BMI: 29.53)
David Pocock: 183cm; 103kg (BMI: 30.76)

Billy Vunipola: 188cm; 130kg (BMI: 36.78)
Nathan Hughes: 196cm; 125kg (BMI: 32.54)
Ben Morgan: 191cm; 116kg (BMI: 31.8)
Thomas Waldron: 185cm; 114kg (BMI: 33.31)

The only reason people seem to think that 110kg is too light for a #8 is Billy Vunipola; who is an absolute physical freak. There is no-one in world rugby even close to him in terms of physical stats without playing front row.
What you're used to skews your perception of "normal" - I have big dogs; normal sized dogs look tiny; I have small cats; normal sized cats look huge. England have a huge #8; all other international #8s look too small in comparison. However, looking at the list of top international #8s, someone like Mercer really isn't giving up much already.
I know, I know, people say that there's absolutely no way Mercer can be 105 kg - because of their perception bias (or they're thinking of him a year ago). Stand him next to Billy; and he's lightweight. Stand him next to Faletau; and he's a little smaller; but there's really not much in it; mostly upper legs- lower torso.

ETA: Different stat.s available for Zach.
RFU = 103kg
ESPN = 104kg
Bath = 105kg
Wiki = 105kg
RugbyProfiles = 108kg

For those interested; Charlie Morgan one of his usual excellent write-ups of Zach a couple of weeks ago: http://subscriber.telegraph.co.uk/r...s-want-see-zach-mercer-back-premiership-duty/

If Mercer was ~105kg then I'd agree that there wouldn't be huge issue with his size at international level. My problem with it is that I don't believe he's anywhere near the size he's been listed as; I reckon he's less than 100kg. And that is too small.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

The back row is the more pertinent question, Shirley?

 

[Giraffatitan]

The back row is the more pertinent question, Shirley?

I'm expecting, given some of EJs interviews, to see the same starting back row. Hoping with the squad available that Robshaw moves to 6 and Simmonds to 7, Haskell 20 for lack of other options.

 

[Which Tyler]

If Mercer was ~105kg then I'd agree that there wouldn't be huge issue with his size at international level. My problem with it is that I don't believe he's anywhere near the size he's been listed as; I reckon he's less than 100kg. And that is too small.

What do you base that on though?
5 seperate sources have him at more-or-less the same size.
Match footage of him standing next to Taulupe Faletau shows him to be more-or-less the same size.

Surely you want something a little more compelling than the available information to come up with a conclusion that all the available information is wrong. This isn't the politics thread where you can just assume evidence you disagree with to be fake.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Didn't realise Daly was fit again,
Bit of a risk throwing him straight into an international after 4 months out isn't it?

 

[ratsapprentice]

I think people are forgetting how tall 6'4" is...

I have no trouble believing he's over 100kg whatsoever.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Didn't realise Daly was fit again,
Bit of a risk throwing him straight into an international after 4 months out isn't it?

Any more risky than playing Jonny "where am I, Mum" May?

 

[TommiG88]

Hartley is a doubt, but no doubt he will pull through.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

****, ok so Hartley is a doubt, Underhill and Nowell are out. If they are all out then this is how I expect. Not how I would like us to line up.
1. Mako
2. George
3. Cole
4.Itoje
5. Launch
6. Lawes
7.Robshaw
8.Hughes
9. Wiggs
10. Ford
11. May
12. Faz
13. Teo
14. Watson
15. Brown
16. Cowan Dickie
17. Marler
18. Sinks
19. Kruis
20. Simmonds
21. Care
22. JJ
23. Daly


If Hartley is fine, he starts and George to the bench

 

[Which Tyler]

I think people are forgetting how tall 6'4" is...

I have no trouble believing he's over 100kg whatsoever.

True - he DOES have (just) the lowest BMI on that list after all; which would make him appear the skinniest of them.
Of course, the next skinniest is Parisse; who's not done too bady for such a lightweight.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Any more risky than playing Jonny "where am I, Mum" May?

Tigs Man will not like this at all

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Who's next in line for the back 3 bench spot?

Edit: lol forgot about Solomona
Been on fire the last two weeks to be fair,
Not as well rounded as some other options but is an incredible finished, and with his shirt chipping game he makes defences **** themselves anywhere in their own half

Defenders **** themselves at the prospect of Solo throwing chips at their clean shirts.....?

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

The back row is the more pertinent question, Shirley?

JACK ******* WILLIS

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Of course, the next skinniest is Parisse; who's not done too bady for such a lightweight.

Just think, if he had a bit more bulk, he might have won as many as 4 or 5 of his 130 tests.