[2020 Six Nations] Scotland vs England (08/02/20)

[TRF_Olyy]

VS

​

16:45, 08/02/2020
Murrayfield, Edinburgh​

 

[TRF_Olyy]

We've had a day less recovery, that's my excuse sorted.

 

[NickBD]

He EJ has already picked the same squad of 35 looking like he'll stick with the same 15. So I'm already annoyed and have rather low expectations.

People will want this but he won't start Earl at 8, or Devoto at 12 (he should btw). I was badly wrong on the prediction for France so I hope I am here. If there is changes likely will be Kruis for Ewels and maybe Ludlam at 8. Obviously JJ for Manu.

 

[ncurd]

We've had a day less recovery, that's my excuse sorted.

Bah just toss a coin we'll either get ultimate England which with the Scots a pasting or dumb as **** England who will preside over the first time we've lost the opening two matches since 2005 (where we lost the opening three). I'm expecting dumb as **** to be honest think the RWC/Saracens has taken a toll and the Scots have a good home record and having the upper hand against England the past two years.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

England. Can you lose so we can be sad together? It's when the two countries get on best and shits tense rn!

 

[Jashay]

JJ starts for Manu, but who comes into the squad as a replacement?

I think Mako is available, does he automatically get his shirt back?

Watson is back, so I guess Furbank drops?

Did we hear about Lawes; was he off injured?

Does Youngs start?

Many questions...

 

[ncurd]

Does Youngs start?

I'm going to save you a lot of future pain by just telling you now that Youngs will start.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

My EJ crystal ball predicts:

Mako George Sinckler
Itoje Ewels
Lawes Underhill Curry
Youngs Ford
May Farrell Joseph Watson
Daly

LCD, Marler, Stuart, Kruis, Ludlam, Heinz, Devoto, Furbank

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I reckon Kruis will start

 

[Which Tyler]

That table is blatantly Wales biassed!

It's Eddie, so we know there won't be a revolution. It's England, so we know we'll have to pick from the 35-man squad. We also know that Manu is out.

1. MVunipola
2. George (c)
3. Sinckler
4. Itoje
5. Kruis
6. Curry
7. Underhill
8. Earl

9. Heinz
10. Ford
11. May
12. Devoto
13. Joseph
14. Daly / Watson
15. Watson / Furbank

16. LCD, 17. Genge, 18. Stuart, 19. Ewels, 20. Ludlam
21. Youngs, 22.Farrell, 23. Furbank/Daly

2 Injury returnees
4 players dropped, 3 to the bench


It won't happen, but I'd admit the mistake and have one of Simmonds/Kvesic/Dombrandt/Harrison/Morgan/Mercer/Hughes brought into the wider squad to get into speed for match 3 - Mercer would be the best face-saver, assuming he's close enough to returning from injury, Kvesic has the most recent experience with the squad (is he fit?). Otherwise, he's made his bed with the squad, and now has to lie in it IMO.


Front Row: IMO Mako and Marler get selected on a horses for courses, Genge gets to bench throughout this 6N to get more experience. George is a better leader than Farrell, and is in the best position to lead from, captaincy aside, I'd give LCD his chance. Sinckler has a poor game, but he's stil our best THP, Stuart needs more than 3 minutes.
Locks: We o it need 2 of them, preferably our best pairing. Ewels wouldn't be my choice initially, but played better than Lawes, and if he was bad enough individually to deserve dropping then we have to replace a full dozen - definitely doesn't deserve scape-goat status.
Back Row: Earl is the closest thing to a #8 in the wider squad. The closest England have ever come to making 3 locks work was when one of them was Croft. Have either of Lawes/Itoje had even 1 good game wearing 6?

SH: Young is terrible, and has been for a while now. There's no-one putting their hands up and demanding selection, and we've only got 2 SHs in the wider squad (and Irish or Welsh juniors we can target?), so he either benches, or we play without a bench SH. Ford is simply a better rugby player and a better FH than Farrell. It also means that the 3 worst performing players today (all of them seniors who are supposed to be calm heads) are dropped from the starting XV.
Midfield: Imagine that, an inside centre and an outside centre, playing together in the centres. You know what? It might just work!
Back 3: May and Watson have to start (if fit) so it's really a selection between Furbank and Daly, Daly can be good on the wing (but hasn't yet at FB), no shame for Furbank in sitting on the bench.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

We hardly need other SHs to be putting their hands up for selection when Youngs are so far down he has had to dig a hole for them. Can we really do much worse?

 

[Rinkadink]

You could select any starting (and some bench) EQP #9 from a premiership club and see an improvement over the current situation.

Youngs seems a nice guy too so always feel harsh but he really needs to be dropped out the squad completely for a while at least. He has the potential to come back stronger too.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

My EJ crystal ball predicts:

Mako George Sinckler
Itoje Ewels
Lawes Underhill Curry
Youngs Ford
May Farrell Joseph Watson
Daly

LCD, Marler, Stuart, Kruis, Ludlam, Heinz, Devoto, Furbank

Greatest team ever in history in the making.

 

[General Melchett]

Intriguing game this. Scotland's pack normally gets strangled by the likes of England and Ireland but they actually held up well in Dublin at the weekend. Scrum was good even if the lineout was a bit sketchy. They just couldn't turn possession into points and clever play by the Irish inside their own 22 forced crucial turnovers. If the Sarries lads turn up this weekend and the backrow balance gets sorted out then England should edge it. If not and Youngs does a Youngs then the Scots have a chance. Also if Lawes is in the backrow then I can see Townsend seeing the breakdown as an area where some joy could be had. Think this will be a tight one.

 

[bushytop]

Intriguing game this. Scotland's pack normally gets strangled by the likes of England and Ireland but they actually held up well in Dublin at the weekend. Scrum was good even if the lineout was a bit sketchy. They just couldn't turn possession into points and clever play by the Irish inside their own 22 forced crucial turnovers. If the Sarries lads turn up this weekend and the backrow balance gets sorted out then England should edge it. If not and Youngs does a Youngs then the Scots have a chance. Also if Lawes is in the backrow then I can see Townsend seeing the breakdown as an area where some joy could be had. Think this will be a tight one.

That Scottish back row is decent, if England get the balance wrong in theirs again I could see that particular battle going your way.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Would give Genge a crack at 8 tbh
https://twitter.com/EllisGenge/status/1224821955825688577?s=19

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Just love his raw aggression and, as he showed with his Lawesque lateish hit, on Sun he can't half shift as well.

Mako's back this week, I hope not at Genge's expense. Every team needs its lunatics.

 

[Jashay]

Would give Genge a crack at 8 tbh
https://twitter.com/EllisGenge/status/1224821955825688577?s=19

If it means Curry gets to go back to being a flanker I'm all for it! While we're at it, remember when Eddie said that he considered George Ford as the third Scrum Half option in the WC...? (Officially joining the 'Anyone But Youngs' brigade now)

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Just love his raw aggression and, as he showed with his Lawesque lateish hit, on Sun he can't half shift as well.

Mako's back this week, I hope not at Genge's expense. Every team needs its lunatics.

I remember seeing on Instagram that there was one time that JJ, Watson and Ben Loader went for specialist sprint training and Genge was there as well. He's absolutely rapid, he just rarely gets to show it on a rugby pitch.


Watch him track back for Nowell's try at about 2:20 in this video.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Watson out.

Scots will like the idea of bombing Furbank / Daly on a showery, dank, grey Edinburgh day.

We ought to be bang up for this after Fra, but it has banana skin written all over it.