[2021 Six Nations] England Squad

[BPM]

Is Malins any different to Daly at 15 though? Im not convinced he is..

Now young Steward at Tigers...he looks the answer, sooner rather than later. A huge rock at the back, strong defense, strong under the high ball. Huge boot.
Whilst he's not rapid, and probably does need to work on his attack....that can be done.

Speaking of potential though....

Where does Barbeary come into it? Will he be a hooker or back rower??
Whats happened to Aaron Hinkley ? He was a star in the making....
Why is Ted HIll not breaking through?
What about Tom Willis - No 8 for Wasps...looks a good player
Why is Marcus Smith not considered by Jones?
How is Joel Kpoku developing...he looks a big powerful unit at lock...like Bamber at Bristol..hes huge.

I agree re. Steward but like Toby, I'm not sure about the comparison between Daly and Malins.

Daly is an outside centre/wing who was moved to 15 on the assumption that he had the skill set to be a natural fullback. While he's not been as bad as he is sometimes made out to be, it's definitely fair to say the move was not successful. Malins has played that majority of his senior rugby at 15 and looks far more suitable as the kind of playmaking fullback Eddie wants/wanted Daly to be.

Steward is a great alternative in the making, but he's more of a traditional fullback. Given Eddie's preference for Daly and then the call ups for Furbank and Malins, I think he's more interested in looking for a second playmaker at 15 than a Steward type of 15.

Who knows where Barbeary will end up? Until we see him playing at hooker on a regular basis, I don't think we can seriously think about him as a potential test hooker. I'd rather he develops in to a top quality hooker who is very capable in the back row, rather than a back rower who's standing in the middle of the front row but lacks the set piece game to be a genuine hooker.

Sticking with Wasps, I agree that Tom Willis is coming along nicely. He reminds me of a more athletic Ben Morgan. If he carries on as he is, I think he a very interesting option at 8.

No idea on Marcus Smith. It's a genuine head-scratcher, but I think it's very difficult for back row players like Hill or Hinkley to break through given the quality of players in front of them. In any case, Hinkley needs to break through at Exeter before he's even remotely on the radar for England. Even then, he'll have at least Underhill, Curry (x2), Earl, Willis (x2) and Ludlam to contend with, probably more.

Joel Kpoku would have benefited from a proper season in the Championship, but as it is, his development will be curtailed by not having played in almost a year. TBH, from what I've seen, Isiekwe was far more impressive at age grade. Kpoku seems to be a bit over-hyped ATM.

 

[Stoggie]

More expansive kicking?

Marcus Smith at 10, get some flair. Also got the best goal kicking percentage in the p-ship. Who needs Farrell.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Agree totally on Barbeary. The

I don't think there's an official one but I'm fairly certain that it's essentially Ford.

I think there were a few a while back and Binny was definitely one of them.

 

[FLOBALOB]

Marcus Smith at 10, get some flair. Also got the best goal kicking percentage in the p-ship. Who needs Farrell.

Miles off. Since start of 2020 Smith is 77%. Simmonds is 90%.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Miles off. Since start of 2020 Smith is 77%. Simmonds is 90%.

well this season
Smith 91%
Simmonds 88%

and smith has kicked twice as many as simmonds

Last season simmonds 88% and Smith 81%

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Just realised that George Martin is the first player to be called into an England squad who's younger than me. I don't like it.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

well this season
Smith 91%
Simmonds 88%

11th commandment: thou shalt not slight a chiefs player

 

[j-dawg]

As all round rugby player he is miles ahead of Johnno was, and also very different style.

In reality Johnno most likely wouldn't make the England squad currently he was perfect for the time and one of the great leaders but he wasn't a modern day rugby player really.

Sacrilege

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Don't get why people on social media didn't expect Martin to get called up, do people not look at **** like the shadow squad?

Fair point.

But what was he doing in that in the first place? I'm not doubting his potential, but what's such an inexperienced teenager doing anywhere near the senior squad? Especially in positions of such strength.

I hope he enjoys his time holding tackle bags and looking at Smith and Mercer as role models for the benefits of early exposure to the squad.

Can only assume he's got a Scottish granny.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Just realised that George Martin is the first player to be called into an England squad who's younger than me. I don't like it.

The real dagger to the heart is when players younger than you retire.....

And it's even worse when you start saying oh I used to watch his Dad....Hastings, Sleightholme, de Glanville, Redpath etc

 

[FLOBALOB]

well this season
Smith 91%
Simmonds 88%

and smith has kicked twice as many as simmonds

Last season simmonds 88% and Smith 81%

Too small a sample size to be of any signficance, which is why i took it back to start of 2020.

Its like tossing a coin once and coming down heads .Then saying heads has a much higher percentage than tails.

 

[ncurd]

Sacrilege

I've been trying to decide if it was a worst offence as a Tigers, England or Lions fan. Either way the rugby god's will be displeased.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Fair point.

But what was he doing in that in the first place? I'm not doubting his potential, but what's such an inexperienced teenager doing anywhere near the senior squad? Especially in positions of such strength.

I hope he enjoys his time holding tackle bags and looking at Smith and Mercer as role models for the benefits of early exposure to the squad.

Can only assume he's got a Scottish granny.

I see some logic in it. Whoever was called in was a replacement for a replacement and was never going to actually get any game time. An alternative (probably Hill) is an established starter at their club so bringing him into camp to hold tackle bags would just stunt his development. Bringing in Martin means that EJ can get a closer look at him while not taking much game time away from him.

 

[FLOBALOB]

11th commandment: thou shalt not slight a chiefs player

Nothing wrong in showing people the errors of their ways.

 

[Reiser99]

Too small a sample size to be of any signficance, which is why i took it back to start of 2020.

Its like tossing a coin once and coming down heads .Then saying heads has a much higher percentage than tails.

Depends, reality is we are talking about people who should be picked for England now, so Smith's stats from 3 years ago are irrelevant. Currently he has the best kicking percentages in the premiership.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Too small a sample size to be of any signficance, which is why i took it back to start of 2020.

Its like tossing a coin once and coming down heads .Then saying heads has a much higher percentage than tails.

Ok then between the last 2 season
Smith 106 out of 125 84.8%
Simmonds 77 out of 87 88%

 

[higgik]

As all round rugby player he is miles ahead of Johnno was, and also very different style.

In reality Johnno most likely wouldn't make the England squad currently he was perfect for the time and one of the great leaders but he wasn't a modern day rugby player really.

No he is perfect for this team, he was a leader who made sure everyone knew their roles, yet was willing to listen to others. This current team is seriously lacking in true leaders. Too many subservient to one person, who doesn't seem to like criticism on or off the pitch.

 

[FLOBALOB]

Depends, reality is we are talking about people who should be picked for England now, so Smith's stats from 3 years ago are irrelevant. Currently he has the best kicking percentages in the premiership.

2020 started 13 months ago not 3 years, I'd say thats recent enough to take into account any notable player improvement and provide a large enough sample size so as to be relevant.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Ok then between the last 2 season
Smith 106 out of 125 84.8%
Simmonds 77 out of 87 88%

Can we just accept both are better than Farrell and then we can all be happy?

 

[FLOBALOB]

Rugbypass player stats for 2020 amd 2021

Smith 99 kicks ,77 successful 77%
Simmonds 106 kicks, 95 successful 90%

Are these stats not right?