[2021 Six Nations] England Squad

[Leonormous Boozer]

Gats and Schmidt are a step down. Lam would be good and has said we wants the Wales? job in the past so this would be a good step for him

Schmidt's record with Ireland is virtually identical to Jones' with England and he took over a far messier set up imo. 3 championships in 6 years, one slam, a tour win in Oz and multiple wins over NZ and SA. Schmidt never reached a world cup final but equally never finished bottom half of the 6n, definitely Jones' equal in modern rugby, I'd be afraid to see what he does with this England team, he would not accept bad discipline or bad decision making.

I don't think he's close to contention though because he genuinely seems disinterested in coaching having taken up the role with WR

 

[higgik]

I have always seen Ford as a 10/10 or 3/10 player. So often for Bath and Leicester, there is a highlight reel one week and a nightmare the next.
Going forward, there are 2 types of fly half we could use, the controller or the flair. Depending on what is decided, the the SH and the backline need to compliment them. At the moment there is a mismatch between the two styles.

 

[Geordie]

The 3 candidates for the 10 spot are:

Ford, J. Simmonds, M.Smith
i must admit i think Smith is a hell of a player and he most definitely should be in the squad.

 

[Crash Hamster]

Attempt at an AI team:

1. Marler
2 LCD
3 Sinckler

4 Itoje
5 Kruis or Launch

6 Curry
7 Underhill
8 Simmonds

9 Care (with JvP on the bench) or Spencer, or Randall, but someone with speed, the ability to take on defences and a flat pass
10 Smith

12 Lawrence
13 Slade

11 Cokanasiga
14 Watson
15 Steward

Power and/or pace everywhere.

 

[Geordie]

Do you think Eddie will send all the potentials on the USA tour..if it goes ahead...

So Dombrandt, Randall, Odogwu, Lawrence, Smith etc...an old school saxons team?
Tom West of Wasps etc playing very well.

Something like:
1 West / Obano / Genge - he's been very poor this 6n
2 Barbaery
3 Hayes
4 Joe Launchbury (C) - Experienced Captain whos missed alot of games
5 George Martin
6 Ted Hill
7 Ben Curry
8 Dombrandt

9 Randall
10 Smith / Simmonds
11 Radwan
12 Devoto
13 Lawrence
14 Odogwu / Cockasaniga - depending on his fitness and form.
15 Steward

 

[higgik]

Attempt at an AI team:

1. Marler
2 LCD
3 Sinckler

4 Itoje
5 Kruis or Launch

6 Curry
7 Underhill
8 Simmonds

9 Care (with JvP on the bench) or Spencer, or Randall, but someone with speed, the ability to take on defences and a flat pass
10 Smith

12 Lawrence
13 Slade

11 Cokanasiga
14 Watson
15 Steward

Power and/or pace everywhere.

This is one option with the playmakers at 10 and 13.
Balance in the back 4 forwards of central pod and wide runners.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

So those wanting a big change...what would your ideal starting 15 and bench be for the first game in the Autumn Internationals ?

(Baring in mind we'll have the Summer tour if it goes ahead for some players to get a run out)

1. Marler
2. LCD although a back to form George would be fine
3. Sinckler
4. Launchbury (c)
5. Kruis (our best lock.....pls pls let's see him back.....)
6. Underhill
7. Curry
8. Dombrandt
9. Robson
10. Ford
11. May. Maybe forlorn but I fervently hope Coka's flying by then.
12. Lawrence
13. Slade
14. Watson
15. Steward. Might be a big leap but I like what I'm seeing. Failing that Malins.

Genge (let's look at Obano in the summer)
George
Stuart
Itoje / Lawes
Simmonds / Earl
Youngs. For now. If Robson cuts it we can slowly introduce Randall from the bench later.
Smith
Daly for his versatility. Nowell / Coka / Manu being fit and firing will complicate matters. But I'm taking the safe option and assuming none of them will be.

2 new caps plus one on the bench (and they may all get some time in the summer).

No Mako. His scrummaging just isn't good enough. Time to move on.

Our real problems have been in the key decision making positions of 8, 9 and 10. I've gone for new blood at 8, promotion at 9 and an experienced hand at 10, but with the remit to play it as he sees it - there's no point in playing Ford or Smith in a team with a totally unambitious game plan.

No Binny - for all the obvious reasons

Youngs to bench. He can slow the game down / have freedom to snipe as required - he's quite capable of doing both and in a 20 minute cameo it should be clear to him what he needs to do.

No Farrell. I've been a long term fan, but am increasingly of the view that he's holding back the team. He's either a starter or not involved.

Daly's versatility just about gets him a bench spot.

 

[Wendigo7]

We need to bear in mind there's no guarantee that Eddie stays in his job right now.

 

[McTallshort]

We need to bear in mind there's no guarantee that Eddie stays in his job right now.

Bet we end up with Gatland

 

[ncurd]

Bet we end up with Gatland

Remember we only get three wishes, we've used our first two.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Bet we end up with Gatland

And I bet if we did, every time we play Wales in Cardiff he would make a point of the roof definitely being open.

 

[Wasps92]

Well - they will need to line someone up. They can't surely just settle on a coach for 4 years and not have a backup if things go wrong?

I can only assume Gatland, Schmidt, Lam are obvious candidates because they are.

Yes please.

 

[Wasps92]

Attempt at an AI team:

1. Marler
2 LCD
3 Sinckler

4 Itoje
5 Kruis or Launch

6 Curry
7 Underhill
8 Simmonds

9 Care (with JvP on the bench) or Spencer, or Randall, but someone with speed, the ability to take on defences and a flat pass
10 Smith

12 Lawrence
13 Slade

11 Cokanasiga
14 Watson
15 Steward

Power and/or pace everywhere.

We have a team littered with world class players and some very exciting young players coming through. JvP looks like he could be exceptional, also the young fella Quirke at Sale.

That is why it is so bloody frustrating watching the garbage we have for the past 2 months.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

As good as JvP (and Quirke ) look, they're both 19 - I think they should be with the u20s over the summer
Give Spencer/Robson/Randall/Mitchell the summer

 

[Rinkadink]

Yes please.

I already lothe the "custodians of the game" for stitching up Bristol by stealing Borthwick out of contract, if the RFU even approach Lam whilst he's under contract I would never forgive.

I hope PRL take more control of professional rugby in England because the RFU are a shambles when it comes to anything other than grassroots (debatable) and milking the Twickenham cash cow.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Feel like we may see Ackermann at some point in the Summer / Autumn ngl

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Feel like we may see Ackermann at some point in the Summer / Autumn ngl

When I hear Ackermann I keep thinking of Ron Burgundy...

 

[Stus7]

I already lothe the "custodians of the game" for stitching up Bristol by stealing Borthwick out of contract, if the RFU even approach Lam whilst he's under contract I would never forgive.

I hope PRL take more control of professional rugby in England because the RFU are a shambles when it comes to anything other than grassroots (debatable) and milking the Twickenham cash cow.

PRL don't exactly cover themselves in glory tho....

 

[Geordie]

I see the intrigue as to why Ford didnt come back on continues. Maybe he had a ****le and Jones didnt see the point risking it when the tournament and the game were effectively over.

Do people think thats it for Ford now...Smith to take pole position? I really hope its not Farrell moving back to 10...surely not.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Farrell to 10,
Umaga into the fold

Barf