It's not really soley on merit though, the back line is relatively light weight and lacks punch and any one to run direct, if bringing in Manu was disrupting a successful settled centre partnership I would agree but it isn't him just having a solid game is equal if not better than what we have there most of the time.
that's what I thought you were saying, but then you mention Sheilds, both his parents were borne in England.
Jones has probably just had an update that Farrell's managed to jog a lap of the pitch in training….
That wasps team played a very attacking, broken field, off the cuff brand of rugby though which is the complete opposite to how EJ likes to play. He's a brilliant 13 in the right team, but I'm not sure this current England set up is the right type of team.
I'd love to see Simmonds at 12 but I don't want to see England being the ones to try that experiment. Let him have a run out there are club level and if it works there, then bring him in. Lawes at 6 for England was pretty poor but after spending time there at his club, he improved a lot.
I don't see this as much of an issue. Think Nowell's aerial ability is a very underrated part of his game, and while I can't say I know much about how good Malins is in that regard you'd think that since he's primarily a fullback then he'll be fine.
As an England fan I am pleased not to see LRZ in the Team, much like May did against France a few seasons ago he is capable of a couple of scores out of nowhere he has looked pretty average but doesn't need much of an invitation to score sometimes that's all it takes to spark a team.
Is there a lack of options though, outside of Manu there are none world class but you have Atkinson, O'Connor, Devoto, I don't see any of those as instantly a downgrade of recent options outside of Manu.
