[2023 Six Nations] England Squad

[Geordie]

I'm just not a huge fan of the idea of a Kelly-Slade pairing. I know that neither Kelly nor Slade are exactly slouches with ball in hand, but that's two centres who I would say are primarily distributors. The balance just looks off to me.

Kelly would be better off paired with Marchant, Daly, or if he was in the squad, Lawrence.

Im completely agree...and thats why i wanted Lawrence in the squad as at the moment hes playing better as a strike runner than Manu.

 

[Geordie]

I'd like to see a Mako/Slade combo in midfield. No cap.

Mako would make a decent 12 lol...he wouldnt need to scrummage.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

No wonder Wales exiled you

Surely the Welsh would be delighted to see that?

 

[Saintjay]

Surely the Welsh would be delighted to see that?

Or he'll get a Scotland call up in four years.

 

[Jimbo]

If picking on form you really can't ignore Daily he literally has it all, at Sarries he doesn't have the defensive frailties he has had at FB for England. Faz, Manu and Daily then switch things up but Christ give Smith a 12 oppositions have to think about, I rate Faz but he offers little in attack as a 12 and really handicaps FH and OC, it tiring not seeing Smith given the tools to perform internationally due to lacking a genuine 12.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

If picking on form you really can't ignore Daily he literally has it all, at Sarries he doesn't have the defensive frailties he has had at FB for England. Faz, Manu and Daily then switch things up but Christ give Smith a 12 oppositions have to think about, I rate Faz but he offers little in attack as a 12 and really handicaps FH and OC, it tiring not seeing Smith given the tools to perform internationally due to lacking a genuine 12.

Also tiring seeing people say Faz if holding Ford/Smiths hand at 12 as if they are useless and he is elevating them rather than he is handicapping them. Holding their hand so they are playing 1 handed would be more apt. Farrell is a 10 who can merely cover 12 if absolutely required.

 

[TommiG88]

Managed to get a ticket for the opener. Was also at Jones' first game in charge against the same opposition. Hope it's a good sign

 

[Welsh Exile]

I got a ticket for the Wales v England game. I'm doing dry January at the minute but I'm going to have to go into a serious alcohol training camp in the first few weeks of Feb to get my tolerance back up.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

If picking on form you really can't ignore Daily he literally has it all, at Sarries he doesn't have the defensive frailties he has had at FB for England. Faz, Manu and Daily then switch things up but Christ give Smith a 12 oppositions have to think about, I rate Faz but he offers little in attack as a 12 and really handicaps FH and OC, it tiring not seeing Smith given the tools to perform internationally due to lacking a genuine 12.

My problem with Daly is that every week he is playing a different position for Saracens. He never gets a run of games in one position. He goes from centre, to wing, to fullback and back to centre again. He hasn't proved that he is international standard in any one position.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

My problem with Daly is that every week he is playing a different position for Saracens. He never gets a run of games in one position. He goes from centre, to wing, to fullback and back to centre again. He hasn't proved that he is international standard in any one position.

Quite strongly disagree with this. I know that Daly's time at 15 really soured people's opinion of him but to say that he's never been international standard in any position is some serious revisionism.

I know that some people (myself included at times) thought that there were some small margins of his wing play that weren't quite up to scratch but the man played 3 Lions tests there and scored a lot of tries there for England. He wasn't perfect but he was absolutely international class. He's also only had limited games at 13 but I don't remember him ever letting us down there.

All of his bad games were at 15; a position that he was hardly ever playing at club level at the time. While I wouldn't consider him to be a starting option there, now that he's playing there pretty regularly for Saracens I wouldn't be particularly worried about him being our bench/on-field cover for the position.

Personally, I wouldn't start him. He's a 23 option or a starting wing/centre option if there are injuries. But to say he hasn't proven to be international class in any position is just incorrect.

 

[Noonz]

Quite strongly disagree with this. I know that Daly's time at 15 really soured people's opinion of him but to say that he's never been international standard in any position is some serious revisionism.

I know that some people (myself included at times) thought that there were some small margins of his wing play that weren't quite up to scratch but the man played 3 Lions tests there and scored a lot of tries there for England. He wasn't perfect but he was absolutely international class. He's also only had limited games at 13 but I don't remember him ever letting us down there.

All of his bad games were at 15; a position that he was hardly ever playing at club level at the time. While I wouldn't consider him to be a starting option there, now that he's playing there pretty regularly for Saracens I wouldn't be particularly worried about him being our bench/on-field cover for the position.

Personally, I wouldn't start him. He's a 23 option or a starting wing/centre option if there are injuries. But to say he hasn't proven to be international class in any position is just incorrect.

Totally agree with this and makes me wonder why Daly AND Malins were picked. Both can play wing and fullback but then both can cover another position if needed (Daly at center and Malins at FH).

With Slade also able to provide FH cover it just seems like one of Daly or Malins could have been picked and another back (Ollie Lawrence for example).

 

[Saintjay]

Isn't Daly a 13? And this is his preferred position?

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Isn't Daly a 13? And this is his preferred position?

Certainly his best position. I would start him over Slade at the moment but I like both.

I'd prefer him over Malins to cover wing, but vice versa at FB.

 

[Jimbo]

Isn't Daly a 13? And this is his preferred position?

At academy level and breaking into Wasps he was sensational there and was excellent at Wasps peak then got international recognition and looked pretty good for a time (already mentioned but lions selections) then Wasps went rather down hill and him playing in unaccustomed position and making mistakes lead to what appeared to be a real lack of confidence and went down hill. Now he appears to have his confidence back he should be given game time, he also appeared to lose some pace but looked pretty rapid recently, I think the only a number thing could be applicable put him at FB during England possession he can use his distribution skills, pace for a break or well placed kick, with Stewart in the Winger roll, then when not in possession and rock solidity is required at the back switch with Stewart who we all rate extremely highly there.

 

[BPM]

Quite strongly disagree with this. I know that Daly's time at 15 really soured people's opinion of him but to say that he's never been international standard in any position is some serious revisionism.

I know that some people (myself included at times) thought that there were some small margins of his wing play that weren't quite up to scratch but the man played 3 Lions tests there and scored a lot of tries there for England. He wasn't perfect but he was absolutely international class. He's also only had limited games at 13 but I don't remember him ever letting us down there.

All of his bad games were at 15; a position that he was hardly ever playing at club level at the time. While I wouldn't consider him to be a starting option there, now that he's playing there pretty regularly for Saracens I wouldn't be particularly worried about him being our bench/on-field cover for the position.

Personally, I wouldn't start him. He's a 23 option or a starting wing/centre option if there are injuries. But to say he hasn't proven to be international class in any position is just incorrect.

Yep. I agree with this too. He's definitely a test player, just not a test 15.

That said. his time at 15 wasn't a complete and utter failure. He was typically very good going forward and actually had some good games. Unfortunately, he just got exposed defensively far too often and the 'experiment' was given way too much time. IMO Eddie's perseverance when it clearly wasn't working was the biggest problem. We'll never know, but I wouldn't mind betting Daly knew it wasn't right and that can't have helped his confidence.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Would playing Daly at 13 with Farrell at 12 be better than Slade with though?

 

[Which Tyler]

Would playing Daly at 13 with Farrell at 12 be better than Slade with though?

Probably.
Daly at 13 is more in the Joseph mold (without the defence) which worked well - he's a very good runner, who can distribute, as opposed to Slade who's a very good distributor who can run.
Ball in hand, Daly will attract more of the defender's attention onto himself, whilst Slade keeps defenders thinking about where the ball is going next.

FH, Farrell, Slade is too much distribution, not enough running
FH, Farrell, Joseph has been proven to work, and the same balance could be achieved with Daly

Personally though, I'm yet to be convinced by Daly's defence - he may not be a turnstile anymore, but he's no lynchpin, and he's given me a lot of bad memories I need to forget first.

 

[Scotty]

After all thats happened i think if he puts Faz starting at 12 in the first game ill go mad!
12 13 22 23, id go
Kelly/Marchant Smith/Daly or Slade
Kelly/Slade, Smith Daly
Manu/Slade, Smith Daly
Manu/Slade, Smith Daly
Manu/Marchant, Smith Slade or Daly

I think Daly is best at 23, great cover, quick and can make an impact, i just want the form 10 in the prem at 10 and then Marcus Smith at 22 to make an impact and change the game,

9, id say JVP to start but then do we want him to come one with Smith and speed up the game, will Mitchell get a shot?

Also Mitchell Smith? 2 running half backs would they compliment each other or but to similar?

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

BBC website says Courtney Lawes went off after 29 mins today. Does anybody know why?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

BBC website says Courtney Lawes went off after 29 mins today. Does anybody know why?

Ankle injury, according to twitter

Don't like to see anyone injured but I mentioned earlier that I don't think he should be playing in this 6N