Australia vs England - 3 Tests - June 2016

[g6mcg]

In his defence he did play full back until a few years ago. So he's had an equivalent amount of senior rugby, but missed out on up to ten years of junior scrummaging compared to his peers.

Think he always propped, but was sometimes moved around by club to challenge him (and because he wanted hands on the ball more).

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Damn stupid thing having these playoffs. Only reason is to further milk money out of the fans. Tuilagi is out and Farrell is a doubt. And what will probably happen Saracens will win the final, having topped the league already.

 

[Tony Manx]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2016/05/22/manu-tuilagi-will-miss-englands-tour-of-australia/

 

[Which Tyler]

Damn stupid thing having these playoffs. Only reason is to further milk money out of the fans. Tuilagi is out and Farrell is a doubt. And what will probably happen Saracens will win the final, having topped the league already.

They've always been a silly money-making exercise.
I don't mind there being a final to celebrate the end of the season; but the league champions should still be the ones who win the league; and I see no need whatsoever for semi-finals.
I've personally always favoured the option of just having a final, handicapping the team who won the league by converting any league points advantage to match points ahead of KO. This year, that would mean Saracens taking on Exeter; with a 6 point head-start.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

But isn't this his....3rd? 4th? year of senior rugby?
Guys like Tomas Francis, Kieran Brookes, Scott Wilson, even 21yr old Paul Hill, don't suffer from this.

Is he the tighthead version of Andrew Sheridan? People are willing to overlook his scrummaging deficiencies because sometimes he can brute force his way clean through the opposition and his work away from the scrum is very powerful?

In his defence he did play full back until a few years ago. So he's had an equivalent amount of senior rugby, but missed out on up to ten years of junior scrummaging compared to his peers.

Besides, you can coach scrum trickery eventually, but you can't coach naturally weighing 19 stone.

 

[ratsapprentice]

But isn't this his....3rd? 4th? year of senior rugby?
Guys like Tomas Francis, Kieran Brookes, Scott Wilson, even 21yr old Paul Hill, don't suffer from this.

Eh?

I'm saying I don't know if any of the Quins front rowers have a top quality scrummaging coach.

There are aspects of his scrummaging which are better than any English prop IMO - I'm not saying he's just strong, he is, but he's also technically excellent in terms of his height.
He's nowhere near Henry Thomas at his worst.

Also, I'm fairly sure he's been a front-rower since he was 13 or so.

 

[g6mcg]

According to a colleague, he's always been a prop but used to move himself to fly half during games at school as he got frustrated with his teammates. Used to knock over drop goals from the half way line!

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Eh?

I'm saying I don't know if any of the Quins front rowers have a top quality scrummaging coach.

There are aspects of his scrummaging which are better than any English prop IMO - I'm not saying he's just strong, he is, but he's also technically excellent in terms of his height.
He's nowhere near Henry Thomas at his worst.

Also, I'm fairly sure he's been a front-rower since he was 13 or so.

That's a little longer than I'd thought, but I'm sure you'll be right. That shouldn't make too much of difference then, 'pologies for conjecture.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Eh?

I'm saying I don't know if any of the Quins front rowers have a top quality scrummaging coach.

Ah, I misunderstood - I thought you meant that he just needed more time in a pro environment rather than Quins have no real coach.




I missed that bit about wingers above. Why is Roko not being selected?! Absolutely mental, that is.
He's been one of the best wingers in the premiership this season, and so consistent. How can they pick Yarde over him?

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

I missed that bit about wingers above. Why is Roko not being selected?! Absolutely mental, that is.
He's been one of the best wingers in the premiership this season, and so consistent. How can they pick Yarde over him?

Age maybe?

Actually, having checked, he's only 28, less than Haskell, Robshaw, Hartley, Brown, etc.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Age maybe?

Actually, having checked, he's only 28, less than Haskell, Robshaw, Hartley, Brown, etc.

Guess the difference is that they are all experienced internationals. similar reason why Pennell will never play for England again IMO.

 

[Peat]

Squad named

Age maybe?

Actually, having checked, he's only 28, less than Haskell, Robshaw, Hartley, Brown, etc.

They came part of the team though.

I'd love to hear Lancaster & Jones being honest about why no Roko. There's clearly something but what...

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Told you Eddie would love Genge told you.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Are we expecting Manu to be replaced by someone?

I'd like to think Robson would come in if he is.

Genge is a surprise, if only because he's barely played.

I think I can see what Kvesic needs to do now.... be much more physically aggressive, judging by the forwards Jones has been picking.

I'm pretty happy with that, for the most part. Some back row grievances aside.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I expect Manu to be replace by Hill

 

[Peat]

Burrell and Devoto are in the Wales squad, not Hill.

Does seem odd that he's named two guys who rumouredly will miss out on the tour.

Only two scrum-halves strikes me as something of a risk too.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Waller must be ****** TBF and rightly so mind. and agree fully about Kvesic and what eddie wants he wants the meaness team by the looks of it.

England senior 26-man squad for Old Mutual Wealth Cup against Wales

Forwards
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Teimana Harrison (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Paul Hill (Northampton Saints)
Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Matt Mullan (Wasps)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Tommy Taylor (Wasps)

Backs
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Manu Tuilagi (Leciester Tigers)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

- - - Updated - - -

Burrell and Devoto are in the Wales squad, not Hill.

Does seem odd that he's named two guys who rumouredly will miss out on the tour.

Only two scrum-halves strikes me as something of a risk too.

You know Hill is with Exeter.

 

[Toby Sweeney]

Farrell down on training list for Saracens this week, not listed as injured so will be fit to play the premiership final and tour with England.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Just on Genge and Sinckler....

People often harp on about forwards needing to be able to complete their "core skills" as if that only refers to set-peice... having a player who can only compete at the set-peice and offers nothing around the park is just as bad as the reverse.
There is no point in trying to play any sort of attacking rugby (aka "Rugby") if your forwards (or any player, for that matter) are roadblocks who don't understand when and where to pass to, and/or they don't have the requisite skills to do so.
The same can be said for physicality, if you are 120kg you should carry and tackle like it.

 

[TommiG88]

How George Ford is still getting picked is a joke. A retiring Charlie Hodgson has been better than him this year.