England 2021/22

[will311293]

Alo has looked good recently tbf, definitely a good shout

West looks, to me, to have regressed massively since his latest injury, but I don't watch Wasps all that much so will bow to greater knowledge

WGC a good shout too - didn't he train with the EPS recently?

So Alo has come on leaps and bounds recently. He's big and carries well but he's also fit, as in he's making covering tackles he shouldn't make. Scrummaging he's always been solid at and 20st 2lbs hes shed 3 stone ish but still a big boy.

West is coming back to form but you are right, he's still getting back to where he was when called into EPS. WGC seems logical for me if Genge can't play... bar that not many around who can do loosehead.

Also if we can't pick those who are likely to be out there are a few i'd imagine would play from Wasps at least or get a look in... Dan Robson, Dan Frost, Elliott Stooke, Josh Bassett (EJ says he like how he trains and plays). Surely also players such as Ludlham, Singleton, Atkinson, Thorley, Simmonds, OHC, Radwan, Ollie Lawrence, Ted Hill, Kyle Hatherall, Ben Curry etc must all come into contention for a one off game.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Well really tightheads
Heyes
Collier
Balmain
Hill

One should be available for barbarians

WGC, Rodd
Stuart, one of the above

Is Davidson injured?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Doubt there'll be many backrowers called up considering the sides in contention for playoffs

Looking at the squad you can sort of piece together the side EJ is looking at for Barbarians

1. Rodd
2. McGuigan
3. Stuart
4. Launchbury
5. Ewels
6. Willis
7. Ludlam/Underhill
8. Barbeary
9. Randall
10. Bailey
11. Freeman
12. Dingwall
13. Joseph
14. Joe C
15. Furbank

16. Blamire
17. (New player)
18. (New player)
19. (New player)
20. Pearson
21. Mitchell
22. (New player, or maybe 6-2)
23. Arundell


I doubt Lawes will be involved - I'd be a little surprised if Ewels is tbh, as EJ loves him so much

 

[Jakedood]

Doubt there'll be many backrowers called up considering the sides in contention for playoffs

Looking at the squad you can sort of piece together the side EJ is looking at for Barbarians

1. Rodd
2. McGuigan
3. Stuart
4. Launchbury
5. Ewels
6. Willis
7. Ludlam/Underhill
8. Barbeary
9. Randall
10. Bailey
11. Freeman
12. Dingwall
13. Joseph
14. Joe C
15. Furbank

16. Blamire
17. (New player)
18. (New player)
19. (New player)
20. Pearson
21. Mitchell
22. (New player, or maybe 6-2)
23. Arundell


I doubt Lawes will be involved - I'd be a little surprised if Ewels is tbh, as EJ loves him so much

Do you think it'll be full experiment?
I think there may be combinations tried for sure, but I think he may be looking to have a real set squad from November onwards, meaning all 4 games are fairly vital for boys to stick their hands up

 

[Geordie]

He could bring in Trevor Davison to cover the Baa Baas...hes been in the squad and knows the system...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Do you think it'll be full experiment?
I think there may be combinations tried for sure, but I think he may be looking to have a real set squad from November onwards, meaning all 4 games are fairly vital for boys to stick their hands up

I think it'll be more experimental than EJ would've wanted due to the sides in the top 4

From the 6N squad he'll be without:
Genge, Marler, Mako
LCD, George
Heyes
Itoje, Isiekwe, Hill
Chessum, Dombrandt

Farrell, Malins, Marchant, Nowell, Quirke, Smith, Steward, Youngs

That's 19 players without taking into account who qualifies in 4th place (i.e. Simmonds and Slade if Chiefs are 4th)



Edit:
I'm talking specifically about the Barbarians game rather than the tour as a whole - I don't think there'll be tooooooo much change from the Six Nations squad for the tour down under, there's a few injuries that'll need replacing and then maybe some bit part players get swapped for younger models, but nothing wholesale

 

[BPM]

Doubt there'll be many backrowers called up considering the sides in contention for playoffs

Looking at the squad you can sort of piece together the side EJ is looking at for Barbarians

1. Rodd
2. McGuigan
3. Stuart
4. Launchbury
5. Ewels
6. Willis
7. Ludlam/Underhill
8. Barbeary
9. Randall
10. Bailey
11. Freeman
12. Dingwall
13. Joseph
14. Joe C
15. Furbank

16. Blamire
17. (New player)
18. (New player)
19. (New player)
20. Pearson
21. Mitchell
22. (New player, or maybe 6-2)
23. Arundell


I doubt Lawes will be involved - I'd be a little surprised if Ewels is tbh, as EJ loves him so much

Yeah. Although, if the top 4 stays as it is, Dingwall, Furbank and Mitchell are potentially unavailable for the Barbarians game too.

Atkinson probably in at 12 and maybe Robson in at 9/21?

Agree on the Alo suggestion. He's been quietly impressive and is one of the most improved players in the league IMO.

Loosehead wise, WGC and Elrington have been recent call ups who would likely be available.

 

[Reiser99]

Tbh I'm very meh about this squad as I still think the main issue is with Jones.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Must keep reminding myself that it's only a training squad.

Couldn't give 2 hoots on Baa Baas. In Aus we should play the strongest team possible - the time for experiments should be over and we need to start getting a winning culture back. Feed newbies from bench where feasible.

On this squad.

Would pay to watch Curry, Willis and Underhill going at it. Some points to prove - my £10 says at least one of them likely to get broken.

No Isiekwe.

The wrong Vunipola on form.

The wrong Wasps 8 in my book. Columnists in both the Times (OK it was S Jones…) and Guardian over the past few days have suggested that Barbeary may come to regret moving out of the front row. Nice political neutrality which I merely report without comment.

I get why he wants to keep big Joe engaged but from what I've seen he has a lot to sort out before being near any squad. Let the guy go away and get fitness and form.

Youngs presumably not there by agreement.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

A few hits and misses although again it feels like he has left it all about a year too late and waited for thing to go really ***s up before reacting rather than pre-empting changes. For a coach who wants a side that is "adaptive" and played "heads up rugby" his coaching is extremely rigid and not heads up at all.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Can't read too much into it but 6 barf players is surely 6 too many. But then Eddie redeems himself by not selecting any Gloucester players.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I understand 6 bath tbh
Underhill - Class when fit
Stuart - not like we have a lot of tightheads pushing
Ewels - Ergh but predictable Eddie likes him
Watson - test his fitness world class when fit
Joe C - test his fitness, brings different point of difference when fully fit
Bailey - Feel to be a bit lucky over Finn Smith but good prospect

 

[Geordie]

The wrong Wasps 8 in my book. Columnists in both the Times (OK it was S Jones…) and Guardian over the past few days have suggested that Barbeary may come to regret moving out of the front row. Nice political neutrality which I merely report without comment.

Ive thought that aswell. Fix his technical aspects at hooker and he could be sublime. Whilst LCD and George are out in front (although i think McGuigan is as good as them, i may be biased) he doesnt have much competition there...and the ones who do have work to do...ie Blamire with his throwing.

However he chosen to go in the back row which has competition. Even at 8, Tom Willis and Dombrandt are the two out in front for me, and as i mentioned previously Dombrandt has shown he can more than match the required dirty work in the tight, by getting turn overs and all sorts. Hes not just the highlights player people think he is.

I harp on, but im a huge fan of Ted HIll and moving permanently to 8 and under the guidance of Diamond could be a very interesting one also....

6 Jack Willis
7 Curry (Underhill)
8 Dombrandt (T.Willis)

Now i could handle that running out in Oz.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Did he choose to move to backrow or was he moved to backrow?

Think it's weird that people still talk about him as a hooker when he's played there less than 5 times at senior level - and that was 3-4 years ago

There was obviously a reason for his move considering, when it happened, Wasps had a real shortage of hookers and lots of backrowers

 

[Scotty]

Ive thought that aswell. Fix his technical aspects at hooker and he could be sublime. Whilst LCD and George are out in front (although i think McGuigan is as good as them, i may be biased) he doesnt have much competition there...and the ones who do have work to do...ie Blamire with his throwing.

However he chosen to go in the back row which has competition. Even at 8, Tom Willis and Dombrandt are the two out in front for me, and as i mentioned previously Dombrandt has shown he can more than match the required dirty work in the tight, by getting turn overs and all sorts. Hes not just the highlights player people think he is.

I harp on, but im a huge fan of Ted HIll and moving permanently to 8 and under the guidance of Diamond could be a very interesting one also....

6 Jack Willis
7 Curry (Underhill)
8 Dombrandt (T.Willis)

Now i could handle that running out in Oz.

I agree on Barbeary, good carrier, big lad would add alot to the scrum from the front row and having a carrier like him in the front row allows the back row to be more technical. Yes he has work ons but he is still pretty young, and could definitely get to the required level. Unless he doesnt want to be there?

 

[BPM]

At the time Barbeary's full time move to the back row was announced, Lee Blackett definitely said it was at the players request.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Obviously **** at hooker then, no point bemoaning what could have been if club and player both know he wasn't up to standard (as evidenced by him not playing there since 18/19 even during injuries crises)

Should we be bemoaning Sinckler not sticking at 10?
Imagine a 20 stone flyhalf taking the ball to the line!

 

[Which Tyler]

Bailey - Feel to be a bit lucky over Finn Smith but good prospect

Worth noting - can also play 12 & 15

I'd have FSmith ahead of him at 10 - though not by a huge margin (and give it 2-3 years, and I've no clue); but Eddie does like versatility (as do all RWC coaches TBH)
I'd also have Ford well ahead of either of them; but Eddie only sees enough room for 1 specialist FH; and if that's Marcus, meaning the Ford drops out, Finn doesn't stand a chance.

 

[Geordie]

Obviously **** at hooker then, no point bemoaning what could have been if club and player both know he wasn't up to standard (as evidenced by him not playing there since 18/19 even during injuries crises)

Should we be bemoaning Sinckler not sticking at 10?
Imagine a 20 stone flyhalf taking the ball to the line!

Recently hes been playing like a fly half playing at prop!

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

At the time Barbeary's full time move to the back row was announced, Lee Blackett definitely said it was at the players request.

Part of what was said publicly was that he wanted to get his hands on the ball more often.

If he either can't, or really doesn't want to, play in the front row then it's all moot. But being honest if he stays in the back row I struggle to see him being more than a bit part player internationally. For all his attributes in carrying, offloading and being decent over the ball, there are already other 8s with more rounded skill sets and more will be along.