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England 2021/22

Crash Hamster said:
Not that he's getting international selection any time soon, but [that bloke who was arrested for rape and no-one can name him] will apparently face no police action, though apparently [that club that no-once can name either] aren't renewing his contract.

Seems being so innocent that there's no case to answer comes at a high price.
Click to expand...
You would think that
any one with a
rugby brain could figure out who this
disgraced rugby player is
even without being named by us.

See what I did there ;)
 
So for me my guess of the RWC squad just under 12 months out
1. Genge, Mako - Should be Marler but IDK I think he's shot himself in the foot the last 6 months of so.
2. George, LCD, Dolly - Call me Crazy but I reckon Eddie prefered 3rd choice hooker will be Dolly it should be McGugian
3. Sinckler, Stuart, Heyes - Toss up between Marler or Heyes in terms of squad numbers but Sinckler has had a bit of a recent injury worry.
4. Itoje, Chessum
5. Hill. Ewels - Should be Isiekwe
6. Lawes,
7. Curry, Ludlam - Underhill IMO won't be fit for the RWC
8. Vunipola, Earl - Eddie will turn to Earl for versatility
9. JVP, Quirke, Youngs - Eddie likes his 9 experience hence Youngs (Shouldn't be)
10. Smith
11. Nowell, Malins
12. Farrell, Kelly
13. Manu (Eye roll), Slade
14. Watson (IF fit obviously), Marchant
15. Steward

My squad would have
Marler for Heyes
McGuigan for Dolly
Isiewke for Ewels
Uren for Youngs
Freeman for Malins


Plus point to this tour we should be able to call up any player if injuries happen with it only being in France.
 
LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan) said:
Call me Crazy but I reckon Eddie prefered 3rd choice hooker will be Dolly
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Don't think that's too left field tbh - Blamire looks to have slipped down the pecking order this summer and if Dolly comes back from injury and continues where he left off then EJ will probably select him as he picked him before when he'd barely played 10 prem games (if that?)

Think you're a little low on numbers, though - 30 but squads are 33 now
So chuck in Marler (or Rodd - though he'd need a big season to justify it), Isiekwe, and an extra back 3 player (probably Furbank or Big Joe but hopefully Freeman or Radwan or Hassell-Collins or etc.etc.)
 
LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan) said:
So for me my guess of the RWC squad just under 12 months out
1. Genge, Mako - Should be Marler but IDK I think he's shot himself in the foot the last 6 months of so.
2. George, LCD, Dolly - Call me Crazy but I reckon Eddie prefered 3rd choice hooker will be Dolly it should be McGugian
3. Sinckler, Stuart, Heyes - Toss up between Marler or Heyes in terms of squad numbers but Sinckler has had a bit of a recent injury worry.
4. Itoje, Chessum
5. Hill. Ewels - Should be Isiekwe
6. Lawes,
7. Curry, Ludlam - Underhill IMO won't be fit for the RWC
8. Vunipola, Earl - Eddie will turn to Earl for versatility
9. JVP, Quirke, Youngs - Eddie likes his 9 experience hence Youngs (Shouldn't be)
10. Smith
11. Nowell, Malins
12. Farrell, Kelly
13. Manu (Eye roll), Slade
14. Watson (IF fit obviously), Marchant
15. Steward

My squad would have
Marler for Heyes
McGuigan for Dolly
Isiewke for Ewels
Uren for Youngs
Freeman for Malins


Plus point to this tour we should be able to call up any player if injuries happen with it only being in France.
Click to expand...
What about Dombrandt? Wont it be Billy Dombrandt.
 
Scotty said:
What about Dombrandt? Wont it be Billy Dombrandt.
Click to expand...
Lack of versatility will count against him if Billy is back permanently - with limited numbers having two specialists might be seen as a luxury we can't afford

I think it'll be Simmonds rather than Earl, but either make sense as they cover the whole backrow
 
Posted this on another forum last week:

Following the tour, I think we're getting pretty close to the World Cup squad.

The tour answered a few important questions:

Stuart had a good run of games and has shown that he's a viable second choice/potential starter.

JvP showed the quality and cojones to suggest he's a very serious contender at 9.

Chessum built upon his cameos and looked very much at home as a starter.

Hill (silly ******** aside) had a very decent tour and looks like first choice to partner Itoje.

Freeman looks like a very handy addition to the back three options.

If I were picking it today, I'd go with:

1. Genge / Marler / M. Vunipola
2. George / Cowan-Dickie / Walker
3. Sinckler / Stuart / Heyes
4. Itoje / Chessum
5. Hill / Isiekwe
6. Lawes / Willis
7. Curry / Underhill
8. B. Vunipola / Dombrandt
9. Youngs / Quirke / van Poortvliet
10. Smith / Ford
11. May / Freeman
12. Farrell / Slade
13. Tuilagi / Marchant
14. Watson / Nowell
15. Steward / Arundell

Unlucky to miss out: Rodd, Earl, Simmonds, Malins

IMO biggest areas of potential flux are third choice hooker, number 8, centre and the back three.

I've gone with Walker for now. I'd prefer McGuigan, but that looks unlikely. Blamire has talent but unless he's starting more games, I think it's Walker's spot to lose, but I think Langdon's move to Worcester could put him in a good position to challenge. Singleton might also benefit if Gloucester have another good season.

8 is a funny one … now Billy is back, he's going to be very hard to dislodge. There's no news on Dombrandt's knee injury, but as long as it's not too serious, he's probably next cab off the rank. The dark horse IMO is Mercer. If he has another good season in France signs a contract with a Premiership club, I can definitely see him leapfrogging Dombrandt.

Centre has been done to death. I just hope Marchant being dropped is temporary. Tuilagi and Slade are the obvious two to return fitness permitting. Will Joseph has obviously impressed in training, but he needs the chance with Irish to really challenge. I said before the tour that Porter was lucky to be included and he showed nothing in the past couple of weeks to suggest that was an unfair assessment. Back up at best IMO.

Back three is completely open. In theory, May and Watson are in provided that they are fit and their injuries haven't taken too much of a toll. Nowell is an Eddie favourite and aside from one poor decision which saw him bundled in to touch, I thought he had a good tour. Sure he's not the most deadly wing in test rugby, but he brings a lot of good qualities that shouldn't be overlooked. Freeman has played his way in to contention with two very good showings. He's stolen a march on Cokanasiga, Radwan, Hassell-Collins and Lynagh who have limited opportunities now to make a case. If Arundell can continue to kick on this season, I'd say he's taken the maverick spot Radwan would have been chasing and could cement the role of impact sub in the 23 shirt.

Come at me …
 
LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan) said:
So for me my guess of the RWC squad just under 12 months out
1. Genge, Mako - Should be Marler but IDK I think he's shot himself in the foot the last 6 months of so.
2. George, LCD, Dolly - Call me Crazy but I reckon Eddie prefered 3rd choice hooker will be Dolly it should be McGugian
3. Sinckler, Stuart, Heyes - Toss up between Marler or Heyes in terms of squad numbers but Sinckler has had a bit of a recent injury worry.
4. Itoje, Chessum
5. Hill. Ewels - Should be Isiekwe
6. Lawes,
7. Curry, Ludlam - Underhill IMO won't be fit for the RWC
8. Vunipola, Earl - Eddie will turn to Earl for versatility
9. JVP, Quirke, Youngs - Eddie likes his 9 experience hence Youngs (Shouldn't be)
10. Smith
11. Nowell, Malins
12. Farrell, Kelly
13. Manu (Eye roll), Slade
14. Watson (IF fit obviously), Marchant
15. Steward

My squad would have
Marler for Heyes
McGuigan for Dolly
Isiewke for Ewels
Uren for Youngs
Freeman for Malins


Plus point to this tour we should be able to call up any player if injuries happen with it only being in France.
Click to expand...
What's Marler done to 'shoot himself in the foot'? He was always highly unlikely to tour Australia and the RWC squads can now have an extra front row player so there's no need to compromise on someone who can supposedly play both sides.

Dolly and Ewels both have serious knee injuries and not too much time to recover. While they're missing, other players have time to establish themselves. If Chessum and Isiekwe get opportunities and go well in the AIs and 6N, I don't see Ewels getting back in. I don't disagree that Dolly is probably Eddie's preference, but based upon similar injuries like Obano's, Willis' or even worse Polledri's, he'll do well to be playing in a year. Like you, McGuigan would be my preference, but not making the Australia tour suggests that's very unlikely.
 
TBH I'd absolutely love to see what Mercer could deliver in the England setup. I think the usual criticisms of him being too small have been shown to be nonsense by his time in France, which has some of the biggest packs in the world. I vaguely recall seeing an article in which Mercer essentially said Jones stubborn refusal to show any interest in him in the England setup and as usual just spewing a load of **** about players that weren't his favourites played a significant role in his choice to go abroad rather than stay in England.
 
BPM said:
What's Marler done to 'shoot himself in the foot'? He was always highly unlikely to tour Australia
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I think you've answered your own question tbh. Marler choosing to stay home with the family/for his mental health is admirable and shouldn't be discouraged but at the same time I don't think he can expect to just come and go as he pleases. If Vunipola and Rodd are willing to fully commit to the England squad and Marler isn't then they should get the nod. That's how he's 'shot himself in the foot'.
 
The obvious counter to that though, is that he's a better LHP than them; and therefore should be picked if available (caveat - unless he's likely to make himself unavailable for France23).

Oherwise, the person shooting themself in the foot, is Eddie for not selecting the best available.
 
Pieter Steph du Teague said:
I think you've answered your own question tbh. Marler choosing to stay home with the family/for his mental health is admirable and shouldn't be discouraged but at the same time I don't think he can expect to just come and go as he pleases. If Vunipola and Rodd are willing to fully commit to the England squad and Marler isn't then they should get the nod. That's how he's 'shot himself in the foot'.
Click to expand...
Possibly. But that completely depends on the conversations around it. I don't necessarily think it's a case of Joe expecting to 'come and go as he pleases'. My impression is that he and Eddie have a pretty good understanding. I could be wrong, but I suspect Eddie knew Joe wouldn't want to spend an extended period on tour in Australia and so planned to bring Rodd (who would benefit more from the experience) anyway.

Eddie knows exactly what Marler brings and a few more caps isn't really going to add to that. As long as he's there when he's needed, then it's Eddie's choice to make. To @Which Tyler's point, if he's playing well and is available, why wouldn't you pick him? Equally, if others are performing better and get the nod, that's fair enough.
 
BPM said:
Posted this on another forum last week:

Following the tour, I think we're getting pretty close to the World Cup squad.

The tour answered a few important questions:

Stuart had a good run of games and has shown that he's a viable second choice/potential starter.

JvP showed the quality and cojones to suggest he's a very serious contender at 9.

Chessum built upon his cameos and looked very much at home as a starter.

Hill (silly ******** aside) had a very decent tour and looks like first choice to partner Itoje.

Freeman looks like a very handy addition to the back three options.

If I were picking it today, I'd go with:

1. Genge / Marler / M. Vunipola
2. George / Cowan-Dickie / Walker
3. Sinckler / Stuart / Heyes
4. Itoje / Chessum
5. Hill / Isiekwe
6. Lawes / Willis
7. Curry / Underhill
8. B. Vunipola / Dombrandt
9. Youngs / Quirke / van Poortvliet
10. Smith / Ford
11. May / Freeman
12. Farrell / Slade
13. Tuilagi / Marchant
14. Watson / Nowell
15. Steward / Arundell

Unlucky to miss out: Rodd, Earl, Simmonds, Malins

IMO biggest areas of potential flux are third choice hooker, number 8, centre and the back three.

I've gone with Walker for now. I'd prefer McGuigan, but that looks unlikely. Blamire has talent but unless he's starting more games, I think it's Walker's spot to lose, but I think Langdon's move to Worcester could put him in a good position to challenge. Singleton might also benefit if Gloucester have another good season.

8 is a funny one … now Billy is back, he's going to be very hard to dislodge. There's no news on Dombrandt's knee injury, but as long as it's not too serious, he's probably next cab off the rank. The dark horse IMO is Mercer. If he has another good season in France signs a contract with a Premiership club, I can definitely see him leapfrogging Dombrandt.

Centre has been done to death. I just hope Marchant being dropped is temporary. Tuilagi and Slade are the obvious two to return fitness permitting. Will Joseph has obviously impressed in training, but he needs the chance with Irish to really challenge. I said before the tour that Porter was lucky to be included and he showed nothing in the past couple of weeks to suggest that was an unfair assessment. Back up at best IMO.

Back three is completely open. In theory, May and Watson are in provided that they are fit and their injuries haven't taken too much of a toll. Nowell is an Eddie favourite and aside from one poor decision which saw him bundled in to touch, I thought he had a good tour. Sure he's not the most deadly wing in test rugby, but he brings a lot of good qualities that shouldn't be overlooked. Freeman has played his way in to contention with two very good showings. He's stolen a march on Cokanasiga, Radwan, Hassell-Collins and Lynagh who have limited opportunities now to make a case. If Arundell can continue to kick on this season, I'd say he's taken the maverick spot Radwan would have been chasing and could cement the role of impact sub in the 23 shirt.

Come at me …
Click to expand...
Overall class squad and I would only make one change. Firstly you've named 34 men squad and it's 33 going to the World Cup so I would only take two scrum half's like we did in Japan plus France is alot easier to send a player to than Japan. So my change would be is Ludlum for Wills but may be underhill if his injury record continues. Lastly I can't see him taking Ford over another centre even though I would so I could see Porter making it but Kelly is a better player for me or maybe even daly will get back in but overall agree with 99% of your squad.
 
Good spot. I thought I'd picked 33, but you are right. If I was going to cut one, it'd probably be a back three player (most likely Nowell), given Marchant can cover wing if needed.

I agree with you on Kelly. It was a huge shame he got injured as I think he would have toured instead of Porter.

Porter will either be one of those Eddie picks who no-one really gets or will just be forgotten about when others are available. Based upon what I saw from him, I wouldn't be overly disappointed if it's the latter.
 
Which Tyler said:
The obvious counter to that though, is that he's a better LHP than them; and therefore should be picked if available (caveat - unless he's likely to make himself unavailable for France23).

Oherwise, the person shooting themself in the foot, is Eddie for not selecting the best available.
Click to expand...

On current form he's not a better LH than Genge, and Last season I would say he's on par with Mako.
 

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