England 2021/22

[BPM]

I don't think Hill is the answer at TH and none of the young lads are ready yet. Best bet is to bring Collier in with Stuart 3rd choice until Williams gets back and then bring him in as 3rd choice if hopefully Collier does well and just work with someone like Heyes as I don't really see any other major option. Don't rate Davison as a scrummager imo, Schonert isn't international standard Balmain and JFR are playing OK but OK not international standard. Sam Nixon could an interesting option though he has done better than I thought at Exeter. In the second row I think it's time to give the young lads a chance someone mentioned Olly Chessum earlier, would be good to see him integrated into the squad a real big tank is exactly what we need as Hill and Ewels just don't play enough like 5s considering they are both big players. Wells, Martin, Moon, Ribbans, Coles, Isiekwe, Munga etc we have a fair few options to look at rather than just dealing with only 3 main options.

Williams has always been completely underwhelming for England. I'd rather not bring him back.

Alex Coles is fairly promising but is neither big enough or good enough to be a serious option at this point IMO.

Isiekwe is the obvious answer. I hope we see him continue at 5 alongside Itoje.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I'm sure he probably would like that option, but the bigger locks we have either aren't good enough (Moon and Clegg for example) or aren't ready yet (and might never be).

As someone else said, Chessum looks very promising. He's pushing 6'8 and at 118kg, he has some room in his frame to bulk up, but is also mobile enough to play 6 (at club level).

Chunya Munga has impressive physical stats but isn't really showing any signs of breaking in to the starting XV at Tigers.

Beyond that, I'm not sure we have any other young locks over 6'6.

Irish

 

[BPM]

Yes of course. I thought for a second you were an Irish poster attempting to poach him.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Big fat no to Harry Williams
At leas Stuart had a run of games (a while ago now, mind) where he looked good enough for international - Williams literally never has

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I'm sure he probably would like that option, but the bigger locks we have either aren't good enough (Moon and Clegg for example) or aren't ready yet (and might never be).

As someone else said, Chessum looks very promising. He's pushing 6'8 and at 118kg, he has some room in his frame to bulk up, but is also mobile enough to play 6 (at club level).

Chunya Munga has impressive physical stats but isn't really showing any signs of breaking in to the starting XV at Tigers.

Beyond that, I'm not sure we have any other young locks over 6'6.

Moon looks like he could be an international player but he certainly isn't ready yet. Ribbons is a bit unit and Jones may get him back in the squad but we shall see.

Interesting to see what Kruis does and if he still has good form etc which may he he's to see depending on what club he goes to. Also Hill at Sale will be good to see. Might improve him but I guess he may just get lost up there and out of favour if he spends too long up north.

 

[Reiser99]

just get lost up there

TBh the north is pretty much just a bleak, barren wilderness, it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[BPM]

Moon looks like he could be an international player but he certainly isn't ready yet. Ribbons is a bit unit and Jones may get him back in the squad but we shall see.

Interesting to see what Kruis does and if he still has good form etc which may he he's to see depending on what club he goes to. Also Hill at Sale will be good to see. Might improve him but I guess he may just get lost up there and out of favour if he spends too long up north.

In what respect? Moon is 25 and even if he's a late bloomer, he needs to become a nailed-on starter at Saints before he can even be in the conversation IMO. Api Ratuniyawara is a good player, but I'd expect a lock with true test potential to keep him out of the side.

But for his ban, I think Ribbans would have been capped last summer. I'd much rather see us put some time in to him than persevering with Ewels.

Kruis walks back in to the starting XV if/when he's back in the Premiership. I'll be very curious to see who picks him up.

 

[Goodey]

Why not Lawes? Our back row depth is better so it seems sensible to use it. Then just have a proper carrier at #8.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

In what respect? Moon is 25 and even if he's a late bloomer, he needs to become a nailed-on starter at Saints before he can even be in the conversation IMO. Api Ratuniyawara is a good player, but I'd expect a lock with true test potential to keep him out of the side.

But for his ban, I think Ribbans would have been capped last summer. I'd much rather see us put some time in to him than persevering with Ewels.

Kruis walks back in to the starting XV if/when he's back in the Premiership. I'll be very curious to see who picks him up.

Fair challenge, in the 11 games we've played this season, Moon has started 4 and benched 3 with 2 weeks he was injured. Coles has played a lot more this year than I'd realised. He's a great player but hardly a monster.

Api seems to be preferred when we play teams with bigger packs (but that's maybe because of our weak overall front 5).

I guess what I see watching Moon is a big unit who does the basics really well and is consistently playing well for us. He's only started to feature consistently over the last couple of seasons so I think there is still time but agree he probably needs to be started ahead of Api to really stake a claim.

 

[Geordie]

If Eddie wants to continue the Lawes style player at 6....whats do you see the differences between Lawes v George Martin for that spot.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Don't get the Martin hype, tbh, not at this stage of career anyway
That said, Lawes is 32 so will be pushing it by the time the RWC rolls round so can see why they're investing the time in him

Isiekwe, though....

 

[Geordie]

Isiekwe must be in consideration for the 6n squad...

 

[Reiser99]

Isiekwe must be in consideration for the 6n squad...

Why do people insist on using the word must when we all know who is picking the squad. Leicester had Dolly and Murimurivalu in the back row last week and still got the BP. I'm sure that gave EJ plenty of new ideas to work with.

Hell I wouldn't be surprised if he's trying genetically breed the perfect rugby player that can play in all positions and then genetically clone said player so that no matter what is happening they can all just switch positions seemlessly.

 

[Geordie]

Why do people insist on using the word must when we all know who is picking the squad. Leicester had Dolly and Murimurivalu in the back row last week and still got the BP. I'm sure that gave EJ plenty of new ideas to work with.

Hell I wouldn't be surprised if he's trying genetically breed the perfect rugby player that can play in all positions and then genetically clone said player so that no matter what is happening they can all just switch positions seemlessly.

Hardly a huge achievement playing us....

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hell I wouldn't be surprised if he's trying genetically breed the perfect rugby player that can play in all positions and then genetically clone said player so that no matter what is happening they can all just switch positions seemlessly.

So you're saying he's going to breed Nowell and Tom Curry together?

That's wing/centre/fullback/flanker and flanker/8/scrumhalf covered

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

So you're saying he's going to breed Nowell and Tom Curry together?

That's wing/centre/fullback/flanker and flanker/8/scrumhalf covered

Nowell-Curry-Lawes

Covers everything except the front row whilst also sounding like a piece of legislation against spicy food.

 

[Geordie]

So for the 6n...does anyone see anything other than this back line?

9 Youngs
10 Smith
11 May
12 Farrell - You know he'll be there
13 Slade
14 Malins
15 Steward

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

IDK I can see Ford getting back into it tbh

 

[Jashay]

Might depend on if Slade has had his vaccine yet; he won't be able to play the France game if he hasn't, as I understand it

 

[Geordie]

IDK I can see Ford getting back into it tbh

I rate Ford so highly, but i think Jones has made the move now and Smith will be there.