England 2021/22

[Vieux Talonneur]

Does eddy name his squad on Monday?
Thought i read that somewhere

Late morning Tuesday I think.

 

[Geordie]

Kenningham out for 6 months, so that's a hit to his admittedly long England ambitions

Im still not getting the hype over this lad...

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Realistically I don't think he's near the Eng conversation yet, but from the Quins games I've seen he's been going pretty well and has been a noticeable line out option.

Hopefully he recovers properly from what sounds like a nasty injury.

 

[BPM]

Im still not getting the hype over this lad...

I don't think there's a massive amount of 'hype'. I don't think he should be in the England mix just yet, but I haven't seen anyone over-egging his performances.

When Evans got injured, Kenningham came from more or less out of nowhere to become a key first team player in no time and hasn't looked back. He's one of those players who looked immediately comfortable and has only got better and better. I think most of the praise he's had is for how seamlessly he's made the step up and how consistently good he's been.

He's not a flashy player but he gets through a mountain of work and must be a massive pain to play against. He never stops but he's not a headless chicken - for an inexperienced flanker, he's very rarely penalised. He's a very good tackler, punches above his weight on the carry, good jackal and is becoming a very decent lineout forward. What's not to like?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

poor man's Tommy Reffell

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

poor man's Tommy Reffell

Imagine being Welsh lol

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Former England rugby union international arrested on suspicion of rape

A former England rugby union player has been arrested on suspicion of the rape of a teenager

www.theguardian.com

Guardian confirms that the man is 29 and it's been confirmed elsewhere that it took place in Manchester.

Apparently an Indian newspaper confirmed the name but I've no idea if that's true

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Press hounding Cipriani/his Wife, despite not matching any of the descriptors in the vague press reports - just because he used to be an arrogant so-and-so as a youngster means he's capable of something like this?

 

[Which Tyler]

Best not to mention any names here I'd have though - best not to invite trouble on the mod.s

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, posting articles etc. is fine but would rather we didn't descend into witch hunting

 

[Scotty]

I won't name anyone as it would be speculation and i know nothing more than posted in the article posted but if it is true that its 29 year old former England player and occured in Manchester then that is quite narrow pool unless its retired players which still there cant be that many in that bracket.

 

[Reiser99]

Former England rugby union international arrested on suspicion of rape

A former England rugby union player has been arrested on suspicion of the rape of a teenager

www.theguardian.com

Guardian confirms that the man is 29 and it's been confirmed elsewhere that it took place in Manchester.

Apparently an Indian newspaper confirmed the name but I've no idea if that's true

Also says former England player.

 

[WarriorKelv]

Looking at who could make a possible 32 man squad?

LH looks pretty settled tbh Marler and Genge with Bevan Rodd third choice. Obano is injured and no obvious other choices available at this time other than possibly VRR and Elrington who are playing well tbf but doubt Eddie will see them as anything but backup options

HK another pretty set LCD and George have shown they are Englands best two options with Blamire as 3rd choice. Again there are other options but not that are really ready yet imo.

TH Sinkler will be 1st choice and I think Eddie will go with Davison due to being comfortable on both sides of the SCRUM which makes him perfect for a World Cup squad. I do however think that Collier will come in over Stuart. Stuart can be a good player but just hasn't been in good form, Schonert could also be an option but again is probably only thought of as backup. Heyes is probably the next off the rank but is still young and is behind Cole at Leicester. Prop is probably Englands weakest area atm but some good youngsters coming through in both sides but bar Rodd, none will be ready for the WC.

SR Itoje and Hill will most probably be the starting pair with Lawes and Martin as 6s slash SR options. However I would like to think Eddie might experiment with someone like Isiekwe, Wells or Ribbans who have been in really good form and are all better than Ewels and Hill imho. We really lack depth in this area atm with only Itoje, Ewels and Hill prominent starters, especially a big enforcer type like Chessum or Tizard especially with Launchbury not 100% fit.

BR as mentioned Martin and Lawes will be the 6s and Curry can obviously play there and will undoubtedly be there with Underhill as the 7s. Dombrandt is our best option at 8 and also adds cover for Itoje being g able to play at 4. probably need another 8 in there too with a fair few options tbf Chick, Barbeary, Willis and Simmonds. Any of these options would be good but I would like to see Barbeary given a chance even though I think Willis is the more accomplished player atm Barbeary I think will be better given time.

SH given the depth of quality youngsters we have here atm you could be forgiven for not wanting Youngs in the side but he is the most experienced SH that is a part of the England squad. He will be a big help to players like Randall, JVP, Quirke, Mitchell, Maunder etc still a few more. I think 3 SH with Youngs, Randall and Quirke the three I think we'll see with Randall and Quirke getting equal opportunity, still quite young to be starting imo.

FH tbh I think only two Fly Halfs will be there as you have cover elsewhere in the squad tbf and even though Ford is the best no.10 in the league atm Eddie will choose the young gem that is Marcus Smith as he is the future of English rugby and will want to mould him into the squad and golden boy Farrell should he be 100% fit even though imo he is the one holding England back atm. Personally I think we should be focusing on the young talent because we have some quality young 10s around but it's Eddie and he loves Farrell.

CTS Should he be fit Tuilagi is the only real option at 12 atm. Atkinson is decent cover and again you could look to Kelly, Ojomoh, Dingwall and Lawrence as offering younger but promising options but in Tuilagi you have a glass cannon. 13 is a lot easier to decide tbf Slade is the mainstay and I think is better with a bigger option alongside him in Tuilagi rather than Farrell. Marchant the 2nd choice. I don't think there are many other options around at this time to overtake those two

BACKS May imo should be overlooked in favour of younger options but he is another golden boy, Radwan with his pace, Malins versatility and Stewards prowess in the air is a good starting back 3 and I like the idea of OHC being in the squad as he adds pace and also being able to Play 13. Furbank will probably be there too but I think Steward and Malins is enough and would prefer his place to go to another Centre to add better depth where needed.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Is Cokanasiga injured?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

HK another pretty set LCD and George have shown they are Englands best two options with Blamire as 3rd choice. Again there are other options but not that are really ready yet imo.

TH Sinkler will be 1st choice and I think Eddie will go with Davison due to being comfortable on both sides of the SCRUM which makes him perfect for a World Cup squad. I do however think that Collier will come in over Stuart. Stuart can be a good player but just hasn't been in good form, Schonert could also be an option but again is probably only thought of as backup. Heyes is probably the next off the rank but is still young and is behind Cole at Leicester. Prop is probably Englands weakest area atm but some good youngsters coming through in both sides but bar Rodd, none will be ready for the WC.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a different 3rd choice hooker in - I don't think Blamire has really made the spot his, and Walker is playing really well.
That said, I also wouldn't be surprised at only LCD and George being there

I don't think that Davison playing both sides is that much a plus anymore (barring multiple injuries/COVID bubbles like in the Autumn) as the RWC have extended their squad size to accommodate - though he could well be there as third choice as he was around during the summer and autumn,
My choice would be Collier atm

Stuart went off in the Bath game didn't he? Not sure what for, if he's missing from the early stages of the 6N then we'll really be scrabbling around for tightheads!

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Press hounding Cipriani/his Wife, despite not matching any of the descriptors in the vague press reports - just because he used to be an arrogant so-and-so as a youngster means he's capable of something like this?

It seems wrong that while names are withheld other snippets of information are released that can help point fingers, obviously erroneously in this case.

And a positive use of social media in that the Ciprianis were able to deny quickly and to a wide audience.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Is Cokanasiga injured?

Most likely but last he was playing he had been quite poor. He never regained the form that initially got him in the England squad and never dealt with his issues in defence. Unfortunately Bath is not the club to try to prove form in...

 

[Geordie]

I think only Radwan of the falcons bunch has remotely got a chance, and even he isnt in form due to the pressure on him to provide constant magic for us on his own!

Blamire, very faintly possible, but as hes barely been seen for us...it doesnt look likely, and Davison and Chick wont be close...

 

[BPM]

Is Cokanasiga injured?

Yes and has been for ages

 

[BPM]

I think only Radwan of the falcons bunch has remotely got a chance, and even he isnt in form due to the pressure on him to provide constant magic for us on his own!

Blamire, very faintly possible, but as hes barely been seen for us...it doesnt look likely, and Davison and Chick wont be close...

Agree on this, but then Eddie has never seemingly cared about domestic form.