England 2022/23

[Saintjay]

Evidently Youngs doing lots of the chat, and a big part of the leadership group in Jersey. Not sure if that's because he's a senior player or is starting........I'm going for Youngs is starting.

 

[Geordie]

Is Sean Robinson even any good? I don't really watch much Newcastle. Seems like a waste in the squad.

Hes an absolute class act!! And thats not being biased.

Hes consistently been one of the best locks / 6's in the league for years!!

 

[Geordie]

Evidently Youngs doing lots of the chat, and a big part of the leadership group in Jersey. Not sure if that's because he's a senior player or is starting........I'm going for Youngs is starting.

Why play him now...get the classy young kids in...Youngs is past it

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Hes an absolute class act!! And thats not being biased.

Hes consistently been one of the best locks / 6's in the league for years!!

Another 6/ lock hybrid must be what Jones is looking to add to the squad with all those players of a similar type he's called up.

Personally think Cole's could fill that spot as he's just class and a real leader.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Very true, but with Lawes out for concussion protocols, Launchbury a fading force, Johnny Hill an inconsistent problem, Chessum and Isiekwe out injured and Ewells a waste of a space...we need to look at what we have.

Now despite being a massive Robinson fan Id be surprised of he became squad regular....but Tizzard looks like he could become the lock that were missing...BUT he's still developing....

Ribbans a big powerhouse but not sure he's the answer either.

Ribbans - Itoje
Tizzard - Itoje
Tizzard - Robinson
Ribbans - Robinson
I'd like to see a couple of those combos get some gametime and see how they go.

I'd wager they at the moment Itoje Hill is rhe starting combo..but it's not unmovable...

I reckon that combo is pretty much set in stone TBH. Hill's a bit of a Jones favourite and he's grown on me - a bit.

I know Lawes is exclusively a 6 now. He's done very well, but I just can't help feeling that 2 of Curry, Willis and Underhill would be our best flanker combination (should any of them actually be fit at the same time). That means Lawes going back to the row, which is against all my scrummaging instincts but he's well worth his place so it's a risk worth taking.

A front 5 of Genge, George / LCD, Sinckler, Lawes and Itoje would seldom be dominant in the scrum, but should be experienced enough to secure our own ball and not be a penalty machine.

We won't see that obvs, but it's on my wish list. Then again, so's Kruis coming out of retirement.

 

[Geordie]

Another 6/ lock hybrid must be what Jones is looking to add to the squad with all those players of a similar type he's called up.

Personally think Cole's could fill that spot as he's just class and a real leader.

I would say Robinson is the first name on the teamsheet at the falcons even over McGuigan etc. But despite that i wouldnt imagine we'll see him in the England squad much...purely because hes 31...and theres lots of youngsters coming through who have a higher potential. I just hope he gets to show what we have been watching for years...a quality player.

 

[Geordie]

I reckon that combo is pretty much set in stone TBH. Hill's a bit of a Jones favourite and he's grown on me - a bit.

I know Lawes is exclusively a 6 now. He's done very well, but I just can't help feeling that 2 of Curry, Willis and Underhill would be our best flanker combination (should any of them actually be fit at the same time). That means Lawes going back to the row, which is against all my scrummaging instincts but he's well worth his place so it's a risk worth taking.

A front 5 of Genge, George / LCD, Sinckler, Lawes and Itoje would seldom be dominant in the scrum, but should be experienced enough to secure our own ball and not be a penalty machine.

We won't see that obvs, but it's on my wish list. Then again, so's Kruis coming out of retirement.

I thought Hill was fantastic for Exeter...big, in your face and he ran the ball well. He just hasnt quite transferred this to the England side consistently. We've only really seen glimpses. If he can do that...he'll be a hell of a player. But theres a few going to challenge him soon...particularly Ollie Chessum who just looks a top class prospect. I still wonder where George Martin will end up aswell.

At some stage this AI's I'd like to see a back row of
6 Willis
7 Curry
8 Dombrandt

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Imo wells deserved a call up more than Robinson

 

[Geordie]

Imo wells deserved a call up more than Robinson

Why?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I mean Wells form is at the least on par with Robinson and is a year or two younger.

Also bigger both height and weight

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I mean Wells form is at the least on par with Robinson and is a year or two younger.

Also bigger both height and weight

Jeez, didn't realise Robinson is only 6'4. Surely only a back rower at international level.

It's a real concern that Itoje, Tizard and Robinson are all 6'5 or less. Why don't we produce any quality, big locks?

 

[Geordie]

He might have a bit of Weight over Robinson but not the height.

Wells plays a different game....and for that they have Ribbans, and Tizzard...and Wells isnt near the potential that Tizzard has. Robinson also can cover the Lock / 6 hybrid that Lawes is.....

 

[Geordie]

Jeez, didn't realise Robinson is only 6'4. Surely only a back rower at international level.

It's a real concern that Itoje, Tizard and Robinson are all 6'5 or less. Why don't we produce any quality, big locks?

He's not 6'4...he's 6/5 - 6'6...

 

[Geordie]

Jeez, didn't realise Robinson is only 6'4. Surely only a back rower at international level.

It's a real concern that Itoje, Tizard and Robinson are all 6'5 or less. Why don't we produce any quality, big locks?

Chessum 6'8, Chessum Jr 6'10, Isiweke 6'7, Hill 6'9, we do produce them...

Dont forget Kruis our best lock for years was only 6'6...

 

[Saintjay]

Interesting listening to EJ on selecting teams on the telegraph pod. Saying he doesn't tend to judge players on performances against bottom teams. It doesn't compare to test level. He'll mainly just look at performances against top teams. He uses a private stats company that rates players on the level of the opposition. Then If two players are of a similar level he'll look at how they act in the team, personal dynamics etc.

 

[BPM]

So from that vs Argentina i would like to see(not EJ))

Genge LCD Sinks
Itoje Hill
Willis Billy Curry
JvP Smith
Manu Slade(because i like this combo)
Malins Steward Nowell

Mcguigan
Rodd
Hayes
Tizard
Simmonds(though i do rate Pearson
Quirke
Faz
Murley

Swap Murley in for Nowell and I'm sold.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

He's not 6'4...he's 6/5 - 6'6...

Really? Because Newcastle, Wikipedia, and just about every other outlet I can find list him as 6'4/1.93m. Where have you find that he's 6'5/6'6?

Chessum 6'8, Chessum Jr 6'10, Isiweke 6'7, Hill 6'9, we do produce them...

Dont forget Kruis our best lock for years was only 6'6...

Chessum Sr and Isiekwe are both lock/6 hybrids. Neither really specialises in the tight nitty, gritty work that you want a big lock to.

Chessum Jr is 19 and yet to play a Prem game, I'd hardly call him a quality option (yet).

Hill definitely is not 6'9, he's always been listed as 6'7/2.01. He's tall, but isn't particularly big. Was listed by Exeter as 113kg and is currently listed by Sale as 112kg.

My point is that seemingly every other nation has 6'6(1.98m)+, ~120kg monsters with plenty of experience and we just don't.
Ireland: Henderson, 1.99m/118kg
Wales: Rowlands 2.03/123kg, Beard 2.05/117kg, AWJ 1.98m/122kg
Scotland: Gray 1.99m/121kg
NZ: Retallick 2.04m/121kg, Whitelock 2.02m/117kg
Australia: Frost 2.06/120kg, Neville 2.02/123kg, Skelton 2.03/however much he's actually weighing nowadays
SA: Not even worth listing all of theirs

Itoje is 6'5 (1.95m)/115kg. Obviously he's a great player, but he's always been undersized for an international lock. IMO we need a big, hard ******* to compliment him. Despite only being 6'6, Kruis was 120kg and made up for his lack of height by being a lineout guru. I don't see either of 6'4/112kg Robinson or 6'5/120kg Tizard being able to do the same job. I would love to be proven wrong though.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Was listed by Exeter as 113kg and is currently listed by Sale as 112kg.

Unless his mullet was significantly heavy then Exe were definitely fudging their numbers, he's packed on a noticeable amount of mass over the summer

Do agree with your post though - we really do struggle to produce big brutes
It's weird cause it's not like we have any other properly popular sports that our massive guys are flocking to

 

[Geordie]

Really? Because Newcastle, Wikipedia, and just about every other outlet I can find list him as 6'4/1.93m. Where have you find that he's 6'5/6'6?

Merely standing next to him...i dont think 6'4 is accurate. Hes taller than that.

 

[Geordie]

Really? Because Newcastle, Wikipedia, and just about every other outlet I can find list him as 6'4/1.93m. Where have you find that he's 6'5/6'6?


Chessum Sr and Isiekwe are both lock/6 hybrids. Neither really specialises in the tight nitty, gritty work that you want a big lock to.

Chessum Jr is 19 and yet to play a Prem game, I'd hardly call him a quality option (yet).

Hill definitely is not 6'9, he's always been listed as 6'7/2.01. He's tall, but isn't particularly big. Was listed by Exeter as 113kg and is currently listed by Sale as 112kg.

My point is that seemingly every other nation has 6'6(1.98m)+, ~120kg monsters with plenty of experience and we just don't.
Ireland: Henderson, 1.99m/118kg
Wales: Rowlands 2.03/123kg, Beard 2.05/117kg, AWJ 1.98m/122kg
Scotland: Gray 1.99m/121kg
NZ: Retallick 2.04m/121kg, Whitelock 2.02m/117kg
Australia: Frost 2.06/120kg, Neville 2.02/123kg, Skelton 2.03/however much he's actually weighing nowadays
SA: Not even worth listing all of theirs

Itoje is 6'5 (1.95m)/115kg. Obviously he's a great player, but he's always been undersized for an international lock. IMO we need a big, hard ******* to compliment him. Despite only 6'6, Kruis was 120kg and made up for his lack of height by being a lineout guru. I don't see either of 6'4/112kg Robinson or 6'5/120kg Tizard being able to do the same job. I would love to be proven wrong though.

Chessum will be a lock forward i dont think theres much doubt with that and i think ultimately Isiekwe will also.

Hill has always been listed as very tall but then as ive mentioned about Robinson stats can be incorrect.

The game is changing...it not always about a big lump...its about power, and fitness these days. Theres few "top class" monsters about.

Rowlands ? Beard? Not worth the mention. Skelton is an overweight lump who cant hack the pace. He only stood out becasue Saracens got him at peak fitness and still managed his gametime properly.

Id far rather have an explosive smaller lock 6'6..than a slow fat monster...

Ive heard Quins fans saying Tizzard is probably 6'6 aswell...but either way...we have to see if he replaces Kruis ...

I merely listed Chessum Jr as someone who is massive and coming through. Hes playing at Nottngham but Tigers seem to have a lot of hope in him. May not come to anything of course...one to watch for the future.

Theres also Alfie Bell at Wasps...we need to see how he comes through with all the issues there at the moment...he's 6'8.

Ben Bamber is getting games at Bristol isnt he? 6'9 i believe he is and only about 22.

So we are producing them...but im not sure sheer monster size is the answer.

Eben and Brodie are freaks...