England 2022/23

[Scotty]

Yep that's mad too,
His wasn't an innocuous knock that he failed a HIA for after, it was a really really bad one

If he is back he should be benched with limited gametime at the very least.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Joints with his injury selections...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Joints with his injury selections...

Eddie Joints

 

[BPM]

To be fair, it would explain a lot

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

My best guess at the team:
1. Genge
2. LCD
3. Sinckler
4. Itoje
5. Hill
6. Coles
7. Curry
8. Vunipola
9. Youngs
10. Smith
11. May
12. Farrell
13. Tuilagi
14. Nowell
15. Steward

16. Singleton
17. Vunipola
18. Heyes
19. Ribbans
20. Willis
21. Simmonds
22. JVP
23. Slade

Only things I potentially see changing in the starting team are Willis at 6 over Coles and Cokanasiga starting if May isn't quite fit. Bench there's a lot of variables; the main one being 5:3 vs 6:2. But I'm expecting 6:2.

Big W

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Looks like a possible broken wrist for Quirke, hopefully not as bad as it looks

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

I honestly can't tell with Eddie.
Is he just rolling the ball out there with 20 guys (almost never uses the 23) and just expects the combination of talent and judo training to be enough to beat most teams

Or
Is he forgetting that he's a national team coach and that he needs to be implementing simple structures that can be game ready in 120 minutes of training? Is this why he only looked good at World Cup? That doesn't really explain why they looked so good when first took over.

 

[ncurd]

I honestly can't tell with Eddie.
Is he just rolling the ball out there with 20 guys (almost never uses the 23) and just expects the combination of talent and judo training to be enough to beat most teams

Or
Is he forgetting that he's a national team coach and that he needs to be implementing simple structures that can be game ready in 120 minutes of training? Is this why he only looked good at World Cup? That doesn't really explain why they looked so good when first took over.

On the second one he inherited a pretty good team 4 second place finishes in a row in the 6 nations and before that streak it was a win.

Lancaster's England had the talent they were just bottlers and that clearly was a management problem. The disastrous world cup was because they couldn't settle on a side and went in with completely muddled thinking. EJ came in made some big calls and once the side was settled and got some belief they played to their potential.

They then played poorly in the middle years but found some form in the final year.

This entire cycle has been a shitshow though so unsure EJ will turn it around for third time.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Who would you put out vs Japan (realistic answers, so not drafting in a load of new players)?

I'd go for:
1. Genge (C)
2. LCD
3. Heyes
4. Itoje
5. Tizard
6. Curry
7. Willis
8. Simmonds
9. JvP
10. Smith
11. Cokanasiga
12. Tuilagi (if fit - Porter if not, I guess? I dunno, I don't want Farrell at 12 for this game. Maybe try Slade/W.Joseph midfield if EJ is feeling daring)
13. Slade
14. Murley
15. Steward

16. McGuigan
17. Rodd/VRR (VRR pulled out of the last Gloucester game so not sure on his status - flip a coin for him vs Rodd)
18. Sinckler (didn't do anything wrong, just don't like when a fully green frontrow comes on together, and Heyes needs more experience heading into the RWC)
19. Coles (would be tempted to start him again but I don't want Itoje in the backrow, and I think Itoje will definitely play, and neither are tighthead locks)
20. Vunipola
21. Whoever is called up to replace Quirke (Mitchell?)
22. Farrell
23. Malins


Think it's a good blend of players you know will get picked and players you hope will get picked

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

So I'm thinking we will beat Japan by a small margin. Beat the all blacks as one of their players will get a red in the first 10 minutes (only win by 3 though and no try's scored by us) and lose to SA.

England will claim progress and Eddie keeps his job.

In reality we need an actual
Backs or attack coach. We need to bin
Billy, mako, Nowell (to bench), Youngs (Jesus he was bad).

Farrell or smith needs to bench. Since Jones has such a hard on for Farrell why not go 10 Farrell 12 Manu 13 Slade?

1 genge
2 LCD
3 Sinckler
4 itoje
5 hill
6 Coles
7 curry
8 Simmonds
9 JVP
10 Farrell
11 coko
12 manu
13 slade
14 May? Is he fit
15 steward

16 McGuigan
17 rodd
18 heyes
19 ribbons
20 Willis
21 not sure not but not Youngs
22 smith
23 Malins

I'd let Farrell dictate tactics, give him the next three games to see how he goes at 10. If he stinks then let smith be the number 1 10 and Farrell to bench, not 12.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

We're caught between a rock and a hard place.

The team that played yesterday is likely to largely be the one that starts against the ABs and Boks. Pretty compelling argument that it was crap so needs more time together. Pretty compelling argument that we also need to change a lot.

The only changes in the starting XV I'd make are JVP for Youngs, Murley for Nowell and Willis for Itoje who can either be rested or have a scamper from the bench. As I said on another thread I think that front 5 is worth more chances and we know exactly what Itoje brings.

Bench can be more experimental with McGuigan, Tizard etc.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

We're caught between a rock and a hard place.

The team that played yesterday is likely to largely be the one that starts against the ABs and Boks. Pretty compelling argument that it was crap so needs more time together. Pretty compelling argument that we also need to change a lot.

The only changes in the starting XV I'd make are JVP for Youngs, Murley for Nowell and Willis for Itoje who can either be rested or have a scamper from the bench. As I said on another thread I think that front 5 is worth more chances and we know exactly what Itoje brings.

Bench can be more experimental with McGuigan, Tizard etc.

M.Vunipola needs replacing ASAP. Every single scrum he was in collapsed on his side. He doesn't offer anything in open play any more to offset his penalties in the scrum. I think replacing him and Youngs are the 2 top priorities and then having only 1 of Smith or Farrell on the field. I can live with Farrell at 10 and Smith finishing off the final quarter by upping the pace as we used to do when Jones first took over, but Farrell is simply not a 12.

Also 5-3 split unless we do a bomb squad tactic. 6-2 and then not using all your subs with a reasonable amount of time is just pointlessly hampering the team.

 

[Geordie]

We're caught between a rock and a hard place.

The team that played yesterday is likely to largely be the one that starts against the ABs and Boks. Pretty compelling argument that it was crap so needs more time together. Pretty compelling argument that we also need to change a lot.

The only changes in the starting XV I'd make are JVP for Youngs, Murley for Nowell and Willis for Itoje who can either be rested or have a scamper from the bench. As I said on another thread I think that front 5 is worth more chances and we know exactly what Itoje brings.

Bench can be more experimental with McGuigan, Tizard etc.

Would you go with Coles and HIll in the second row and bring on Tizard from the bench?

 

[Geordie]

i would also have Dombrandt back in the squad...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

George in for McGuigan and Mitchell in for Quirke the only changes, I think?

Singleton over McGuigan is jokes - it's not even like Singleton's trusted, he didn't even come off the bench yesterday

 

[TommiG88]

Disappointing not to see Radwan in there

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

George in for McGuigan and Mitchell in for Quirke the only changes, I think?

Singleton over McGuigan is jokes - it's not even like Singleton's trusted, he didn't even come off the bench yesterday

George feels like he's been rushed back. McGuigan must be totally hacked off.

There were only 10 backs named for Arg Week. Here we've got about 17…….

 

[TRF_Olyy]

There were only 10 backs named for Arg Week. Here we've got about 17…….

Gotta increase our carbon footprint somehow - get the full squad in for two days then send 11 of them home on Wednesday

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Has Jones ever made actual changes that were needed after a loss? Can't think of any.

I bet we will see the same 20 maybe with a couple of silly changes no one wants and then scrape pst Japan by 3. Eddie claims progress while the whole nation knows he's a fraud.

 

[Scotty]

George in for McGuigan and Mitchell in for Quirke the only changes, I think?

Singleton over McGuigan is jokes - it's not even like Singleton's trusted, he didn't even come off the bench yesterday

Worst thing about yesterdays loss is thats a decent squad even without the additions and after last weeks squad he got that 23....so worries me this week.

what does Mcguigan have to do?

Get Dombrandt back and let Simmonds try to find form with Chiefs.

Freeman and Murley both arguably deserve a place more than Big Joe and Nowell

Right so i love a good team suggestion

Genge LCD Sinks
Itoje Coles(give him another shot)
Willis Billy(who else is there) Curry
JvP Smith
Manu Slade
Murley Steward Freeman

George
Rodd
Hayes
Hill
Simmonds(though Pearson is a good player)
Youngs(im not even pretending he's out the 23....)
Faz(see youngs)
Malins


Maybe abit out there but i think it has more balance and we cant do Smith Faz! It doesnt work, ford Faz did because they knew eilach other so well and played well together but even then had issues.