England 2023/24

[TRF_Olyy]

JVP is fit I believe

Only just clocked no JvP, he unironically should be starting

 

[TRF_Olyy]

CCS and Roots for 6 is probably predictable, but just makes me slightly nervous; wonder if there will be some sort of 'playing someone out of position' shenanagins?

A return to Japan is a return to kamikaze twins

Orc Lord Of The Rings GIF - Orc Lord Of The Rings Gothmog - Discover & Share GIFs

Click to view the GIF

tenor.com

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Im pleased Spencer is going. I think he has deserved a lot more England caps than he has got so far.

 

[BPM]

Nice squad really, excited to see how our back line play against the ABs.

As an aside and I know I've mentioned before- would a summer off not be of massive benefit for the likes of Itoje, George etc?

Not when we're touring NZ and the rest of our hookers and locks are pretty inexperienced.

 

[Reiser99]

Not sure what to make of that. Some very confusing picks. Definitely feel like some players can feel very hard done by. If Langdon isn't injured then I'm back to Borthwick out because no one in their right mind would say Oghre is better at the moment.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

A return to Japan is a return to kamikaze twins

Orc Lord Of The Rings GIF - Orc Lord Of The Rings Gothmog - Discover & Share GIFs

Click to view the GIF

tenor.com

Tbh as much as I love Curry (and I do love Curry) I wouldn't be playing him this tour. By all means keep him around the squad to keep him up to date with things but his body deserves the summer off.

Edit: Ben on the other hand…

 

[Which Tyler]

Not sure what to make of that. Some very confusing picks. Definitely feel like some players can feel very hard done by. If Langdon isn't injured then I'm back to Borthwick out because no one in their right mind would say Oghre is better at the moment.

By the time he went off on Saturday, he couldn't lift his arm to chest height.

Whilst we all have our preferences, and I'm not sure I've ever seen a full squad of 36 where I agree with every single pick, I don't think there's anything particularly controversial in this one* - given that Langdon is surely injured.

*ETA: except not giving TCurry and Itoje a rest.

 

[Becca]

The Langdon omission is bizarre and I honestly thought JVP would be in the Squad.
As for Ewels

 

[Becca]

By the time he went off on Saturday, he couldn't lift his arm to chest height.

Very true.

 

[Reiser99]

By the time he went off on Saturday, he couldn't lift his arm to chest height.

True, guess I'm just a bit underwhelmed tbh. Feel like of the wider squad picks just lack ambition. Maybe I'm being too harsh.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

surprised at both Currys and both of Roebuck/Carpenter going, thought it'd be one of each

I'd say Carpenter probably wasn't gonna be on the plane before Ford's injury. Furbank becoming the 3rd choice 10 and presumably getting a lot of training reps there moving forward has opened up a slot for another specialist 15. Can't see us having gone with 3 15s otherwise.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

There was a time when England didn't take summer tours seriously and picked second string sides. This seems to have changed recently but I am still not sure if England are picking the absolute best team to win these games or if they have experimentation in mind.

 

[Flankers' paradise]

Certainly a few player who can feel aggrieved they aren't on that list. I hope we see a couple of England A tests, not like the one against Portugal that was primarily for players too old for the U20s but not yet near test ready, but for a genuine 2nd string squad who can still showcase their worth and stay 'ready' should there be more injuries. Players like Cowan-Dickie, Blamire, Pearson, Radwan, Willis, Kelly, Murley, Hassle-Collins, Quirke, JVP etc

 

[Dutchgeo88]

Dan Cole, Charlie Ewels, Alex Dombrandt....the All Blacks are shaking in their boots

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Test team kinda picks itself really. Can't see many areas of debate which is a very good thing.

1. Marler 2. George 3. Stuart
5. Itoje 4. Martin
6. Curry 7. Underhill
8. Earl
9. Mitchell 10. Smith (guessing Marcus starts for experience)
12. Lawrence 13. Slade
11. Freeman 14. Feyi-Waboso
15. Furbank

16. Dan
17. Rodd
18. Cole
19. Coles
20. CCS
21. Spencer
22. Smith
23. Sleightholme

Backrow is only up for debate as curry has been out a while. He's our starting 6 every day of the week if fit. We should call that trio the 21 (3 7s).

Could swap Cole and Stuart around but guessing Cole comes on with Rodd to help him out. Then there's who they want at 23 to think about.

Smith vs Smith is the only big debate. Finn is just so good even at this age. Can't see why you wouldn't want him starting every game now.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Curry at 6, Smith at 10 and I hear Coles on the bench

ABs can't prepare for us if they don't know who tf is playing

 

[higgik]

Test team kinda picks itself really. Can't see many areas of debate which is a very good thing.

1. Marler 2. George 3. Stuart
5. Itoje 4. Martin
6. Curry 7. Underhill
8. Earl
9. Mitchell 10. Smith (guessing Marcus starts for experience)
12. Lawrence 13. Slade
11. Freeman 14. Feyi-Waboso
15. Furbank

16. Dan
17. Rodd
18. Cole
19. Coles
20. CCS
21. Spencer
22. Smith
23. Sleightholme

Backrow is only up for debate as curry has been out a while. He's our starting 6 every day of the week if fit. We should call that trio the 21 (3 7s).

Could swap Cole and Stuart around but guessing Cole comes on with Rodd to help him out. Then there's who they want at 23 to think about.

Smith vs Smith is the only big debate. Finn is just so good even at this age. Can't see why you wouldn't want him starting every game now.

My worry would be lightweight back 5 in forwards.
Need cone go forward from someone and only Martin in that mould.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

My worry would be lightweight back 5 in forwards.
Need cone go forward from someone and only Martin in that mould.

Earl is pretty go forward.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Both Curry's are good carriers, as is Underhill

Wouldn't call that back 5 lightweight at all tbh, only Earl would be smaller than the average in his position but he packs more punch than players twice his size

 

[BPM]

I've usually been critical of Ewels but he came back from SA a different player. He's absolutely there on merit IMO.