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England 2023/24

Just moved this from the Prem thread.

Yes and no in terms of our strength at 7. We've got some great options, but…..

Underhill previously and now especially T Curry have suffered badly from injuries. Will either make old bones in rugby terms?

Is Earl an out and out 7 or a utility? Same question for Pearson to a degree.

B Curry is very good domestically and arguably should have been given more chances over time, but he's not really convinced when he has.

W Evans has perhaps been unlucky to have never really been in the conversation, but he hasn't and probably won't now.

I'm not putting Pepper in a white shirt just yet but I'm liking what I'm seeing.

You can argue that the best of the lot on current form is J Willis. Obviously unavailable, but hopefully that will change one day.

Also wonder if we're heading away from the days of any 2 of T Curry, Underhill and Earl (& J Willis) back towards specialists.

At 8 T Willis must now be on the radar and he, Barbeary and even Mercer don't really play anywhere else. If you want a big guy in the back row none of CCS, Chessum or Martin are anything other than 6 (maybe CCS will go to 8 in time, but not yet).

Plenty of options for SB and whoever's on his coaching staff this week to chew over……
What would Earl and Pearson have to do to convince you they are both 7s?

They both play 7s on top premiership teams, often outplaying the 7 they are up against. Also they have both performed in Europe.

So why don't you think they are out and out 7s?
 
What would Earl and Pearson have to do to convince you they are both 7s?

They both play 7s on top premiership teams, often outplaying the 7 they are up against. Also they have both performed in Europe.

So why don't you think they are out and out 7s?
Not wanting to put words onto VT's keyboard - but to be considered "out and out", rather than "utility", probably requires specialising, and not being a utility player - so to NOT (or rarely) play 6 or 8 (not such a problem for Pearson though, surely).
eg Earl in 2023-24 season started 12 matches at 7, 16 at 8...
 
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Spencer keeps earning call ups with his club form - but does nothing whatsoever to suggest he should get more caps when he does pick one up.
 
but does nothing whatsoever to suggest he should get more caps when he does pick one up.
Does he really get the opportunity, though?
0 starts, average of 9mins per game - he's yet to hit the 80min mark despite his first cap being in 2018

Could suggest he's a poor trainer in camp, but if that were the case why keep calling him up?
Just a weird situation, really
 
Spencer keeps earning call ups with his club form - but does nothing whatsoever to suggest he should get more caps when he does pick one up.
It's been one of my biggest frustrations. Denied calls for years when in much better form than the existing but then gets dropped for not immediately replicating it when he does eventually get some.

Unfortunately I think his time has passed. For whatever reason he doesn't work in the England setup and it's too old to see as a future protect.

Perhaps my all time biggest gripe with Jones baffling selection policy.
 
Spencer keeps earning call ups with his club form - but does nothing whatsoever to suggest he should get more caps when he does pick one up.

Olyy's right, he's not had the chances but I also agree with you that he's not really shown any glimpses in the cameos he has had.

At least he can say he played in a RWC final.
 
So Ford has joined Mitchel in missing the AI's

Marcus Smith at 15 tomorrow for Quins....

Is he still Englands starting 10...or is that now t'other Smith...FIn
 
So Ford has joined Mitchel in missing the AI's

Marcus Smith at 15 tomorrow for Quins....

Is he still Englands starting 10...or is that now t'other Smith...

Oh god, you're not joking.

M Smith started over the summer. Don't see that status quo changing for now.
 

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