England 2023/24

[BPM]

No thanks for us, but I'd feel quite differently if switches to Fiji.

 

[Crash Hamster]

No thanks for us, but I'd feel quite differently if switches to inside centre.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

We've got form for parachuting foreign 8s in as well.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

We've got form for parachuting foreign 8s in as well.

Hoskins is better than Temina or Shields tho

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

And we brought Waldrum in and you could say the same about the way Morgan was pulled across from wales.

Although I loved Morgan, massively underrated.

 

[Geordie]

We dont need him with CCS and Willis developing nicely.

 

[Geordie]

And we brought Waldrum in and you could say the same about the way Morgan was pulled across from wales.

Although I loved Morgan, massively underrated.

So many what ifs about Morgan. On his day was a real class act.

 

[NotTooAmused]

12 tries and 8 assists from back row. Must be a reason he's not getting picked...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Apparently defence and workrate is in the toilet

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Hoskins is better than Temina or Shields tho

Hopefully lessons have been learned following the hype around Shields and his fast tracking - decent player but not at the level we'd been led to believe. And 8's the least of our problems anyway, even if I doubt Earl will be the very long term solution.

 

[Geordie]

Back row is going to be a real dilemma...

Id say set in stone is

4 - Itoje
5 - Martin
6 - Chessum

Meaning 2 places (and reserve) being fought over by :
Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 7 caps)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 38 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 53 caps)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 5 caps)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 33 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 17 caps)

I dont see how you can drop Earl at the moment...hes consistently one of our best ...even if hes not seen as a "long term 8"
CCS is the developing powerhouse who surely commands the bench spot...and covers 6 and 8

So that leaves...the 7 spot for:
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 38 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 53 caps)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 5 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 17 caps)

Tough choice to make bar Dombrandt who shouldnt be there IMO.

Underhill for me...his destructive power is just too much to not include.

So
4 - Itoje
5 - Martin
6 - Chessum
7 - Underhill
8 - Earl

Agree or disagree...?

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

5 - Martin
6 - Chessum

Beyond Itoje, none of them are set in stone imo - Martin more than Chessum, but he is by no means nailed on to play 6 imo.

 

[BPM]

And we brought Waldrum in and you could say the same about the way Morgan was pulled across from wales.

Although I loved Morgan, massively underrated.

Except Morgan was only ever Wales qualified on residency. Not a poach in any way shape or from.

 

[BPM]

Back row is going to be a real dilemma...

Id say set in stone is

4 - Itoje
5 - Martin
6 - Chessum

Meaning 2 places (and reserve) being fought over by :
Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 7 caps)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 38 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 53 caps)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 5 caps)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 33 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 17 caps)

I dont see how you can drop Earl at the moment...hes consistently one of our best ...even if hes not seen as a "long term 8"
CCS is the developing powerhouse who surely commands the bench spot...and covers 6 and 8

So that leaves...the 7 spot for:
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 38 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 53 caps)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 5 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 17 caps)

Tough choice to make bar Dombrandt who shouldnt be there IMO.

Underhill for me...his destructive power is just too much to not include.

So
4 - Itoje
5 - Martin
6 - Chessum
7 - Underhill
8 - Earl

Agree or disagree...?

Disagree. Earl was poor in NZ. He has credit in the bank and is the man in possession, but I'd strongly have considered playing Willis at 8. Mental he's not in the squad. He should be there over Dombrandt.

In recent England games, CCS has done more to warrant keeping his place than Earl, but I agree Chessum will likely come back in at 6.