England EPS 2016/17 season.

[Vieux Talonneur]

If Slade has stated a clear preference for one position and isn't getting game time there, that might be a good reason to move on otherwise I think he should tough it out at Exeter rather than run because things aren't going his way.

I've always seen him as a 10, although the 10/12 stocks mean his international chances may be better at 12. So far, for all his talent, he hasn't made a persuasive case either way. But we shouldn't be expecting too much from him at 10 yet given how little he's played there recently.

Can't he too excited on Lozowski yet. Decent player for sure, but nothing stand out. If he does choose Italy, I hope it's because he has a real affinity with the place and not just because he figures it's his best chance of international rugby (yeah right). Sometimes Italy do remind me of the RoI in the Jack Charlton era.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

It wouldn't "running away because things aren't going his way" it would be going elsewhere to a place that would give him a chance at starting in international rugby.

I agree that if he can get consistent time at 10 he should remain at Exeter, but my concern is that after Slade's (let's be honest) poor performances at 10 so far Baxter will put Steeno at 10 and shift Slade to 13 or even to the bench. And I think we can all agree that's he's not a 13 and being on the bench is definitely not gonna do him any good. If he keeps playing at 13 then he's got no chance with England and it will be a wasted opportunity for both him and England. He's got real talent but at Chiefs it's wasted.

 

[Peat]

Is Slade's running game good enough to be an international centre?

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Is Slade's running game good enough to be an international centre?

It's actually one of his strengths, he's pretty fast and deceptively strong.

He looked very sharp against France at 13 before the World Cup, though more of one to put a winger through a gap than make an outside break.

Watson scored two tries outside of him, if I remember correctly.

 

[Peat]

It's actually one of his strengths, he's pretty fast and deceptively strong.

He looked very sharp against France at 13 before the World Cup, though more of one to put a winger through a gap than make an outside break.

Watson scored two tries outside of him, if I remember correctly.

Problem is, most international centres are either ridiculously rapid and deceptively strong, or pretty fast and SO STRONK! Pretty fast and deceptively strong doesn't cut it as a rule, not unless allied to footwork that could step a rhino in a phonebox.

Of course, there are a few out there who aren't any of those things, and mainly make it because they're very smart and great distributors and sure, Slade could be one of those guys.

But I have to say the evidence I've seen says he'd make it as an international centre in spite of his ball carrying not because of it.

Personally I'd like to see Slade stick with it at fly-half.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Personally I'd like to see Slade stick with it at fly-half.

I've been saying this since his debut season.

He and Ford should be our FH 1-2 combo for the foreseeable.

 

[BPM]

Before Slade's injury he was playing well enough to be a genuine option at 12 or 13.

Since then, he's not looked like the same player, but it's still early days and expect him to come good after a run of games. Whether that's a 10 or in the centre, I think he's a good enough player to make it at test level in either position.

In any case, we may as well dismiss Tuilagi as an for now, so we may as well keep an open mind on other possible options at centre.

Tuilagi's groin issues appear to be pretty chronic and I am genuinely concerned that he's not going to be physically able to live up to his early potential. If he can't string more than 3 games together, I can't see how he can be a serious option for Leicester of for England.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Problem is, most international centres are either ridiculously rapid and deceptively strong, or pretty fast and SO STRONK! Pretty fast and deceptively strong doesn't cut it as a rule, not unless allied to footwork that could step a rhino in a phonebox.

Of course, there are a few out there who aren't any of those things, and mainly make it because they're very smart and great distributors and sure, Slade could be one of those guys.

But I have to say the evidence I've seen says he'd make it as an international centre in spite of his ball carrying not because of it.

Personally I'd like to see Slade stick with it at fly-half.

Not inside centres, I mean Crotty isn't really any of the above is he? Toomua is a decent but not great carrier and good distributor in the same mould, Farrell seems to be working, Hernandez, all successful international 12s without an outstanding running game of either type.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Slade shouldn't be anywhere near the England XV until he starts tearing up trees at club level, in whatever position. He hasn't for ages, so why think he'd do so in a white shirt. Way down the pecking order for me at the moment, although he has the potential to climb it very quickly.

As for moving clubs, the AP is littered with players who thought the grass was greener and once players start moving they often get a bit nomadic and switching playing styles and coaches every few months generally doesn't help. If Exeter are committed to a style that simply doesn't suit Slade that's one thing, but I can't help feeling that he's so much more talented than all the other 10 and 12 options that they really should be looking to build the team around him. Of course he'll have to produce the weight of performance to justify that first.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Good news, that has ruled out everything I've said, Slade is starting at 12 for Chiefs vs Harlequins.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Should be interesting. When did he last start at 12?

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Should be interesting. When did he last start at 12?

I'm not sure but I know it was before last season.

 

[Which Tyler]

Should be interesting. When did he last start at 12?

It was either his debut season, or his breathrough one; which would be 12/13 or 13/14 (I went through all his team-sheets about a year ago to work out; he's started something like 2 matches ever at IC. I was reacting to his messianic status at 12)

 

[Peat]

Not inside centres, I mean Crotty isn't really any of the above is he? Toomua is a decent but not great carrier and good distributor in the same mould, Farrell seems to be working, Hernandez, all successful international 12s without an outstanding running game of either type.

I was talking about centres in general - Slade has mainly performed at 13 after all - and said a few did it and Slade could be one of them.

None of those have a huge amount of caps at 12 (Hernandez might be the exception but I thought the bulk of his had came at 10) and part of the reason is they've not got outstanding running games. Hernandez would again be an exception due to footwork. I'll stand by what I said: Slade's running game is a handicap towards him becoming a reguar international centre - even specialist inside-centre - even with the drift back to second distributors at inside-centre.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

It was either his debut season, or his breathrough one; which would be 12/13 or 13/14 (I went through all his team-sheets about a year ago to work out; he's started something like 2 matches ever at IC. I was reacting to his messianic status at 12)

Where did you find these?

 

[Every Time Ref]

I was talking about centres in general - Slade has mainly performed at 13 after all - and said a few did it and Slade could be one of them.

None of those have a huge amount of caps at 12 (Hernandez might be the exception but I thought the bulk of his had came at 10) and part of the reason is they've not got outstanding running games. Hernandez would again be an exception due to footwork. I'll stand by what I said: Slade's running game is a handicap towards him becoming a reguar international centre - even specialist inside-centre - even with the drift back to second distributors at inside-centre.

You may be right, but we're talking about England's inside centre cupboard here, we can't afford to be too fussy - if he can get very good at the style of IC he can play he's potentially a strong option. However...

It was either his debut season, or his breathrough one; which would be 12/13 or 13/14 (I went through all his team-sheets about a year ago to work out; he's started something like 2 matches ever at IC. I was reacting to his messianic status at 12)

I do agree with our grammatically pedantic revolutionary's point here: Slade has hardly played12, so any discussion here is massively premature.

 

[Peat]

You may be right, but we're talking about England's inside centre cupboard here, we can't afford to be too fussy - if he can get very good at the style of IC he can play he's potentially a strong option. However...

True enough. I would like to see him work on his footwork though so he's an even stronger one.

 

[Which Tyler]

Where did you find these?

Prem rugby site, used to hold the fixture lists going back to the start of the prem, with teams, reports and stats etc once they were started.
Of course, with the new site you're lucky to get end-of-season tables beyond 4 years back. Hopefully, the rest of the content will find its way back again in time.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

The Telegraph suggesting that Williams might be playing 7.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-un...nker-mike-williams-poised-to-be-handed--surp/

Not quite sure i but that TBH. I could understand 6 or Backrow/Lock sub but 7.... nah.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

The Telegraph suggesting that Williams might be playing 7.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-un...nker-mike-williams-poised-to-be-handed--surp/

Not quite sure i but that TBH. I could understand 6 or Backrow/Lock sub but 7.... nah.

Unless they mean Williams 6 and Robshaw 7, their idiot journalists usually get basics like that wrong.

For me Robshaw has to stay at 6 and we just call up the 3rs choice 7, which at the moment is Harrison.

Unless Jones comes to his senses and plays Seymour.