England EPS 2016/17 season.

[ratsapprentice]

England Counties, or Devon? Congrats either way.

What's his brother like?

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

England Counties, or Devon? Congrats either way.

What's his brother like?

Devon. His brother's good. Not got the size or power of his brother but he's faster and has better footwork, and I'd say has a better skill set (I mean all this comparatively for age groups). Also plays more as a centre than winger. I used to go to school with him too.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Cheers.

 

[BPM]

Looks pretty good. And I'm trying to temper my hope here (this is actually a very promising squad).

Aspland-Robinson, Brophy Clews, Ibitoye, Isiekwe, Mercer, Odogwu and Umaga are all good.

Odogwu we all know about by now, but Ibitoye is really talented, and Isiekwe is possibly the TH lock to Itoje's LH lock.

I know the Curry boys are supposed to be great, and although he wasnt fantastic for the u18's; Cokanasiga is a giant, with good potential.
Alex Mitchell looked like he was a lot more talented than his brother when he played in the 7's last year.

No reason why Haag shouldn't be able to get them in a position to win both competitions.

I agree. Aside from those you mentioned, Malins and Randall were two of our better players in the U20 World Cup and Shillcock is already making a good impression in the AP.

I can't say I know anything about any of the front row or second row (apart from Isiekwe), but it definitely sounds as though we'll have a strong back row and some great backs.

 

[BPM]

Itoje is now a doubt for the AIs ... These injuries are becoming unreal ...

We're potentially going to be missing a third of our preferred starting XV with Kruis, Itoje, Haskell, Nowell and Watson all missing.

While it's not a vintage Springbok side, this is going to be a massive test for Eddie.

I still feel as though we have the depth to absorb the injuries to an extent, but Itoje and Kruis have been a massive part of our success under Eddie so to lose both would be a very bitter blow.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The Bok curse continues,
They've been our bogey side for a while and just as we're looking good and they're looking poor, they're coming to our backyard, we lose a ton of players.


Crazy thing about losing Krutoje is that our backup pairing is Launch/Lawes who looked superb together in the past.

 

[BPM]

Don't get me wrong, Launchbury and Lawes is still an excellent combination, but Itoje in particular has been a massive part of our recent success and will be a huge loss if he is out. He's just such a nuisance for the opposition whether it's disrupting lineouts, sacking mauls or being a pain in the arse at the breakdown.

As much as we'd never have chosen to be in this position, I actually think the best teams need to come though a bit of adversity as part of their journey. You could argue a chunk of the starting XV have that from the World Cup, but I'm thinking of Eddie's England as a distinct from the Lancaster era.

If we can still pick up four wins with our current injury situation, I think we can justifiably start considering ourselves as the number two team in the world. I think Eddie will take a 'backs to the wall' situation and use it in the right way, but we'll find out soon enough.

 

[johnmac99]

Nothing definite about Itoje yet, he is to have an X-ray on his hand.

Apparently Kruis may be fit for the later AIs.

One man's injury is another man's opportunity.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Assuming the worst, I think we're looking at a team of:
1. Vunipola
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Launchbury
5. Lawes
6. Robshaw
7. Could Beaumont fill the Haskell role? If not then probably Harrison
8. Vunipola
9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. May/Yarde
12. Farrell
13. Joseph
14. Rokoduguni
15. Brown

16. George
17. Marler
18. Hill
19. Ewels/Beaumont
20. Hughes
21. Robson/Care
22. Slade/Devoto/Te'o
23. Daly

 

[TheSaffycen]

We need a guy who is a big tackler and carrier, in the mould of Harrison/ Wray/ maybe an 8 like Beaumont or Vunipola?
On Wray I think he's a great player but underrated, very good over the ball, carrier and at lineout. Harrison is younger though and has a much higher ceiling, but don't be surprised to see Wray in the squad. Is Kvesic completely out of the picture for people then? How about Launchbury on the flank with Attwood and Lawes in the lineout?

My Team
1.Vunipola 2.George 3.Cole 4.Launchbury 5.Lawes 6.Robshaw 7.Harrison/Wray 8.Vunipola
9.Youngs 10.Ford 11.May 12.Farrell 13.Joseph 14.Rokoduguni 15.Brown/Goode
16.LCD 17.Marler 18.Sinckler/Brookes 19.Beaumont 20.Wray/Harrison 21.Robson 22.Daly 23.Eastmond

Based on running rugby, 22/23 are both guys to cover the whole backline and add electric pace and handling. We don't want big guys to come on to try and beat up the boks, we want guys he can run around them.

 

[spartan32]

So now itoje is likely to be out for AIs! This is becoming a real problem. Yes Launch and Lawes are solid but they aren't the guys who are going to change a game.

The only real upside to all these injuries I can see is that lads who have been floating around the periphery with very little chance of getting on the pitch now have the opportunity to show what they can do at tat level. This may turn up some real untapped talent, or on the other hand may just show that they aren't ready yet in the form of us getting are arsses handed to us.

Will be very interested to see who EJ has in his starting 15 as it stands.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Would go with
1) Vunipola, 2) George, 3) Cole
4) Launchbury, 5) Lawes
6) Hughes, 7) Robshaw, 8) Vunipola
9) Robson, 10) Ford
12) Farrell, 13) Joesph
11) Roko, 14) May, 15) Brown

16) Hartley, 17) Marler, 18) Sink
19) Ewels, 20) Beaumont
21) Youngs, 22) Slade, 23) Goode

Won't happen though but I lf worse comes to worse I would go with it.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Would go with
1) Vunipola, 2) George, 3) Cole
4) Launchbury, 5) Lawes
6) Hughes, 7) Robshaw, 8) Vunipola
9) Robson, 10) Ford
12) Farrell, 13) Joesph
11) Roko, 14) May, 15) Brown

16) Hartley, 17) Marler, 18) Sink
19) Ewels, 20) Beaumont
21) Youngs, 22) Slade, 23) Goode

Won't happen though but I lf worse comes to worse I would go with it.

I can't see Hughes starting going well. He has no idea what the breakdown laws are, and I fear putting him at flanker is only going to mane him feel more entitled to interfere at the rucks, causing even more penalties.

I also question George as a starter. I think he works best as an impact sub. I'm entirely open to Hartley being replaced, but I'd rather it be by Taylor.

Throwing in Robson at the deep end vs SA is also I believe unfair to him. For now he belongs on the bench. With Lou's injured, Kriel's gonna start at open side. He's fully capable of making very big hits on 9s, and if it was in Robson's first international, I can see it being a while before he finds his feet again.

Other than that and that I can't see Daly not being in the 23, a good side.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

TBH I'm hoping Thompson gets a late call up really.

 

[BPM]

TBH I'm hoping Thompson gets a late call up really.

Same here.

It seems strange that we have something like 8-10 injuries but haven't yet called-up any injury replacements?

When 4 of those injuries (5 if you include Itoje) are in the back row, it would be madness not to draft in some reinforcements. As it stands, Robshaw, Harrison and Evans are the only fit flankers in the squad. Harrison's not in any kind of form and Evans isn't a realistic option. OK, Beaumont or Hughes could slot in on the flank, but both are 8s by trade and I feel like that's the wrong solution when we have someone like Thompson in excellent form.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

TBH I'm hoping Thompson gets a late call up really.

Having not seen Evans play this year, is he ready for international rugby?

Harrison is in no form to start.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Having not seen Evans play this year, is he ready for international rugby?

Harrison is in no form to start.

Evans is ready for international rugby i think Eddie has him in the wider squad mainly for experiance.

He is a good player and maybe against a tier 2 country he will be fine but he isn't ready for the likes of SA, ARG and Aus. Thompson at least has the physicality to play against those teams IMO.

 

[Peat]

They won't name injury replacements until the squad gets together.

 

[Which Tyler]

They won't name injury replacements until the squad gets together.

This. There's absolutely no need to announce a replacement for every injury the moment the injury happens; let's wait and see who's still injured, and who's actually available at the point in time that they're actually needed; rather than randomly 3 weeks before they'd meet, in which time some will look closer to ready, and others will rule themselves out.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

The squad gets together this week I blieve.

All the England players are not avaiable for clubs this weekend is what I heard.

The first game is a week on Saturday.