- Joined
- Apr 12, 2015
- Messages
- 7,190
- Country Flag
- Club or Nation
My squad for SA:
LHPs: Genge, Hepburn, Obano (Vunipola and Marler rested)
HKs: Hartley, LCD, Taylor (George rested) - This should be Hartley's swan song. On a tour that's likely to have very little experience but quite a few players that should be pushing for RWC squad places he'll do a good job of giving them guidance.
THPs: Williams, Sinckler, Hill (Cole rested) - Sinckler's had a lot of time out with his ban so I don't think he needs to be rested again. I've chosen Hill as the 3rd choice because I think he's option with most potential, he just needs to get game time.
LKs: Launchbury, Isiekwe, Ewels, Beaumont (Itoje, Kruis and Lawes rested) - Realistically only Launchbury and Isiekwe have a chance of making the RWC squad, Ewels and Beaumont are there to make up numbers/potentially throw their hats in the ring.
BRs: Armand, Underhill, Ben Curry, Simmonds, Vunipola, Ewers (Assuming Hughes is injured) - I like Mercer but it's clear that what this England pack is real physicality, not guile. For that reason Armand and Ewers have been brought in. Curry should be pushing for a starting spot at the RWC IMO. We know what Robshaw can do, no need for him to take up a spot in which we could be bringing through new talent.
SHs: Robson, Care, Vellacott - I'd like to see all 3 given one start and one opportunity off the bench. Youngs is our starter, this will give a fair opportunity to find his back-up.
FHs: Ford, Smith - I want to see Smith get game time. Ford should start all 3 tests but I want to see Smith get some time off of the bench.
ICs: Lozowski, Slade (Farrell rested) - I think Slade is a more natural 13 but for the case of consistently selecting 2nd distributors at 12, for this tour I've included him as a 12.
OCs: Tuilagi, Te'o (Joseph rested) - I'd like to see the England 13 shirt taken up by a power runner. That means Tuilagi or Te'o.
WGs: May, Nowell, Cokonasiga, Solomona (Watson rested) - Nowell will have spent a long time injured so won't need any more rest. Cokonasiga could be pushing for a RWC spot given the opportunity. Freakish athlete.
FBs: Daly, Woodward - Like Nowell, Daly's had a long time injured so doesn't need more rest, plus I want to see him given game time at FB. If the experiment doesn't work out then give Woodward a shot.
I'd like to see the 1st and 2nd tests run like trials, so in closely contested positions each player gets a start and then the 3rd test will be a 1st choice selection, apart from 9 in which the starter will alternate regardless.
Team for 1st test:
1. Genge 2. Hartley 3. Williams
4. Launchbury 5. Isiekwe
6. Armand 7. Curry 8. Vunipola
9. Care 10. Ford
12. Lozowski 13. Tuilagi
11. May 14. Nowell 15. Daly
16. LCD 17. Hepburn 18. Sinckler 19. Ewels 20. Simmonds
21. Robson 22. Smith 23. Cokonasiga
Team for 2nd test:
1. Genge 2. LCD 3. Williams
4. Launchbury 5. Isiekwe
6. Underhill 7. Simmonds 8. Ewers (Not because he's really contesting Binny but because he deserves an opportunity, and gives Binny some rest)
9. Robson 10. Ford
12. Slade 13. Te'o
11. May 14. Nowell 15. Woodward
16. Taylor 17. Obano 18. Hill (Gives Sinckler rest) 19. Beaumont 20. Armand
21. Vellacott 22. Smith 23. Solomona
Team for 3rd test: (If two players are named it means that the shirt's taken by whoever impressed most in their previous start)
1. Genge 2. Hartley/LCD 3. Williams
4. Launchbury 5. Isiekwe
6. Armand/Underhill 7. Curry/Simmonds 8. Vunipola/Ewers if it's worth having another look at him
9. Vellacott 10. Ford
12. Lozowski/Slade
13. Tuilagi/Te'o
11. May 14. Nowell 15. Daly/Woodward
16. LCD/Taylor (If LCD starts, Hartley's no use off the bench) 17. Hepburn/Obano 18. Sinckler 19. Ewels/Beaumont 20. Literally anyone
21. Care 22. Smith 23. Cokonasiga/Solomona
LHPs: Genge, Hepburn, Obano (Vunipola and Marler rested)
HKs: Hartley, LCD, Taylor (George rested) - This should be Hartley's swan song. On a tour that's likely to have very little experience but quite a few players that should be pushing for RWC squad places he'll do a good job of giving them guidance.
THPs: Williams, Sinckler, Hill (Cole rested) - Sinckler's had a lot of time out with his ban so I don't think he needs to be rested again. I've chosen Hill as the 3rd choice because I think he's option with most potential, he just needs to get game time.
LKs: Launchbury, Isiekwe, Ewels, Beaumont (Itoje, Kruis and Lawes rested) - Realistically only Launchbury and Isiekwe have a chance of making the RWC squad, Ewels and Beaumont are there to make up numbers/potentially throw their hats in the ring.
BRs: Armand, Underhill, Ben Curry, Simmonds, Vunipola, Ewers (Assuming Hughes is injured) - I like Mercer but it's clear that what this England pack is real physicality, not guile. For that reason Armand and Ewers have been brought in. Curry should be pushing for a starting spot at the RWC IMO. We know what Robshaw can do, no need for him to take up a spot in which we could be bringing through new talent.
SHs: Robson, Care, Vellacott - I'd like to see all 3 given one start and one opportunity off the bench. Youngs is our starter, this will give a fair opportunity to find his back-up.
FHs: Ford, Smith - I want to see Smith get game time. Ford should start all 3 tests but I want to see Smith get some time off of the bench.
ICs: Lozowski, Slade (Farrell rested) - I think Slade is a more natural 13 but for the case of consistently selecting 2nd distributors at 12, for this tour I've included him as a 12.
OCs: Tuilagi, Te'o (Joseph rested) - I'd like to see the England 13 shirt taken up by a power runner. That means Tuilagi or Te'o.
WGs: May, Nowell, Cokonasiga, Solomona (Watson rested) - Nowell will have spent a long time injured so won't need any more rest. Cokonasiga could be pushing for a RWC spot given the opportunity. Freakish athlete.
FBs: Daly, Woodward - Like Nowell, Daly's had a long time injured so doesn't need more rest, plus I want to see him given game time at FB. If the experiment doesn't work out then give Woodward a shot.
I'd like to see the 1st and 2nd tests run like trials, so in closely contested positions each player gets a start and then the 3rd test will be a 1st choice selection, apart from 9 in which the starter will alternate regardless.
Team for 1st test:
1. Genge 2. Hartley 3. Williams
4. Launchbury 5. Isiekwe
6. Armand 7. Curry 8. Vunipola
9. Care 10. Ford
12. Lozowski 13. Tuilagi
11. May 14. Nowell 15. Daly
16. LCD 17. Hepburn 18. Sinckler 19. Ewels 20. Simmonds
21. Robson 22. Smith 23. Cokonasiga
Team for 2nd test:
1. Genge 2. LCD 3. Williams
4. Launchbury 5. Isiekwe
6. Underhill 7. Simmonds 8. Ewers (Not because he's really contesting Binny but because he deserves an opportunity, and gives Binny some rest)
9. Robson 10. Ford
12. Slade 13. Te'o
11. May 14. Nowell 15. Woodward
16. Taylor 17. Obano 18. Hill (Gives Sinckler rest) 19. Beaumont 20. Armand
21. Vellacott 22. Smith 23. Solomona
Team for 3rd test: (If two players are named it means that the shirt's taken by whoever impressed most in their previous start)
1. Genge 2. Hartley/LCD 3. Williams
4. Launchbury 5. Isiekwe
6. Armand/Underhill 7. Curry/Simmonds 8. Vunipola/Ewers if it's worth having another look at him
9. Vellacott 10. Ford
12. Lozowski/Slade
13. Tuilagi/Te'o
11. May 14. Nowell 15. Daly/Woodward
16. LCD/Taylor (If LCD starts, Hartley's no use off the bench) 17. Hepburn/Obano 18. Sinckler 19. Ewels/Beaumont 20. Literally anyone
21. Care 22. Smith 23. Cokonasiga/Solomona
