England EPS 2017/18 edition.

[ratsapprentice]

I agree in principle but wonder who is going to be the first club to do it. The problem with lowering wages is that it only works if everyone does it. If 1 or 2 clubs do it and nobody else does, they just lose their players and things carry on. Basically the governing body for the clubs will need to force a proper wage cap and squad cap on clubs and then you get to the point of saying why not just get centralised systems and be done with it?

Yet another reason for more central control

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Yet another reason for more central control

Which I'm in favour of. I think if we are going to go down this route, we shouldn't half arse it. However I feel the powers that be will see if the same way and so will propose absolutely nothing changes for the same reason. They are the rugby equivalent of the civil service from yes minister.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Yet another reason for more central control

Yep. It's no coincidence that the top 2 teams in the world have central control.

National team interests should be put first. From that everything else flows.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Yep. It's no coincidence that the top 2 teams in the world have central control.

National team interests should be put first. From that everything else flows.

That's the key bit... every level benefits.

 

[ratsapprentice]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-u...st-concussion-leaves-doubtful-englands-south/

TLDR

 

[Reiser99]

Thing is we don't know what EJ's plans are anyway. We all want him to rest many of the players who have been regulars and try some others, but is that is his plan? Maybe he'll be forced into it?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If there's even an inkling of a head injury he should be rested. Its really not worth the risk to his long term health, especially with his past of head trauma.

 

[curtbob7]

3 defeats on the bounce for England under18s...

 

[ratsapprentice]

3 defeats on the bounce for England under18s...

It's not their first choice side.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

It's not their first choice side.

Still. Our depth should be able to beat Italy.

 

[curtbob7]

It's not their first choice side.

Damn right it isn't

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

http://rugbylad.ie/england-captain-dylan-hartleys-rugby-future-in-doubt/

As much as I don't think he should be in the current England side he's been a great servant to English rugby and it would be a real shame for him to go out this way.

 

[curtbob7]

Personally think its time to move on from him. There are 5, probably 6 ahead of him right now anyway.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Personally think its time to move on from him. There are 5, probably 6 ahead of him right now anyway.

I agree, but it's a shame regardless that he's having his career, domestic or international, cut short by concussion.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Personally think its time to move on from him. There are 5, probably 6 ahead of him right now anyway.

Who would that be?
George
Cowan Dickie
Dunn at a push?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Is dunn really that good?
I've never seen him stand out for bath. Like I didn't even think he played this weekend before I double checked the teamlists just now

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

LCD, George and a fit Taylor are all the ones I can think of that I'd put ahead of him.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Is dunn really that good?
I've never seen him stand out for bath. Like I didn't even think he played this weekend before I double checked the teamlists just now

Yeah, me neither but everyone else seems to rate him so I thought I was missing something

 

[curtbob7]

Cowan-Dickie, George, Dunn are all nailed-on ahead IMO. Tommy Taylor is brilliant and when fully fit 100% needs considering.

Then you've got Singleton, Walker etc with potential. Mcguigan has a choice now of fighting with Youngs and TPN and learning, going for an easy ride elsewhere in the prem for England or beggaring off to Ireland.

Hell even Tom Youngs is playing better for club the past couple seasons than Hartley.

So maybe in reality hes 4th choice but do you have a hooker who'll be 33 by the World cup with a history of concussions at 4th choice or do you give youth a chance. Its like the Cipriani being 3rd choice 10 debate. Do you let him be just that or do you give Loz and Smith chances?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Dunn has a freakish workrate, but that's about it.

I like him, he's a nugget. But he doesn't look like an international of note.