England EPS 2017/18 edition.

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Well the top 4 is pretty much certain now unless some major shocks happen.
Barbarians team of
1. Genge
2. Singleton
3. Hill
4. Ewels
5. Spencer
6. Ross
7. O'Connor
8. Can't think of a SH player that is fit for this game sooooo Mercer
9. Care
10. Smith
11. Cokasigna
12. Mills
13. Marchant
14. Ibitoye
15. Woodward

16. Dunn
17. Obano
18. Schnoert
19. Ribbans
20. Chisholm
21. Vellacott
22. Francis
23. Solomona

Or something like that.

Stick Boyce in over Obano and I'm in agreement. Maybe stick Flood on the bench just for the bants

 

[Which Tyler]

Who's next in line behind Watson for 15?
I feel like we're putting all our hopes in him but I would be genuinely amazed if he didn't go to the NFL, on that foreign player scheme that Alex Gray has gone through, after the world cup

Woodward would have to be ahead of Watson on the principal that he actually plays FB. Until AW string some games together at 15 he's emergency cover only.


In other EPS news, ZMercer call today and playing really well, should be in contention for the SA tour.

 

[ratsapprentice]

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

why Santa why!!!!!

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

**** **** ****... I thought visser coming on for him was weird

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

so with Marchant likely out and JJ.
Guessing Trinder might have a chance in the barbarians game.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

so with Marchant likely out and JJ.
Guessing Trinder might have a chance in the barbarians game.

Now that Leicester are unlikely to make the semis I reckon Tuilagi will be reintroduced.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Now that Leicester are unlikely to make the semis I reckon Tuilagi will be reintroduced.

Nah, he will be injured

 

[BPM]

I'd go for:

1. Genge
2. Dunn
3. Sinckler
4. Ewels
5. Spencer
6. Ludlow
7. B. Curry
8. Mercer
9. S. Harrison
10. Smith
11. Cokanasiga
12. Atkinson
13. Te'o
14. Lewington
15. Woodward

16. Singleton
17. Obano
18. Schonert
19. Stooke
20. Gibson
21. Vellacott
22. Francis
23. Trinder

A fair few in there I wouldn't pick in normal circumstances, but with no Chiefs, Saracens, Wasps or Falcons players, there aren't that many to pick from in certain positions.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I thought Schonert was locked to South Africa through their u20s?


Could do worse than involving Webber if they wanted some experience in the pack, he's been in fine form this season. Not exactly one for the future but a decent guy to have in the mix considering the injury issues of LCD, Hartley and Taylor. I wouldn't necessarily have him ahead of the youngsters but I think he's experienced enough that he could drop in in the event of an injury with minimal fuss.

Would be mildly surprised if Jono Ross isn't involved, I think EJ will use him as an 8 (I don't think it's a coincidence that all the press about him referred to him as an 8 and then he starts there for us next game - would be very EJ to play an in form player out of position)

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I thought Schonert was locked to South Africa through their u20s?

Jones was advocating him in the Times today.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Kruis out due to end of season surgery.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Jones was advocating him in the Times today.

Fair play,
Eligibility rules are too messed up for me to work out half the time haha

 

[Reiser99]

I wouldn't have Care in the barbarians squad. He didn't have a good 6N's and he's now part of a pretty shocking Quins team. On top we all know what he can do and we aren't going to learn anything more. I'd throw Vellacott in the deep end and just tell him to go out and have fun playing his normal game and that it won't affect his future. See what he can do.

Edit: It's a shame so many SH's are either injured or playing in the playoffs. Really don't want Jones to just go back to Youngs and Care because it's not guaranteed to work and as 6N's showed one injury and it puts England on the back foot. Especially when the replacement Wigglesworth, played better than Care.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I thought Schonert was locked to South Africa through their u20s?


Could do worse than involving Webber if they wanted some experience in the pack, he's been in fine form this season. Not exactly one for the future but a decent guy to have in the mix considering the injury issues of LCD, Hartley and Taylor. I wouldn't necessarily have him ahead of the youngsters but I think he's experienced enough that he could drop in in the event of an injury with minimal fuss.

Would be mildly surprised if Jono Ross isn't involved, I think EJ will use him as an 8 (I don't think it's a coincidence that all the press about him referred to him as an 8 and then he starts there for us next game - would be very EJ to play an in form player out of position)

Schonert has already played for England v barbarians didn't he? so not locked.

 

[MarkyH]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43944499

No Kruis either now. I've said this before but some of these injuries will hopefully give the players the mental and physical rest their bodies need. I don't wish injuries on anyone, but its might be a blessing in disguise. Will hopefully mean we don't try and shoehorn a lock into each position.

Also, Daly might also miss out.

Still got plenty of options around the park, but 12/13 are beginning to look more troublesome. Marchant, Trinder, Atkinson, Loz? Do we bring Tuilagi back in?

 

[Mumbles119]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43944499

No Kruis either now. I've said this before but some of these injuries will hopefully give the players the mental and physical rest their bodies need. I don't wish injuries on anyone, but its might be a blessing in disguise. Will hopefully mean we don't try and shoehorn a lock into each position.

Also, Daly might also miss out.

Still got plenty of options around the park, but 12/13 are beginning to look more troublesome. Marchant, Trinder, Atkinson, Loz? Do we bring Tuilagi back in?

If you are taling about 13s for the SA tour not Baa Baa game? Then would you not include Slade as one of the top choices for 13?

 

[MarkyH]

If you are taling about 13s for the SA tour not Baa Baa game? Then would you not include Slade as one of the top choices for 13?

Blimey, I forgot about Slade, yes for sure. I'd still like a look at Hill at 12 too tbh.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Marchant is likely out isn't he?

 

[Mumbles119]

So we could be looking at a pecking order of 13 for SA: Te'o, Slade, Manu, Loz, Nowell? Feels like I have forgotten someone important!?

New additions and bolters for 12/13 could be: Trinder, James x2, Francis, Atkinson, Hill, Williams, Mills. Because this is Eddie, he does seem to always pick an outsider who is not really flavour of the month somewhere in his squad (although this usually means they just train and never play... or sent back broken).

There are other EQ centres that can added to a list of possibles, but probably not going picked, but hopefully in the conversation at least; such as TBC and Tomkins.