England EPS 2017/18 edition.

[ratsapprentice]

Is Robshaws workrate actually any higher than the alternatives? I recall in the 6N it was highlighted that far from being the workhorse, he was actually slow and not making as many tackles or hitting as many rucks as other forwards.

Well, no... it isn't.

Add to that, his relative lack of physicality/impact in those things he is doing and it isn't a good look.

 

[curtbob7]

A lot of attention on the fact Robshaw was doggo yesterday and rightly so. Think it also pointed out that Mercer is years behind being test quality. Wouldn't even make the 23 of a fully fit Bath side. He's a long way off.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

A lot of attention on the fact Robshaw was doggo yesterday and rightly so. Think it also pointed out that Mercer is years behind being test quality. Wouldn't even make the 23 of a fully fit Bath side. He's a long way off.

I thought Mercer had a good game. And why wouldn't he make the 23 at Bath? Not as good as Underhill, Louw or Faletau but I'd say he's noticeably better than Ellis, Grant, Garvey etc.

 

[curtbob7]

I thought Mercer had a good game. And why wouldn't he make the 23 at Bath? Not as good as Underhill, Louw or Faletau but I'd say he's noticeably better than Ellis, Grant, Garvey etc.

Well with Garvey being club captain..

Wouldn't say he's exactly a class above.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I thought Mercer was decent,
He's in the mix because the depth at 8 is non-existant.
We've got Binny who is just back from injury, Hughes who is just back from injury (And, realistically, looks like he shouldnt be playing till next season - He looked nowhere near ready for wasps the other week), then Simmonds (is he really an 8?) then......?
I mean ****, we had Robshaw at 8 in the 6N - he's definitely a step up on that.

 

[Scotty]

Baabaas game i was really hoping robshaw camr off for wilson, back row of wilson curry mercer is never going to be first choice, mercer had a decent game and got a try, curry good over the ball and some very physical tackles and wilson definatly added some energy and carrying to the game. And robshaw....should have been off at the 20 min mark lol. Alot has been said already about robshaw and not alot positive, if we have a jackling 7 like curry/underhill/willis who are all strong defenders too then that leaves shields, wilson, graham and wpuld even be open to simmonds filling that spot ahead of robshaw, remembering the game for england where he made 24 tackles and quite a few metres. Robshaws a workhorse? Really...still? He still should be around for RWC next year as a back up player/ to rest players when playing weaker teams. My opinion, pre 6n i was he was iffy but 6n did him no favours and neither did this, we should move on try new combinations without him IMO

 

[Nudger]

I thought Mercer was decent,
He's in the mix because the depth at 8 is non-existant.
We've got Binny who is just back from injury, Hughes who is just back from injury (And, realistically, looks like he shouldnt be playing till next season - He looked nowhere near ready for wasps the other week), then Simmonds (is he really an 8?) then......?
I mean ****, we had Robshaw at 8 in the 6N - he's definitely a step up on that.

Billy Hughes and Simmons in front of mercer

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I thought Mercer was decent,
He's in the mix because the depth at 8 is non-existant.
We've got Binny who is just back from injury, Hughes who is just back from injury (And, realistically, looks like he shouldnt be playing till next season - He looked nowhere near ready for wasps the other week), then Simmonds (is he really an 8?) then......?
I mean ****, we had Robshaw at 8 in the 6N - he's definitely a step up on that.

Morgan should be in that mix, he's been in good form for Gloucester. Massive work rate. Eddie just seems not to like him much

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Plays for Gloucester though....

 

[Big_Grumper]

Plays for Gloucester though....

.........which is a small town in Wales. <rollseyes>

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Billy Hughes and Simmons in front of mercer

....did you stop reading my post part way through?

None of those should be playing 8 this tour, realistically,
Only one is really an international class 8 and he's as injury prone as it's possible to be, we need to be looking at as many options as we can

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

.........which is a small town in Wales. <rollseyes>

Hey Trinder proved the theory.

First new cherry and white to play for England since 2013 and was key in two of the barbarians tries and offered nothing in attack in his time on the pitch.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

.........which is a small town in Wales. <rollseyes>

A big town in Wales

Also a pack I'd like to see just because:

1 - Genge
2 - LCD
3 - Sinckler
4 - Itoje
5 - Launchbury
6 - Ewers
7 - Willis
8 - Vunipola

Doubt it would be our best but the carrying ability would be incredible.

 

[BPM]

Well with Garvey being club captain..

Wouldn't say he's exactly a class above.

Club captains aren't necessarily on the field captains. As a case in point, Guy Mercer was the Bath club captain in the previous season but barely played (not just due to injury).

Mercer isn't ready to be a test 8 right now, but he's a more promising player than Underhill IMO.

So far, Underhill has shown two things: 1) he is a one-dimensional defensive Flanker and 2) he is ridiculously injury prone.

Mercer looks like a far more instinctive rugby player and comes across as having the strength of character and personality to be an influential player in the future. He looked like a good leader in his peer group and I don't see any reason for that to change.

 

[ratsapprentice]

So far, Underhill has shown two things: 1) he is a one-dimensional defensive Flanker and 2) he is ridiculously injury prone.

Just don't think that's true... he's perfectly capable of carrying the ball. He played quite differently for the Ospreys.

Because he's a freakish tackler, I think he's been told to play like Worsley.

 

[BPM]

Maybe. TBH, I watched him as many times as I could for Ospreys (televised games only) and never really saw anything to particularly excite me. He looked pretty similar to what I've seen of him at Bath.

I hoped I was missing something but without wanting to be harsh nothing I've seen since has changed my impression so far. You could be right. I hope the other aspects of his game aren't being coached out of him and if he has more carrying ability, I look forward to seeing it.

 

[Wendigo7]

Heres something in terms of ability our England Captain is 5th choice at best.....

1. George
2. Cowan-Dickie
3. Taylor
4. Singleton

I'm not entirely sure if Hartley will play again Tigs.

 

[Scotty]

How strong is tcurrys carrying? To me if we have willis curry or underhill at 7 we need a strong carrier at 6 and 8. though non of them are bad carriers, we cant just have 1 back rower who can break the line at 8. Robshaw and a defensive 7 will never work. Like the idea of ewers at 6 willis curry or underhill at 7 billy at 8 and simmonds at 20. Where does hughes fit in? Id rather have simmonds on the bench than the one domension running of hughes but thats just me.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Pretty good. Nothing exceptional, but it's a plus.

Certainly he's not going to be tying up large numbers of tacklers in the tight, in the same way that guys who are 110kg plus are going to be.

If you're a back rower - you need to be able to carry at least decently in the tight or loose - preferably both.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Curry is quick with good hands and even a reasonable boot, very aggressive too - he's not gonna be crashing over the top of defences in the tight though. Tends to carry a bit wider for sale and has made some good line breaks/ran support lines.

I don't think opensides really should be carrying like 8s though - the extra mass impacts their breakdown work.