This is my 23 for next week. I don't think the backline lost us the game yesterday and I would say their potency in attack is enough to keep it intact. Mako was the only front rower to emerge with credit despite his farcical sin binning. Itoje gave away stupid penalties at key moments but his intensity and aggression is needed. He needs to learn the boundaries and learn quickly otherwise there would be little choice but to drop him from the 15. LCD comes in to take the pressure of carrying off the Vunipolae, Shields in to be what Eddie thinks Robshaw is. Hughes and Francis bottled it.
1. M Vunipola - I thought he had a good game. Solid defense, reasonably effective at the breakdown. Not a lot of ground made carrying but he drew in defenders. He looked knackered even before the match but it didn't seem to affect his play, maybe he always looks like that.
2. Cowan-Dickie - He offers so much more around the park. Explosive carrying in the tight, hard hitting and good over the ball. I think he needs to start to get over his end of game, high stakes, lineout stage fright (although to be fair to him I don't think the lost lineout in this game was his fault).
3. Williams - Big man, smashes rucks. Rarely goes backwards or downwards in the scrum. Matched SA ginger loosehead who looked unstoppable before.
4. Itoje - Stupid penalties but at the same time I think England need someone in the pack who gets in the oppos faces. We need a Martin Johnson/Bakkies Botha enforcer/nutter and at the moment Itoje is the closest we have. Hopefully he can wind it in enough to reduce penalties but still ruffle a few feathers.
5. Isiekwe - He played well. Hopefully his early subbing hasn't rocked him too much and he carries on where he left off. Excited about his future for England.
6. Shields - Did well enough but he needs to be played in position. Seems the perfect 6 and balances this back row well.
7. Curry/Simmonds - Very impressive. Dealt with big South Africans and partisan crowd well. Didn't take a backwards step and looked comfortable at this level. Another exciting prospect for England. Simmonds if Curry is injured.
8. B Vunipola - Off pace but understandable given his situation. Despite this, multiple defenders will still be drawn to him when he has the ball so his reputation is enough to keep him starting. Hopefully he hits his straps next time. With LCD and Shields bringing more of a carrying threat it should take the pressure off Billy a bit.
9. Youngs - I thought he was solid. With the leadership/experience he brings as well as lack of realistic competition, I think he should get the nod again.
10. Ford - He seemed to give a lot of ground in defence and SA aren't going to stop running down his channel. However, in attack he was sublime and offers too much to be dropped.
11. Brown - I was actually impressed with Brown. Again, bit of a nutter and I think England need that. I don't think his lack of pace is enough to drop him yet given what he offers. I like a balanced back 3 with a pacey finisher on one wing (May/Watson) and a more solid, safer pair of hands on the other (in this case Brown but ideally Nowell).
12. Farrell - Not his best game but I think he can be a great Captain as long as he doesn't lose his edge.
13. Slade - I think this was his best game in England shirt. With his pace, step and big fends he is no longer just a passing machine. Key defender yesterday.
14. May - Makes me laugh whenever he has the ball but undeniably rapid. Without the quick, long and accurate passing offered by Ford and Slade in particular, he would be much less of a threat. But with the quality of distribution in the rest of the backline May is a real weapon.
15. Daly - Several poor decisions but I don't think any of them were due to the number on his back. A real star player who I think has more of a future at 15 than on the wing for England.
16. George - Not bad but not good. Didn't really offer much beyond solid lineout. Little or no carrying and flopped around the rucks.
17. Genge - See how he goes, I don't think Marler brings a lot to the table beyond petulance. Genge epitomises impact.
18. Sinckler - Seemed to carry towards the ground and struggle at scrum time, especially against Kitshoff. Could be good impact later on.
19. Launchbury/Hill - Would be tempted to start Launchbury if he hadn't been injured the past week or so. If still not upto speed then Hill on the bench for lack of other options. Even as an Exeter supporter, I cant understand Hill being called up.
20. Simmonds/Wilson - Obvious pace and carries hard despite size but needs to be utilised in balanced back row or at least a pack with tight carriers. The only reason he works so well for Exeter is the other two back rowers. Armand (115 kg) plays 7 but looks a traditional 6, Ewers (128 kg) plays 6 but looks a traditional 8. Simmonds for all intents and purposes plays as a 7 from the back of the scrum. This only works if he is allowed space to play. Trying to get him to play like Binny in a pack built around Binny is pi**ing in the wind. Wilson if Curry injured.
21. Spencer - Not seen a lot of him but did well enough yesterday. Just happy he isn't Wigglesworth.
22. Lozowski - Unlucky not to have been picked at 13 for the first test given how he spanked Slade in the final. Despite this I think Slade did enough yesterday to keep the shirt. Would like to see Loz subbed in for Ford later on. No idea what Eddie was thinking with Francis.
23. Solomona - Again, not seen a lot but recognise his attacking threat. Put in a cheeky big hit too. See how he goes with more gametime.
With regards to SA, obviously Faf but also Vermuelen, Snyman and Kitshoff really impressed. Like the look of Akker VDM too, reminds me of LCD a bit. Their outside backs showed real potency and once they get their defensive systems sorted they will be superb. With all this emerging talent as well as Marx and Etzebeth returning, we will hopefully see SA back to their best before long.
