[England] Post-6N/Pre-RWC Player Watch

[TRF_Olyy]

Why would you not have Armatige, one of the best 7's in the world..

Greed and no pride in the shirt.
Has had several opportunities to come to England in time for the RWC including big money from Bath for a couple of month contract, he demanded significantly more money so the offers were withdrawn.
He also tried his hardest to play for france.
He doesn't care about playing for England, so why should we chase him?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Armitage doesn't compare to Pocock at all IMO.

 

[ZeroTwo]

I feel sorry for Abendanon. Leaves the UK for money as he's not got a shot at England then plays sime of the finest rugby in Europe too late to move back and play for England in the wc. Armitage? He's had chances. And the French team thing. I'm done with caring about his international future.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I feel sorry for Abendanon. Leaves the UK for money as he's not got a shot at England then plays sime of the finest rugby in Europe too late to move back and play for England in the wc. Armitage? He's had chances. And the French team thing. I'm done with caring about his international future.

Funny that...

Just thinking about how massive a boost it would be if Brookes can step up and start reaching his potential - strong scrummaging hard carrying TH. Yesh pleaj.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Just thinking about how massive a boost it would be if Brookes can step up and start reaching his potential - strong scrummaging hard carrying TH. Yesh pleaj.

Looking forward to seeing him at Saints, even if the Falcon in me is still stinging with betrayal...
What are general opinions on the Saints coaching, particularly forward, set up? Think they're Brookes' best chance to reach his potential, or would he be better off at Tigers/wherever in that regard?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Difficult to tell - I guess how well Kieran goes with them will possibly give us a good idea.

I guess coaches are there to exploit potential to it's fullest - we have a reasonable idea of Brookes' potential at this point.
So barring injury they should be able to get him dominating most scrums and being a destructive presence with and without the ball consistently.

 

[TobesHodges]

Armitage doesn't compare to Pocock at all IMO.

Do you watch Top 14 rugby? :/

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Difficult to tell - I guess how well Kieran goes with them will possibly give us a good idea.

I guess coaches are there to exploit potential to it's fullest - we have a reasonable idea of Brookes' potential at this point.
So barring injury they should be able to get him dominating most scrums and being a destructive presence with and without the ball consistently.

It will go one of two ways, think Brian mujati as the good or doran-Jones as the bad.

If the player has a good work ethic you couldn't have a better forwards coaching set up

 

[Maverick1987]

It will go one of two ways, think Brian mujati as the good or doran-Jones as the bad.

If the player has a good work ethic you couldn't have a better forwards coaching set up

Brooke's is a significantly better player than Doran Jones already imo he's not far behind Mujati if at all . He's better in the loose than Mujati

 

[ratsapprentice]

Brooke's is a significantly better player than Doran Jones already

That's not exactly a Herculean feat!

Paula Doreen-Janeen is one of the worst players to have ever been capped by England - boggles my mind that he's still employed at a respectable level.

 

[yaboyjj]

Why would you not have Armatige, one of the best 7's in the world.. It's like being able to pick Maccaw or pocock and just not picking them, that's dumb.. (I was saying, as if Armitage was eligible)

:huh: Mentioning McCaw in the same breath, must be paramount to rugby treason.

I can't work out which hooker is going to be dropped- they seem to like both George and LCD, but Webber has the big advantage of int experience- can they just discount the last years worth of turd from him for Bath? Dropping the only hooker able to throw into the lineout with a degree of reliability (George) would be asking for trouble... surely even they must know that.

Brookes, Vunipola, Cole, Auterac, LCD, Youngs for 2016 AI's #FrontrowBeastmode (Genge/Hill to enter into the fray by 2017 )

 

[Every Time Ref]

I really hope Webber is dropped, international experience doesn't mean much when you've been, to coin a phrase "turd" for the last year

 

[Peat]

I really hope Webber is dropped, international experience doesn't mean much when you've been, to coin a phrase "turd" for the last year

But form from three months ago does?

 

[j'nuh]

That's not exactly a Herculean feat!

Paula Doreen-Janeen is one of the worst players to have ever been capped by England - boggles my mind that he's still employed at a respectable level.

Wasn't he respectable in his first stint at Gloucester, but hasn't lived up to it since moving on?

It must be that teams think that they can get him on the cheap and turn him back into that player. Risky signing, but may be worth it depending on how cheap you can get him. And at this point, anyone better than a plank of wood would improve Gloucester's tighthead depth...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

And at this point, anyone better than a plank of wood would improve Gloucester's tighthead depth...

Probably be better with a plank of wood rather than PornDornJorn.

He was OK when before 2 prop benches, as he could play both sides to a reasonably standard - enough to be a viable bench option anyway. Since specialising in one side he's just gone to s**t.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Do you watch Top 14 rugby? :/

Do you watch super rugby and test rugby?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I'm not particularly impressed with saints front row TBH haven't for a while.

Waller and Haywood are talents IMO but I don't know how much of that is down to first team coaching.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Since specialising in one side he's just gone to s**t.

What's worse is that he doesn't seem to give a **** - he's just happy to receive pay.

I'm not particularly impressed with saints front row TBH haven't for a while.

Waller and Haywood are talents IMO but I don't know how much of that is down to first team coaching.

I think I'd agree to an extent - lots of people seem to talk about West's prowess as a coach and it's become a someone unchallenged truth.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Calling it now Balmain will be one to watch next season around the same age as Cole was when he overtook White and become a tandem with Castro.

I reckon Balmain will become a def 50/60 minute sub for Cole much akin to the old Leicester Tigers tight head days.

Balmain improvement last season from start to end was brilliant.

 

[Every Time Ref]

But form from three months ago does?

Of course, it's the last time anyone in the squad played competitive rugby, it's the best indication we've got.

Are you saying form during the last season should be completely irrelevant to Lancaster's decisions?