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

[ncurd]

TBF Goode is the only one on that list that really takes a pounding. Burgess mostly based on club appearances was deemed not to be ready yet rather than no one wanted him the side. I think most have raised their hand and admitted they were probably wrong after Saturday's performance (I still maintain he's better at 6).

Does anyone really hate on Barritt or is it just a lack on inspiring options? And looking for one in Slade/Eastmond/Farrell. Same goes for Farrell in the fly-half position GN10 aside most just want to see the better in attack Ford/Slade play there instead.

 

[goodNumber10]

Does anyone really hate on Barritt or is it just a lack on inspiring options? And looking for one in Slade/Eastmond/Farrell. Same goes for Farrell in the fly-half position GN10 aside most just want to see the better in attack Ford/Slade play there instead.

I haven't really specified a preference, I've always maintained I prefer watching Ford at 10, just that i'm not convinced he's the better option for this level.

 

[Tony Manx]

TBF Goode is the only one on that list that really takes a pounding. Burgess mostly based on club appearances was deemed not to be ready yet rather than no one wanted him the side. I think most have raised their hand and admitted they were probably wrong after Saturday's performance (I still maintain he's better at 6).

Does anyone really hate on Barritt or is it just a lack on inspiring options? And looking for one in Slade/Eastmond/Farrell. Same goes for Farrell in the fly-half position GN10 aside most just want to see the better in attack Ford/Slade play there instead.

I do not just refer to the last month or so but, for instance, Barritt has taken a lot of stick on here over the last couple of years.

I have always rated him but will admit to being one of those who has given Farrell a lot of stick over the years!!

 

[yaboyjj]

Marler, George, Wilson
Launch, Lawes
Morgan, Vunipola, Robshaw
Youngs, Ford
Nowell, Barritt, Joseph, Watson
Brown

Youngs, Corbs, Cole, Kruis, Haskell, Care, Slade, Burgess/Burrell

would be the lineup I'd like to see on Saturday.

Marler needs game time- as does Launch after injury layoffs and George needs to show he can start. Might as well try out the Morgan-Vunipola partnership whilst Morgan needs as much game time as possible. Give the starting backline time to gel, yet keep Slade/Burgess on the bench to see what they can do outside Ford (Slade as backup 10 too with Joseph covering wing/Watson fb, would possibly give opportunity to test versatility of these three). I suppose that Burrell needs an opportunity in Lancasters eyes, and will thus probably feature somewhere

 

[ZeroTwo]

Team I reckon to start:

1. Corbisiero (Lancs will want to give him another chance to see where he's at)
2. George (With Youngs to start against Ireland, need to see what he's got. Might be Webber for same reason).
3. Wilson
4. Launchbury
5. Kruis (Showed enough last game to warrant a closer look)
6. Vunipola
7. Robshaw
8. Morgan

9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Nowell
12. Barritt
13. Joseph
14. May
15. Brown


Lots of those backs need to play some international rugby but it's also pretty close to our starting XV so might be more conservative with 36 or Burgess at 12. Hask might also dislodge the 6 position.

 

[goodNumber10]

I think we have to see a 36/Burrell combination so i think that'll be vs Ireland.

 

[ZeroTwo]

Really?! Can't see us putting out anything other than the strongest team against Ireland. As teams likely to meet in the SFs (if my super predictive skills are correct) I reckon they'd want that psychological edge?

 

[goodNumber10]

he'll want to give everyone a start, and Burrell and JJ he's already seen in the 6nations, so i can only see him trying BB & JJ this week and then 36 & Burrell next week as he already knows what they are like and used them in NZ - though to be fair i think whomever doesn't get selected this week is already in.

 

[ZeroTwo]

he'll want to give everyone a start, and Burrell and JJ he's already seen in the 6nations, so i can only see him trying BB & JJ this week and then 36 & Burrell next week as he already knows what they are like and used them in NZ - though to be fair i think whomever doesn't get selected this week is already in.

I see your point but for me I'd want to put out my stronger combinations against Ireland and I'm not sure anyone would argue that 36 and Burrell could be classified as such. I'd be more tempted to play Burgess then Burrell outside (I know, not exactly varying much) with 36 on the bench. Or swap Burgess and 36 (although the bench would be pretty slim pickings). Then next week throw everything out against Ireland to make sure there is a settled first team.

Not going to be able to settle a first team against the "minnows" in the world cup pool as you'll want squad rotation. Ireland is his only shot to put a back line together and test it before crunch games against Wales and Australia.

 

[goodNumber10]

Burrell was his first choice 6nations centre though - i wouldn't be surprised if LB & JJ are seen as the 1st choice centres by England.

 

[ZeroTwo]

Brad has always made his way back into the team quickly after injuries/absences though. Can't see a reason he wouldn't do the same again. Not certain about it by any measure though, will just have to wait and see what Mr. Lancaster has in mind.

 

[Peat]

Brad has always made his way back into the team quickly after injuries/absences though. Can't see a reason he wouldn't do the same again. Not certain about it by any measure though, will just have to wait and see what Mr. Lancaster has in mind.

Hasn't played 12 for England since 2013. He seems to be first choice again judging by media rumblings, but that's a pretty lengthy time in the shirt.

That said, I'd be surprised if Twelvetrees got a start and maybe Burrell won't either. I don't think Lancaster means to give everyone a start - in any case, he can't do that with all the hookers.

 

[goodNumber10]

Hasn't played 12 for England since 2013. He seems to be first choice again judging by media rumblings, but that's a pretty lengthy time in the shirt.

That said, I'd be surprised if Twelvetrees got a start and maybe Burrell won't either. I don't think Lancaster means to give everyone a start - in any case, he can't do that with all the hookers.

hence i think whomever doesn't get a start (out of those left) this week, is in the squad already

 

[ZeroTwo]

Hasn't played 12 for England since 2013. He seems to be first choice again judging by media rumblings, but that's a pretty lengthy time in the shirt.

That said, I'd be surprised if Twelvetrees got a start and maybe Burrell won't either. I don't think Lancaster means to give everyone a start - in any case, he can't do that with all the hookers.

I clearly was part of the brain washed crew! Didn't realise it was that long. But Twelvetrees really doesn't deserve to go in my opinion. Any other centre combo I'd be fine with.

So the Farrell at 12 thing seems to be dead in the water then?

 

[goodNumber10]

Brad B is injured: http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/13454289/england-sweat-brad-barritt-injury

doubtful for the weekend, I think he will miss this weekend and JJ will also miss out (why risk him to a warm up game?) so i think we'll see:

10: Ford
12: 36/Faz
13: LB/Burgess

Slade on the bench, Cipriani may as well pack now.

 

[kesh]

TBF Goode is the only one on that list that really takes a pounding.

Can't knock Goode, his performance was good, he wasn't put under the same type of high ball pressure Ireland subjected him to but he stopped shadow dancing and Lancaster always has Watson as a possible back-back-up option. Just looking forward to see Brown back and fresh, he might have a mare been out for so long so would have him starting from now on.

Brad B is injured: http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/...barritt-injury

doubtful for the weekend, I think he will miss this weekend and JJ will also miss out (why risk him to a warm up game?) so i think we'll see:

10: Ford
12: 36/Faz
13: LB/Burgess

Slade on the bench, Cipriani may as well pack now.

10: Ford
12: ??? - Try Faz? 36 rekindling the old partnership, would prefer to see Slade again.
13: Burrell

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wouldn't be massively shocked to see Ford/Burgess/Slade or Ford/Farrell/Burgess
With Burrell on the bench

 

[Wendigo7]

he'll want to give everyone a start, and Burrell and JJ he's already seen in the 6nations, so i can only see him trying BB & JJ this week and then 36 & Burrell next week as he already knows what they are like and used them in NZ - though to be fair i think whomever doesn't get selected this week is already in.

Incorrect.

Squad is announced after the france game. The team that takes the field against Ireland has to be the first team because at that point the squads been selected. France this weekend, I'm going Burgess and Slade again. Joseph and Barritt to get a run out against Ireland.

 

[goodNumber10]

Incorrect.

not sure how.

Squad is announced after the france game.

Yes, hence me saying whomever doesn't get a start this week is likely in the final squad (right at the end of the post you quoted)

The team that takes the field against Ireland has to be the first team because at that point the squads been selected. France this weekend, I'm going Burgess and Slade again. Joseph and Barritt to get a run out against Ireland.

incorrect.

Because the squad is selected doesn't mean the first choice team has to run out against Ireland - he has 6 centres to fit into three games, he is likely to pick four, but he may want to see whom out of his first choice 4 is at the better balanced pairing - which he could easily do in the ireland game.

he already knows BB and JJ, as he does 36 & Lb he could easily select all of them without starting them, he has to give people a chance to stake a claim, they've had three years.

 

[Peat]

I think it is interesting that we tend to be "against" certain players (Barritt, Burgess, Goode, to some extent Farrell for example) yet Lancaster and his team keep on picking them!!

I can only presume that, being close to them, they see something in them that we, as very interested bystanders, do not see or do not appreciate to the same extent.

Maybe we should not be denigrating the English players, at least until they have been discarded, and back Lancaster's judgement over our own. Or, as an alternative, start petitioning for his removal as being an idiot for not taking our views into account!!

Don't tempt me!

I do my utmost to respect the different amounts of information and knowledge between me and Lancaster, and to probe and work out what Lancaster sees so I can see it. Sometimes that really helps and I start to get it (i.e. Burgess) but sometimes I'm only left with the view that he's possibly an idiot. That or dealing with a bad hand.

For some strange reason, this seems to come up most frequently with Saracens backs...