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

[MrTea_32]

Subject to injury I expect the final England 31 will look like this:

Props: Corbs, Marler, Vunipola, Wilson and Cole

Hooker Hartley, Youngs, Webber

Locks Launchbury, Lawes, Parling, Attwood

Back row Robshaw, Wood, Haskell, Vunipola, Morgan

SHs Youngs, Wigglesworth, Care

FHs Ford, Farrell

Centres Barritt, Joseph, Tuilagi and Twelvetrees.

Wings Watson, Nowell and ????? (don't know: between Ashton, May, Rokoduguni, Wade, Yarde)

Full backs Brown and Goode.

Personally, I would like to see Steffon Armitage in the final squad and Slade as an option at 12. But the arguments of the former have been gone through too many times. We will see, Armitage at best would be a sub in the 23.

I agree with this selection, I'd love to see Armitage in there starting at 7, we need a specialist 7 and why turn down European player of the year who has won the most turnovers so far in the champions cup.
I've got a feeling Armitage will end up back at a club in England before the world cup.
Keep Robshaw and play him at 6.
I'd like to see Ashton back in the squad, he's back on form and would play well off jj.
I think goode will be reserve 15 but would like to see cips in as a utility back instead, he's a player who can make things happen.

Does anybody think vunipola could play 6 with Morgan at 8 with Easter on the bench. Vunipola's fitness is really improved and having to massive ball carriers on the pitch is what we need, haskell can carry but nothing like those 2

 

[Peat]

Anyone who thinks Tuilagi isn't going to the World Cup if fit - anyone who thinks Tuilagi-Joseph isn't an odds-on combination to be tried in the warm-ups - that person needs to give reality their new phone number, as clearly they're not in touch with it any other way.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I agree with this selection, I'd love to see Armitage in there starting at 7, we need a specialist 7 and why turn down European player of the year who has won the most turnovers so far in the champions cup.

Meh. Behind a pack on top he looks great - if they're not then he looks pretty average at the moment. Haskell was better than him on the weekend.
Kvesic looks good even behind a pack getting smashed, he'd be the better choice of the 2.

I've got a feeling Armitage will end up back at a club in England before the world cup.

He would if he wasn't so greedy. Bath offered him a short term contract but he demanded more money than even Bruce Craig was willing to fork out, so it fell through.

 

[Patchey]

Meh. Behind a pack on top he looks great - if they're not then he looks pretty average at the moment. Haskell was better than him on the weekend.
Kvesic looks good even behind a pack getting smashed, he'd be the better choice of the 2.

He would if he wasn't so greedy. Bath offered him a short term contract but he demanded more money than even Bruce Craig was willing to fork out, so it fell through.

Amen.

I've run out if patience with Steffon. Trying to play for France was the final straw...

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

In the champions cup he has looked very average in games where toulons pack has been matched.

Both against Leicester @ welford road and wasps he has been average

 

[j'nuh]

Like this if you are a strong, independent England fan who don't need no Steflon.

If we can pick players from France, Bendy all the way. We need two good fullbacks after all.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Like this if you are a strong, independent England fan who don't need no Steflon.

If we can pick players from France, Bendy all the way. We need two good fullbacks after all.

[video]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PmEvxswn4IY[/video]

 

[Patchey]

Like this if you are a strong, independent England fan who don't need no Steflon.

If we can pick players from France, Bendy all the way. We need two good fullbacks after all.

Cynical bid for rep, ban him.

 

[yaboyjj]

Subject to injury I expect the final England 31 will look like this:

Props: Corbs, Marler, Vunipola, Wilson and Cole

Hooker Hartley, Youngs, Webber

Locks Launchbury, Lawes, Parling, Attwood

Back row Robshaw, Wood, Haskell, Vunipola, Morgan

SHs Youngs, Wigglesworth, Care

FHs Ford, Farrell

Centres Barritt, Joseph, Tuilagi and Twelvetrees.

Wings Watson, Nowell and ????? (don't know: between Ashton, May, Rokoduguni, Wade, Yarde)

Full backs Brown and Goode.

Personally, I would like to see Steffon Armitage in the final squad and Slade as an option at 12. But the arguments of the former have been gone through too many times. We will see, Armitage at best would be a sub in the 23.

It would be a travesty if the bolded got in on current form (that is neglecting to mention that Wood, Farrell, Tuilagi, Morgan, Barritt, Burrell- who are also either injured with little time left, or playing very poorly atm). In fact half of the 'incumbents' to the squad are either shockingly out of form, or have been out injured, to the point where putting them in the squad is just conjecture/hope that they somehow come good by September.
I seem to remember in 2011 it was Tuilagi who was the form 'too young' player on the scene, who was passed-over when it mattered, for the 'experienced' and 'wise' heads (the past it/out of form Tindall/Flood/Wilkinson etc) and it was a flop.
If players like Kvesic/Ewers/Slade/Hill/Simpson/Itoje are obviously the future stars and obviously playing better than the competition they should be in

 

[Bada-Bing!]

It would be a travesty if the bolded got in on current form (that is neglecting to mention that Wood, Farrell, Tuilagi, Morgan, Barritt, Burrell- who are also either injured with little time left, or playing very poorly atm). In fact half of the 'incumbents' to the squad are either shockingly out of form, or have been out injured, to the point where putting them in the squad is just conjecture/hope that they somehow come good by September.
I seem to remember in 2011 it was Tuilagi who was the form 'too young' player on the scene, who was passed-over when it mattered, for the 'experienced' and 'wise' heads (the past it/out of form Tindall/Flood/Wilkinson etc) and it was a flop.
If players like Kvesic/Ewers/Slade/Hill/Simpson/Itoje are obviously the future stars and obviously playing better than the competition they should be in

This squad is based purely on the players Bomber has picked since the June internationals v NZ last year. Experience at test level will be key, but i would not be averse a few bolters/youngsters who would liven up the squad like Slade and Itoje. I do think Atwood's hands let him down at the highest level and 36 is just too inconsistent at test level, both are at best bench players. I personally was sick typing Goode's name, but it's clear Lancaster and the rest of the coaching staff rate him highly to pick him v Ireland when Brown couldn't play.

Someone like Webber at best will be 3rd choice hooker and at least he showed v the ABs last June he could perform at this level. Ar there another hookers worth a punt?

I would also not be averse to seeing Kvesic in the squad, who I thought played well v Connaught on Friday. England need a fetcher imo and he offers something different to Robshaw and Wood. At least it would then put this Armitage thing to bed. But since June Lancaster does not seem to be interested in Kvesic, probably because he has not been that great or consistent enough for Gloucester.

 

[j'nuh]

But since June Lancaster does not seem to be interested in Kvesic, probably because he has not been that great or consistent enough for Gloucester.

He has though. I wouldn't be surprised if he's won more man of the matches than the rest of the Gloucester team combined. He's been at least good in every game I've seen from him this season. He was also amongst the best of a bad bunch last season. Very consistent player.

Basically, Kvesic was good but not quite good enough last season, which lost him momentum last summer, and he eventually got dropped from the England squad just as he got going.

Hoping Lancaster will bring in Ewers, Kvesic, Slade and maybe Bendy, and not make wholesale changes otherwise.

 

[Patchey]

Hoping Lancaster will bring in Ewers, Kvesic, Slade and maybe Bendy, and not make wholesale changes otherwise.

Those are some wholesale changes there though!

 

[j'nuh]

Those are some wholesale changes there though!

Ah, only Ewers would come into the XV at this stage for me.

Something like:

Vunipola, Youngs, Cole, Launchbury, Lawes, Ewers, Robshaw, Morgan/Vunipola, Youngs, Ford, Nowell, Tuilagi, Joseph, Watson, Brown
Hartley, Marler, Wilson, Parling, Vunipola/Kvesic, Wigglesworth, Cipriani, Slade

 

[MrTea_32]

Ah, only Ewers would come into the XV, with Slade and Kvesic making the bench depending on injuries.

It way past the point of bringing someone like ewers in he doesn't have the experience at international level, they'll just stick with wood and haskell. Kvesic could be brought it and slade but I don't think they will, possibly slade if someone gets injured.

The England management past and present always take to long to bring talent into the fold. They've had plenty of chances over the last year to give slade a run out.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

He has though. I wouldn't be surprised if he's won more man of the matches than the rest of the Gloucester team combined. He's been at least good in every game I've seen from him this season. He was also amongst the best of a bad bunch last season. Very consistent player.

Basically, Kvesic was good but not quite good enough last season, which lost him momentum last summer, and he eventually got dropped from the England squad just as he got going.

Hoping Lancaster will bring in Ewers, Kvesic, Slade and maybe Bendy, and not make wholesale changes otherwise.

That is good to hear.

I think the final 31 will include 5 back row forwards: Robshaw, Wood and Vunipola are shoeins; that leaves 2 positions. Haskell was fantastic v Wales, but then not so good after that. Then i think Lancaster is waiting on Ben Morgan. Now he broke his leg in January and he will not be back until July at the earliest, but if he's fit enough i think he'll be picked, but the problem is that he won't be match fit, same as Tuilagi. Both are likely to start the RWC as impact players.

Perhaps, I've been reading too much of what old England internationals like Barnes, Morris, Moore and Sir Clive have been saying in the press, about Armitage, but the looking at the England we do need a someone with a bit of pace in the back row and back up to Robshaw if he gets injured; but also defensively to slow the opposition ball down more and pilfer more ball. So Kvesic or Armitage have to be included in the 45, so at least they have a chance of impressing and making the squad. It would then look like Haskell is the one who's place is most at risk.

 

[McTallshort]

but the looking at the England we do need a someone with a bit of pace in the back row and back up to Robshaw if he gets injured; but also defensively to slow the opposition ball down more and pilfer more ball. So Kvesic or Armitage have to be included in the 45, so at least they have a chance of impressing and making the squad. It would then look like Haskell is the one who's place is most at risk.

This! Against Ireland we just didnt slow the ball down enough in defense, we are missing Launchbury's work rate and Wood in top form although I have never really been convinced by Kvesic I do think he now deserves a chance and as much as it really pains me to say it I would like to try a breakdown specialist at 7 and as fat boy Steffon wants to play for Toulon and the French Olympic 7's team then Kvesic is the man...oh god I hope Rats doesnt see that.

 

[Patchey]

Misleading ***le is misleading:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...pick-Steffon-Armitage-and-Nick-Abendanon.html

 

[ncurd]

Is everyone forgetting our Lord and savior Sam Burgess?

 

[McTallshort]

Is everyone forgetting our Lord and savior Sam Burgess?

Yes hes well and truely forgotten

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Misleading ***le is misleading:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...pick-Steffon-Armitage-and-Nick-Abendanon.html

I only read the first few comments on that but I'm amazed to say that I've now read a comment section on a news article and DIDN'T want to scoop my eyes out with a spoon.

Is everyone forgetting our Lord and savior Sam Burgess?

He scored against London Welsh, so he is definitely in line for the captaincy.