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

[91jmay]

Itoje has never played a game of real international rugby and all of a sudden he is competing with NZ? Christ, lets slow our roll just a bit.

 

[TheSaffycen]

He isn't anywhere near kaino but IMO is stronger than Luatua was a couple of years ago. But his inclusion to the rwc squad would be a shock, though cover for 4/5/6 is impressive.

 

[91jmay]

I would take him as 4th lock and back row cover. Lawes/Launchbury with Atwood/Parling fighting for 3rd spot.

 

[Maverick1987]

Ok so I'm going to throw a spanner in here regarding Hughes

I'm happy for him to be picked as long as we create the best England team we can . Hell Wales, Ireland and Scotland have project player schemes for this exact reason . Being the better person rarely works in sport .....

I'd find a way to pick Steffon and Bendy too . I understand the problems in doing this but these guys are too good to ignore ....

 

[yaboyjj]

Itoje has never played a game of real international rugby and all of a sudden he is competing with NZ? Christ, lets slow our roll just a bit.

Hold on, I never said he was personally competing with, or on a par with Kaino- however the fact is that it is (blindside) probably the significant point of weakness in the England pack atm- thus throwing him in there is purely speculation in absence of 'better options'.
What I am saying, is that as a unit it could be rivaling NZ- that is, taking the unit; which includes front row, locks and bench cover, as a whole.

 

[91jmay]

I don't agree that adding Itoje to our current pack makes it closer to NZ though, which is essentially what you are doing. I get it could be, but seems a big call to make based on such little evidence.

 

[Raggs]

I'd consider Itoje for the wider squad, it's then down to him to state his case. I'd rather he go to 6 though, since we have some top young lock talent, and he's not even as tall as Launch, who's right on the edge of international lock height for me.

 

[goodNumber10]

Okay then

So if it was a bath saints final it could be:

1) Mullan, 2) George, 3) Brookes
4) Launchbury, 5) Itojie
6) Ewers, 7) Kvesic, 8) Waldrom/Morgan
9) Simpson, 10) Cips
12) Hill, 13) Daly
11) Wade, 14) Yarde, 15) Pennell

16) C-D, 17) Vunipola, 18) Balmain, 19) Slater, 20) Clifford, 21) Robson, 22) Slade, 23) Lewington

Or even have Slade @ 12 and Burns on the bench.

soz, late to the party here, but if they select a Saxons squad Slade will play 10 and Cipriani won't be there.

on the whole Itoje question do people honestly think he'll get picked over Wood/Clarke/Haskell as a 6?

 

[ratsapprentice]

on the whole Itoje question do people honestly think he'll get picked over Wood/Clarke/Haskell as a 6?

Probably not, but bear in mind that Itoje has been in Lancaster's mind for much longer than he has most people.

He supposedly named Maro as a possible WC bolter in his job interview.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Isn't the problem with our 6 that we need a good ball carrier there?

Itoje doesn't look like he fits that bill, Haskell does in the premiership, wood doesn't, Clarke is a 7.

In fact robshaw doesn't offer that role anymore.

Ewers at 6 please

 

[arry nordy key]

Okay then

So if it was a bath saints final it could be:

1) Mullan, 2) George, 3) Brookes
4) Launchbury, 5) Itojie
6) Ewers, 7) Kvesic, 8) Waldrom/Morgan
9) Simpson, 10) Cips
12) Hill, 13) Daly
11) Wade, 14) Yarde, 15) Pennell

16) C-D, 17) Vunipola, 18) Balmain, 19) Slater, 20) Clifford, 21) Robson, 22) Slade, 23) Lewington

Or even have Slade @ 12 and Burns on the bench.

If they use the same selection policy as the BaaBaas game last year, no players from the 4 semifinalists will be picked - following that logic, Pennell won't be picked because he'll be busy with the Championship Promotion games. Assuming that is Saints/Bath/Tigers/Sarries I'd go for;

Mullan; Cowan-Dickie; Brookes
Launchbury; Beaumont
Ewers; Kvesic; Clifford
Simpson; Cipriani
Slade; Daly
Yarde; Miller; Wade

Taylor; Harrison; Cooper-Wooley; Easter; Waldrom; Care; Lowe; Lewington.

Realistically though, only a handful of these players will have a shot at making the squad of 31 (or even the extended squad for Colorado training camp) and this game is unlikely to be the deciding factor

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Technically the championship final will have been finished before the barbarians game.

 

[arry nordy key]

Technically the championship final will have been finished before the barbarians game.

Yes, thank you for that invaluable contribution. Incase anyone else was confused, technically all domestic rugby will be finished before the barbarians game...

<_<

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

But the championship will be finished on Wednesday.

It would be tight but still possible for him to play.

Not like if it was on sat.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I can't see it happening.

 

[Raggs]

Isn't the problem with our 6 that we need a good ball carrier there?

Itoje doesn't look like he fits that bill, Haskell does in the premiership, wood doesn't, Clarke is a 7.

In fact robshaw doesn't offer that role anymore.

Ewers at 6 please

We need a good carrier and a solid lineout operator. Ewers is a fantastic carrier, but offers almost nothing at the lineouts. Itoje is a solid enough carrier (bumped Ewers nicely), and a fantastic lineout operator. Hask is a decent carrier, and OK at the lineout, Wood is OK carrier and very good lineout.

Depends on what we need, most recently, we've preferred the carrying option of Hask, whilst still using him to a degree in the lineout. This has seemingly freed up Billy V to do a huge amount of other work. I think Itoje would also manage here.

 

[goodNumber10]

Probably not, but bear in mind that Itoje has been in Lancaster's mind for much longer than he has most people.

He supposedly named Maro as a possible WC bolter in his job interview.

well fingers crossed, nothing i'd like to see more that that lad playing 6 for England.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Isn't the problem with our 6 that we need a good ball carrier there?

Itoje doesn't look like he fits that bill, Haskell does in the premiership, wood doesn't, Clarke is a 7.

In fact robshaw doesn't offer that role anymore.

Ewers at 6 please

Doesn't fit that bill ? he bounced off Ewers at the weekend and bounced off Bardy against Clermont. Ewers is my preference atm by the way but Itoje never fails to impress.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Doesn't fit that bill ? he bounced off Ewers at the weekend and bounced off Bardy against Clermont. Ewers is my preference atm by the way but Itoje never fails to impress.

What I meant was he looks like a taller thinner guy, rather than a Haskell looking beast. I've not seen too much of itoje but then he hasn't been on TV loads this season.

I did notice ewers lack of line out prowess but I have seen him jump (maybe just once!)

 

[yaboyjj]

What I meant was he looks like a taller thinner guy, rather than a Haskell looking beast. I've not seen too much of itoje but then he hasn't been on TV loads this season.

I did notice ewers lack of line out prowess but I have seen him jump (maybe just once!)

Despite Haskell looking like superman incarnate, he never seems to live up to expectations in the ball carrying department. That is, despite being built like a supertanker (to the detriment of his line-out ability), he doesn't really carry like one- especially on the international stage (Wales match is the only exception in the last 20 caps).