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

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I think he'll be fine .

Bath to win well, but not 45-0

Considering what your username is I don't trust you.

 

[Wendigo7]

Considering what your username is I don't trust you.

Some brutal comments right there .

Nah not to go completely 180 and I'm not a fan of a few of Cockers policies, mostly academy, but fair dos. With a fairly average side truth be told, they have finished extremely strongly. I thought it would fade out and wanted Exeter to get a top 4 spot but fair dos the work at the breakdown and defence has been immense the last couple.

I'm just hoping the bath boys do well because it's the young england contingent and playing well at this point is crucial for them come world cup time. Also want to see a big game from Eastmond.

 

[Raggs]

Average backs perhaps (even then, Youngs, Burns, Bai, Goneva aren't exactly bad), but a top notch pack. Can't think of many packs in the prem that Ayerza, Mulipola, Youngs, Ghiraldini, Cole, Thorn, Kitchener, Parling, Slater, Salvi wouldn't walk into, then there's Gibson who's no slouch. In the Wasps game I would have swapped 7 of their pack for ours (not Crane), I'd have taken some of the bench too, would have kept Launch.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Average backs perhaps (even then, Youngs, Burns, Bai, Goneva aren't exactly bad), but a top notch pack. Can't think of many packs in the prem that Ayerza, Mulipola, Youngs, Ghiraldini, Cole, Thorn, Kitchener, Parling, Slater, Salvi wouldn't walk into, then there's Gibson who's no slouch. In the Wasps game I would have swapped 7 of their pack for ours (not Crane), I'd have taken some of the bench too, would have kept Launch.

Looking at that, maybe the quality is concentrated too strongly in too few areas. That's eight players for four starting positions while there are obvious weaknesses in other areas.

Saying that, Leicester have been ****ing good in the later stages of the season and fair play to them. I am definitely not super confident about tomorrow.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

TBF we seem to be getting rid/ losing a lot of players next season:

17 confirmed leavers this season so far COULD be a massive rearranging of funds.

 

[Every Time Ref]

You don't have many new players confirmed coming in yet, do you?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

You don't have many new players confirmed coming in yet, do you?

Betham
Fitzgerald
Mike Williams
Bateman
Brendan O'Connor
McCaffrey
Fonua

So far I think.

Mind not many teams have announced players coming in yet.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

So with Bath and sarries in the final I would go with for the baabaas team:

1) Mullan
2) L-CD
3) Brookes
4) Launch
5) Slater
6) Clifford
7) Gibson
8) Beaumont
9) Dickson
10) Cips
11) Wade
12) Slade
13) Daly
14) Yarde
15) Tait (If his French move has u turned as believed)

16) Heywood
17) Waller/Corbs
18) Balmain
19) Kitchener
20) Wood
21) Care
22) Myler
23) Lewington

Won't happen but still.

 

[Wendigo7]

1. Marler
2. LCD
3. Brookes
4. Launchbury
5. Lawes
6. Haskell
7. Robshaw
8. Easter
9. Simpson
10. Cipriani
11. Nowell
12. Slade
13. Daly
14. Yarde
15. Brown

 

[Peat]

Is Brown fit to play yet? Simpson certainly isn't...

 

[yaboyjj]

1. Marler
2. LCD
3. Brookes
4. Launchbury
5. Lawes
6. Haskell
7. Robshaw
8. Easter
9. Simpson
10. Cipriani
11. Nowell
12. Slade
13. Daly
14. Yarde
15. Brown

In a Saxons match? no way is Robshaw going anywhere near the team, nor Brown.
Remember also that Glouc might be playing next week iirc, so no May or Kev

 

[TheSaffycen]

Well because i'm going I want to see
1-Marler
2-Youngs
3-Brookes
4-Launchbry
5-Slater
6-Ewers
7-Kvesic
8-Clifford
9-Care
10-Cipriani
11-Nowell
12-Slade
13-May (Could well play there in the world cup)
14-Wade
15-Daly

16-LCD
17-Corbs/Mullan
18-Cole/Anyone
19-Kitchener
20-Haskell
21-Youngs
22-Twelvetrees
23-Yarde

 

[Peat]

Didn't Olyy post about Taylor being involved for the Baabaas game? Seems to point at Lancaster not taking it too seriously.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I thought Lancaster said he won't play any of the players involved in the top 4 play offs? Which would rule out the Tigers and saints players.

 

[Patchey]

I thought Lancaster said he won't play any of the players involved in the top 4 play offs? Which would rule out the Tigers and saints players.

I thought he'd said he would wait until they knew which teams would be playing next week, which sounds like they will pick players from the losing teams?

Not confirmed obviously.

 

[Maverick1987]

After the baths midfield performance yesterday it's hard to argue that the Ford, Eastmond, JJ axis isn't the best for England tbh

 

[chippieolamus]

After the baths midfield performance yesterday it's hard to argue that the Ford, Eastmond, JJ axis isn't the best for England tbh

I agree that perhaps that is the best option, but if you played those three you need some bigger ball carriers elsewhere. I suggest maybe moving Billy to 6 (Lancs said he had considered it) and Morgan at 8 then Roko on the wing?

 

[TheSaffycen]

Didn't Olyy post about Taylor being involved for the Baabaas game? Seems to point at Lancaster not taking it too seriously.

He has said that no one from Glos will be considered (which I din't know so no May) but did say

'A number of this 50-man squad, such as Joe Launchbury, Elliot Daly, Danny Cipriani and Marland Yarde will be involved in the England XV side playing the Barbarians on May 31 following the Premiership semi-finals'

There will also be opportunities for the likes of Dave Ewers and Christian Wade who just missed out on the initial selection but could come back in further down the line."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/11617707/England-World-Cup-squad-Stuart-Lancaster-insists-door-is-not-closed-on-omitted-Christian-Wade.html

 

[Every Time Ref]

I agree that perhaps that is the best option, but if you played those three you need some bigger ball carriers elsewhere. I suggest maybe moving Billy to 6 (Lancs said he had considered it) and Morgan at 8 then Roko on the wing?

Lack of ball carriers is a big problem, but I don't see it really as related to picking Eastmond at 12 - with Tuilagi out, the other options are Barritt, Burrell and Twelvetrees, hardly battering rams any of them - I mean, Burrell is in theory I suppose but he's been awful for a long time.

We do need ball carriers somewhere though. Youngs needs to replace Hartley, someone with carrying in their armoury needs to be at 6 (probably Itoje I guess?), it would be nice to get a bit more out of one of the second rows although I think that's a tactical thing as much as selection. There's a good shout for Mako on that basis although I'd still pick Marler I think.

I agree about Roko as well, now he's back in some form. Seeing him do Goneva twice for two tries yesterday was wonderful.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Lack of ball carriers is a big problem, but I don't see it really as related to picking Eastmond at 12 - with Tuilagi out, the other options are Barritt, Burrell and Twelvetrees, hardly battering rams any of them - I mean, Burrell is in theory I suppose but he's been awful for a long time.

We do need ball carriers somewhere though. Youngs needs to replace Hartley, someone with carrying in their armoury needs to be at 6 (probably Itoje I guess?), it would be nice to get a bit more out of one of the second rows although I think that's a tactical thing as much as selection. There's a good shout for Mako on that basis although I'd still pick Marler I think.

I agree about Roko as well, now he's back in some form. Seeing him do Goneva twice for two tries yesterday was wonderful.

I've been wondering for a while if the Bath back line being used would create the need for more ball carriers? I'd be in favour of it just in case, as well as because England's been a bit devoid of effective ones recently too and I'd like them for if the game turned tight, but wouldn't Ford, Eastmond, Joseph, create enough go forward anyway? I mean, if you're playing that backline, you're not interested in playing a game like you would with Tuilagi. I think that it wouldn't be too much of a problem if there were players like Launchbury in the pack who could effectively support out wide, taking offloads/hitting rucks until the slower forwards arrived.

Someone catch me if I'm talking rubbish, but with the Bath back line and say, Itoje, Launchbury, Morgan, in the pack, I can't see it being a veto problem.