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

[Peat]

Cheers Saffy.

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 still find it incredibly easy to argue. The challenge they face with Bath is a lot easier and also different to the one they face with England and the best that can be said for that midfield for England is it might be the tallest midget.


And Burrell and Twelvetrees are good ball carriers. They are adequate at crash ball and can pick and exploit a gap. They can do that job.

 

[j'nuh]

I still find it incredibly easy to argue. The challenge they face with Bath is a lot easier and also different to the one they face with England and the best that can be said for that midfield for England is it might be the tallest midget.

And Burrell and Twelvetrees are good ball carriers. They are adequate at crash ball and can pick and exploit a gap. They can do that job.

I don't doubt that that may possibly be the case... and yet I'd still like to see it if nothing else works. Can we get away with a midfield lacking in that physical intensity? Maybe not, but it isn't as if the other options don't have their own challenges. In Twelvetrees, we have a player that can actively lose us a game. In Barritt, we have a player that can not-will not attack. In Burrell, we have a player that can go anonymous for a whole game. Slade is still my first choice, but how familiar can he get with the 12 position in time for the WC? I think I can discount Farrell and Burgess out-of-hand...

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Cheers Saffy.



I still find it incredibly easy to argue. The challenge they face with Bath is a lot easier and also different to the one they face with England and the best that can be said for that midfield for England is it might be the tallest midget.

And Burrell and Twelvetrees are good ball carriers. They are adequate at crash ball and can pick and exploit a gap. They can do that job.

How do you know they won't be up to the task if they are never given a go? Try them out. They are one of the deadliest combinations in England at the moment and with Tuilagi out, every alternative has one or more areas of weakness.

 

[Maverick1987]

How do you know they won't be up to the task if they are never given a go? Try them out. They are one of the deadliest combinations in England at the moment and with Tuilagi out, every alternative has one or more areas of weakness.

This is my thought exactly ! Better playing along side players you already know like the back of your hand than frantically trying to make a bond between strangers

 

[Peat]

This is my thought exactly ! Better playing along side players you already know like the back of your hand than frantically trying to make a bond between strangers

So I assume you want Chris Cook and Matt Banahan in the team as well?

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

So I assume you want Chris Cook and Matt Banahan in the team as well?

Not Cook but Bananaman deserves a look in at the very least I think. It was years ago that he was let in and his form now is very different to back then. I don't see how anyone could say Bananaman now and Bananaman when he was in the England setup are the same player. If the likes of Ashton and Strettle can get a look in again, I see no reason why not. However the primary thing I think is the Bath 10-12-13.

 

[ratsapprentice]

The point is that Strettle and Ashton shouldn't be getting a look in, and neither should Banners.

...as much as I love the guy.

 

[chippieolamus]

On the topic of wingers, May just scored an absolute belter to win the Champions cup playoff for Gloucester. Does he deserve a second chance? He seems to have been playing much better since that shocker vs Italy.

 

[Peat]

On the topic of wingers, May just scored an absolute belter to win the Champions cup playoff for Gloucester. Does he deserve a second chance? He seems to have been playing much better since that shocker vs Italy.

Absolutely. It probably won't come in the next serious match, as Watson and Nowell seem well in place at the moment, but sooner or later he'll get another chance and hopefully show improvement.

 

[j'nuh]

Whoever starts in the next serious match will be the frontrunners to take the position through the World Cup though.

I think the question is whether May is worthy of taking that place, being the frontrunner? On the one hand, even when he's been in good form, he's been unable to fully transfer that club ability to international level on multiple occasions. On the other hand, he is in very good form, and has some very clear positives compared to the other England wingers.

I've never stopped thinking May was the right option for England as long as we give him a little more freedom on the pitch to do his thing. If we are not willing to do that, then it gets a little more complicated imo. He has the best kick-chase game, but is the least physical. He has the best raw ability to make a break, but also seems to struggle the most to act clearly under pressure. His basics and positional awareness are very good. It's kind of a tough call.

 

[yaboyjj]

England squad for the Babaas has been released:

Backs

Will Chudley (Exeter Chiefs)
Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints) captain
Shane Geraghty (London Irish)
Alex Lewington (London Irish)
Mathew Tait (Leicester Tigers)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Christian Wade (Wasps)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins)

Forwards

Josh Beaumont (Sale Sharks)
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
Jake Cooper-Woolley (Wasps)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Gareth Denman (Northampton Saints)
Jon Fisher (Northampton Saints)
James Gaskell (Wasps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Matt Mullan (Wasps)
Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)
Tommy Taylor (Sale Sharks)
Alex Waller (Northampton Saints)
Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)

Why oh why did Simpson get himself injured.

Anyway, probable lineup (/the best I could make up):

Brookes, LCD, Mullan, Launch, Slater, Clifford, Beaumont, Dickson, Cipriani, Yarde, Slade, Daly, Wade, Tait

looks pretty tasty actually (case for switching Daly and Tait around- either way), the bench looks a little thin by international standards, but it will be nice to see some up and coming players get some game time too (Lewington etc.). Denman will be fighting for a place with Coops- do we read into Tait inclusion as him staying in England or just in as fb cover? This is the big chance to try Slade at IC.

judging by the Babaas squad so far, I wouldn't say it's a vintage team that England will play (by previous years standards at least)- looking forward all the same.

btw Ewers is still suffering from concussion (bit worrying having been off a couple of week already)- His chances of forcing into the squad kinda hung on this game tbh, shame.

Thoughts on the probably lineup XV? (bear in mind the versatility of Beaumont, Slater, Clifford, Slade and Tait/Daly)

 

[Patchey]

OMFG THEY PICKED MATT TAIT AND CLIFFORD I AM IN HEAVEN.

*Depp breath*

I like this squad.

 

[yaboyjj]

OMFG THEY PICKED MATT TAIT AND CLIFFORD I AM IN HEAVEN.

*Depp breath*

I like this squad.

us both! I think Clifford must be playing at openside- nice balance to the backrow actually (if my predictions are correct).
Just hope Dickson gives some quick ball to Cips
Tait looked the best player in the Leicester backline by a mile- I expect he'll be at fb as he's played there more recently than Daly.

 

[Peat]

Thoughts on the probably lineup XV? (bear in mind the versatility of Beaumont, Slater, Clifford, Slade and Tait/Daly)

I think it would probably look stronger with a blindside

 

[yaboyjj]

I think it would probably look stronger with a blindside

Well, unfortunately Ewers is out- doesn't Wilson play at blindside? Slater does sometimes and Clifford often does too (I'd be more worried about a specialist Openside tbh- Where's Kvesic when you need him <_<).

 

[Peat]

Well, unfortunately Ewers is out- doesn't Wilson play at blindside? Slater does sometimes and Clifford often does too (I'd be more worried about a specialist Openside tbh- Where's Kvesic when you need him <_<).

Well, openside or blindside, one of those things would complete your listed team...

Both Fisher and Wilson play blindside, although tbh I'm mildly questioning them being there. Would have rather seen Gibson but I guess at this point of the depth chart it doesn't really matter.

 

[Wendigo7]

Probable xv:

1. Matt Mullan (Wasps)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
3. Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
4. Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
5. Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)
6. Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
7. Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
8. Josh Beaumont (Sale Sharks)
9. Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints) ©
10. Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks)
11. Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
13. Elliot Daly (Wasps)
14. Christian Wade (Wasps)
15. Mathew Tait (Leicester Tigers)

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Tait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does that mean he will be staying in England?

Tait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[yaboyjj]

Well, openside or blindside, one of those things would complete your listed team...

Both Fisher and Wilson play blindside, although tbh I'm mildly questioning them being there. Would have rather seen Gibson but I guess at this point of the depth chart it doesn't really matter.

Oooh, I see what you mean- I thought you were questioning the merits of Slater at blindside, just realized I only included one lock in my team. my bad
urm, I think I'd rather play Wilson at blindside rather than start Gaskell at lock (thus moving Slater to backrow) tbh.
Come to think of it- why didn't Lanky call up Clarke? I think the Fisher selection is a bit questionable

 

[goodNumber10]

Tait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does that mean he will be staying in England?

Tait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know i was watching the game yesterday and i was thinking if only that lad was given a chance at 11 for England I honestly would have him over May, Ashton or Strettle or pretty much all the others. He's solid under the high ball, has a good boot, can cut nice lines and is as happy at wing as he is at 15 -he very rarely makes a mistake and while he may not have th nest strike rate in the premiership England seem to look for a bit more than that.