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

[Maverick1987]

I've got to say I wouldn't even think about dropping Nowell for May . Jack was head and shoulders over May last 6N

 

[TheSaffycen]

Agreed Nowell was brilliant, he also looked much stronger and he carried in a very imposing fashion, we need that with no Manu in the backline.

 

[nickdnz]

123

 

[ratsapprentice]

456?

 

[nickdnz]

Yes.

 

[RedruthRFC]

I will be intrigued to see if May plays a big part during the world cup or will England go with the safer bet of Nowell who is more steady and consistent or will they go with May who has the potential to be a match winner in the big games. I'm sure if you asked the likes of NZ who they would want to be facing it wouldn't be May.

I take your point, but history suggests that the knock out games will be tough and attritional, Nowell has more to offer in this kind of game IMO. Also, as it stands, Nowell's international form is superior, although the warm up games (and ever pool games) should give May a chance to change this.

 

[goodNumber10]

I've got to say I wouldn't even think about dropping Nowell for May . Jack was head and shoulders over May last 6N

^^^^This, very much.

Nowell is a brilliant player, May is a liability.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

^^^^This, very much.

Nowell is a brilliant player, May is a liability.

It was great to see him scoring tries too, putting down a bit of low level criticism.

 

[ZeroTwo]

Watching a few old England games.

Ben Morgan is twice the player Billy Vunipola is in my opinion. Even as a Saracens man. Billy is good but often takes the ball far too static so gets caught behind the gainline and has to use power to make up for it. Fine at club level, not at international. How's Morgan been for club this season?

 

[goodNumber10]

Watching a few old England games.

Ben Morgan is twice the player Billy Vunipola is in my opinion. Even as a Saracens man. Billy is good but often takes the ball far too static so gets caught behind the gainline and has to use power to make up for it. Fine at club level, not at international. How's Morgan been for club this season?

Injured.

He broke his leg pre-six nations.

Vunipola is fine, but if you scroll back you'll see myself and @Peat have covered the static carrier issue at length, for me it's our biggest issue, our forward pods are sitting too deep and trying to distribute to the slider when actually we just need to be running short off 9 and smashing the gainline.

That will make a huge difference for our backs.

 

[ratsapprentice]

It's been an issue for a long time - at least as far back as under Ashton where we'd constantly get stuck about a yard in front of the try line.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Tait Tait tait

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not sure he could handle being a ball carrying forward.

 

[goodNumber10]

It's been an issue for a long time - at least as far back as under Ashton where we'd constantly get stuck about a yard in front of the try line.

but I felt we saw progress early doors under Lancaster where we went simple and played on the front foot, we've started playing the short offload system and it just doens't work for us mainly because our guys run poor lines off the distributor..

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Not sure he could handle being a ball carrying forward.

Lol.

That what they said about him playing full back......

We'll sort of.

 

[Peat]

but I felt we saw progress early doors under Lancaster where we went simple and played on the front foot, we've started playing the short offload system and it just doens't work for us mainly because our guys run poor lines off the distributor..

Which does suggest Morgan, as he does run good lines.

Well, actually it suggests a better system. Playing off of Youngs and Ford moving at pace is a good step up from playing off of Wilson and Robshaw standing still, that's for sure.

It should be noted in any Morgan vs Vunipola debate that going forwards is only half the battle and, while I wouldn't criticise Morgan's most recent efforts, Vunipola was immense in that respect in the 6N. However, I feel England emphasise pure defensive capabilities over ball carrying enough as it is - and if your carrying is insufficient, you create pressure on your defence anyway.

Maybe they have given Billy V the flashing star and sent him straight down Goodeys channel ! Haha

On a serious note we should pick Watson and Brown as our full backs and Yarde, Roko and Nowell as our wings . Do you think they will only pick 5 back 3 players ?

If they pick more than 5 they want their heads examined. I would back May to make the squad ahead of one of Yarde and Roko though, although in truth I don't really care who makes it, as I don't think any of them are consistently good enough except for possibly Brown. Nowell's the second name on my list as he's the most consistent after that, I just wish he was a bit faster.

 

[ZeroTwo]

Injured.

He broke his leg pre-six nations.

Vunipola is fine, but if you scroll back you'll see myself and Peat have covered the static carrier issue at length, for me it's our biggest issue, our forward pods are sitting too deep and trying to distribute to the slider when actually we just need to be running short off 9 and smashing the gainline.

That will make a huge difference for our backs.

Ah right! Missed that. Cheers for filling me in. Apologies for bringing old topics up, unfortunately my day job isn't boring enough that I've read all 68 pages yet!

 

[goodNumber10]

Ah right! Missed that. Cheers for filling me in. Apologies for bringing old topics up, unfortunately my day job isn't boring enough that I've read all 68 pages yet!

Ha! It's always worth revisiting...

 

[ZeroTwo]

France - Picamoles
Ireland - O'Brien
Wales - Faletau
NZ- Read
Australia - Higginbotham
South Africa- Vermuelen

I'd take most of them over Billy Vunipola. Still can't fathom the lack of Ewers in the squad. Anyone else have a terrible fear that Wood might end up at number 8?

 

[goodNumber10]

France - Picamoles
Ireland - O'Brien
Wales - Faletau
NZ- Read
Australia - Higginbotham
South Africa- Vermuelen

I'd take most of them over Billy Vunipola. Still can't fathom the lack of Ewers in the squad. Anyone else have a terrible fear that Wood might end up at number 8?

Not really, think the back ups are Morgan then they will bring on Waldron and Haskell civets there.

On players better than BV agree on Read and Vermulen.