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

[TRF_Olyy]

I'd like Farrell a lot more if RU had a positional equivalent to an RL loose-forward.

He's nothing like a loosie though :huh:

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I go blow hot and cold for Farrell. Sometime really like what he does sometimes not. But when seeing players like spade zone through it makes it more obvious that Farrell is lacking quite a few qualities of a top top.
Pace, distribution, decision making. But as when he spent time in the lions camp he improved and learned, I expect the same from this World Cup camp.

Farrell knows he can't rely on just kicking and defence and should be a better player coming into the World Cup, maybe not as good as Ford in all areas but they both have their strengths.

Ps. Silly point but you could really have
10 ford
12 Farrell
13 slade

3nr 10s in the team!

Put Cips @ 15 and maybe squeeze Goode on the wing and you could have 5 players who can play 10.

9)
10) Ford
11) Goode
12) Farrell
13) Slade
14)
15) Cips.

Just need a 9/10 and a 11/15/10 and you could have a whole back line who has played 10 @ AP level.

Maybe at a push have Devoto @ 15 and Cips @ 14.

 

[ratsapprentice]

He's nothing like a loosie though :huh:

Centre/LF for mine.

 

[j'nuh]

Put Cips @ 15 and maybe squeeze Goode on the wing and you could have 5 players who can play 10.

9)
10) Ford
11) Goode
12) Farrell
13) Slade
14)
15) Cips.

Just need a 9/10 and a 11/15/10 and you could have a whole back line who has played 10 @ AP level.

Maybe at a push have Devoto @ 15 and Cips @ 14.

9. Robson

 

[Raggs]

Put Cips @ 15 and maybe squeeze Goode on the wing and you could have 5 players who can play 10.

9)
10) Ford
11) Goode
12) Farrell
13) Slade
14)
15) Cips.

Just need a 9/10 and a 11/15/10 and you could have a whole back line who has played 10 @ AP level.

Maybe at a push have Devoto @ 15 and Cips @ 14.

I think the fullback 15 is easier.

9. Foden
10. Cips
11. Brown
12. Daly (pushing it a little).
13. Nowell
14. Watson
15. Goode

 

[chippieolamus]

Put Cips @ 15 and maybe squeeze Goode on the wing and you could have 5 players who can play 10.

9)
10) Ford
11) Goode
12) Farrell
13) Slade
14)
15) Cips.

Just need a 9/10 and a 11/15/10 and you could have a whole back line who has played 10 @ AP level.

Maybe at a push have Devoto @ 15 and Cips @ 14.

Austin Healy at 14.

 

[Patchey]

Austin Healy at 14.

You idiot! Brad Barritt surely?!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wigglesworth played 10 at Prem level for Sale.

Stick Eastmond at 14, he's covered 10 for Bath before too.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Would be interesting actually, seeing teams where all the forwards were front rowers and all the backs were 10's, that would be a sight to see.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

So we have
1) Corbs
2) Hartley
3) Wilson
4) George
5) Marler
6) Brookes
7) Cole
8) Youngs
9) Wigglesworth
10) Ford
11) Eastmond
12) Farrell
13) Slade
14) Goode
15) Cips

I feel that would beat the All blacks TBH.

Would be the strangest line outs ever though.

 

[Patchey]

Cole as a 7!

 

[Peat]

You'd have Burns in ahead of Devoto for that shirely. SHIRELY.

Tbh 50pc of all fly-halves can do a job at full-back.

 

[RedruthRFC]

Tbh 50pc of all fly-halves can do a job at full-back.

Years ago, I'd have said close to 100%, but these days the roles are so different (with full backs requiring serious pace) that I'd be surprised if the figure is as high as 50%, certainly in international rugby.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

You'd have Burns in ahead of Devoto for that shirely. SHIRELY.

Tbh 50pc of all fly-halves can do a job at full-back.

Burns!!!!! How could I forget him!

Okay
9) Wigglesworth
10) Burns (C)
11) Cips
12) Farrell
13) Slade
14) Eastmond
15) Ford (need a big hitter at the back).

 

[Peat]

Years ago, I'd have said close to 100%, but these days the roles are so different (with full backs requiring serious pace) that I'd be surprised if the figure is as high as 50%, certainly in international rugby.

Running fly-halves require serious pace too.

The 50pc claim was a little fast and loose hyperbole but Cipriani, Burns, Goode and Devoto have all logged a fair bit of time in both positions - Rob Miller's another - Protheroe coming through plays both - fairly sure Slade can do it and so could Ford if not so small - it's not something I'd take to international level, no, but at AP level, yeah, there's serious amounts of players who can do both and a fair few who you reckon could do both with a bit of practice and experience. Any serious fly-half must be able to fulfill an auxiliary full-back role after all, they'll be spending enough time dropping deep to cover kicks.

 

[Peat]

Anyway, the thread needs a bit of freshening up, so I thought I'd repeat the latest rumours from PR, namely that the 5 to be dropped are likely Webber, Mullan, Easter, Myler and one other, and that the England management aren't certain about Watson...

 

[ncurd]

Watson would be a shocker on that list though he'd at least be kept for fullback cover for Brown.

Dunno if that's worrying or good news. If they are thinking a Roko on the wing I think he's the better choice for that position....May/Ashton would be a step backwards however.

May especially...

 

[chippieolamus]

Anyway, the thread needs a bit of freshening up, so I thought I'd repeat the latest rumours from PR, namely that the 5 to be dropped are likely Webber, Mullan, Easter, Myler and one other, and that the England management aren't certain about Watson...

So George and LCD will both be in the final squad then, unless they're only taking 2 hookers (which they surely won't)? Interesting. I agree with the others, but i hope Watson isn't dropped. He provides good 15 cover and is (in my eyes) the 3rd best winger in the squad after Roko and Nowell. I'd rather see Ashton dropped.

 

[Raggs]

PR rumour is actually that it's one of Watson or Burgess, tagged with the line that management aren't impressed with their abilities.

Some Irish paper has suggested that those 4 names are at risk, struggle to believe we'd be dropping a hooker though.

Watson would be a shocker on that list though he'd at least be kept for fullback cover for Brown.

Dunno if that's worrying or good news. If they are thinking a Roko on the wing I think he's the better choice for that position....May/Ashton would be a step backwards however.

May especially...

May is the only left winger in the squad, he's going to Denver, and I hope he makes in the 31. He's done a lot of good in an England shirt, and whilst his head on defence isn't great, his pace gets him (and us) out of potential holes. He's also the best kick chaser we've got, and seeing as that seems to be the game we want to play, he needs to be in. Throughout the 6N, when May wasn't in, Robshaw and Billy V were the first 2 men to most kicks (especially 22s and free kicks) and it was embarrassing.

- - - Updated - - -

Btw, that's not a call that I'd have May in a 1st choice matchday 23 at this point, but rather one that he shouldn't be dropped too quickly. I think dropping him in the 6N was perhaps the right thing to do. I think dropping him after the 1st test in NZ was absolutely the wrong call.

 

[Peat]

It was all but confirmed as Watson in subsequent posts and I just can't believe it would be Burgess based on everything emerging to date, and I don't exactly credit the current England management as being that truthful. But then, I don't rate Watson that highly either, so maybe I'm reading what I want to read. I am again bewildered that people think of him as good 15 cover.

ESPN, Eurosport and BT Sport have all picked up on the squad cut story, don't know if they did it before the Belfast Telegraph.