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

[goodNumber10]

link: http://www.englandrugby.com/news/england-announce-man-squad-for-denver/

disappointing that Itoje has been released.

 

[Patchey]

Yup. Really sad about that.

Also, what I don't get is why cut people now? The Denver camp is clearly a big part of the pre-RWC fitness so why sling people back to their clubs to be on standby? If someone falls over injured at the end of the camp their replacement will be well off the pace surely?

 

[Maverick1987]

Anyone know when the cuts will be announced ?

EDIT: never mind just seen

 

[SelimNiai]

Yup. Really sad about that.

Also, what I don't get is why cut people now? The Denver camp is clearly a big part of the pre-RWC fitness so why sling people back to their clubs to be on standby? If someone falls over injured at the end of the camp their replacement will be well off the pace surely?

Overbooked the flight perhaps

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Maybe couldn't afford the extra 5 maybe the RFU could only get a deal for a certain amount.

 

[Patchey]

If that is/was the reason I may weep.

 

[chippieolamus]

Gutted about Itoje. Thought he could be the answer at 6 for the world cup - hits rucks, tackles, carries well, good lineout operator. Oh well. Who do people think will start at 6 come the WC? Looks like its between Wood, Haskell and Burgess.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

IMO can see the squad being.

1) Marler, Vunipola
2) Youngs, George, LCD/Webber
3) Cole, Brookes, Wilson
4) Launchbury, Parling
5) Lawes, Attwood
6) Haskell, Wood/Burgess
7) Robshaw, Clarke
8) Morgan, Vunipola,
9) Youngs, Wigglesworth, Care
10) Ford, Farrell
11) Nowell
12) Barritt, Burrell/Slade
13) Joesph,
14) May, Watson
15) Brown, Goode

Part of me has a nasty felling that Clarke will be kept and Burgess and wood will be fighting for the last back row spot.

Personally would have rather seen a squad of:
1) Marler, Vunipola
2) Youngs, LCD, George
3) Cole, Brookes, Wilson
4) Launchbury, Parling
5) Lawes, Slater
6) Itojie, Burgess/Haskell
7) Kvesic, Robshaw
8) Morgan, Vunipola
9) Youngs, Wigglesworth, Simpson (if fit)
10) Ford, Farrell
11) Nowell
12) Slade, Barritt
13) Joesph, Daly
14) Watson, May
15) Brown

But the likes of Daly, Slade, Kvesic, Itojie needed game time in 6N's

Slater prob is club biased his injury hampered him.

 

[SWAGGER]

So itoje + myler + daly + salter dropped & Easter staying at quins for treatment. All good players but I really thought itoje would go to the World Cup but he will be back. Great player. I think this means big Sam will go to the World Cup as a flanker.

 

[Raggs]

Yup. Really sad about that.

Also, what I don't get is why cut people now? The Denver camp is clearly a big part of the pre-RWC fitness so why sling people back to their clubs to be on standby? If someone falls over injured at the end of the camp their replacement will be well off the pace surely?

No one has been cut from a position where there isn't still over subscription. There were 5 10s, christ knows how many backrow, a lot of locks etc etc. The backups for the RWC 31 will be in Denver.

I suspect the clubs also wanted the numbers dropped a bit, since if a player stands little to no chance, they may as well be included in the clubs pre-season, rather than the national one. Learning club systems for the incoming league.

 

[Peat]

Gutted about Itoje. Thought he could be the answer at 6 for the world cup - hits rucks, tackles, carries well, good lineout operator. Oh well. Who do people think will start at 6 come the WC? Looks like its between Wood, Haskell and Burgess.

I'd bet on Wood. Not my first choice, but Lancaster clearly rates him very highly, and I don't think that's going to change. Haskell probably joins the squad as back-up to both Wood and Robshaw, Burgess probably ends up at 12.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I'd bet on Wood. Not my first choice, but Lancaster clearly rates him very highly, and I don't think that's going to change. Haskell probably joins the squad as back-up to both Wood and Robshaw, Burgess probably ends up at 12.

Wood on form is a brilliant player but since his injury his form has been sooooo average.

I can really see burgess taking the 6 shirt in training and starting there for us. If he has kept improving as he has he would be my starting 6 BUT only if he has kept up his development which is anyone's guess.

Maybe itoje just didn't train as well as others. We all know young players can struggle after long seasons and for consistency, I'd have kept him in but Lancaster must have had a reason.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, if Wood's fit then he'll be first choice 6 - he's one of Lancaster's faves.
If he's on form then that's grand, especially if we have one (or both) of Binny and Benny in the starting XV (/23).

I'm a big fan of Itoje, and he's already a very classy player, but missing out now isn't the end of the world considering his age.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Itoje the only one I'd really miss out of those, but I really would miss him. Wood or Haskell it is then, Christ.

Also WRT Burgess, his name is getting him in the squad and nothing more. Even as a Bath fan, that saddens me. He has improved a lot but he is not international level at 6, hell I don't even think he is the best Bath 6.

As another Bath fan, I second that. His improvement in

Re: not being Bath's best 6, I reckon Ford's plan is Garvey at lock.

 

[Irish boy]

Garvey is a class lock and would be good there.

I just think Burgess could be amazing at the World Cup.

 

[Peat]

Is Itoje really already at the level where he's a better bet than Wood and Haskell at international level? Really really? I'll admit straight up to missing a lot of the run in and being pretty close to ignorant here but that seems a pretty big call to me. I can understand people being frustrated, because Wood and Haskell fall squarely under "Not top level internationals" and it'll be fantastic when we move on to someone that is, but neither of them are actually awful or anywhere near it.

Anyway, found this - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...with-trim-conditioned-pack-says-Rowntree.html - interesting info. Maybe hope for Kvesic down the line?

 

[Maverick1987]

To be honest I was hugely disappointed yesterday with Lancaster's cuts however after thinking about it for a bit Itoje will get his chance as will Slater when he's not been injured all season . We can still put forward a hugely skilled and powerful pack probably to match anyone in the world . I'm just praying Wood finds his best form again by the World Cup

 

[ratsapprentice]

Maybe hope for Kvesic down the line?

You would've though that comprehensively outplaying both Wood and Haskell in the games he has played alongside them would have already done that...

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

You would've though that comprehensively outplaying both Wood and Haskell in the games he has played alongside them would have already done that...

Umm kvesic is competing with captain robshaw but wood or Haskell.

Robshaw is a 7 end of, he will always been seen this way by Lancaster until the World Cup is finished otherwise Lancaster would look like a right idiot in the presses eyes.

Right or wrong that's how things will be. Anyways kvesic isn't going to make the rest of the pack take ball at pace though

 

[ratsapprentice]

Yet both Haskell and Wood play 7 for their clubs... don't see why it would then rule Matt out.