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

[Peat]

As for Lancaster looking for centres to play in Joseph's style, I'd guess not, as once Tuilagi's back he's got to be included somehow (when he's on form, anyway) and Jonathon and Manu are... different.

Manu 12 JJ 13 #problemsolved

 

[ratsapprentice]

Mauger coaching Tigers might be a very good thing for England if it means that Manu moves to 12.

 

[ZeroTwo]

Manu 12 JJ 13 #problemsolved

Why don't we just pick the Kray twins there?

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Mauger coaching Tigers might be a very good thing for England if it means that Manu moves to 12.

I can't see them moving him from 13 at club level. I just don't see him as our 12 for the future these days. With all our upcoming players coming through someone like slade or hill or someone.

They have until the next World Cup to cement a 12 shirt.

But I have a feeling in 4 years time we will still be discussing that 12 shirt!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I can't see them moving him from 13 at club level. I just don't see him as our 12 for the future these days. With all our upcoming players coming through someone like slade or hill or someone.

They have until the next World Cup to cement a 12 shirt.

But I have a feeling in 4 years time we will still be discussing that 12 shirt!

Manu @ 12 is becoming a very realistic thing now for Tigers.

Started with Cohen saying a option was Manu playing 12 if Tait stayed with Tait @ 13.

Then Allen retiring and so haven't replaced him.

There is a gap @12 and Mauger was the 10 with Manu @12 V SA where he played brilliant rugby Mauger was also pretty much our backs coach then.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Manu @ 12 is becoming a very realistic thing now for Tigers.

Started with Cohen saying a option was Manu playing 12 if Tait stayed with Tait @ 13.

Then Allen retiring and so haven't replaced him.

There is a gap @12 and Mauger was the 10 with Manu @12 V SA where he played brilliant rugby Mauger was also pretty much our backs coach then.

Tigs, thinking along the lines of Nonu's development from a pretty one-dimensional crashball, do you think Manu will ever get a kicking game?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Tigs, thinking along the lines of Nonu's development from a pretty one-dimensional crashball, do you think Manu will ever get a kicking game?

Doubt it.

He has a wallop but I don't think he has anything but that accuracy technique wise.

Mauger might be able to have a look though.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Doubt it.

He has a wallop but I don't think he has anything but that accuracy technique wise.

Mauger might be able to have a look though.

Have a word with him, will you?

I've always thought of the 12 channel as a bit stifling, even for big runners- I can imagine Tuilagi making more ground than Barritt or Burrell, but he's always seemed most effective to me when he gets the half break and offloads, or full break before an offload or pass, which happens far less at 12. Not sure we'd get the best out of him there, although from the current crop it's tempting...

(oops, look, over 100 posts. Thanks guys, it's been magic)

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Have a word with him, will you?

I've always thought of the 12 channel as a bit stifling, even for big runners- I can imagine Tuilagi making more ground than Barritt or Burrell, but he's always seemed most effective to me when he gets the half break and offloads, or full break before an offload or pass, which happens far less at 12. Not sure we'd get the best out of him there, although from the current crop it's tempting...

(oops, look, over 100 posts. Thanks guys, it's been magic)

Guess that would depend on how Ford or for Leicester Williams/Burns attacks the game line.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Manu running off Ford or Youngs who have kept the defence fixed and with JJ outside to keep them worried, I feel he could be effective. Other crashball options fail because they are so predictable. Roberts for Wales is a prime example, he telegraphs that he intends to smash the gain line and with nobody else really attacking it, it is relatively easy to double tackle him. Youngs, Ford, Manu and JJ all pose running threats to an unprepared defence and none could be ignored. Previously our main tactic to break the gain line was to ship it to Manu because 9, 10 and 12 were all incapable of causing defences problems. Given that extra uncertainty, Manu could potentially open up defences well.

 

[goodNumber10]

Manu running off Ford or Youngs who have kept the defence fixed and with JJ outside to keep them worried, I feel he could be effective. Other crashball options fail because they are so predictable. Roberts for Wales is a prime example, he telegraphs that he intends to smash the gain line and with nobody else really attacking it, it is relatively easy to double tackle him. Youngs, Ford, Manu and JJ all pose running threats to an unprepared defence and none could be ignored. Previously our main tactic to break the gain line was to ship it to Manu because 9, 10 and 12 were all incapable of causing defences problems. Given that extra uncertainty, Manu could potentially open up defences well.

 

[Raggs]

Manu at 12, on those occasions it's happened, has always looked fairly comfortable to me. A little less room to work, but he's a beast, and can make a mess even that close, he seems to consciously improve his distribution from 12 as well. He could also be given his head on the blitz defence calls, since he does enjoy rushing out the line.

 

[goodNumber10]

Prefer him at 13 running those under's lines off 10. Look at the havoc he caused against NZ from there?

To be honest though I prefer strike runners at 13 ball players at 12... But that's only worthwhile if you have strike runners in the back three.

 

[Patchey]

Prefer him at 13 running those under's lines off 10. Look at the havoc he caused against NZ from there?

To be honest though I prefer strike runners at 13 ball players at 12... But that's only worthwhile if you have strike runners in the back three.

Nowell counts as that right?

 

[Raggs]

I can definitely appreciate a ballplayer at 12, and I'd not class Joseph as a distributor either. However, Ford seems to have enough in his arsenal to be able to use those resources fairly well. I think we could see that change of position happening in Tigers, especially with Tait likely fancying to stay at 13 (more in the Joseph mould) and JJ holding the 13 shirt will likely mean Manu wouldn't mind trying 12, a problem position for Tigers and England. We could do with another ball player though, typically you'd look at the 15 for that if you're not getting it from the midfield, and Brown is not that man, Cips could be though, but I don't see Cips being seen as anything more than 15 cover, rather than a 15 starter.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Prefer him at 13 running those under's lines off 10. Look at the havoc he caused against NZ from there?

To be honest though I prefer strike runners at 13 ball players at 12... But that's only worthwhile if you have strike runners in the back three.

So in the back three, Rokoduguni and May would work.

 

[Raggs]

Nowell isn't going anywhere, he's not fast, but he does a lot of good. I would love May + Roko though, devastating combo potentially.

 

[Maverick1987]

So in the back three, Rokoduguni and May would work.

I'd rather Roko and Nowell . Jack has a great habit of popping up in midfield a lot . Maybe to do with that he's played 13 and 15 aswell ?

 

[Raggs]

Nowell and Yarde for workrate. Nowell and Roko for defenders beaten. May and Roko for scaring the crap out of defences. We've got some decent options for wing, but I'd say Roko is probably the most rounded, he just needs to be on form and uninjured.

9. Youngs 10. Ford 11. Nowell 12. Barritt 13. Joseph 14. Roko 15. Brown

That's what I reckon we'll settle on. Not the most aggressive in attack, but I don't see it easily broken down in defence, and there's enough attack to keep teams interested, especially if we just use Barritt running straight lines and not trying to do anything clever.

 

[TheSaffycen]

I'd rather Roko and Nowell . Jack has a great habit of popping up in midfield a lot . Maybe to do with that he's played 13 and 15 aswell ?

Just thinking about strike runners, May is still dangerous in the 13 channel, Nowell is good as well. Yarde is dangerous as well, we have far too many players to try out in 3 games.
First game
9.Youngs 10.Farrell 11.May 12.Barritt 13.Joseph 14.Rokoduguni 15.Brown
Has a good mix of defence and pace.