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

[ratsapprentice]

I have always been Faz-skeptic and know a great many who would be far ruder about him than me. This idea that England fans suddenly decided he wasn't what we wanted after hailing him as the next Wilko is... well, it doesn't tally with my experiences. The papers have been like that somewhat, but not the fans I know *shrugs*

Nor mine...


Hill looks the best prospect of the three IMO, an absolute unit and a decent rugby player. He's not going to be Kyle Eastmond, but he's shown more distributing skill than Manu.
Tomkins is very highly rated from what I can tell, but If I'm honest I haven't seen all that much to gush over. Not saying he isn't good, just that I haven't seen what others have.

 

[goodNumber10]

Nor mine...


Hill looks the best prospect of the three IMO, an absolute unit and a decent rugby player. He's not going to be Kyle Eastmond, but he's shown more distributing skill than Manu.
Tomkins is very highly rated from what I can tell, but If I'm honest I haven't seen all that much to gush over. Not saying he isn't good, just that I haven't seen what others have.

He's looked good in a dominant team but yet to see him under the pump.

I like Hill a lot, but winner what he'd shape up like as a 13 (tinkerer).

 

[Peat]

He's looked good in a dominant team but yet to see him under the pump.

I like Hill a lot, but winner what he'd shape up like as a 13 (tinkerer).

I presume that was meant to be wonder?

I think he could do it. Better? Depends on the team's shape I think, but in general I think he's better dealing with traffic than exploiting gaps.

I'm not entirely sure what sort of player Tomkins is - someone throw me a bone?

The real big hope for me at age grade level at the moment is Marchant, who is a lot smaller than I thought he was tbh!

 

[ratsapprentice]

I'm not entirely sure what sort of player Tomkins is - someone throw me a bone?

He was a flanker until very recently - a generic midfield player.

 

[chippieolamus]

Can I just clarify, are we talking about Saracens centre Nick Tompkins?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Yeah - **** the Tomkins and Tompkins for their lack of correspondence.

 

[Peat]

Can I just clarify, are we talking about Saracens centre Nick Tompkins?

Yeah - my bad.

 

[j'nuh]

Maybe I'm mad, but if there's one English player I could stick in the centres tomorrow, it would be Jack Clifford. Or maybe James Chisholm. You get my point in any case...

Yes! My perception of Clifford is that he's skilful and I want him to play for England, but he may lack the physique of the modern backrow. Would love to see a conversion to the centres.

I do wonder why we can't solve some of our centre concerns by looking to convert a backrower or two. We have barely any physical backs, and too many talented backrowers not getting a chance. Gareth Evans is another who I think would make a quality centre. To be honest, I'd be half-tempted to throw Ewers into the backline just to get him into the XV.

This kind of conversion might become more common, the way backlines are getting bigger by the year.

 

[goodNumber10]

Yes! My perception of Clifford is that he's skilful and I want him to play for England, but he may lack the physique of the modern backrow. Would love to see a conversion to the centres.

I do wonder why we can't solve some of our centre concerns by looking to convert a backrower or two. We have barely any physical backs, and too many talented backrowers not getting a chance. Gareth Evans is another who I think would make a quality centre. To be honest, I'd be half-tempted to throw Ewers into the backline just to get him into the XV.

This kind of conversion might become more common, the way backlines are getting bigger by the year.

don't mean to be a twot here but Ewers in the Centers is the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a long time on here and that's saying something

While there are some similarities between 12/13 and 6/7 i don't think it's as simple as just moving them - we've got enough physical centers what we need is someone who can be physical whilst not losing the skillful element of it, and i've not seen anyone mentioned here who has that skillful side to their game (at least enough that i'd have the confidence to move them there).

 

[ratsapprentice]

Clifford is a converted centre.

Clifford is fine for size, particularly if paired with a unit like Ewers.

6. Ewers/Burgess/Clifford
7. Kvesic/Clifford
8. A flower pot man.

That suits me fine.

 

[Patchey]

Yeah Clifford has actually played centre and done a solid job in the AP when we'd used all of our backs subs up and Hopper (I think) got a knock.

One of the reasons he is such a good back row IMO, is because he clearly could have been a decent centre. Much like Kerren Reed, who played a lot of centre as a junior.

(And yes, I did just make that comparison).

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Yeah Clifford has actually played centre and done a solid job in the AP when we'd used all of our backs subs up and Hopper (I think) got a knock.

One of the reasons he is such a good back row IMO, is because he clearly could have been a decent centre. Much like Kerren Reed, who played a lot of centre as a junior.

(And yes, I did just make that comparison).

Soooooooo...
12. Clifford
13. Tom Youngs
Looks better than some centre partnerships we've had in the last four years.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Devoto was looking like the real deal in the short period between him breaking into the senior Bath squad, and Bath shipping Henson off and having Devoto as their 2nd choice 10.
He's a crap 10, and the sooner they stamp that out of him the better - he really could be great in the centres (though with Eastmond and JJ he won't be first choice any time soon).
Hopefully with Priestland arriving at flyhalf he'll get to develop more in the centre.

 

[Peat]

... we've got enough physical centers what we need is someone who can be physical whilst not losing the skillful element of it, and i've not seen anyone mentioned here who has that skillful side to their game (at least enough that i'd have the confidence to move them there).

See, I'm not sure I agree there. Tuilagi's great, but Barritt's not physical enough in attack, Burrell's not physical enough in defence, and Burgess is probably not a centre. We've got a few prospects - Hill's at the front of the queue, but Sloan could be useful, Clark's big... but only a few. We don't seem to be producing really powerful centres.

That's why I look at someone like Clifford - fast and strong - and wish we had more centres who carry like him. Skill would be nice, but beyond hands, an offload, and the ability to spot and give a pass within 10m, not essential. Our centre stocks are so low that I'm not going to get too fussy.

Of course, no guarantee it would work... but it would be great if it did. Isn't Chisholm a converted centre too? Bloody Quins

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Yeah - **** the Tomkins and Tompkins for their lack of correspondence.

Felt this needed to be posted, wonder how many people get it:

 

[ZeroTwo]

Just don't mention "Tintin in the Congo".

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

I've now got the horrible image of Brad Barritt as Captain Haddock. That will never leave me.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I've now got the horrible image of Brad Barritt as Captain Haddock. That will never leave me.

Ford is definitely Tintin.

 

[Maverick1987]

I'm pretty sure I'm the minority, but I don't know why Farrell has been thrown under the bus on here since Ford started to shine a little, it was only 2 years ago we were saying Farrells the next Johnny Wilkinson, he has led a team to 3 premiership finals won 2 of them and a Heineken cup final in the last 3 years.. He's beaten the all blacks, yes his attack is a step below Fords, but if he got his attacking game to fords level, there would be no dbout he would be #1 fly half, i can't see ford ever being as aggressive or have the same ferocity in defence, Ford just reminds me of Toby Flood to much I just hope he doesn't choke at the vital moments like he has done in the past.. And then we all look back and say Farrell would have held his nerve..

Who told you 2 years ago that Farrell was the next Jonny Wilkinson ??? Maybe it was Stevie Wonder ? Or Ray Charles ?

I always believed that Ford would eventually take over from Farrell/Flood as England's number one . Right back to the season that Ford came off the bench in a premiership final for Leicester (3 seasons ago)

I still dream of the day we can field
9. Youngs
10. Ford
12. Manu
13. JJ
22. Slade

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not enough Tigers academy players in that side.