England Post-WC discussion

[Jakedood]

I think you are being unfair on Farrell there he's looked far better in attack and isn't just going along for an armchair ride behind a huge pack . He's been much better than in previous years and for once I'd be happy for him to start against Scotland in the 6N . His running, passing and offloading has improved massively ! As far as the tight head position is concerned if seriously consider dropping Petrus Du Plessis in for the 6N as a short term option he works well in the Sarries set up and can do a job whilst Brookes is injured and Cole is seriously out of form

Haven't there been enough short term measures? I mean for all the talk of a future generation, developing towards 2019, and now we're talkign short term measures? I mean say for example Hill and Thomas might not be our first choices from a fully fit selection pool, but still rather them than a 35 year old south african prop. These guys could do a job fine in the 6 nations and at least we'd be blooding them, rather than saying "i'll pick an old foreigner over you"

 

[TheSaffycen]

Cooper Wooley, Sinkler and Thomas. No need for a saffer.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

I think you are being unfair on Farrell there he's looked far better in attack and isn't just going along for an armchair ride behind a huge pack . He's been much better than in previous years and for once I'd be happy for him to start against Scotland in the 6N . His running, passing and offloading has improved massively ! As far as the tight head position is concerned if seriously consider dropping Petrus Du Plessis in for the 6N as a short term option he works well in the Sarries set up and can do a job whilst Brookes is injured and Cole is seriously out of form

Du Plessis... As in Du Plessis the 34 year old South African?

Not sure why we'd make that compromise for a stop gap, for me Dan Cole does a job and we blood youngsters off the bench.

 

[TheSaffycen]

1.Vunipola 2.George 3.Cole has a combined 96 caps and 6 Lions caps
16.Hartley 17.Marler 18.Thomas (110 Caps)
That too me is probably the way forward ? I hate Hartley and would rather Taylor or LCD but if we need some experience than that 6 there has more than enough. Personally Hartley and Marler wouldn't be in there but Hartley and Thomas are good scrummagers, Marler was also doing okay until recently. With limited changes you have to sort out the back row and centres first.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Jonny May might be out of the Six Nations with a knee injury, according to the Rugby Paper.

 

[ZeroTwo]

Jonny May might be out of the Six Nations with a knee injury, according to the Rugby Paper.

Was kind of hoping Roko came in on his wing anyway. It's time for something a little different out wide.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Nowell-Roko-Manu will give us a lot of carriers in that backline.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Henry Thomas has been playing as **** for Bath as Cole has for Tigers, though.
I'd have more faith in Cole turning it around then Thomas.
Sinkler not scrummaging well for Harlequins.
Cooper-Wooley injured.
Wilson completely out of the picture.


Why did Brookes have to break himself?

 

[Peat]

My impression was that neither Cole or Thomas were doing that terribly tbh.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Henry Thomas has been playing as **** for Bath as Cole has for Tigers, though.
I'd have more faith in Cole turning it around then Thomas.
Sinkler not scrummaging well for Harlequins.
Cooper-Wooley injured.
Wilson completely out of the picture.


Why did Brookes have to break himself?

Put Attwood or Slater behind him and I think he'll be okay, Thomas or Sinkler that is.

 

[Peat]

Put Attwood or Slater behind him and I think he'll be okay, Thomas or Sinkler that is.

That may be quite difficult.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Indeed. And FWIW I think Kitchener was behind Cole when he was mullered against Sarries.

The 3 situation is quite simple in principle. Whoever is scrummaging best gets the shirt. Forget potential, forget contribution around the pitch. The whole team is compromised if the front row isn't solid, especially if other new combinations are being trialled. If that man's du Plessis, so be it, but Wilson would certainly fit that description if he can find some form.

 

[Maverick1987]

Indeed. And FWIW I think Kitchener was behind Cole when he was mullered against Sarries.

The 3 situation is quite simple in principle. Whoever is scrummaging best gets the shirt. Forget potential, forget contribution around the pitch. The whole team is compromised if the front row isn't solid, especially if other new combinations are being trialled. If that man's du Plessis, so be it, but Wilson would certainly fit that description if he can find some form.

This is my thoughts exactly

 

[TheSaffycen]

That may be quite difficult.

I've just looked up, well ****. Maybe Kruis and Launch will be big enough ? Looks like Itoje will be put there then.

 

[Aristodemus]

Size doesn't equate strength, and Itoje is strong as f%$k. I wouldn't mark him down as a lock that weakens the scrum.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Size doesn't equate strength, and Itoje is strong as f%$k.

It does, generally, actually...

 

[Aristodemus]

I'm not saying it has no impact but a heavier guy isn't necessarily stronger than a rival just because he weighs a stone more.

 

[Irish boy]

Just saying big second rows who are good and fit. Matt Symons ...

 

[Geordie]

I think its going to be Kruis and Lunchbury at lock.

And I suspect we'll see 11 Nowell, 14 Watson, 15 Brown (despite his slight slump in form)

As to the injuries...new and long term who will most likely miss selection for the 6n...

Slater
Manu
Corbs
Attwood
Slade
Ewers
Wade
Brookes
May

I think a few of those would have been selected aswell.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

I think its going to be Kruis and Lunchbury at lock.

And I suspect we'll see 11 Nowell, 14 Watson, 15 Brown (despite his slight slump in form)

As to the injuries...new and long term who will most likely miss selection for the 6n...

Slater
Manu
Corbs
Attwood
Slade
Ewers
Wade
Brookes
May

I think a few of those would have been selected aswell.

The sad thing about those injuries is that nearly all of them will have looked at the six nations as a chance to break into the England set up or for a few, consolidate their place. May, Slade, Brookes, Attwood, could all have potentially been nailed down by the end of the 6Ns, and the rest would have been challenging for caps at least.

EDIT: other than Manu and Corbs, for differing reasons.