England Post-WC discussion

[Patchey]

He's a 10.

Rats has spoken!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Rats has spoken!

I have to agree with him.

Personally I prefer him to Ford ATM, (might be in minority here).

 

[ratsapprentice]

I said it a while ago that Ford and Slade should be the two 10's we invest our caps in this cycle.

The outstanding talents by a mile.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

It's criminal how are attacking 10's get wasted, in this country IMO.
Despite showing good club form.

 

[j'nuh]

Slade put in some cracking performances at 13. We can't discount him offering both the fly-half and centre roles for England.

Problem is that between Joseph and Tuilagi, 13 is fairly locked down, and Slade has no real 12 experience. Which means Slade is unneeded in the centres for England's XV. But he provides us with better centre cover than either Ford or Farrell and means we don't necessarily need a centre on the bench, e.g.

10. Slade
12. Tuilagi
13. Joseph
22. Ford
23. Not a centre

 

[Wendigo7]

He looks a better 12/13 than 10.

He looks like our Matt Giteau.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I said it a while ago that Ford and Slade should be the two 10's we invest our caps in this cycle.

The outstanding talents by a mile.

But Slade has the skill set to play 12 and be the second playmaker England are crying out for.

 

[ratsapprentice]

But Slade has the skill set to play 12 and be the second playmaker England are crying out for.

Yes, he does... but secondary to his exceptional FH ability.

The outstanding FH's in this country are all overtly attack minded - Ford, Cipriani, Slade...

 

[TheSaffycen]

I might again be in the minority but I like Farrell. He does need front foot ball at a must though, but then so does every 10 in all honesty.
I think we should look at Cipriani and Ford though, they both can play the same game plan and their ability to challenge the line will bring the best from JJ or Manu.
At 12 I would like to see Devoto. If he gets more games with JJ at bath we could see a great partnership. I see Devoto as a Frans Steyn type player, someone who can step in at 12/13/15 and at first receiver at ease. Though not starting at 10 unless it's an emergency.
10.Ford/Cips 12.Devoto 13.JJ has a lot going for it in terms of carrying and passing.
Slade is whatever he wants to be quite honestly, he has class pouring out of him and I could see him at 10/12/13/15

 

[pombrown]

What were the pre wrc games all about: the best performing players with most obvious impact - Cops and Slade were subsequently ignored. This management team left me more than a little confused
After the 6N I was getting excited about a new attacking England style with Ford and JJ, but now feel let down by off field decisions, not on field effort

 

[Bada-Bing!]

https://mobile.twitter.com/infernoprotv

Currently on Twitter. BV saying Farrell pretty much picks the team, Catt walked out of team selection meeting last week vowing not to return, Squad were unhappy Burgess got picked ahead of Burrell. Farrell pretty much told Lancaster to pick Burgess. Rumours at the moment, so unsubstantiated. If true should come out in the review to take place after RWC.

 

[McTallshort]

https://mobile.twitter.com/infernoprotv

Currently on Twitter. BV saying Farrell pretty much picks the team, Catt walked out of team selection meeting last week vowing not to return, Squad were unhappy Burgess got picked ahead of Burrell. Farrell pretty much told Lancaster to pick Burgess. Rumours at the moment, so unsubstantiated. If true should come out in the review to take place after RWC.

Keep up son it's on another thread!

Although it's surprising no one in the mainstream media have picked up on it

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Keep up son it's on another thread!

Although it's surprising no one in the mainstream media have picked up on it

Oh right, well I just read it elsewhere. But if it is already on here then good.

 

[McTallshort]

Pretty shocking stuff eh?

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Pretty shocking stuff eh?

If true, then yes, but not surprising. Andy Farrell is a pretty intimidating character. From the Lions Raw DVD he was pretty much Gatland's enforcer. So I think he would be the dominant personality in the England's coaching set up.

i think most England fans on here will be glad to see the back of him on many levels. This will just seal the deal. He's ****ed up England's back line, pretty much taken over selection. Worst of all accusations of nepotism will forever be levelled at him as long as his son is in the England squad.

But this also reflects badly on Lancaster, as a weak manager, if he favoured Burrell over Burgess and chose to go with Farrell's decision over his own instinct.

Anyway, it is rumour, but using some common sense I don't think it will be be very far from the truth.

 

[Patchey]

If true, then yes, but not surprising. Andy Farrell is a pretty intimidating character. From the Lions Raw DVD he was pretty much Gatland's enforcer. So I think he would be the dominant personality in the England's coaching set up.

i think most England fans on here will be glad to see the back of him on many levels. This will just seal the deal. He's ****ed up England's back line, pretty much taken over selection. Worst of all accusations of nepotism will forever be levelled at him as long as his son is in the England squad.

But this also reflects badly on Lancaster, as a weak manager, if he favoured Burrell over Burgess and chose to go with Farrell's decision over his own instinct.

Anyway, it is rumour, but using some common sense I don't think it will be be very far from the truth.

There was quite a telling moment in an interview Lancaster did, I think about a year ago, where he broke down how much time he spent on coaching, admin, PR, and press stuff. By his own admission in pretty sure he said he only spent about a quarter of his time coaching and selecting.

In that kind of situation, where you'd 'Head Coach' is really a Director of Rugby, one of his lieutenants is always going to have to step up and in that situation it's very easy to see how Farrell could dominate the other coaches and players while saying to Lancaster 'Look mate, I know we disagree but I see more of the lads than you so trust me' etc etc.

I mean I'm still taking this all with a barrow of salt. But it is plausible,

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

IF all that's true, Lancaster is guilty of either (a) poor judgement as Farrell has no real coaching credentials or (b) being bullied into it. Neither are qualities of a leader. Suspect we'll find in due course that he'd also lost the dressing room....if he ever had it to lose.

 

[glawsfan]

I would like to see this team given a go in the 6 nations.
1) Vunipola
2) Hartley
3) Cole
4) Launchbury
5) Itoje
6) Ewers
7) Kvesic
8) Morgan
9) Simpson
10) Ford
11) May
12) Slade
13) Joseph
14) Watson
15) Brown

16) Cowan-Dickie/George
17) Auterac
18) Marler
19) Lawes
20) Vunipola
21) Care
22) Cips
23) Nowell

 

[j'nuh]

No Tuilagi, no bueno.

Does Itoje run the lineout at Sarries?

 

[Mattybuck]

We need a coach with experience who will bring fresh thinking. We are using the tired old game plan of forward dominance at set pieces.

We need to pay attention to the break down and consider new young players and bed them in over next two years. After that for me it becomes about consolidation. Lots of talent and potential in English rugby including many names mentioned above.

Some reporters advocating for SL to stay, personally I will lose a lot of faith if he remains. He has had a fair crack and it's time to look at other options.

I'd get rid of Rob Andrew and replace with Wooward

Wayne Smith as head coach

Borthwick as forwards coach

Catt to stay as backs coach (given the right players this is the only area in which we improved prior to World Cup)

The rest I have no ideas at the mo...