England Post-WC discussion

[Mattybuck]

Ewers has been impressive and consistent for last 3 seasons and surely has to be given the opportunity. Man is an absolute beast.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Ewers has been impressive and consistent for last 3 seasons and surely has to be given the opportunity. Man is an absolute beast.

Boo! Poaching players from poor Zimbabwe! Hissss.

I'll be interested to see (if a new coaching set up is installed) how players' body shape changes. Think Robshaw and Wood will put back on the kgs and go back to their 2011-12 ish form?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

We could have a pack of

1) Vunipola
2) Hartley
3) Corbs
4) Mike Williams
5) De Chaves (?)
6) Ewers
7) O'Connor
8) Vunipola

 

[ratsapprentice]

I'll be interested to see (if a new coaching set up is installed) how players' body shape changes. Think Robshaw and Wood will put back on the kgs and go back to their 2011-12 ish form?

Don't think they'll be involved at all.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Don't think they'll be involved at all.

Haha, true! Even so, without Lancaster's influence their clubs may want them to return to their previous weights.

They were just examples anyway, I was more thinking of the group collectively.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Boo! Poaching players from poor Zimbabwe! Hissss.

Isn't he English but just happened to be born there?


Edit: English parents, and moved back to England when he was 13.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Isn't he English but just happened to be born there?


Edit: English parents, and moved back to England when he was 13.

That's good enough to call him a poach from our friends beyond the wall/river.

 

[Maverick1987]

That's good enough to call him a poach from our friends beyond the wall/river.

Lol Wales and Scotland can't say anything about poaching !!

 

[Patchey]

As a blindside option Robshaw still makes the squad for sure, he's certainly better than Wood.

Obviously it is quite hard until we've seen some more Premiership but I guess our various back row options are:

Openside: Kvesic, Clifford, Fraiser, Haskell.
Blindside: Itoje, Ewers, Robshaw, Gibson.
Number 8: Morgan, Billy, Easter.

That is just of the top of my head and with only one round of Aviva action. But based on that, and whether the management use Itoje or Easter as lock cover as well, Robshaw makes the EPS.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Going to say this again O'Connor will be in the backrow some where IMO.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Why? Has he even played for Tigers yet? Is he even eligible? Is it some dodgy distant relative clause?

It's a similar situation to Symons: Wait and see how he plays up here before touting him for England (and Symons is actually English, as well.).


Also will we really use Easter going forwards? He was used in the RWC because (other than having a good season) he's so experienced he can just drop into the squad with minimal training time with them and work. He's 37 and will likely retire this season or next - surely, straight after a RWC, we should be looking at different options?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

He is Qualified Parent or Grandparent cant remeber.

Just watched him in the Final in the ITM Championship and he was brilliant. Also had a brilliant Super rugby season making a shed load of Turnovers.

Just saying the fact he lineouts jumps plays mainly 7 but also plays 6 and 8. IMO IF he can carry his form to AP he will be looked at with England.

 

[g6mcg]

Is the next EPS tied to the world cup squad? The rule that only X players can be changed in January.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I think you get a lot more changes just after a World Cup than usual

 

[Geordie]

Theres another rumour going around of a quite public argument between some of the coaches and Dave Attwood. Its supoosedly is about the way he was wanting to play the game (big tackles on the fringes, big hard carries in traffic etc the way he plays for bath) yet the coaches did want that and were having a go at him. Again it may just be bull, but if (big IF) it is true and he was dropped for not adapting his game...then it concerns me alot.

You have a big powerful guy who always puts in strong performances in for his club with a specific game. Big Scrummager, Big tackling on the fringes. Hard carrying in the fringes. Basically a power game and lineout man.

Now he has been asked to play a totally different game to what he is used to and then been ceremoniously dumped because he couldn't do that. I find this crazy.

If you want players to play a certain way...pick the right players to play that game!!! Don't pick players who don't play that style and try to convert them. Its very rare that it comes off.

You wouldn't ask Lawes to perform the same style for his club that Attwood does.

It annoys me. And it makes me wonder what they have been trying to ask Kvesic, and some others to do in the squad get togethers.

 

[Peat]

A blow-up between Attwood and management has been reported before - when was the one you've heard of meant to have happened?

 

[Patchey]

Why? Has he even played for Tigers yet? Is he even eligible? Is it some dodgy distant relative clause?

It's a similar situation to Symons: Wait and see how he plays up here before touting him for England (and Symons is actually English, as well.).


Also will we really use Easter going forwards? He was used in the RWC because (other than having a good season) he's so experienced he can just drop into the squad with minimal training time with them and work. He's 37 and will likely retire this season or next - surely, straight after a RWC, we should be looking at different options?

I assume that he'll probably be used for the 6N the retire internationally. There is still a limit of changes and he is a very safe option to have if you're going to be trying out less experiences / young forwards in the row and loose forwards. Also, aside from picking Hughes (if he is qualifies yet) or a really young guy, there isn't really a third 8 knocking around for the squad is there?

 

[Mattybuck]

I don't see a future with Easter.

Under Johnson he performed for the most part poorly but was never dropped.

Eventually does get dropped then has great form for club and never got a look in.

Anyway his time internationally is up. We need to look at the likes of sewers maybe Beaumont to start coming through and challenging Bill and Ben.

The next 18 months should be all about picking the players with the potential and talent to take us forward.

Get then winning games anyway we can, and as experience confidence grows widening the game plan.

 

[Patchey]

I don't see a future with Easter.

Under Johnson he performed for the most part poorly but was never dropped.

Eventually does get dropped then has great form for club and never got a look in.

Anyway his time internationally is up. We need to look at the likes of sewers maybe Beaumont to start coming through and challenging Bill and Ben.

The next 18 months should be all about picking the players with the potential and talent to take us forward.

Get then winning games anyway we can, and as experience confidence grows widening the game plan.

Yeah...I think you missed the point I was driving at.

Is Easter going to be touring in Australia or at the next AIs? No. He probably won't be playing rugby then.

Will he be in the 6N squad which is bound to be transitional and in which a lot more changes than who is our back up 8 need to be made? Yes.

 

[Mattybuck]

But why... Our first choice 8's are Bill and Ben who have experience

As for locks, plenty of options there, don't see a place for him in the squad even to assist with transition.