England Post-WC discussion

[Ragey Erasmus]

Also I just read a Wales online article that suggests England have no talent in the back row and have no one in the same league as the "world class" Taulupe Faletau ...... Discuss

There's your problem. Must remember, us English are let down by our arrogance and the humble and impartial WO is just pointing that out.

 

[Maverick1987]

There's your problem. Must remember, us English are let down by our arrogance and the humble and impartial WO is just pointing that out.

Haha you got it in one !

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

I'm hoping Jones will pick Eastmond, Hill and Devoto at inside centre for the 6N now.

Funny how before the World Cup our options at inside centre looked pathetic, but now with four years of caps and development the future looks rather bright.
Though I suppose that's what people said in Lancaster's early years.

 

[Peat]

I'm hoping Jones will pick Eastmond, Hill and Devoto at inside centre for the 6N now.

Funny how before the World Cup our options at inside centre looked pathetic, but now with four years of caps and development the future looks rather bright.
Though I suppose that's what people said in Lancaster's early years.

It does?

 

[McTallshort]

Have Burrell and JJ ever played together

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Have Burrell and JJ ever played together

Every game of the last 6N

 

[Peat]

Have Burrell and JJ ever played together

Last 6N all the way through.

 

[McTallshort]

Shows how much attention I pay to the backs

 

[chippieolamus]

Shows how much attention I pay to the backs

Looks like I found Stuart Lancaster.

 

[McTallshort]

Looks like I found Stuart Lancaster.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

It does?

I'm an optimist. I also think that long term, England's greater resources and player pool will see it overtake New Zealand as the best team in the world.

Hey, wait, no, nurse- stop, I don't want my meds-

 

[Maverick1987]

I'm an optimist. I also think that long term, England's greater resources and player pool will see it overtake New Zealand as the best team in the world.

Hey, wait, no, nurse- stop, I don't want my meds-

I agree ! And I don't need my meds ...... I've already had them

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

When you think of the amount of players under 25 coming up we have a very bright future potentially.

 

[Maverick1987]

When you think of the amount of players under 25 coming up we have a very bright future potentially.

Yeh that's what I meant .....

 

[Peat]

When you think of the amount of players under 25 coming up we have a very bright future potentially.

I think our potential looks a lot brighter in some positions than in others. Inside-Centre feels quite touch and go to me. The crop hitting their peaks have serious flaws, we all agree on that.

The crop to come with our 12s seems to go...

Slade - Clearly international calibre as a talent but hardly ever plays there. Lacks the physical presence to counter-balance Joseph/Daly.
Devoto - Has it all on paper but needs to start playing the big games regularly and shows he has all of it all the time right up to the highest level; many a creative centre has foundered at the last.
Hill - I like him but don't think he has the physicality to be anything more than useful at international level. He needs to work very hard on his distribution and vision to be more.

Then... uhm... Sloan? Decent but probably never going to be more. Stephenson? Sticking Farrell there?

We've got a shallow pool of which most of them need improvement. It could work out, or it could end up with another generation of 'what ifs'. Compare that to 13, or 10, where we have multiple options who are definitely capable of international rugby and could still improve, and it's not a bright spot.

Of course, there's also Tuilagi. Still under 25. Clearly good enough for international rugby and clearly physical enough to counterbalance Joseph or Daly. You'd want him to be working on distribution and vision of course. Ideally he'd play there, but Leicester are saying nope. Might get away with it anyway though.

 

[Crapspray]

So Jones is taking his time deciding on new coaches, though the article has a tinge of filler to it:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...es-time-over-his-England-coaches-futures.html

Is Jones genuinely considering keeping a couple? Should we keep some of the old coaching team and for how long? Is he struggling to get replacements from the Premiership? Has the RFU hamstrung him?

I'm slightly concerned we haven't had any movement yet, bar Borthwick. While he's only officially been in the job for a week, Jones has surely been looking around for a while longer. And the Six Nations training camp starts in six weeks...

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Not too concerned ATM.

It's more complex than on the surface in terms of getting coaches in wouldn't be surprised if we don't get a full permanent coaching staff till the summer tours.

 

[ncurd]

Out of interest how many coaches do the all-blacks have?

I know I rarely say copying other people is the smart way but I always felt we're short a couple of guys.

 

[Geordie]

I see Slade is out for 4 months and Ewers has knee ligament (but not ACl or anything) issues so will be out for weeks not months.

And LCD will be out for a further 6 weeks with his broken thumb.

Not great news for Exeter or potentially England.

 

[Tmartin995]

I see Slade is out for 4 months and Ewers has knee ligament (but not ACl or anything) issues so will be out for weeks not months.

And LCD will be out for a further 6 weeks with his broken thumb.

Not great news for Exeter or potentially England.

Looking on the bright side (if possible) at least we have players in their positions that aren't too big a drop in quality.

Johnson has looked good in the past couple of weeks, obviously not as good as Ewers but still putting good shifts in.

Campagnaro isn't too bad a replacement for Slade at 13 and Yeandle would be very close to first choice at hooker anyways.

That said still a massive loss, particularly with the Clermont double header coming up over the next fortnight