England Rugby 2018/19 Thread

[BPM]

Ok im extremely biased, but Mark Wilson should have got more game time. He's hard as nails and puts in crazily high consistency every single game.

I have my own reasons why he hasn't...mind I heard someone describe him as a poor mans Chris Robshaw and that annoyed me. However it made me realise how he is viewed by other clubs fans and probably the England selection team. Im more than happy to have a player like that fresh and playing every game for us (the Falcons)

He wont get much more time with England now...

Curry x 2
Mercer
Underhill
Robshaw (may well be slowly pushed out)
Billy V
Simmonds
Possibly Kvesic if his form continues

Seems to be the stable Jones is looking at.

I don't have the club bias and I really rate Wilson.

I think he still has a chance of more game time considering Shields will be out of the picture. Rhodes hasn't done anything worthy of note for Sarries since his call up and for a side that already gives away more than enough penalties, his lack of discipline (I'm being kind) would make him a liability.

Wilson has been in great form so far this season so retained him and giving him more of a reward for previously doing well would be totally deserved.

I think Mercer will develop in to an excellent player, but given how close we are to the World Cup we need players who can do that now and I think Wilson has shown he can.

That said, he doesn't have the SH gloss Eddie seems to value above all else.

 

[BPM]

Ok im extremely biased, but Mark Wilson should have got more game time. He's hard as nails and puts in crazily high consistency every single game.

I have my own reasons why he hasn't...mind I heard someone describe him as a poor mans Chris Robshaw and that annoyed me. However it made me realise how he is viewed by other clubs fans and probably the England selection team. Im more than happy to have a player like that fresh and playing every game for us (the Falcons)

He wont get much more time with England now...

Curry x 2
Mercer
Underhill
Robshaw (may well be slowly pushed out)
Billy V
Simmonds
Possibly Kvesic if his form continues

Seems to be the stable Jones is looking at.

I don't have the club bias and I really rate Wilson.

I think he still has a chance of more game time. Shields will be out of the picture and Rhodes hasn't done anything worthy of note for Sarries since his call up and for a side that already gives away more than enough penalties, his lack of discipline (I'm being kind) would make him a liability.

Wilson has been in great form so far this season so retained him and giving him more of a reward for previously doing well would be totally deserved.

I think Mercer will develop in to an excellent player, but given how close we are to the World Cup we need players who can do that now and I think Wilson has shown he can.

Ford for me has been the in form 10, the last 2 rounds and has more international experience, he's back to his best like he was when was at bath with Mike Ford attacking the game line more and using his running threat.

Comparing his stats to Cips.
(Cips first Ford second)
Tries: 0 v 1
Try assists: 2 v 3
Cons: 0 v 6
Penalties: 0 v 9
Meters Run: 68 v 133
Defenders Beaten: 2 v 12
Clean Breaks: 3 v 6
Tackles made: 14 v 14
Tackles missed: 5 v 2

Stats don't tell everything, but outside his wonder throws cips just hasn't controlled the games like ford has IMO.
Granted this might just be a Murphy bubble or something.

Absolutely agree on this.

I know Ford has his detractors, but most of our better back play comes from his vision when he has the opportunity to play-off the cuff. It's the pre-set moves that we're terrible at.

I don't think it's a 'Murphy bubble' as we've seen him do it before. The problem is, Eddie's gameplan isn't geared up to this.

 

[BPM]

Ford for me has been the in form 10, the last 2 rounds and has more international experience, he's back to his best like he was when was at bath with Mike Ford attacking the game line more and using his running threat.

Comparing his stats to Cips.
(Cips first Ford second)
Tries: 0 v 1
Try assists: 2 v 3
Cons: 0 v 6
Penalties: 0 v 9
Meters Run: 68 v 133
Defenders Beaten: 2 v 12
Clean Breaks: 3 v 6
Tackles made: 14 v 14
Tackles missed: 5 v 2

Stats don't tell everything, but outside his wonder throws cips just hasn't controlled the games like ford has IMO.
Granted this might just be a Murphy bubble or something.

Absolutely agree on this.

I know Ford has his detractors, but most of our better back play comes from his vision when he has the opportunity to play-off the cuff. It's the pre-set moves that we're terrible at along with the lottery of 'tactical kicking'.

I don't think it's a 'Murphy bubble' as we've seen him do it before. The problem is, Eddie's gameplan isn't geared up to this.

 

[Nudger]

I don't have the club bias and I really rate Wilson.

I think he still has a chance of more game time. Shields will be out of the picture and Rhodes hasn't done anything worthy of note for Sarries since his call up and for a side that already gives away more than enough penalties, his lack of discipline (I'm being kind) would make him a liability.

Wilson has been in great form so far this season so retained him and giving him more of a reward for previously doing well would be totally deserved.

I think Mercer will develop in to an excellent player, but given how close we are to the World Cup we need players who can do that now and I think Wilson has shown he can.


Absolutely agree on this.

I know Ford has his detractors, but most of our better back play comes from his vision when he has the opportunity to play-off the cuff. It's the pre-set moves that we're terrible at.

I don't think it's a 'Murphy bubble' as we've seen him do it before. The problem is, Eddie's gameplan isn't geared up to this.

 

[Nudger]

I don't think England has a fly half problem
With cips Ford Farrell to name three
All will do a good job for England
Scrum half and centre are the problem areas in the backs
As is wingforward in the pack
I'm hoping 2 or 3 players step up this yr to give us a realistic chance of WC success

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

The problem is, Eddie's gameplan isn't geared up to this.

Possibly more Eddie's pack isn't geared up to this.

But if the fly half - the team's fulcrum - doesn't fit the coach's game plan then one or more of player, coach or game plan are wrong. It's about the team - round pegs, round holes.

Ref earlier stuff on Manu, the reason we're still desperate for him to regain former glories is simply because we're missing exactly what he brings and no-one else has got close to bringing it. At his peak he was a test match game breaker and we don't have many of those. Since his injuries, everyone else has got bigger, faster and stronger so he may not quite have the same impact again but, fit, I'd still want him on my side.

 

[BPM]

I agree on the 'round pegs, round holes' piece, but I think there are a couple of issues that screw over whoever is at 10.

To expand on Nudgers' point, our pack isn't great at securing quick ball and then on all too many occasions our 9s aren't able to provide the right pass quickly enough either. It basically means our 10s can't really play flat because they're not getting enough time on the ball. This is a problem for whoever is at 10, but for Ford and Cipriani who are best flat to the line, it really kills the options for them.

Although interestingly, Bath and Exeter primarily English packs and two English 9s managed to do this very effectively at the weekend.

 

[Geordie]

So is the answer to move Farrell back to 10 as a controlling 10 (rather than playmaker like Cips etc) and have a suitable midfield..

10 Farrell
12 Manu
13 Slade / Daly / Marchant

On a side note...bar his yellow card for knock on, Johnny Williams has started his falcons career very brightly. Despite not being huge physically, he has a very strong defence and has made some great line breaks at 12. He's only 21...and could very well be an answer in the future for 12.

 

[BPM]

Williams looked really promising a few seasons ago but then pretty much had a year out. He's still very young and I'm glad he's looking good again. Walder's coaching will definitely help him add to his game too.

 

[Geordie]

Williams looked really promising a few seasons ago but then pretty much had a year out. He's still very young and I'm glad he's looking good again. Walder's coaching will definitely help him add to his game too.

Yeah definitely one to watch for that 12 spot post World Cup.

 

[Geordie]

We've had lots of potentials through the years...they just never seem to fulfil that potential

Twlevtrees is the biggest fail. Physically he's made for that 12 role. Such a shame he didn't come through
Devoto...was the next in line...whats the crack with him at the moment?
Harry Mallinder was the next one??

 

[MarkyH]

So is the answer to move Farrell back to 10 as a controlling 10 (rather than playmaker like Cips etc) and have a suitable midfield..

10 Farrell
12 Manu
13 Slade / Daly / Marchant

On a side note...bar his yellow card for knock on, Johnny Williams has started his falcons career very brightly. Despite not being huge physically, he has a very strong defence and has made some great line breaks at 12. He's only 21...and could very well be an answer in the future for 12.

Would love to see this get a run out if all fit. Literally has everything...

10 Farrell
11 May
12 Manu
13 Daly
14 Cokasaniga
15 Watson

 

[BPM]

Devoto is playing again. Started the first two games for Chiefs I think.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Would love to see this get a run out if all fit. Literally has everything...

10 Farrell
11 May
12 Manu
13 Daly
14 Cokasaniga
15 Watson

....except a scrum half.

 

[Which Tyler]

FFS Do we have to do this again?

So Mercer's small for an 8 - except all 8s who aren't called Billy - and bigger than the guy who's being suggested instead? really? And that's without him looking to have added a few kg over the off-season. Yes, he carries his bulk lower down - which is where you want it; but that doesn't make it untrue.

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/bath-rugbys-zach-mercer-tries-2021306
Mercer now at 111 kg
Those saying he's too light to play #8; can I have a seat when you tell Feletau, Patisserie, Read, Picamoles, or Heaslip that they're also too small to play 8?

For those saying that Simmonds should have the shirt instead, because Mercer's too small, could you please explain the way in which 111kg is too small, but 105 is perfect?

 

[BPM]

I take it 'Patisserie' is Parisse? Haha.

Personally I've never said Mercer was too small and in fact, I wouldn't want him to get too much bigger as I think his agility is an asset that I would prefer he didn't compromise.

Mercer and Simmonds are completely different types of 8 but unfortunately, what they both have in common is being misaligned with Eddie's preferred gameplan at 8.

I've said this loads of times before, but Eddie has really failed by refusing to develop another option at 8 that isn't focused on being a heavy carrier. Billy is a world class option but without him, all of our other 8s (apart from Morgan who Eddie doesn't like) are better suited to playing more like Read or Parisse. Even Hughes is better when used this way rather than trying - and failing - to be Billy.

If everyone is fit, I'm in favour of having Billy as the starter with Mercer or Simmonds on the bench. Hughes has had his chance and hasn't ever convinced and Mercer and Simmonds ability to cover the flanks make them more valuable options IMO.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/bath-rugbys-zach-mercer-tries-2021306
Mercer now at 111 kg
Those saying he's too light to play #8; can I have a seat when you tell Feletau, Patisserie, Read, Picamoles, or Heaslip that they're also too small to play 8?

For those saying that Simmonds should have the shirt instead, because Mercer's too small, could you please explain the way in which 111kg is too small, but 105 is perfect?

When people say he's too small I doubt they've gone out there with a tape measure and scales.
Presumably mean physicality wise.

I don't have an opinion on Mercer other than I wouldn't want him involved over Simmonds.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

How's Ben Earl done so far this season? I've been pretty impressed every time I've seen him play. Could do with nailing down a position as well, otherwise he's at risk of being another Clifford.

 

[BPM]

Maybe Mercer needs to head down to the patisserie

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Maybe Mercer needs to head down to the patisserie

How tall is he in hectares?
This is v v important