England Rugby 2018/19 Thread

[BPM]

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.

I agree, although I think he prefers 7 which is where Sarries have played him so far in the Premiership.

He's done OK in the games he's played without doing anything particularly eye catching so far. Sarries seem to be inviesting in him this season which is good to see.

 

[BPM]

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

I don't know. I imagine Simmonds prefers a pasty over a patisserie.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

9 . Youngs
10. Farrell
11. Yarde
12. Te'o
13. Manu
14. Cokanasiga
15. Brown

 

[Which Tyler]

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.

Then they haven't watched him play this calendar year (or at least, made their minds up before then and haven't checked to see if they're still accurate - which, let's face it, is extremely common; though I'd suggest still wrong in this case, Zach has never lacked for physicality, he's just no monster, and struggled initially thinking that he was more physical than he actually was).

As for Mercer Vs Simmonds; for me, Simmonds is a 7 who can cover 6, and just about 8, Mercer is a 6/8 who can just about cover 7.

Exeter though, seem to have an innate distrust of putting players in their position of best fit (Slade is an IC all day, every day; Nowell would be better at OC or FB, no-one else would look at a backrow of Simmonds, Ewers and Armand and decide that SS is the most obvious 8). Against this of course, LCD does look to the manor born at hooker, whilst they did spot that Devoto had to be a centre...

 

[FLOBALOB]

Then they haven't watched him play this calendar year (or at least, made their minds up before then and haven't checked to see if they're still accurate - which, let's face it, is extremely common; though I'd suggest still wrong in this case, Zach has never lacked for physicality, he's just no monster, and struggled initially thinking that he was more physical than he actually was).

As for Mercer Vs Simmonds; for me, Simmonds is a 7 who can cover 6, and just about 8, Mercer is a 6/8 who can just about cover 7.

Exeter though, seem to have an innate distrust of putting players in their position of best fit (Slade is an IC all day, every day; Nowell would be better at OC or FB, no-one else would look at a backrow of Simmonds, Ewers and Armand and decide that SS is the most obvious 8). Against this of course, LCD does look to the manor born at hooker, whilst they did spot that Devoto had to be a centre...

Thats absolute tosh Slade is doing very well at OC this season and has shown an increasingly dangerous running side to his game , Nowells game isn;t based on what number he has on his shirt but his ability to rove anywhere in back line. And if you were to pick who you'd want running with the ball off the base of a scrum out of all Exeters back row options it would be Simmonds.
Proof of the pudding is what they are doing on the pitch week after week.

 

[Scotty]

Thats absolute tosh Slade is doing very well at OC this season and has shown an increasingly dangerous running side to his game , Nowells game isn;t based on what number he has on his shirt but his ability to rove anywhere in back line. And if you were to pick who you'd want running with the ball off the base of a scrum out of all Exeters back row options it would be Simmonds.
Proof of the pudding is what they are doing on the pitch week after week.

Toltally agree on slade, he's improved his running game alot and is starting to look like a 13 who can distribute as well as break the line rather than a 10/12 put at 13.

Spencer
Faz
May
Manu
Slade
Watson
Daly
(When all fit)

21 Care (great finisher)
22 Ford (ford faz slade, ford manu slade or ford faz manu) all could work for different reasons for the last 20.
23 Nowell/Cockanasiga

For me that is a very strong back line. Cockanasiga needs a shot off the bench not starting.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

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?

I like Mercer. He doesn't need to get bigger than that.

I'd be happy with him as bench now, perfect for when the game opens up. And could well be the long term answer to start, although maybe not under Jones. Binny is such a double edged sword - he's kind of indispensable, but equally the very best - Read, Parisse etc are more heads up and multi faceted. Not suggesting that Mercer is of that calibre, but he might become that type of player.

Simmonds may be OK at 8 for Chiefs, but internationally he feels like pure flanker to me.

 

[Which Tyler]

@FLOBALOB
I would absolutely agree with your point... IF I'd said that Slade wasn't a good OC, or that Nowell wasn't a good winger. I still disagree on Simmonds, I want more power picking offkicking off the base of a scrum, and more pace off the mark at flanker. This doesn't make Simmonds a bad #8, (or Slade or Nowell bad at OC or wing); just with a higher potential elsewhere.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

England training squad

Forwards: (20) Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby), Michael Rhodes (Saracens), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons).

Backs: (16) Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Nathan Earle (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Dan Robson (Wasps), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Te'o (Worcester Warriors), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

By club
Saracens: 9
Harlequins: 6
Wasps: 5
Leicester: 4
Exeter: 3
Bath: 2
Saints: 2
Worcester: 2
Falcons: 1
Sale: 1
Bristol: 0
Gloucester: 0

 

[TommiG88]

No Cipriani... interesting.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sale: 1

Almost




Pretty decent squad.
Don't like Rhodes in there. Do like Wilson.

How has Schonert been playing?


We've got a whole lot of good wingers, just need to work out how to get the ball out there/get them in good positions

 

[Scotty]

Decent squad but not sure about,
Youngs/care no other scrum halfs
Mercer in but no simmonds
Not sure about rhodes when we have wilson/shields whos better IMO already in there.
And no underhill?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Decent squad but not sure about,
Youngs/care no other scrum halfs
Mercer in but no simmonds
Not sure about rhodes when we have wilson/shields whos better IMO already in there.
And no underhill?

Guessing you missed Robson's name?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Robson should be binned off for that dive the other week.



No Cipriani is wild, Especially as apparently it's 100% down to form.
Despite being the form 10 in the prem atm.

 

[TommiG88]

Robson should be binned off for that dive the other week.



No Cipriani is wild, Especially as apparently it's 100% down to form.
Despite being the form 10 in the prem atm.

On top of that, Gloucester one of the form teams with no one in the squad.

Ashton hasn't played this season but gets selected.

 

[Scotty]

Guessing you missed Robson's name?

Yes i did. My other points stand though

 

[Reiser99]

I'm starting to believe Tig's theory about Gloucester. Did the whole squad **** on his lawn or something? For me while there are some players in there who fans have wanted to see picked, I expect the match day squads to be pretty similar still and old faces still there despite all evidence they should be dropped.

 

[Nudger]

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

I can live with slade or daily at 13

 

[Nudger]

9 . Youngs
10. Farrell
11. Yarde
12. Te'o
13. Manu
14. Cokanasiga
15. Brown

Why take a hammer to it when you use a bludgeon haha