England Rugby 2018/19 Thread

[TRF_Olyy]

View attachment 6863
At least we're in a much more strong and stable position now

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

joe Marler set to retire from international rugby.

All of a sudden Genge being fit is now massive for England.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Blimey, that's big.

Hepburn has done a surprisingly good job when called upon but, as you say, Genge needs to be fit and firing ASAP

 

[ratsapprentice]

His grammar is awful too ... it's 'should have' not 'should of' ...

Quite ironic that Tigs Man has "liked" this post...

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Blimey, that's big.

Hepburn has done a surprisingly good job when called upon but, as you say, Genge needs to be fit and firing ASAP

If true, If Mako goes down, suddenly we don't have a LH prop in the country with more than 10 caps I think. (Maybe Mullan).

Quite ironic that Tigs Man has "liked" this post...

I was liking it more for the first part TBF.

Second part I am sympathetic to Fearns on, I have fought and lost to grammar many a time. (But you can't like one part of a comment).

 

[TommiG88]

Marler retiring is an unusual thing to happen.

Hope he's alright.

 

[Scotty]

So marler leaves the tour and persumably told eddie then that he's not playing anymore and EJs first thought is call up ben moon? Hes good but hepburn is better. What are our other options?

Also EJ needs to rest mako in the 6N or bench him to get experience to marlers replacement. And keep him fresh as he looked tired last few times playing for england.

 

[Aristodemus]

That's a pretty big blow for England imo, I think he is the best LH we have. Better for him to do it now rather than next summer at least.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Blindsided by that. From a rugby persective the timing feels very strange, but if it genuinely is for family reasons then we don't need to know more, should thank him and move on. If that's not the whole story, the truth will leak out.

Robs the squad of one of its real characters and does cause a problem.

 

[BPM]

So marler leaves the tour and persumably told eddie then that he's not playing anymore and EJs first thought is call up ben moon? Hes good but hepburn is better. What are our other options?

Also EJ needs to rest mako in the 6N or bench him to get experience to marlers replacement. And keep him fresh as he looked tired last few times playing for england.

Moon's call-up suggests that Eddie wants a scrummager. The rumour before the squad announcement was that VRR was being called-up which I hope is true. He's injured so that would explain why Moon got the call.

I like Hepburn a lot, but like Mako, scrummaging is probably the weakest aspect of his game, so he's not really a replacement for Marler. VRR is a lot closer to Marler and is arguably better in some respects - definitely at the breakdown.

Of the other options, Genge is clearly the obvious choice, but won't be available for the AIs and possibly the 6 Nations. Mullan has caps but is injured and nothing special anyway, Harrison and Catt probably aren't test calibre. Personally I'd have gone for Catt over Moon though.

100% agree on resting Mako as much as possible. Maybe play him against SA and NZ and give the new man some time against Japan and Australia.

 

[Scotty]

So
Mako
(Marler)
Genge
Hepburn
Obano
???
Moon...

Anymore? Least we have some experience in the replacement but we need a decision soon of who is next in line. I think obano when fit will slot in as third choice behind Genge and Hepburn may not have the size to really compete but not sure

 

[Scotty]

Moon's call-up suggests that Eddie wants a scrummager. The rumour before the squad announcement was that VRR was being called-up which I hope is true. He's injured so that would explain why Moon got the call.

I like Hepburn a lot, but like Mako, scrummaging is probably the weakest aspect of his game, so he's not really a replacement for Marler. VRR is a lot closer to Marler and is arguably better in some respects - definitely at the breakdown.

Of the other options, Genge is clearly the obvious choice, but won't be available for the AIs and possibly the 6 Nations. Mullan has caps but is injured and nothing special anyway, Harrison and Catt probably aren't test calibre. Personally I'd have gone for Catt over Moon though.

100% agree on resting Mako as much as possible. Maybe play him against SA and NZ and give the new man some time against Japan and Australia.

I put up my message before i seen yours lol and forgot VRR tbh, agree if mako isnt great at the scrum hepburn isnt going to strengthen it.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Is scrummaging really that much of a weakness for Hepburn? If it is then fair enough, but I've never noticed it before. Seems more like people are making the assumption that he must be weak in the scrum because he's small, but he's only 2kg smaller than Moon.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Just saw the news on BT sport. Yeah sad, but understandable. Big loss of depth at loosehead.

 

[Scotty]

I suppose ive never noticed a massive issue for Chiefs. He is a relativly small prop but hes a very mobile one, if i am wrong and he scrummaging isnt a big weakness then he really will be pushing for selection. But does have some big competition so i really dont know who our best choice is.

I respect marlers decision and obviously its been done at the right time rather than him taking valuble caps away from his replacment but seems to have come from no where. Im shocked he doesnt want to be part of one more world cup. And its a big loss for england.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Mako's still a moderate scrummager. I still think he's best off the bench, but if he starts the bench LH will need to be a stronger scrummager in case Mako is getting shafted or gets on the wrong side of the ref, neither of which is unknown.

I'd have Genge and VRR above either of the Chiefs. Mullan could do a solid job and he's at least got a few caps. Obano's still a work in progress. We know Jones has a soft spot for Boyce although he'll now get less game time with Marler fully available for Quins. Three years ago who'd have thought that Auterac wouldnt even be in this conversation?

But it may all come down to whoever's fit.

 

[Jimbo]

Very strange timing anyone think any of its related to his fairly poor discipline record, Mullen would do a descent job he doesn't really stand out in any area but fairly solid across the board, for me he would do a fine job for 50 - 60 minutes then bring on someone more lively like Mako who will really excel against a tired legs.

 

[Mumbles119]

Very strange timing anyone think any of its related to his fairly poor discipline record, Mullen would do a descent job he doesn't really stand out in any area but fairly solid across the board, for me he would do a fine job for 50 - 60 minutes then bring on someone more lively like Mako who will really excel against a tired legs.

No. I feel he is very genuine in his reasoning, and has made his decision based on that.

Yes, Mako has proven what a huge impact he makes off the bench. But he still brings a decent carrying option, with exceptional hands and link play for the entirety of a game when he starts too. But we all know he is not the strongest scrummager. So for me, this means Mako should be used accordingly to game plan and opposition.

I would probably have Mako as the incumbent starter, but if scrummaging really is going to be the need and the game plan, then start a known strength scrummager. Probably wouldn't feel too fussed about Mullen, and would prefer someone like VVR was bedded in.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

No. I feel he is very genuine in his reasoning, and has made his decision based on that.

Yes, although its interesting that it comes on the back of another stupid card. Some of his dafter actions, of which there have been an entertainingly high number, have attracted a lot of scrutiny which is a pressure, albeit self inflicted, that will take a toll on most people.

One quote of his talking about the workload is quite telling "....its not that you're bored but its like: Christ, this is a slog now". While the rewards are higher than ever before , I suspect an increasing number will similarly find that the joy of playing rugby gets slowly sucked out of them by the demands of "professionalism". That's what happens when the money men are in charge.

28 is a sadly early time to be packing in the international game though - as a prop he may not even be at his peak yet. Jeff Probyn didn't even make his debut until he was 31.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I think it's legitimate reasons but made easier by EJ.

Spend time with your young family who your barely see as it is vs getting your leg broken in judo training while being berated by a toad