England Rugby 2018/19 Thread

[BPM]

Yep. I imagine he's looking at it as an opportunity to make a point, as Ashton did last year.

This Barbarians side could take apart whatever side Mallinder is allowed to put together (I assume Eddie will heavily influence who can/can't be selected).

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Mallinder used to be a terrible selector. He never played a proper 7 at 7 and loved putting players out of position.....maybe that's why he got the job!

 

[BPM]

I can see this England XV getting pumped. Lam is going all out on selection and Eddie can't even be arsed to coach our side.

The other criticism I'd make of Mallinder is that he rarely trusted younger players, so we might not see the kind of side we'd like to ...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wait why is Mallinder coaching and not EJ?

 

[BPM]

Taking out anyone likely to be in the RWC squad, the best possible options are as follows (IMO of course ...):

1. Obano (Bath) / Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester) / Boyce (Harlequins)
2. Dunn (Bath) / Thacker (Bristol) / McGuigan (Newcastle)
3. Schonert (Worcester) / P. Hill (Northampton) / Brookes (Wasps)
4. Slater (Gloucester) / Beaumont (Sale) / Symons (Harlequins)
5. Stooke (Bath) / Rowlands (Wasps) / Moon (Northampton)
6. T. Hill* (Worcester) / Ross (Sale) / Gibson (Northampton)
7. B. Curry (Sale) / Ludlam (Northampton) / Ludlow (Gloucester)
8. Dombrandt (Harlequins) / Harrison (Northampton)
9. Chudley (Bath) / Randall (Bristol) / Mitchell (Northampton)
10. Smith* (Harlequins) / Burns (Bath)
11. McConnochie (Bath) / Bassett (Wasps) / M. Watson (Wasps)
12. Atkinson (Gloucester) / Francis (Northampton) / Mills** (Worcester)
13. Marchant (Harlequins) / S. James (Sale)
14. Solomona (Sale) / Sharples (Gloucester) / Collins (Northampton)
15. Woodward (Gloucester) / Hammersley (Newcastle)

*Both are with the U20 squad so may not be available
**If fit?

I've deliberately left out Morgan, Cipriani, Thorley and Clifford as I'm hoping they'll all be in the RWC training squad.

It's not a bad squad, but the Barbarians team Lam is assembling is considerably stronger.

 

[Which Tyler]

Wait why is Mallinder coaching and not EJ?

Eddie's busy in Portugal (?) with the RWC squad - which is also why the RWC squad won't be taking part

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Makes sense,

Begs the question why the game is even happening, then, if it's of no benefit to England's world cup prep.

(I dislike the Barbarians, though, so appreciate that's probably a controversial opinion).

 

[Scotty]

Will the baabaas team have any from the prem final?

Thorley wont be in the WC squad EJ already said a while ago he took players like thorley purly to look at them and help progression with no intent on playing them.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

On the Sale players mentioned above Jono Ross had surgery on his shoulder a few days ago so he'll be out

Sam James is on holiday in Africa atm so I doubt he's in contention to play in a week

Ben Curry and Solomona have both posted on Instagram of them still training so I imagine they're expecting to play some rugby over the summer

 

[BPM]

Will the baabaas team have any from the prem final?

Thorley wont be in the WC squad EJ already said a while ago he took players like thorley purly to look at them and help progression with no intent on playing them.

No. The Prem final is the day prior to the Barbarians game, so no way anyone in the match day 23 for Sarries or Exeter will be available.

I'm not expecting Thorley to make the final squad, but I think he'll be involved in the training camp.

 

[BPM]

On the Sale players mentioned above Jono Ross had surgery on his shoulder a few days ago so he'll be out

Sam James is on holiday in Africa atm so I doubt he's in contention to play in a week

Ben Curry and Solomona have both posted on Instagram of them still training so I imagine they're expecting to play some rugby over the summer

Interesting on Sam James. I would have expected him to be one of the most likely to play in this game. According to TRP, he has started the most games in World Rugby this year (31) so probably needs the rest!

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Anyone know how big the RWC training squad is likely to be?

 

[BPM]

I think it was 45 last time

 

[Scotty]

Mako genge moon,
George, LCD
Sinks williams cole
Itoje lawes
Kruis launch
Wilson Simmonds
Curry underhill
Billy hughes
Spencer robson youngs
Ford faz.
May watson
Manu
Slade JJ
Nowell
Daly brown

That is roughly my 31 i think will go, who makes the 45 man?

 

[BPM]

The following aren't in your list but have been involved in recent squads:

Hepburn
Hartley
Singleton
Ewels
Isiekwe
Robshaw
Shields
Clifford
Mercer
Morgan
Care
Cipriani
Lozowski
Devoto
Cokanasiga
Thorley
Ashton
Te'o

That's 18 and I'm possibly missing a couple more. A good chunk of those will make the training squad, if not the final squad.

There's also a good chance of a bolter or two.

For example, Nick Tompkins is definitely putting his hand up and another good performance in the Premiership final could push him in to the mix.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I've played nicely over the last few weeks going along with the specialist back rower argument, but I'm going to revert to type. Itoje's been at 6 again recently and he really does offer everything you want from that shirt. I'm not going to rehearse the arguments (yet) again, but not many could take liberties with Lawes, Kruis, Itoje, Curry and Binny.

 

[Scotty]

I've played nicely over the last few weeks going along with the specialist back rower argument, but I'm going to revert to type. Itoje's been at 6 again recently and he really does offer everything you want from that shirt. I'm not going to rehearse the arguments (yet) again, but not many could take liberties with Lawes, Kruis, Itoje, Curry and Binny.

I agree that is not a bad squad at all, my issue is lawes in this situation because for me you are not comparing itoje vs lets say wilson as itoje is first choice lock. So the comparable team with itoje playing would be. Itoje kruis wilson curry billy. which i think is stronger, that is my reason for my coment as only in emergancy.

Saying this lets say we didnt have wilson underhill Simmonds then lawes vs shields may have a different outcome therefore i might choose itoje st 6.

 

[BPM]

Sorry Old Hooker, but I'm with Scotty.

Wilson, Curry, Vunipola is our most balanced back row and Itoje and Kruis is our best combination at lock. I don't understand why we'd break up two units that are working?

Lawes has typically been better as an impact player off the bench than he tends to be when he starts.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Why is sausage legs in the Barbarians squad and not England XV?

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

That Barbarians squad is going to smoke us