England Rugby 2018/19 Thread

[NDC89]

A backrow of 6. Underhill, 7. T Curry, 8 B Vunipola could be pretty exciting. Kvesic might make the squad based on his excellent form so far, but after the summer tour, he was a way to go to displace T Curry (short of injury).

Stick a versatile player on the bench, someone like Robshaw or Shields (I know he is injured but come Six Nations maybe) and we'd be covered.

Would want Underhill to pick up some time for Bath at 6 though, wouldn't mind that as a fan though. A backrow of Underhill, FLouw and Faleau would be up there as one of the best in the Premiership.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

How has Sam James started the season with Sale? He's a centre I rate highly.

Average, really.
But that's behind a battered pack and without our first choice 9 and 12 - his combo with RJVR was outstanding, and Faf gives way more space to the backs than cliff does.
No one has really looked good in a sale shirt so far this season, bar Yarde (and Beaumont for the half of rugby he played at 8)

 

[Geordie]

Havent seen a huge amount of rugby from the prem this season..but ive always thought James was worth a look.

 

[BPM]

Average, really.
But that's behind a battered pack and without our first choice 9 and 12 - his combo with RJVR was outstanding, and Faf gives way more space to the backs than cliff does.
No one has really looked good in a sale shirt so far this season, bar Yarde (and Beaumont for the half of rugby he played at 8)

I would say Ross has been your best player.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

If Tuilagi stays fit does he come into the side? On the one hand he offers a power running centre but on the others, when he plays our wingers tend to get taken out of the game unless allowed to roam infield and I've never seen anything to suggest he has any sort of a rugby brain.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yup

Cipriani and Farrell at 10/12 nullifies his lack of distributing game, while also giving us the best opportunity to utilise him properly on the gainline.
We need someone to make defences think twice - atm, in the entire EPS, the only person doing that is Binny.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Yup

Cipriani and Farrell at 10/12 nullifies his lack of distributing game, while also giving us the best opportunity to utilise him properly on the gainline.
We need someone to make defences think twice - atm, in the entire EPS, the only person doing that is Binny.

If we have Tuilagi at centre, do we then keep Binny or look at a different type of 8?

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

If we have Tuilagi at centre, do we then keep Binny or look at a different type of 8?

Yeah, having more than one ball carrier is just greedy.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Keep Binny, he's literally first name on the sheet for me.
Comfortably the most important player we have atm, seeing Eddie's 2nd choice 8 get driven 5+ metres back in the tackle by the smallest player on the pitch in South Africa just cemented that.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Serious question?

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Serious question?

A serious question if we should be wary about immediately building a game plan around 2 of our most injury prone players recently this close to the world cup? Yep.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

If Tuilagi stays fit does he come into the side? On the one hand he offers a power running centre but on the others, when he plays our wingers tend to get taken out of the game unless allowed to roam infield and I've never seen anything to suggest he has any sort of a rugby brain.

Manu has show plenty of times his rugby brain, especially in his early years.

As Murphy says in a interview today, it's all about how he is used too many coaches before have used him as just a one man battering ram, and as he showed last week he is still pretty quick.

A serious question if we should be wary about immediately building a game plan around 2 of our most injury prone players recently this close to the world cup? Yep.

Called having more than one game plan.

 

[Fuzzy du Plessis]

If Tuilagi stays fit does he come into the side? On the one hand he offers a power running centre but on the others, when he plays our wingers tend to get taken out of the game unless allowed to roam infield and I've never seen anything to suggest he has any sort of a rugby brain.

My memory might be off, but I think the times when the wingers were truly taken out of the game was when Manu played with the old Farrell at 10 and possibly Barritt at 12. Nowadays Farrell is a much, much better distributor than he was then and we have centre options that are both defensively sound and a threat ball in hand. With Faz at 10 we could have Loz/Manu, Manu/Slade, Manu/JJ or Manu/Daly and the wingers wouldn't be starved of ball like they were back then. Not saying I want Manu in the team, but he took the brunt of the criticism when the lack of creativity was a 3 man effort 10-13.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

A serious question if we should be wary about immediately building a game plan around 2 of our most injury prone players recently this close to the world cup? Yep.

Our game plan has been built around Binny since day one, whether he's been there or not, we have zero plan B.
It's a stupid situation to be in but I can't see Eddie drastically changing his entire way of thinking over the next few months.

They probably won't both make the world cup, but **** it, maybe they will. If they don't we'll still be trying to shoehorn Robshaw in at 8 to play Binny's role regardless

 

[higgik]

Our game plan has been built around Binny since day one, whether he's been there or not, we have zero plan B.
It's a stupid situation to be in but I can't see Eddie drastically changing his entire way of thinking over the next few months.

They probably won't both make the world cup, but **** it, maybe they will. If they don't we'll still be trying to shoehorn Robshaw in at 8 to play Binny's role regardless

So true, and that is the problem. EJ is constantly trying to find a reserve for Binny rather than looking for alternative game plans. So far he has not found anyone.

 

[Which Tyler]

Zach's surely gotta get a chance this Autumn hasn't he?
Give him the 20 sort, covering across the backrow.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Keep Binny, he's literally first name on the sheet for me.
Comfortably the most important player we have atm, seeing Eddie's 2nd choice 8 get driven 5+ metres back in the tackle by the smallest player on the pitch in South Africa just cemented that.

Sort of linked, the Saffers defence was huge against the ABs yesterday, regularly smashing big ball carriers backwards. Physicality's not the be all and end all but you're not going to get very far without it. Not even the ABs like playing on the back foot.

In the back row that means Underhill has to start. Although I keep thinking about more creative options, I always circle back to wanting to pair him with Itoje. Two hard hitting in your face flankers one of whom is a world class line out option. Pair with Binny and that gives opponents plenty to think about.

In the row I'm very tempted by Attwood or Slater. Both are big, naturally strong and good in the tight exchanges which I like anyway, but my guess is they're probably our best 2 scrummaging locks and could maybe help Mako in the set piece. Pair one of them with whoever's going better of Lawes or Kruis. Launch can bench.

If we take it that Mako and Hartley are nailed on, that leaves TH. Brookes is another naturally big strong man, he's no worse than Cole in the loose and if he's getting his scrummaging back, he'll be worth a very close look. Sinckler just isn't a starter for me.

Behind we'd all like to see Manu back, but Joe had some really neat touches yesterday to show there's more to his game than pure power. He's got to be thrown in in the AIs. Him and May would contrast very nicely.

 

[Greeno]

Sort of linked, the Saffers defence was huge against the ABs yesterday, regularly smashing big ball carriers backwards. Physicality's not the be all and end all but you're not going to get very far without it. Not even the ABs like playing on the back foot.

In the back row that means Underhill has to start. Although I keep thinking about more creative options, I always circle back to wanting to pair him with Itoje. Two hard hitting in your face flankers one of whom is a world class line out option. Pair with Binny and that gives opponents plenty to think about.

In the row I'm very tempted by Attwood or Slater. Both are big, naturally strong and good in the tight exchanges which I like anyway, but my guess is they're probably our best 2 scrummaging locks and could maybe help Mako in the set piece. Pair one of them with whoever's going better of Lawes or Kruis. Launch can bench.

If we take it that Mako and Hartley are nailed on, that leaves TH. Brookes is another naturally big strong man, he's no worse than Cole in the loose and if he's getting his scrummaging back, he'll be worth a very close look. Sinckler just isn't a starter for me.

Behind we'd all like to see Manu back, but Joe had some really neat touches yesterday to show there's more to his game than pure power. He's got to be thrown in in the AIs. Him and May would contrast very nicely.

Brookes for me is about 8th choice tighthead untill he improves fitness and scrummaging. Cole, Sinckler, Williams, Thomas, colliar, Hill, JCW are all ahead of him. Even Balmain this season is playing better than him. Plus the itoje experiment at 6 didn't work. Shields the 6 for me going forward with curry at 7 and billy at 8 with underhill 20. I like salter and attwood a lot but can't seeing them making the squad. Itoje and lanchberry with lawes benching. Up front I can see marler starting if mako doesn't improve he's scrummaging more. Would love to see Genge be given a run of games but won't happen now as its to close to the wc and he isn't playing currently due to injury.

First post done ever

 

[Which Tyler]

Brookes for me is about 8th choice tighthead untill he improves fitness and scrummaging. Cole, Sinckler, Williams, Thomas, colliar, Hill, JCW are all ahead of him. Even Balmain this season is playing better than him. Plus the itoje experiment at 6 didn't work. Shields the 6 for me going forward with curry at 7 and billy at 8 with underhill 20. I like salter and attwood a lot but can't seeing them making the squad. Itoje and lanchberry with lawes benching. Up front I can see marler starting if mako doesn't improve he's scrummaging more. Would love to see Genge be given a run of games but won't happen now as its to close to the wc and he isn't playing currently due to injury.

First post done ever

Willkommen, I'd agree with most of that. There's no particular reason Itoje couldn't make it as a BSF, in fact, I always used to think it his more natural position... But he'd need a full pre-season, and a full season preparing, training and playing there before we'd know; and he's simply too good at lock to be worth that risk (pretty similar to Slade at 12 really, but with that extra requirement of a different physique).

However, for my money, Mercer needs the 20 shirt, whilst Underhill has shown more to his not-tackling game so far this season, he'd also be a better fit at BSF IMO, of he can add a lineout presence. Either way, I want more (or different) impact on the bench that SU offers; Sam can shore up a dodgy defence, Zach can bring in an extra dimension against tired legs.

 

[Greeno]

Willkommen, I'd agree with most of that. There's no particular reason Itoje couldn't make it as a BSF, in fact, I always used to think it his more natural position... But he'd need a full pre-season, and a full season preparing, training and playing there before we'd know; and he's simply too good at lock to be worth that risk (pretty similar to Slade at 12 really, but with that extra requirement of a different physique).

However, for my money, Mercer needs the 20 shirt, whilst Underhill has shown more to his not-tackling game so far this season, he'd also be a better fit at BSF IMO, of he can add a lineout presence. Either way, I want more (or different) impact on the bench that SU offers; Sam can shore up a dodgy defence, Zach can bring in an extra dimension against tired legs.

I see where you are coming from but I'm unsure if underhill brings enough ball carrying ability at 6 like shields would, which in turn would mean more space/less defenders for billy & Manu. That's my main concern with underhill. Mercer did play well yesterday but would he even start for bath when everyone is fit and available??? I'm unsure if he would. Personally if underhill had to play 6 than I would rather have simmonds at 20 than mercer.