England Rugby 2018/19 Thread

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I see Jonah Holmes has decided he's Welsh now, he got a secret Granny or something?

What is it with tigers signing average journeymen as depht only for them to be called by a tier 3 country

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Robshaw shouldn't be anywhere near the 1st 15 anymore. Keep him in the squad if we must but he doesn't have a great workrate, can't carry the ball, can't make big hits and is not that great at rucking.

I'd rather have Underhill, Curry, Morgan or Kvesic, Curry Morgan or even Mercer, Curry, Morgan.

I know it looks green (am i missing a flanker????) but i'd rather have some green players than some old workhorse...whose not a workhorse any more.

 

[MarkyH]

I'm with you on the above. Experience doesn't matter if you're shite! A year from the WC the players won't be as green then.

Underhill, Curry, Morgan for me. But Kvesic looks on fire and can cover the back 3. Mercer looking good to. We really have much better options now, that are already better and have a higher ceiling than Robshaw, Hughes and whatever journeyman EJ might pick....

 

[TheSaffycen]

I may be stupid but couldn't Ewers play 8?
Shields, Curry, Ewers as a back row? I think it would be effective

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Robshaw shouldn't be anywhere near the 1st 15 anymore. Keep him in the squad if we must but he doesn't have a great workrate, can't carry the ball, can't make big hits and is not that great at rucking.

I'd rather have Underhill, Curry, Morgan or Kvesic, Curry Morgan or even Mercer, Curry, Morgan.

I know it looks green (am i missing a flanker????) but i'd rather have some green players than some old workhorse...whose not a workhorse any more.

I gather you've not watched a quins game this season then. Absolutely still a workhorse who is rucking well and putting up rediculous tackle stats

 

[MarkyH]

I just think he's so passive round the breakdown that by default he's always on his feet ready to make the first tackle. I would expect most flankers to do that as a default part of their skill-set (or any forward). What we need is someone a bit more dynamic. Not a Robshaw hater, I'm sure he's good for Quins but he looks like a top league flanker, not a special international one.

Quins related again. Just read the article on BBC and Danny Care is saying Jack Clifford should get a chance. I'm pretty sure he hasn't played any rugby this season. But is one player I had high hopes for.

 

[RedruthRFC]

I may be stupid but couldn't Ewers play 8?
Shields, Curry, Ewers as a back row? I think it would be effective

I've always wondered this. The only reason that I can see that he doesn't get more (/ any?) time at 8 is that he's considered more effective at 6. So much so that Baxter would play a 7 at 8 to give him his berth.

But in answer to your question, if there is, I can't think of it. In an England context, it comes back to what I've said before - he (apparently) can't pass some sort of fitness test that Jones considers a bar to entry to his squad.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Robo is announced as injured now anyway... Out of the AIs

 

[TommiG88]

Haskell and Wood are stood by their phones.

 

[higgik]

I've always wondered this. The only reason that I can see that he doesn't get more (/ any?) time at 8 is that he's considered more effective at 6. So much so that Baxter would play a 7 at 8 to give him his berth.

But in answer to your question, if there is, I can't think of it. In an England context, it comes back to what I've said before - he (apparently) can't pass some sort of fitness test that Jones considers a bar to entry to his squad.

Playing Ewers at 6 gives the ball carrying option, allowing an on baller at 7, Kvesic, an a link man like Mercer at 8.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Wasps players to look out for: Alex Lozowski, Jonah Holmes and Alapati Leiua.

2014.

I stride this planet like a God.

 

[Scotty]

I may be stupid but couldn't Ewers play 8?
Shields, Curry, Ewers as a back row? I think it would be effective

I agree on Ewers and on form atm ewers would be a good choice at 8, strong carrier and very physical tackler, he fits englands mold for an 8.

Shields/underhill at 6
Curry/kvesic at 7
Ewers/Mercer at 8

Mercer at 20 for all games, get him intergrated into the team giving him 20 to 30 min. No need to rush him, thought it was to early/short notice for him pre world cup but we may need him and he is on form but i do like the idea of Ewers.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

2014.

I stride this planet like a God.

 

[Mumbles119]

Am I missing something about Wilson? He has not been in any conversations as possible.

If Eddie really won’t pick Morgan as a carrying replacement.
Then what about 6. Shields 7. Kvesic 8. Wilson?

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Wilson has looked like a good replacement for Robshaw as a workhorse player but seems to have more power and speed. I'm surprised he isn't considered more too.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Am I missing something about Wilson? He has not been in any conversations as possible.

If Eddie really won’t pick Morgan as a carrying replacement.
Then what about 6. Shields 7. Kvesic 8. Wilson?

I'd have Wilson at 6/8 as well, very good player imo.
Don't think Kvesic will be picked, just don't think Eddie likes him. We'll see Shields, Wood and Haskell

 

[Reiser99]

Well he did cover 8 in the summer tour too at one point.

Edit: The biggest problem with these so called 6/8's or 6/7's etc...is that it's far easier to get away with not being a specialist at club level. At international level any weaknesses get exposed far more. I'm not saying these guys can't play there, but it honestly doesn't fill me with confidence when we discuss playing people out of position because they should work there. Let the clubs experiment, not England.

 

[BPM]

I’d like to see a back row of Wilson, T. Curry and Morgan.

IMO that is a sensible, balanced unit with specialists in each position (100% agree with Reiser99’s point there). Given most of the people in the conversation right now have 2 caps at the most, it’s also the most experienced back row we can pick.

Sadly, I very much doubt we’ll see that. Curry is the only one I think has a realistic chance of starting.

Wilson has always done well when given a chance but only gets picked after Eddie’s tried out a bunch of locks or others who are not actually any better than him. I hope he’ll be selected, but I think it’s unlikely.

In the circumstances, Morgan is clearly the best option as a specialist 8, but Eddie won’t pick him, ‘just becasue’. Or because he’d rather bodge it by putting a 6 at 8 which isn’t doing anyone any favours. My only ray of hope on this is that Cipriani got a reprieve (possibly temporarily) so why not Morgan?

I am a big fan of Mercer, but whatever combination we start with, the chances are we’ll have a debutant or Shields (2 caps) at 6 with a rookie (Tom Curry) at 7. Starting in that kind of back row isn’t going to do Mercer any favours so I’d sooner have him on the bench.

The other likely option is that Eddie plays Itoje or Lawes at 6 despite this being shown up as a mistake every time he’s done it. Hopefully our injuries at lock mean that this isn’t an option.

As **** as this injury situation is, I hope it forces Eddie in to making some good decision for a change (i.e. recalls for Morgan and Kvesic) but instead, I expect him to double down on dumb decisions. Bad times.

 

[Mumbles119]

That is my worry too, that Eddie will stubbornly fudge his selection. Just so he can stick with his game plan approach. No adaptation.

But I really don’t think we will see Wood back, he hasn’t been playing much or even starting I think.

 

[higgik]

I’d like to see a back row of Wilson, T. Curry and Morgan.

IMO that is a sensible, balanced unit with specialists in each position (100% agree with Reiser99’s point there). Given most of the people in the conversation right now have 2 caps at the most, it’s also the most experienced back row we can pick.

Sadly, I very much doubt we’ll see that. Curry is the only one I think has a realistic chance of starting.

Wilson has always done well when given a chance but only gets picked after Eddie’s tried out a bunch of locks or others who are not actually any better than him. I hope he’ll be selected, but I think it’s unlikely.

In the circumstances, Morgan is clearly the best option as a specialist 8, but Eddie won’t pick him, ‘just becasue’. Or because he’d rather bodge it by putting a 6 at 8 which isn’t doing anyone any favours. My only ray of hope on this is that Cipriani got a reprieve (possibly temporarily) so why not Morgan?

I am a big fan of Mercer, but whatever combination we start with, the chances are we’ll have a debutant or Shields (2 caps) at 6 with a rookie (Tom Curry) at 7. Starting in that kind of back row isn’t going to do Mercer any favours so I’d sooner have him on the bench.

The other likely option is that Eddie plays Itoje or Lawes at 6 despite this being shown up as a mistake every time he’s done it. Hopefully our injuries at lock mean that this isn’t an option.

As **** as this injury situation is, I hope it forces Eddie in to making some good decision for a change (i.e. recalls for Morgan and Kvesic) but instead, I expect him to double down on dumb decisions. Bad times.

Agree with not playing Lawes or Itoje at 6, but did notice that Itoje played 6 on Sunday. In fact it actually showed that the power game does not work at any level above league. The Sarries back row was full of big men and they struggled to make the full impact, even the scrum was under pressure and the only area they really took over was lineout, with the 2 extra jumpers.
Surely EJ should see that playing power players across back row does not work at the top level.