England Rugby 2020/21 Thread

[Vieux Talonneur]

Sounds like a pretty good foundation for a FB and he should only improve. His time should come.

I've always thought of FB like a Wendyball goalkeeper. Exposed position and if they're rock solid they inspire confidence throughout the team.....and vice versa. If you could marry Brown's defensive solidity and kicking with a little more gas and awareness of support I'd take that every day. Rob Kearney was much more important to Ire than he was often given credit for.

From the little I've seen of him, Steward looks like an out and out FB, not a back 3 player. No bad thing in my book, but whether specialists are in vogue in a few years is another matter.

 

[BPM]

OK so having watch all of stewards pro games and some a-league + academy games this is my feelings on him.
Strengths
In the air at 6ft 5 it's something you would hope would be the case, this weekend wasn't a one off he is extremely safe in the air. When he first started in the prem his positioning was a little off but seems to be fixed quite quickly.
Tackling not a bruiser tackler but generally very good last man defender.
Carrying very strong runner on the whole played 13 at times. Has a very rangey running style that generally means at the very least he can get his his hands free for offloads.
Offloading/short passes very good
Kicking has a howitzer on him also a handy goal kicker though not a first choice one (nailed a 50m kick v Saints last season)

Weakness
Passing off his left/longer distance passing it needs work he can pass fine off his right but left and once you get past a certain distance it becomes a lot weaker, certainly not a playmaking 15, he's good at spotting holes and running off the 10/12,
Acceleration/stepping at 6ft 5 he isn't going to be a Cordero/Hodge type 15 never will, he can beat the first man most of the times and he does cover a lot of ground quickly but just doesn't have that ability to do stop and go.

Personally I don't see him being on the England frame outside of a potential tour during the lions and apprenticeships

Good summary and I'd agree with all of the above.

I'd like to see him considered as an apprentice as I think he'd benefit from time in camp, but no more than that at this stage.

I think he offers a lot of good qualities and if he continues to develop at the rate he is now, I think he could become a very good option. Borthwick clearly rates him and given that Eddie values Borthwick's opinion, that could be significant.

Maybe we lose some playmaking capability, but let's be honest, we haven't really utilised that a great deal recently anyway. I don't think he's ready yet, but I'd argue big, fast unit hitting a gap off 10/12 would probably suit England better than a playmaker.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Good summary and I'd agree with all of the above.

I'd like to see him considered as an apprentice as I think he'd benefit from time in camp, but no more than that at this stage.

I think he offers a lot of good qualities and if he continues to develop at the rate he is now, I think he could become a very good option. Borthwick clearly rates him and given that Eddie values Borthwick's opinion, that could be significant.

Maybe we lose some playmaking capability, but let's be honest, we haven't really utilised that a great deal recently anyway. I don't think he's ready yet, but I'd argue big, fast unit hitting a gap off 10/12 would probably suit England better than a playmaker.

Playmaking? Surely as long as he can hoof the ball 50m or chase it after someone else has done it that's all the playmaking we need?

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

As far as I can see it looks like the 6N will be going ahead when planned, starting in a month's time.

So what does Jones do with all the Saracens players who won't have played any rugby since the Autumn Nations?

Personally I'd rest them, but I suspect he'll just pick them regardless. But that would be on reputation and they weren't all tearing up trees in the Autumn.

He knows what they can all do, so surely a great opportunity to look at others?

The one I would probably like to see is Itoje - with the armband. There's been a lot of noise about him captaining the Lions and captaincy clearly isn't doing much for Farrell's game, so why not see what he can do?

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

As far as I can see it looks like the 6N will be going ahead when planned, starting in a month's time.

So what does Jones do with all the Saracens players who won't have played any rugby since the Autumn Nations?

Personally I'd rest them, but I suspect he'll just pick them regardless. But that would be on reputation and they weren't all tearing up trees in the Autumn.

He knows what they can all do, so surely a great opportunity to look at others?

The one I would probably like to see is Itoje - with the armband. There's been a lot of noise about him captaining the Lions and captaincy clearly isn't doing much for Farrell's game, so why not see what he can do?

Imagine he goes same old at the 6N, then the Lions gets postponed or in some way doesn't happen, then no other major tournaments until 2022 6 nations and once again we are 1 year out from a world cup and Jones has not made any significant alterations to the squad because he squandered the chances he had and only gave caps in passing to new players whilst the old favourites continued on completely unchallenged.

Nope he has got to use this 6N to start giving serious game to to alternative 9's, 8's & 10/12's. Not pointless cameos but trying to find actual viable alternatives, even if as nothing more than injury cover. We simply can't afford to squander yet another year.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Yep - and it's not just the starting XV either. Anyone likely to be heading to France should be getting some game time too. That means players like Willis who might break into the starting XV by then and those like Dunn who probably won't but need to have some experience under their belts if called on.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Looks like the Sarries lads will have one game before the 6N starts (two if they're not picked for the opener)

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

2nd division pre season friendlies. That would be about right as we've got Sco, lta then Wal before the serious stuff starts.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Good news, lads

Ruan Ackerman has declared for England!

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Good news, lads

Ruan Ackerman has declared for England!

The 30yr old Gloucester fullback?

Ackermann isn't EQP either

Ford-Robinson is 27, as well

Uncapped English XV/XXIII

So was listening to Greenwood podcast this morning and mentioned he was writing a piece on an uncapped youngsters to XV/XXIII to play in this 8 nations tournament if Eddie fancied trying something new. So was having a think on the tube this morning and thought it would be fun to test you all...

www.therugbyforum.com

@TRF_Olyy I can see the future

 

[higgik]

As far as I can see it looks like the 6N will be going ahead when planned, starting in a month's time.

So what does Jones do with all the Saracens players who won't have played any rugby since the Autumn Nations?

Personally I'd rest them, but I suspect he'll just pick them regardless. But that would be on reputation and they weren't all tearing up trees in the Autumn.

He knows what they can all do, so surely a great opportunity to look at others?

The one I would probably like to see is Itoje - with the armband. There's been a lot of noise about him captaining the Lions and captaincy clearly isn't doing much for Farrell's game, so why not see what he can do?

Itoje seems to be more controlled when he has responsibility, which means his focus and game are far better.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Word on the street that Scotland are going to name Redpath in their 6N squad

Mmaassssiivvee man-mismanagement by Eddie if he declares for them after turning them down every year since he was a nipper

 

[Reiser99]

Word on the street that Scotland are going to name Redpath in their 6N squad

Mmaassssiivvee man-mismanagement by Eddie if he declares for them after turning them down every year since he was a nipper

Yep. We've got a few positions where we are slightly sparse and Jones has to take the blame.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Word on the street that Scotland are going to name Redpath in their 6N squad

Mmaassssiivvee man-mismanagement by Eddie if he declares for them after turning them down every year since he was a nipper

That is very poor management from Eddie, Mercer going to France as well points to that.

One must hope that he has a plan for 12 in the long term tho, he has been rather good at finding gems in the club game with potential l, even if they don't get much of a chance internationally

 

[TRF_Olyy]

One must hope that he has a plan for 12 in the long term tho, he has been rather good at finding gems in the club game with potential l, even if they don't get much of a chance internationally

How many EQP 12s are starting in the league though?
Redpath and Hutchinson?

EJ seems happier to just play 13s there (Slade, Tuilagi) than look any deeper than that

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Word on the street that Scotland are going to name Redpath in their 6N squad

Mmaassssiivvee man-mismanagement by Eddie if he declares for them after turning them down every year since he was a nipper

Just goes to prove Jones browses this forum and listened to your years of "I don't know know what the fuss is all about....". There's no doubt that he's a much improved player now though.

From an Eng perspective we've got lots of options although I genuinely don't think Jones actually knows what he wants from his midfield except that Farrell has to play somewhere and Manu will play if he has half a functioning leg.

And how come Redpath is 6'2"" when his Dad was 5'7"??

 

[Bada-Bing!]

And how come Redpath is 6'2"" when his Dad was 5'7"??

mum may be tall?

Although my My cousin is 6 foot 3 or 4 and my auntie and uncle are both under 5 foot 3. And he's Chinese. These things can happen. No logic when it comes to genes.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

On Redpath, can it really be said that EJ has mismanaged him? He's been included in camps since before his Prem debut and was announced as a senior player to go on the tour to SA before he picked up an injury. Jones has clearly put a huge amount of faith into him - it seems all he hasn't done is capped him yet, which I think most people would agree he isn't ready for. If Redpath chooses to go with Scotland because they're offering him a cap first, despite the time and training EJ's put into him, then that's Redpath's choice but I think its unfair to say EJ's mismanaged him.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

On Redpath, can it really be said that EJ has mismanaged him? He's been included in camps since before his Prem debut and was announced as a senior player to go on the tour to SA before he picked up an injury. Jones has clearly put a huge amount of faith into him - it seems all he hasn't done is capped him yet, which I think most people would agree he isn't ready for. If Redpath chooses to go with Scotland because they're offering him a cap first, despite the time and training EJ's put into him, then that's Redpath's choice but I think its unfair to say EJ's mismanaged him.

I think so.
He was included in the EPS for three years, when he wasn't anywhere near ready - starts getting serious game time and is easily the best EQP 12 in the prem since lockdown but gets dropped from the next EPS.
There are four centres in the EPS atm and all of them are outside centres - 5 if you include Dingwall flitting in and out of the EPS, who is also a 13. Also had Tuilagi - also a 13.
You have to imagine that if he's seriously looking at Scotland then EJ has told him he's not in his plans - considering we have real issues at 12, allowing the best one in the league atm to go to direct competitors is definite mis-management.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Organisers working to convince French that Six Nations can go ahead safely

The French government is advising against cross-border competitions and the women’s tournament is likely to be postponed until at least April

www.theguardian.com

Can't see a six nations thread, so posted here for now.