England Six Nations Squad 2012

[JW.]

Is it two late to swap the two names, so Marler is in the Saxons?
Think that'd be best for him - More exposure to international rugby, but more time to work on his scrummaging.

It's never to late for anything, if it's allowed is a different story. Imagine the look on marlers face

Still don't know how England can just overlook a position, and arguably the most important position in rugby .

 

[Feicarsinn]

I was going to say that Marler might be an exception to what I said above, but I'm not going to complain.

Here's the team I'd play, injuries withstanding:

1) Alex Corbisiero
2) Dylan Hartley
3) Dan Cole
4) Tom Croft
5) Courtney Lawes
6) Chris Robshaw
7) Tom Wood
8) Ben Morgan

9) Ben Youngs
10) Toby Flood
11) Chris Ashton
12) Brad Barritt
13) Manu Tuilagi
14) Charlie Sharples
15) Ben Foden

16) Matt Stevens
17) Lee Mears
18) Tom Palmer
19) Calum Clarke
20) Joe Simpson
21) Owen Farrell
22) Jordan Turner-Hall

That's a pretty good team, with an awful lot of potential. Young front row which will only get stronger the more they play together, a backline with two great poachers on the wings, good centres and a great fullback. If you were to throw Croft into the second row you might suffer in terms of lineout work, but it'd give a fantastically mobile pack and having another flanker on the pitch would make up for any concerns over not having a proper seven. Owen Farrell could cover 10 & 12 from the bench, while Turner-Hall could cover 12 & the wings. Admittedly another 13 would be nice to have in there.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I think rather than lineout (Croft is very very good in the lineout) that'd suffer it'd be grunt in the scrum - Palmer isn't a man mountain, but he's more used to working in the donkey row than Croft.
Like the look of that team though.

 

[jack6161]

I don't get why everyone is saying they are disappointed. Everyone wanted a new change with new younger players to come in and that's what we have got to an extent. Couldn't be more happier with the back line, great to see Farrell and Sharples in there. I think come the 6 nations and beyond our back line really will be feared as a major attacking threat, and I see Farrell as the new Wilkinson. With the back 3 of Sharples, Ashton and Foden our counter attacking will be great, and the competition between Foden and Brown will be interesting too. If there is one place that I'm disappointed with it is the forwards. Names that I would not see in the forwards are: Mouritz Botha (Saracens), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers), Matt Stevens (Saracens). Mouritz Botha is quite frankly rubbish in my opinion. Matt Stevens? Well after his run in the world cup I would have him out of the squad straight away, the amount of penalties he gave away was unbelievable. Louis Deacon? He should be on the bus with Cueto, Tindall, Hape etc.

With our injuries that we have I think we may end up loosing to Scotland. We will get physically dominated in the scrum and we can only hope that this new exciting back line can save us. I'm not a fan of Hodgson and I'm hoping that either he finds a run of good form, or he is replaced in future by George Ford. Including injuries I think the Scotland team will be:
1. Corbisiero
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Deacon (sadly)
5. Palmer
6. Croft
7. Wood
8. Robshaw

9. Youngs
10. Hodgson
11. Sharples
12. Farell
13. Barritt
14. Ashton
15. Foden

And without injuries:
1. Corbisiero
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Lawes
5. Palmer
6. Croft
7. Wood
8. Robshaw

9. Youngs
10. Flood
11. Sharples
12. Farrell
13. Tuilangi
14. Ashton
15. Foden

Ideally I think there are some players that Lancaster has got wrong to not include, such as Nick Wood, Dave Seymour, James Simpson-Daniel, Luke Narraway. But hopefully this squad can manage a win over Scotland and Italy, and from there on I think we will be ok to come 2nd in the six nations, or win it without a grand slam. And from there I think we can build, hopefully Lancaster proves to be a good coach so we do not have another overhaul, which is never good for a sqaud as it is a huge disruption. Beyond the six nations I think we will get a clear idea of which youngsters are ready, and which are not, and which old guys definitely need to go (Hodgson and Deacon) and then we can get some more in, see how they do and build on from there. I don't want to see too much of a change now, only in the forwards and it will be great to have Haskell back after his Japan stint. I think the back line Lancaster has picked is great, and I think we should keep it roughly as it is but maybe shift the forwards around a bit.

 

[Darwin]

I think rather than lineout (Croft is very very good in the lineout) that'd suffer it'd be grunt in the scrum - Palmer isn't a man mountain, but he's more used to working in the donkey row than Croft.
Like the look of that team though.

My thoughts exactly. I think it would be a huge mistake to player Croft at lock - he plays a very loose game (sometimes even too loose for a loose-forward in my opinion), which is the last thing that you really want from your locks. At times AB's have opted for a 'looser' option at lock (Isaac Ross was the last one) to go with a gameplan of 'running the opposition off the park', but have found it is very hard to do this when your forward pack is going backwards!

 

[B10]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ru...2-Tom-Wood-miss-Englands-Scotland-opener.html

Tom Wood could be out of Scotland game according to the DM! Seymour should be in this squad

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That'll be 6. Croft, 7. Robshaw, 8. Morgan, 19. Dowson then

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[Peat]

mmm.. after years of Saracens players being systematically overlooked and undeserving ones from clubs like Bath being picked, the tables have turned round completely. Big chance for the rest of the Prem to catch up with the top 4 now.

It's hard to begrudge Sarries the recognition in general, they've earned it, but the player choices are ehhhh... yeah. They could have at least picked Jamie George, the one Sarries player I really wanted to see.

Saracens haven't lost anyone too vital providing they can plug up the massive gaping hole that just developed in midfield, Quins escape incredibly lightly - they keep their best centre, their best scrum-half, Easter, get to play their loosehead who can scrum, and a lot of their players only made the Saxons. Northampton are the ones who look a bit f**ked.

Why is your brain my brain?!


Unfortunately there's no such thing as a proper 7 where England is concerned. They gave a couple of games to Hendre Fourie but apart from that they just shoehorn in a 6 or an 8

We're both geniuses?

While I am a heretic who believes in the power of the 6.5, I am genuinely disappointed England haven't taken the chance to develop one of their real 7 options - just as I was disappointed when Northampton signed Clark and didn't play him at 7. In Kvesic we trust (Or Nutley. Or Wallace. Or Harrison. Or Gibson. Or even Saull. Anyone. Options please!)

D
The two that really get me are:
Lee Mears and Joe Marler

I can kind of understand Mears, what with the limited number of changes, and Hartley likely to start all with Webber on the bench they can just sod Mears off each week, however Marler?
Really really should have been Wood - he is the form English #1 in the premiership. He may not be as lively in the loose as Marler but he is an infinitely better scrummager. It's not even as if he's ancient, he'd be 31/32 in 2015, which isn't that old for a prop.

I think Mears is injured and a free one.

I wouldn't be surprised if Marler never took the pitch and spent all his time with Rowntree. His looseplay is nigh-world class already for a prop, I can understand why they went for him - however, I think it sends the wrong message, and believe we should have been developing our depth and a real competitor to Corbs in Wood first.

4) Tom Croft

22) Jordan Turner-Hall
Owen Farrell could cover 10 & 12 from the bench, while Turner-Hall could cover 12 & the wings. Admittedly another 13 would be nice to have in there.

Turner-Hall has never played wing, or if he has, not in ages. There is no 15 cover in the wings either.

As for Croft, the props really won't thank you.

My thoughts exactly. I think it would be a huge mistake to player Croft at lock - he plays a very loose game (sometimes even too loose for a loose-forward in my opinion), which is the last thing that you really want from your locks. At times AB's have opted for a 'looser' option at lock (Isaac Ross was the last one) to go with a gameplan of 'running the opposition off the park', but have found it is very hard to do this when your forward pack is going backwards!

Instructions I think, Croft is at his best slowing down the ball, effecting the odd turnover, and clearing out rucks. That we seem hell bent on anchoring him on the wing annoys me no end.

That'll be 6. Croft, 7. Robshaw, 8. Morgan, 19. Dowson then

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You boys best hope I'm right about Croft/Robshaw as a combo

 

[Seaton]

Hartley and Marler in the front row, together?

I sniff a yellow card in the waiting >

 

[j'nuh]

I remember in the other thread how people were talking about how Glos have the ideal backline for an England team to base themselves around. I'm not sure if Sharples alone is enough to do this with. #totallynotbitter

Also, shame we played Sarries a few weeks too early.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

So Saints sign one of the best up-coming 7's. Clark and one of the best up-coming 6's Wood and then......play them the other way round.....but thats only on the srcrum.

Jim Malinder has never liked playing a 7 at 7. But then 2 x 6.5s are the same as a 6 + 7 right? well thats one way of looking at it

 

[m0rris]

... just like Bath signing one of the best up and coming 8's and playing him anywhere other than 8. It is a shame for Fearns as he'd have had a real shot at this had he not been injured.

It'll b interesting to see England without Easter and Moody in the backrow hopefully we'll have a much more rounded backrow.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Graham Rowntree, the forwards coach, acknowledged that England were short of specialist No 7s. "We have not got a natural ground-hog or ball-stealing No7," he said. "So we will be looking to develop one in the Saxons like Andy Saull [of Saracens]."

Well at least they realise that, i guess they see potencial but they theink the players are not ready yet so the open sides in the saxons are Saul & Gibson. I hope one of them developes.

Also the more i think about ppl in the squad i like the idea of young players learning of older ones like Hodghson, Dowson, Deacon (i know he is injured) & Mears. I think that the youth will be taught all the little tricks that the older players have. Well thats my plan any way

 

[Alden]

i am satisfied with this squad collection and i am hopeful that it will win laurels for the country in the upcoming six nations rugby.

 

[Aedaphon]

Agreed, overall there's nothing huge to complain about except the lack of a real 7 and the lack of depth at 13. Regardless, I'm sure the coaches are working on it.

Anyone else seeing us coming out 3rd? As optimistic as I try to be about the young talent I really don't think we should expect anything more than scraping our way onto the podium this year.

 

[gingergenius]

Graham Rowntree, the forwards coach, acknowledged that England were short of specialist No 7s. "We have not got a natural ground-hog or ball-stealing No7," he said. "So we will be looking to develop one in the Saxons like Andy Saull [of Saracens]."

Well at least they realise that, i guess they see potencial but they theink the players are not ready yet so the open sides in the saxons are Saul & Gibson. I hope one of them developes.

Also the more i think about ppl in the squad i like the idea of young players learning of older ones like Hodghson, Dowson, Deacon (i know he is injured) & Mears. I think that the youth will be taught all the little tricks that the older players have. Well thats my plan any way

I can completely see the point in developing someone like Saull, but in the meantime, what on earth has Seymour done wrong? He's been a good premiership player for years, he's not too old and he is a specialist 7, not to mention captain of his club. Might at least be worth a go...

 

[Peat]

So Saints sign one of the best up-coming 7's. Clark and one of the best up-coming 6's Wood and then......play them the other way round.....but thats only on the srcrum.

Jim Malinder has never liked playing a 7 at 7. But then 2 x 6.5s are the same as a 6 + 7 right? well thats one way of looking at it

No, it's not. It's a workable, underrated system, but it's not the same

I can completely see the point in developing someone like Saull, but in the meantime, what on earth has Seymour done wrong? He's been a good premiership player for years, he's not too old and he is a specialist 7, not to mention captain of his club. Might at least be worth a go...

Clearly they don't think he's good enough. I think he's better than some of those in the EPS.

 

[Aedaphon]

Clearly they don't think he's good enough. I think he's better than some of those in the EPS.

IMO the worst case of club bias... Denying him a squad in the EPS wouldn't be totally unexpected, but not even a place in the Saxons?

If he was still at Sarries he'd be almost guaranteed a place. Next year might just be too late <_<

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I want to slap Rowntree round the face.

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[Daniel Richards]

To inexperience

To young , to inexperience . Why no Easter he should be in on form alone ! Lose to Scotland then it's off to Italy with no confidence look what they did to France last year ! Then Wales at home we could be 0-3 with France and Ireland to play . Winning brings confidence and brings the team together , losing breaks confidence . Look at the 2003 team it's all about winning !