England Six Nations Squad 2012

[psychic duck]

10. Hodgson

12. Barritt
13. Farrell

that 10-12-13 combination which created nothing today against Biarritz doesn't look one bit scary

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not a massive amount of alternatives though.

I'd pick Hodgson regardless of if Flood was fit and I don't rate Turner-Hall.
I'd like see Trinder start at 13, actually, with Farrell on the bench in his place.

 

[Rugby09]

that 10-12-13 combination which created nothing today against Biarritz doesn't look one bit scary

What are the alternatives?

10. Hodgson
12. Farrell
13. Trinder

??

Would that create more or do we need someone like Barritt or Turner-Hall in the starting team?

Im not sure Hodgson would be my 2nd choice fly-half but his defensive issues dont seem to effect Saracens and is Burns, Myler or any of the other english fly-halves in better form than him now?

 

[Darwin]

My squad for Scotland would be:

1. Corbisiero
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Palmer
5. Parling
6. Robshaw
7. Wood
8. Morgan
9. Dickson
10. Hodgson
11. Sharples
12. Barritt
13. Farrell
14. Sharples
15. Foden

16. Webber
17. Stevens
18. Attwood
19. Clark
20. Simpson
21. Trinder
22. Brown

It's a massive change up from the World Cup starting XV, and the players that remain aren't massively experienced internationally, but &*^$ it, you don't get experience watching from the stands.

I know you rate Sharples, but do you really think he is capable of playing on both wings at the same time

 

[j'nuh]

I'd go with the same squad as Olyy, but Tuilagi and Lawes comes back in asap.

 

[JW.]

Farrel hasen't got the attributes to play 13 imo. If he's playing it would have to be at 10 or 12, prefferably at 12 for his first cap. Barrit does not offer much imo, but neither does turnerhall. And Hodgson can't do much right in an England shirt. I'd rather have Trinder at 13 than Farrel.

Not thinking about injuries 10:flood, 12: Farrel, 13: Tuilagi ofcourse. I'd still pick Flood over Hodgson at flyhalf tbh.

Brown is really making Foden work hard for his place, Brown can't play wing? His workrate for Harlequins is unmatched.

 

[j'nuh]

Brown is really making Foden work hard for his place, Brown can't play wing? His workrate for Harlequins is unmatched.

Doesn't have the pace or quick feet for the wing, and playing him there takes away from his biggest asset: his boot.

Also, presumably for place-kicking reasons, keeping Hodgson on the pitch means Farrell needs to stay on, so when Tuilagi comes back, I'd expect either 10. Flood 12. Barritt 13. Tuilagi or 10. Hodgson 12. Farrell 13. Tuilagi

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Also, presumably for place-kicking reasons, keeping Hodgson on the pitch means Farrell needs to stay on

The top scoring place kicker in the history of the prem needs a babysitter?


I meant Strettle at 11 as well :lol:

22 shirt is between Turner-Hall, Ashton, Brown and maybe Trinder - could realistically go to any of them, with none of them being really ideal for it.
Shame that there's no Armitage as he's perfect for the 22 shirt covering 11/13/14/15, and then Farrell covering 10/12.

 

[Congenital_Optimist]

I've only just registered here and I must say, whilst there is a lot of really interesting and intelligent discussion happening without regression nerd rage.
I can't hope but notice the amount of superlatives and blanket statements that are getting tossed around, I'm paraphrasing but stuff like:

"X does not offer much", "X has gone backwards", "X shoudln't be allowed near an england shirt", "X shouldn't play due his performance in 1 game", "X can't pass/kick",

Not all players are perfect and all have flaws but I don't see what statements like that really bring to the table, it gets even more annoying when there is little reasoning to follow.
I understand that the EPS is always gonna generate a wide variety of opinion - especially considering what's happened this past year - people seem to forget that there is a heck of a lot of talent in both squads of 32 and more.
That being said, the majority of posts have something interesting to say and it may just be my aversion to anyone who doesn't construct arguments well.

xx

 

[gingergenius]

well it's difficult to argue using hard scientific evidence about rugby. we even had an argument about that (statistics) in a recent thread. So of course people will generalise and their opinions will be clouded by bias. the benefits you get on this forum, rather than most other places for rugby chat, is that here people actually watch rugby so know a little more about what they're talking about than those who, for example, read Joe Marler's name in the newspaper and decide he's the bee's knees of propping.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Palmer is a lineout specialist, isn't he?
Our lineout improved a LOT when he came in to the squad for Borthwick, and always goes pretty well when he's on the pitch.
Croft runs it when he isn't there, but Palmer is the one who runs it normally.[/QUOTE~]

Oh okay, I take that back then.

About our midfield, there's no justification to overlooking baritt at 12 in favour of farrel. Barritt is in good form at the moment and 12 is his position. I don't think Farrell should be in the midfield at all. Bench him, or start him at fly half.

I'm leaning ttowards Hodgson at 10 but I'm wondering whether lancaster will give farrel the benefit of the doubt.

My team would be this:

Corbisiero
Hartley
Cole
Palmer
Attwood or Parling (I haven't seen Parling much so it would be silly for me to declare that he deserves or doesnt deserve to start)
Robshaw
Wood
Morgan
Simpson
Farrell
Sharples
Barritt
Trinder
Ashton
Foden

Stevens or Marler - I'm in the balance
Webber
Attwood
Croft
Dickson
Hodgson
Strettle?

 

[Peat]

Not a massive amount of alternatives though.

I'd pick Hodgson regardless of if Flood was fit and I don't rate Turner-Hall.
I'd like see Trinder start at 13, actually, with Farrell on the bench in his place.

*blinks* Your reasoning?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hodgson's been on better form than Flood this season, and is a far better tactical kicker (which could come in handy in Murrayfield). He also works, day in day out, with the likely 12 or 13 (or both) and one of the wings, so in a (basically) thrown together team, this could come in handy.

 

[j'nuh]

The top scoring place kicker in the history of the prem needs a babysitter?

Wilkinson's up there, but we saw what happened in the WC. And I'm not sure, does he still practise at it? Farrell takes all the goalkicking opportunities at Saracens.

 

[Congenital_Optimist]

well it's difficult to argue using hard scientific evidence about rugby. we even had an argument about that (statistics) in a recent thread. So of course people will generalise and their opinions will be clouded by bias. the benefits you get on this forum, rather than most other places for rugby chat, is that here people actually watch rugby so know a little more about what they're talking about than those who, for example, read Joe Marler's name in the newspaper and decide he's the bee's knees of propping.

No thats a good response, cheers mate

 

[Aedaphon]

No thats a good response, cheers mate

Always good to see new members on the forum- curious to what your (well-reasoned) views on the EPS/starting XV are?

 

[Peat]

Hodgson's been on better form than Flood this season, and is a far better tactical kicker (which could come in handy in Murrayfield). He also works, day in day out, with the likely 12 or 13 (or both) and one of the wings, so in a (basically) thrown together team, this could come in handy.

Are you just talking about the Scotland game, or in general? Because obviously, in general, Tuilagi (currently injured) and Youngs are likely starters.

Plus, Flood was really hitting his stride before the latest injury. Injured players have no form and I'm reluctant to resume the policy of 'chuck the semi-recovered player in', but in general Flood vs. Hodgson is not a contest for me.

 

[j'nuh]

Flood starting with a younger 10 (Farrell/Burns/Clegg etc.) covering will serve our long-term interest the most. I can't help but think that if Hodgson starts the six nations matches, what do we aim for with him? He won't improve much, whereas Priestland, Trinh-Duc, Sexton etc. will get better with every game. Would much rather be developing a younger flyhalf on the international stage sooner rather than being left behind in that regard. Hodgson being around for a bit whilst Flood comes back from injury is fine, but Farrell should be getting gametime at 10 during these matches.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Are you just talking about the Scotland game, or in general? Because obviously, in general, Tuilagi (currently injured) and Youngs are likely starters.

Just the Scotland game - as you said, Tuilagi is a nailed on starter when fit again.

 

[Peat]

Just the Scotland game - as you said, Tuilagi is a nailed on starter when fit again.

Fair enough. For me, the prospect of Flood being properly fit enough is so slim, that I don't see a need for an argument over the Scotland game