England Six Nations squad 2022

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

That's a big blow - presumably Blamire to the bench for Ireland, but who's next in line to hold tackle bags?

I know Dolly's been in and around the England squad but I feel like EJ might go for Singleton

If it's purely to hold tackle bags, he may go for one of the younguns that have been in the squad before? Riley, Langdon or someone like that?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Randall passing injures LCD for the season and yet no one mentions it

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Randall passing injures LCD for the season and yet no one mentions it

aye but Youngs injures my heart so swings and roundabouts

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

aye but Youngs injures my heart so swings and roundabouts

You got to have one in the first place for it to hurt…

And we all know Quins fans don't have them

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

You got to have one in the first place for it to hurt…

And we all know Quins fans don't have them

Well something gives me palpatations when we are trying to win games in the red every week lol

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

.

That's a big blow - presumably Blamire to the bench for Ireland, but who's next in line to hold tackle bags?

I know Dolly's been in and around the England squad but I feel like EJ might go for Singleton

I know Blamire's promising but hasn't he spent most of this season on the Falcons bench? McGuigan's a good player but that's not exactly a ringing endorsement and expecting our match day squads to at least be regular club starters should be a bare minimum.

I can't say how much I want Barbeary to reconsider his switch to the back row. With the obvious caveat that we have no real idea what his set piece is like, but I read somewhere that he does still practice line outs so maybe there's a flicker of hope.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Well something gives me palpatations when we are trying to win games in the red every week lol

A bit too much info m8.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I know Blamire's promising but hasn't he spent most of this season on the Falcons bench?

I wouldn't have him there either, tbh, but he's the only other hooker in the squad - seems unlikely someone would be parachuted in above him as EJ seems to like him (this his third EPS he's been in?)

I can't say how much I want Barbeary to reconsider his switch to the back row. With the obvious caveat that we have no real idea what his set piece is like, but I read somewhere that he does still practice line outs so maybe there's a flicker of hope.

I dunno, he's obviously **** at being a hooker otherwise Wasps wouldn't have moved him from a position of weakness to a position where they're well stocked

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

People "Why the **** is Eddie Playing a guy who whilst it isn't his first choice position he has played there at International and club level"
Also people "Why isn't Barbeary playing Hooker?"

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

People "Why the **** is Eddie Playing a guy who whilst it isn't his first choice position he has played there at International and club level"
Also people "Why isn't Barbeary playing Hooker?"

No one in their right mind should be asking why Barbeary isn't playing hooker.

Simmonds at 12 or Nowell at 7 are fine though.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I dunno, he's obviously **** at being a hooker otherwise Wasps wouldn't have moved him from a position of weakness to a position where they're well stocked

Yeah I know, although we haven't seen the proof of that (which probably tells its own story). While that's probably right, I still have a nagging, unprovable, feeling there's more to it.

Siebold's on record as saying his defence, particularly off the ball, needs improvement and someone here quoted some pretty bad tackle stats a few weeks ago. A back rower who isn't in the right place and / or isn't completing tackles shouldn't really be near the national squad irrespective of other attributes. That's just as fundamental as being able to deal with the set piece as a hooker.

Maybe he should just go back to his school position of 12 and be done with it.

 

[Geordie]

.

I know Blamire's promising but hasn't he spent most of this season on the Falcons bench? McGuigan's a good player but that's not exactly a ringing endorsement and expecting our match day squads to at least be regular club starters should be a bare minimum.

I can't say how much I want Barbeary to reconsider his switch to the back row. With the obvious caveat that we have no real idea what his set piece is like, but I read somewhere that he does still practice line outs so maybe there's a flicker of hope.

Disagree mate, McGuigan is a cracking player. Thats why Munster are looking at him.

But at the same time...Falcons fans are concerned by the lack of gametime Blamire is getting.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Yeah I know, although we haven't seen the proof of that (which probably tells its own story). While that's probably right, I still have a nagging, unprovable, feeling there's more to it.

Siebold's on record as saying his defence, particularly off the ball, needs improvement and someone here quoted some pretty bad tackle stats a few weeks ago. A back rower who isn't in the right place and / or isn't completing tackles shouldn't really be near the national squad irrespective of other attributes. That's just as fundamental as being able to deal with the set piece as a hooker.

Maybe he should just go back to his school position of 12 and be done with it.

Yeah because 12s never have to tackle.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Disagree mate, McGuigan is a cracking player. Thats why Munster are looking at him.

But at the same time...Falcons fans are concerned by the lack of gametime Blamire is getting.

I think we're agreeing. I like McGuigan a lot but from an Eng perspective it's a concern that Blamire isn't getting more game time or challenging him harder.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Yeah because 12s never have to tackle.

I need to start using more smileys around here.

None of the forward / back position changing talk will ever come to anything. Except in the case of Burgess - he could have done the lot. SMILEY ALERT.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Yeah because 12s never have to tackle.

Make him a scrumhalf, problem solved.

 

[Scotty]

I really not convinced by our props outside of Marler. Genge and Sinckler just seem too unreliable at this level. They arnt bad players but they arnt dominate in the scrum as a USP and their work in the loose isn't amazing when comparing to other counties.

Are they the best we currently have, probably but I don't look at our pack and think we look like world beaters any more.

Itoje, Curry, Lawes, George, underhill all play/ look top class at the moment but we could do with a few more stepping up (probably missed someone).

Id argue Genge is very good in the loose, he has that ability to stay on his feet in contact where as Sinks is a lump and an average carrier and is stopped to easy, he does have good passing skills, my point is they need to be used right,

im obv talking about outside the scrum as thats a seperate issue.

On props these days i think there does have to be a balance, a prop that is a dominant scrummager but brings nothing else vs a good scrummages who another USP. Its a fine line IMO, they obv have to to be good in the scrum first and then other things on top.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Id argue Genge is very good in the loose, he has that ability to stay on his feet in contact where as Sinks is a lump and an average carrier and is stopped to easy, he does have good passing skills, my point is they need to be used right,

im obv talking about outside the scrum as thats a seperate issue.

On props these days i think there does have to be a balance, a prop that is a dominant scrummager but brings nothing else vs a good scrummages who another USP. Its a fine line IMO, they obv have to to be good in the scrum first and then other things on top.

If you have dominant scrummagers you play them every single time in my book. They can get you pens and yellows and being stuffed in the scrum is both energy and morale sapping. May also allow more creative options in the back 5 of the pack. And these days no-one's mono skilled, even the most dinosaur like prop will be able to carry and handle a bit.

I'm not sure why we're just not developing these mythical beasts.

 

[Scotty]

If you have dominant scrummagers you play them every single time in my book. They can get you pens and yellows and being stuffed in the scrum is both energy and morale sapping. May also allow more creative options in the back 5 of the pack. And these days no-one's mono skilled, even the most dinosaur like prop will be able to carry and handle a bit.

I'm not sure why we're just not developing these mythical beasts.

I dont disagree if you have a scrummager that will get pens every time but if you have Marler and Genge for instance is it better play your best scrummager if neither is going to win scrum pens every time but also wont go backwards, the game is more than just scrums. A strong carrying front row or skillful front row can have as big of an impact in the game.

Im not saying bring bacn Mako who was a pretty weak scrummager and im not saying starting a Marler and bringing a Genge off the bench for impact is a bad idea. But just that its not all black and white.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I'd be prepared to sacrifice having a dominant scrummager for good loose play but I'd not be prepared to sacrifice a solid scrummager for it. I think realistically a front row needs to hit a certain threshold in the scrum (not being an automatic penalty magnet). That should be the first box ticked and if they can't tick it, they don't get in. Whether you then want to look at scrum dominance or loose play beyond that is a matter of preference but I don't think you should select the best open play front row in the world if every single one will concede almost guaranteed penalties at scrum time.