England Six Nations thread

[TRF_Olyy]

Yup, both are technically 15s but have played a lot of (in Nowell's case most of) senior rugby on the wing.

 

[j'nuh]

Nowell is also a FB ... his twitter address is Nowellsy15

If we go on the past, May is a fullback too. Or an outside centre, depending on how far back you go! Nowell came to international recognition/attention by playing wing, and Watson did it by playing fullback. Other than Ashton and May, Nowell has the most experience on the wing in the squad. And playing Ashton's just not a thing that should happen, so Nowell it is.

tbh, I'd much prefer May and Wade/Yarde as the wings. I'm generally against leaving someone out for a lack of experience, but half a season of professional rugby? Makes me nervous enough about them, although no way as nervous as I am about Ashton playing.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Nowell's preferred position is 15, the only reason he doesn't play 15 for Exeter is because Arscott can't play on the wing whereas Jack can.

It's not like when Foden said he wanted to be a 9 - Nowell actually is a 15.

 

[j'nuh]

That's what I'm saying though. Nowell is a fullback with quite a bit of wing experience, whereas Watson is a fullback with very little wing experience. So I'd pick Nowell out of the two.

Although both have very little pro rugby experience, so really I'd prefer Wade/Yarde to the both of them. Maybe even Monye (who I rate more than most people do).

 

[Maverick1987]

Anyone bold enough to think that Burrell is going to be up to it?

I think he is

 

[Tmartin995]

From Greenwood's article it seems that he doesn't realise that there was a squad selected for the 6 nations seeing as he put Hopper in a said he'd have Walker in. Guess its just his Harlequins roots showing through!
His main argument against Nowell is that he hasn't played much club rugby, yet he's been playing since last season consistently, yet Watson and Walker have only really broken through? Seems strange

 

[ratsapprentice]

I have noticed that a lot of journos/pundits seem to have absolutely no idea that Nowell even exists.

In fact most of the team proposals I see indicate quite poor knowledge of our player base generally
I get the feeling that a lot of them don't actually watch that much rugby.

DT just posted an article compounding the Mirror's view that Nowell and May are going to start vs France.

They also reckon Burrell and Dickson will start too.

Daily Mail seem to reckon that Nowell and Ashton will start - but they say that May might get a bench slot covering wing, FB and OC.

 

[Patchey]

Agreed. I genuinely get the most comprehensive rugby analysis from here, not any newspaper. Which is a bit on an indictment on the press, because you're all people who watch rugby in their spare time and don't get paid to write about it.

At least in the Telegraph article they acknowledged that Ashton should be in the team. Even Guscott in his BBC column is saying that now!

 

[McTallshort]

Agreed. I genuinely get the most comprehensive rugby analysis from here, not any newspaper. Which is a bit on an indictment on the press, because you're all people who watch rugby in their spare time and don't get paid to write about it.

At least in the Telegraph article they acknowledged that Ashton should be in the team. Even Guscott in his BBC column is saying that now!

Amen to that brother

 

[Tmartin995]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...nleash-rookie-back-line-for-France-debut.html
According to Steve James, Nowell and May set to start on the wings

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...nleash-rookie-back-line-for-France-debut.html
According to Steve James, Nowell and May set to start on the wings

Please be right please be right please be right.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Please be right please be right please be right.

Watson on the bench please (though I know it'll be Goode, which oddly doesn't fill me with dread considering the, potential, starting wings. There's something much more assuring seeing a starting England bakline containing only 1 Saracen, not 3+).

 

[ratsapprentice]

The RFU squad update is as follows:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>No changes to England's 35-man RBS 6 Nations squad preparing to face France. Freddie Burns remains with Saxons ahead of Scotland A game.</p>&mdash; England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) <a href="https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/statuses/427531842229927937">January 26, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


As you were.

 

[McTallshort]

Almost suprised he is still in the Saxons

 

[Patchey]

Well that was an anticlimax.

Main outcomes of this weekend seems to be that Burns will only get game time this 6N if everyone else in injured. And that Watson hasn't done himself much harm by scoring, even if he didn't exactly set the world on fire.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Just out of curiosity... am I the only one who get's seriously ****** off when people refer to the England team as "The Red Rose"...?!

It's our logo not our ****ing name!!
It's like calling the Irish "The Shamrocks" or the Scottish "The Thistles".

 

[St George]

Just out of curiosity... am I the only one who get's seriously ****** off when people refer to the England team as "The Red Rose"...?!

It's our logo not our ****ing name!!
It's like calling the Irish "The Shamrocks" or the Scottish "The Thistles".

I dont get ****ed off about it, but its not the way I'd refer to England. Although I have referred to the players as the Red Rose Boys before. But I agree England is England and thats it.

 

[Crapspray]

I do. It's a national side, not a brand. Nor is it a nickname I hear used.

I could understand someone saying "wearing the red rose" but that's about it. Same way as someone wears the capbadge of a regiment; they don't get called the skull and crossbones.

 

[Peat]

I do. It's a national side, not a brand. Nor is it a nickname I hear used.

I could understand someone saying "wearing the red rose" but that's about it. Same way as someone wears the capbadge of a regiment; they don't get called the skull and crossbones.

The regiment in the British army with the cap badge closest to that is the skull mounted above the words 'or glory' - forget which cav regiment, think it may be the 8th/12th - and are known as the Death or Glory boys, so... yeah. And most regiments have more absurd nicknames.

 

[Patchey]

Some nice photos posted by the RFU this morning of Attwood lifting some truly monstrous weights. I think if Thomas plays a part this weekend he will actually look quite good providing Attwood comes on at the same time and packs down behind him.

As an aside, I really like how this thread has partly become 'God I really hate how bad rugby coverage is'. Its helping me get some pent up aggression out just reading it.