England Six Nations thread

[Maverick1987]

Anyone got a link to mays try tonight ? Would love to see it

 

[ratsapprentice]

I don't think Kvesic is finding form as much as Gloucester are, he and Stooke have been playing well the entire season regardless of those around them.
And on Stooke - yes he's a prospect... but he's also already one of the best locks in the premiership.

 

[Peat]

Also is there any period where England have had this many injuries? Current list as I'm aware is:
Christian Wade
Ben Foden
Brad Barritt
Manu Tuilagi
Marland Yarde
Joel Tomkins
Tom Croft
Geoff Parling
Alex Corbisiero

The AI after the 2009 Lions in which Johnson played Erinle, Payne and Monye at full-back was pretty mega.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Just listening to this RFU podcast and it reinforces the idea that Lancaster is treating both Burrell and Barritt as outside centres.
The way in which he lists Kyle and Billy as our inside centres when dismissing the idea of Farrell moving to IC is something I find reassuring.

I don't particularly like the idea of Brad or Luther at OC, but I am very happy if I am right.
It suggests to me that he does not think Barritt is ahead of 36 or Kyle.


http://www.rfu.com/news/2014/january/news-articles/~/media/podcast/20140110.ashx

 

[Cartersos]

Anyone got a link to mays try tonight ? Would love to see it

http://balls.ie/rugby/brilliant-breakaway-try-gloucesters-jonny-may/

That worked for me. I pay for sky sports through bt, but unfortunately they don't support the red button match choice control, so I couldn't watch it. Really annoying!

 

[Aristodemus]

If he starts with Burrell Rats, then that would drop Barritt out the picture when Manu is back, which I would be pleased with. As for IC I see the future as Eastmond but wouldn't be disappointed with 36 playing, Kyle is still learning.

 

[ratsapprentice]

 

[Rich Taff]

Is Strettle in the squad? If not, why not? Can't believe Ashton continually gets picked when Strettle is head and shoulders above him nowadays. (unsure if he can play both wings)

 

[Peat]

Is Strettle in the squad? If not, why not? Can't believe Ashton continually gets picked when Strettle is head and shoulders above him nowadays. (unsure if he can play both wings)

He's not. He's not even in the Saxons. While I can't speak with absolute certainty, I believe his non-performance against Argentina in the summer was a contributing factor, as were the various non-performances before. For all his club exploits, he simply hasn't performed for England or shown any signs that it's coming. Yeah, the Ashton thing is baffling and Strettle might just be a better international at the moment, but two wrongs don't make a right!

 

[Rich Taff]

He's not. He's not even in the Saxons. While I can't speak with absolute certainty, I believe his non-performance against Argentina in the summer was a contributing factor, as were the various non-performances before. For all his club exploits, he simply hasn't performed for England or shown any signs that it's coming. Yeah, the Ashton thing is baffling and Strettle might just be a better international at the moment, but two wrongs don't make a right!

Just want to say I love the way 'head and shoulders' is counted as a link when typed in (assume it's a shampoo thing)

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Just want to say I love the way 'head and shoulders' is counted as a link when typed in (assume it's a shampoo thing)

It's well know that Strettle has much less dandruff than Ashton. Also in May's try that bit where the 2 defenders run into each other is just brilliant.

 

[Maverick1987]

It's well know that Strettle has much less dandruff than Ashton. Also in May's try that bit where the 2 defenders run into each other is just brilliant.

Yep the second 1 came round the corner and bang straight into his teammate ! Best video ever !! Awesome try aswell

 

[Patchey]

Seeing a lot of 'Goode hopes for recall after display against Connacht' stories. Mainly from Telegraph rugby And also The Guardian.

When will someone point out that looking good playing in a team whose forwards steam roller the oppo and who clearly have massive defensive issues (no one concedes that many points unless their defensive system is a mess) doesn't mean your an international standard player!?

 

[Peat]

Just want to say I love the way 'head and shoulders' is counted as a link when typed in (assume it's a shampoo thing)

Probably a sign that you've got Malware on your computer tbh. Get that looked into.

Seeing a lot of 'Goode hopes for recall after display against Connacht' stories. Mainly from Telegraph rugby And also The Guardian.

When will someone point out that looking good playing in a team whose forwards steam roller the oppo and who clearly have massive defensive issues (no one concedes that many points unless their defensive system is a mess) doesn't mean your an international standard player!?

And if they do, could they please tell Stuart Lancaster?

 

[Patchey]

And if they do, could they please tell Stuart Lancaster?

We can only dream.

Can anyone hypothesise why it is that even normally level headed pundits loose all sense of proportion when talking about England selection?

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Yeah - my heart sunk when I watched extended highlights from the game and saw Goode doing some actually semi good things. As opposed to Strettle and Ashton who merely finished off others' good work. So I don't think there's any danger of Ashton redeeming himself in anyone's eyes, however I do believe that Lancaster will be inclined to keep Goode in the mix

 

[glawsfan]

I don't think Kvesic is finding form as much as Gloucester are, he and Stooke have been playing well the entire season regardless of those around them.
And on Stooke - yes he's a prospect... but he's also already one of the best locks in the premiership.

Agree with that he made 13/13 takles yesterday amazing for a second row player he would be a great impact sub for England.

Another interesting stat Jonny May carried the ball 155 metres in the match miles more than any other player. I know it would be a massive risk but with no natural outside centre for England would it be worth giving him a go at 13 or would that be unfair on him?

 

[Patchey]

Yeah - my heart sunk when I watched extended highlights from the game and saw Goode doing some actually semi good things. As opposed to Strettle and Ashton who merely finished off others' good work. So I don't think there's any danger of Ashton redeeming himself in anyone's eyes, however I do believe that Lancaster will be inclined to keep Goode in the mix

I think it says a lot about Goode when most England fans despair slightly when he performs well.


Sarries bashing aside, here's a stab at the starting line up for Paris. The squad go into camp today so it seems like a good time. No new injuries from the weekend.

1 Marler
2 Hartley
3 Cole
4 Lawes
5 Launchbury
6 Wood
7 Robshaw
8 B.Vunnipola
9 Wigglesworth
10 Farrell
11 May
12 Twelvtrees
13 Burrell
14 Ashton
15 Brown

16 T.Youngs
17 M.Vunnipola
18 H.Thomas
19 Attwood
20 Morgan
21 Watson/Nowell
22 Dickson
23 Ford

Given what Lancaster has said and his previous record on selection I think this is the best we can hope for. Certainly an improvement on the backline from the AIs and last years Six Nations. i don't see 36 under threat at IC and I also can't imagine Barritt being chosen over Burrell at OC. Burrell is the closest thing to a second Tuilagi we have so I think he edges out Barritt. May and Ashton to start but I think this will be Ashton's last game in white for some time. As for the forwards, the presence of Henry Thomas is a bit worrying but aside from that we're looking okay.

Thoughts?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

To be honest I'd rather BB at 13 than Burrell, he's far far less likely to f**k something up. I'd start Burrell vs Scotland, definitely, but I'd have massive reservations over throwing him straight in away vs France. Barritt ain't great, but he's not as bad as we (including me) make him out to be, by a long shot.

 

[Patchey]

To be honest I'd rather BB at 13 than Burrell, he's far far less likely to f**k something up. I'd start Burrell vs Scotland, definitely, but I'd have massive reservations over throwing him straight in away vs France. Barritt ain't great, but he's not as bad as we (including me) make him out to be, by a long shot.

Agree here, in a way. Of the two I'd pick Barritt because Burrell really doesn't fill me with confidence. He runs some great lines but his defense worries me and as you say, away v France isn't the place to throw someone you're not sure about. Barritt will put down anyone running at him, help organise the defense and his distribution is alright. in fact, seeing as when Tuilagi is fit we're going to have to learn to deal with an OC whose passing game isn't great, its less of a problem than when he plays 12.

If I had a choice of any centres I'd pick JJ, but for now he's stuck in the Saxons.