England squad for SA tour

[psychic duck]

I read yesterday that Wasps flanker Joe Launchbury "was expected" to be named in the touring squad

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not sure how I'd feel about that.
He's a good player, however I think he's a better lock than 6, but then I'd rather see the likes of Attwood and Garvey and Robson ahead of him for lock.

 

[Aedaphon]

I read yesterday that Wasps flanker Joe Launchbury "was expected" to be named in the touring squad

Well Lawes is injured and Launchbury is a big, big man.

Not totally unexpected seeing how he was called up mid Six Nations to cover for injury.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

BBC "understands" (which means they've been given the team list before tomorrow's midday announcement and they want to leak a couple of names that people have already guessed to keep people going on their site ) that Care and Haskell are back in (along with Launchbury)

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

BBC "understands" (which means they've been given the team list before tomorrow's midday announcement and they want to leak a couple of names that people have already guessed to keep people going on their site ) that Care and Haskell are back in (along with Launchbury)

yeeeeer. Read in the Standard this evening that Care has given up drinking, and has had a one to one conversation with Lancaster and is ready to put rugby first. While it seems a shame that he has to live in absolutes just because he behaves like an idiot when Drunk, this is amazing news for England, and I think Lancaster will be making the right call in selecting him; Care has put his cards on the table here and to be fair, made a sacrifice. It would have been wrong of Lancaster to refuse him selection ever again due to these incidents, so I'm happy with the way it seemsto be turning out.

As for Launchbury, I'm starting to think again about saying he's a 6 not a lock. I think he brings a lot as a lock forward, and is a good option to have there especially with the number of sixes we have.

 

[Peat]

Launchbury is a f**king beast. I have no better words to describe it. He's like Lawes without the flaws (and possibly a tad less athleticism). I also believe he could be a genuine 6/lock option for England, which would be really handy. I have zero problems with him going on tour, and happily encourage it; remember, he might just play midweek games.

That said, I'd be wee'd off if Garvey didn't make it... which he won't if you believe Sporting Life. A lot of other names I'd consider "Must takes" not mentioned too.

http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyun...2/05/09/RUGBYU_England_Nightlead.html&BID=504

Also, Goode ahead of Miller/May is somewhat absurd. I'm a fan of Goode, but the two named are on fire, better athletes, and potentially more versatile. Lancaster seems hellbent on picking a lot of very good but possibly not quite international players from the top sides and ignoring the guys with genuine X Factor in the lesser lights.

 

[Wilko's left boot]

Happy to see Launchbury in there - has had a good season and was especially impressive vs Newcastle. Can't say I know much about Youngs. Interesting to read there that he has undergone such a large position change, surely very unusual in professional rugby?

 

[j'nuh]

We were in a dire state for 9s in the six nations, helped out by that Dickson stepped up admirably. Interesting to see what will happen now though, Dickson should keep his 9 shirt for now, but who will deputise out of Youngs and Care?

Hoping Exeter will get some recognition too. Trouble is that most of their best English-qualified players aren't ahead of their rivals to be starting and aren't young enough to be in the extended squad as cover. I reckon Haydn Thomas has a shot at being taken as the 4th scrumhalf. Ben Moon? Also, can players who have played for NZ Maori qualify for other teams? Hoani Tui would be qualifying some time this year if so...

Also, Goode ahead of Miller/May is somewhat absurd. I'm a fan of Goode, but the two named are on fire, better athletes, and potentially more versatile. Lancaster seems hellbent on picking a lot of very good but possibly not quite international players from the top sides and ignoring the guys with genuine X Factor in the lesser lights.

Miller yes, unsure on May though. He'll be a fantastic winger in the near-future and has only played fullback so much this season because someone must have forgotten that Olly Morgan is the most breakable man in Britain, and now Martyn Thomas has been brought in to cover for him. Speaking of which, May could have been taken as a winger?

 

[Peat]

Take May as a winger or full-back. Or centre. Whatever. Just get him on the sodding plane. He's ridiculously fast and right now just about the only Englishman alive who provides that beautiful, precious 11-15 cover. Christ, I'll take just covering wing and full-back. That's rare enough. He has absurd amounts of potential and he needs to be out there. I'd take him as the 4th scrum-half if needs be.

I think I need to go have a calm-down. The squad's not even announced yet, and I'm getting foamed at rumours of who he's going to ignore... :lol:

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Early rumours circulating that Carl Fearns has made the cut.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Urgh, I hope Tom Youngs doesn't go, but then again with the injury list of English hookers there aren't many other options - If he goes over Jamie George then there's something wrong with the world, though.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

England Squad (Also added to opening post):

[h=3]Forwards (23)[/h]

Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
Paul Doran Jones (Northampton Saints)
Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
Carl Fearns (Bath Rugby)
Joe Gray (Harlequins)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Otago Highlanders)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
Ben Morgan (Scarlets)
Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Chris Robshaw (capt, Harlequins)
George Robson (Harlequins)
Matt Stevens (Saracens)
Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers) ​

[h=3]Backs (19)[/h]

Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers)
Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)
Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
George Lowe (Harlequins)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
David Strettle (Saracens)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)
Christian Wade (London Wasps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)​

 

[racingmetrofan]

Happy with that selection. Will be interesting to see if Joseph or anyone else gets much of a game against SA over Tulagi.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Aye, I'm mostly happy.
There's a few I'm not happy with seeing (though expected) like Youngs Sr., Mears, Goode and Botha.
However Joseph and Wade being there is great news.

I imagine it'd be Barritt more likely to lose his spot rather than Tuilagi, but who knows.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I'd like to see at least one other 13 get a chance, as much as i like Tuilagi he is bound to get injured at some point and until now we haven't had any real replacement for him. I think Joseph has more potential than lowe but i don't know which is the better player? haven't seen enough of them this year!

Other than that very happy, can see a back row of 6.Hask 7. Robshaw 8. Morgan and then fearns on the bench as he covers all maybe? or maybe dowson???

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hopefully Fearns can get in over Dowson, he's a much better player these days.

What's with Monye being back in the England squad as well? He hasn't even had a standout season or anything (he's gone all right, but not enough to make you think "We need him back with England!").
Sharples being injured opens the door for him, and he's experienced and all, but should've had someone like Biggs or May or someone.





Also, great to see Allen back in there! Will be pushing Barritt hard for a spot in the test side.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Hopefully Fearns can get in over Dowson, he's a much better player these days.

What's with Monye being back in the England squad as well? He hasn't even had a standout season or anything (he's gone all right, but not enough to make you think "We need him back with England!").
Sharples being injured opens the door for him, and he's experienced and all, but should've had someone like Biggs or May or someone.

Do i do agree with this but at the same time i can see why players like mears and Moyne are there. They both have been lions players who went to South Africa and they add a lot of experience to the team. i'd rather have our players training with more experinced players (even though they might not play) than waste May or Biggs time. It's a hard call, you can't have all older or all younger players.

I wish Daily was in the mix to but i think he has some knee problems he wants to fix!

 

[Gavin]

No Steffon Armitage? Quite disappointed I must admit, he has been on fire lately.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Suppose, but I think that May/A.N Other would get much more out of training with the England squad/maybe getting some time midweek than Monye, who probably won't feature for England again after this tour.


Also, thinking about it, where the heck is Steffon?

 

[samhall]

No Steffon Armitage? Quite disappointed I must admit, he has been on fire lately.

No Armitage because the Top 14 final on the same day as Englands first test. Impractical to have him in the squad, will miss all the training and the first test, as good as he is.

Also no chance Toulon will release him