England Training Squad

[goodNumber10]

Anybody else think May is a good fit for the 23 shirt? Can cover 13 and 15 and has the pace to run past tired legs towards the back end of games. I would also take Yarde though, assuming Roko isn't added into the squad. Brown, Watson, May, Nowell, Yarde would be the ones I would bring.

May is just about fit to be the kit man

 

[yaboyjj]

If I'm honest, I rate May over Watson on the wing- but if England are to play a lightweight midfield, then there is a case for playing Nowell and Yarde.

I'm a bit unsure about where Morgan stands atm- surely Vunipola has surely now proven himself as an 80 minute player, in which case is his worth diminished?
If (as I hope) Itoje sneaks in at no.6, then surely you need someone on the bench to cover openside (since Itoje nor Vunipola could cover) in which case Wood/Haskell/Kvesic would have the upper hand for a bench spot (you could of course play Morgan and an openside assuming Itoje could cover lock).

Launch, Lawes, Itoje, Robshaw, Vunipola... Morgan, Haskell? or ...Attwood, Haskell


All hypothetical of course.

I'm really torn RE my favorite side;
Cole, Youngs, Marler Launch, Lawes, Itoje, Robshaw, Vunipola, Youngs, Ford, Nowell, Barritt, Joseph, May, Brown
or
Cole, Youngs, Vunipola, Launch, Lawes, Itoje, Robshaw, Vunipola, Youngs, Farrell, Yarde, Slade, Joseph, Nowell, Brown

 

[Mumbles119]

If I'm honest, I rate May over Watson on the wing- but if England are to play a lightweight midfield, then there is a case for playing Nowell and Yarde.

I'm a bit unsure about where Morgan stands atm- surely Vunipola has surely now proven himself as an 80 minute player, in which case is his worth diminished?
If (as I hope) Itoje sneaks in at no.6, then surely you need someone on the bench to cover openside (since Itoje nor Vunipola could cover) in which case Wood/Haskell/Kvesic would have the upper hand for a bench spot (you could of course play Morgan and an openside assuming Itoje could cover lock).

Launch, Lawes, Itoje, Robshaw, Vunipola... Morgan, Haskell? or ...Attwood, Haskell


All hypothetical of course.

I'm really torn RE my favorite side;
Cole, Youngs, Marler Launch, Lawes, Itoje, Robshaw, Vunipola, Youngs, Ford, Nowell, Barritt, Joseph, May, Brown
or
Cole, Youngs, Vunipola, Launch, Lawes, Itoje, Robshaw, Vunipola, Youngs, Farrell, Yarde, Slade, Joseph, Nowell, Brown

I did previously rate May and was a big fan. However he is guilty of spurning tries and opportunities by not passing too many times.

There is the obvious example with England previously, but I also got frustrated with him during the Glos v Connacht game. Yes he scored a wonder try or two, but probably stopped another two being scored by not passing.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, May is massively frustrating. For every good performance in an England shirt he backs it up with a handful of mediocre-at-best showings.

 

[Peat]

Yeah, May is massively frustrating. For every good performance in an England shirt he backs it up with a handful of mediocre-at-best showings.

I'm of the opinion that this describes most of our wingers, which is unsurprising considering they're young, inexperienced, and playing in a backline with all the consistency of diarrhea. May's probably been the most inconsistent, but then he's also been the one with the least time playing outside midfields that can actually pass the ball.

I'm guessing May is battling with Yarde for the third wing spot with Watson and Nowell currently nailed on and I am content with that as a pecking order for England's wings.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Mehhhhh at all our wingers except Nowell and Watson and Roko. Those should be our choice 3 and Wade not too far behind. Yarde is quite some way off being good enough IMO and May too inconsistent

 

[Peat]

Mehhhhh at all our wingers except Nowell and Watson and Roko. Those should be our choice 3 and Wade not too far behind. Yarde is quite some way off being good enough IMO and May too inconsistent

What about Yarde isn't good enough? His scoring record in an England shirt is dramatically superior to any of his peers.

I'm going to guess you might mention defence; I'd be interested to see what we said about Nowell and Watson in defence if we put them through a three match test series in New Zealand...

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I've only watched him for quins recently and his basics seem shaky... Like his handling for example - dropped the ball a hell of a lot.

Also does he have anything particularly special? Perhaps I'm just being harsh

 

[Maverick1987]

I've only watched him for quins recently and his basics seem shaky... Like his handling for example - dropped the ball a hell of a lot.

Also does he have anything particularly special? Perhaps I'm just being harsh

His running is really special imo . His little kicks through and steps past defenders was very impressive yesterday ..

 

[goodNumber10]

Cipriani out?

Arrested on suspicion of drink driving?

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-32970302

***Edit, just saw @ratsapprentice posted it int he player watch thread.

 

[MrTea_32]

Cipriani out?

Arrested on suspicion of drink driving?

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-32970302

***Edit, just saw @ratsapprentice posted it int he player watch thread.

Other teams must be laughing at us with all the ill discipline

 

[bw245]

Good thing the English rugby team are keeping the police in business.

 

[Jbobo]

Who do people think will be called up for cipriani assuming he's found guilty?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Probably no one. Theres already Slade in the extended squad.
If they really want the extra tackle bag holder then it'd be Geraghty i guess.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Who do people think will be called up for cipriani assuming he's found guilty?

Sir Johnny?

Aren't they running out of options??

 

[Patchey]

Probably no one. Theres already Slade in the extended squad.
If they really want the extra tackle bag holder then it'd be Geraghty i guess.

Shane to do a Stephen Donald.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Other teams must be laughing at us with all the ill discipline

Other teams have there issues they just don't ban the players generally.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Other teams have there issues they just don't ban the players generally.

This, Lancaster is setting a very good example for others to follow.

 

[Jbobo]

Other teams have there issues they just don't ban the players generally.

This, Lancaster is setting a very good example for others to follow.

To be fair, most players don't have the disciplinary record of Hartley and haven't assaulted police officers/members of the public. I do agree that the England management have dealt with it as best they can, they've been exemplary. But they've had little choice to take any other option, calling up Hartley would be too big a risk should one of their Hookers get injured before he can play again (and the very real risk of him single-handedly destroying England's world cup chances in the latter stages, should they make it) and Tuilagi's assault was serious, he was never going to be called up for the World Cup after that. I think most managements if not all would have made the same decision to drop these players.

Sir Johnny?

Aren't they running out of options??

It certainly wouldn't weaken the team! Retired far too early.

 

[chippieolamus]

Probably no one. Theres already Slade in the extended squad.
If they really want the extra tackle bag holder then it'd be Geraghty i guess.

Burns?