England vs Tonga (06/11)

[will311293]

Guinness used to lie on top of us, and wriggle until she managed to fall between us.
Talisker looks at us with a look that very clearly lets us know that she feels we've betraitored her.
At 9 months old, Beli Mawr is still working out his reaction, but is extremey jealous, and bounces all over us.

It's the 'you've let me down look'. The labs used to do the same.

 

[Which Tyler]

It's the 'you've let me down look'. The labs used to do the same.

 

[Geordie]

I recognise that look

 

[will311293]

B-E-A-UTIFUL!

 

[BrokenWing]

At least there's eye contact, I just get this.

 

[Nudger]

Really hoping smith plays so well with manu and slade that eddy has to stixk with them

 

[Reiser99]

Revised England team with captain Owen Farrell set to be ruled out - Ruck

On Friday night, the Rugby Football Union was still unable to confirm the results of a further test with Owen Farrell now unlikely to feature against Tonga or Australia next Saturday.

www.ruck.co.uk

So this article continues the idea of Furbank at 10. I honestly don't get that decision at all.

Firstly, I don't like players playing out of position at international level. Closing out some premiership games at 10 for Northampton is not good enough to start at 10 internationally. However, what I find most ridiculous is that essentially this is an experiment. Yet that completely contradicts the original selection which was about as full strength as was available. Why would pick a full strength team at the start and then when you have to make changes go to the guy who has never played 10 properly instead of one of the top 2 flyhalves in the premiership currently? Is Smith's injury actually worse than they've let on and he was just filling up the numbers?

 

[Which Tyler]

Surely, if Farrell doesn't make it, the only sensible thing to do is to start Smith, and have Furbank, or Slade, or whoever take over when his fitness becomes an issue, and not 1 minute earlier (yes, even if that's in the first half).

If you've got 2 FHs, and 1 withdraws late; you have the non-FH on the bench... surely

 

[Reiser99]

Surely, if Farrell doesn't make it, the only sensible thing to do is to start Smith, and have Furbank, or Slade, or whoever take over when his fitness becomes an issue, and not 1 minute earlier (yes, even if that's in the first half).

If you've got 2 FHs, and 1 withdraws late; you have the non-FH on the bench... surely

You're not using EJ logic though.

 

[Teddington Logic]

does EJ qualify on residency now?
he's got his boots with him

 

[Ferrari333SP]

Squad still not officially announced yet?

 

[Reiser99]

Should be in the next 5 minutes

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Oh god the rumours are true lol

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Lol.

**** this

 

[Ferrari333SP]

Starters
15. Freddie Steward, 14. Adam Radwan, 13. Henry Slade, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Jonny May, 10. George Furbank, 9. Ben Youngs, 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Jamie George, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Courtney Lawes, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Tom Curry.
Finishers
16. Jamie Blamire, 17. Joe Marler, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Charlie Ewels, 20. Alex Dombrandt, 21. Alex Mitchell, 22. Marcus Smith, 23. Mark Atkinson.

 

[Ferrari333SP]

I'm guessing Eddie may be saving Marcus for the bigger games this month

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Imagine being told last week that Furbank would start ahead of Smith. I am both laughing and crying.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

I'm guessing Eddie may be saving Marcus for the bigger games this month

Or he's just not fit... In which case be shouldn't even be on the bench

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

I'm guessing Eddie may be saving Marcus for the bigger games this month

He's not a health potion.

 

[Reiser99]

Or he's just not fit... In which case be shouldn't even be on the bench

This, either he's fit so he starts or he's not. Bench behind Furbank is just wrong.