England vs Tonga (06/11)

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

If Steward is fit he will start IMO, he's not versatile enough to be included in the squad but not starting IMO.
Same with Radwan

 

[Teddington Logic]

I wonder what Dombrandt would make of having Youngs and Faz behind him compared to his normal crew of Care and Smith

 

[Scotty]

The back line i want to see.
Quirke...broken
Smith...broken
Radwan
Manu...not broken for once...but still time
Slade...rather Slade as split play maker than Faz.
Malins...broken
Steward...potentially broken

Hmmmm

 

[Wasps92]

Simmonds cut from the squad.

Can't wait to see the back of Jones.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Simmonds cut from the squad.

Good, tbf

 

[Wasps92]

Good, tbf

Not a fan?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not a fan?

Nah, certainly not for England at least

Great for Exeter but don't think his skills transfer out of that environment well - certainly not without drastically changing the makeup of the pack, or playing him on the flank (where I don't think he's better than the Kamikaze twins)

Would much rather we invest as much time as possible into Dombrandt

 

[Mr Burns]

Any predictions for the team then (assuming Smith/Steward are fit), don't think Eddie is going to experiment much and will just want a run out of the first team in preparation for Aus/SA. Something like:

Marler, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Hill, Lawes, Underhill, Curry
Youngs, Smith, May, Farrell, Tuilagi, Radwan, Steward
Subs: Blamire, Genge, Stuart, Ewels, Dombrandt, Mitchell, Slade, Marchant

 

[Scotty]

Nah, certainly not for England at least

Great for Exeter but don't think his skills transfer out of that environment well - certainly not without drastically changing the makeup of the pack, or playing him on the flank (where I don't think he's better than the Kamikaze twins)

Would much rather we invest as much time as possible into Dombrandt

Im a huge Simmonds fan, he is class as a No.8 but he needs a hard carrying pack around him allowing him to hit the gaps. With underhill and curry it just wouldnt work.

Where as Dombrandt fits so much better into our system. Curry underhil are good at the breakdown allowinh him to pick lines better which is when he is at his best.

Gutted we wont see Smith and Dombrandt together this weekend.

 

[Geordie]

The pack must be something like....

1.Marler
2.George
3.Sinckler
4.Itoje
5.Hill
6.Lawes
7.Curry
8.Dombrandt

16.Blamire
17.Genge
18.Stuart/Davison
19.Ewels
20.Underhill

 

[Geordie]

Backs....
9 Youngs
10 Farrell
11 May
12 Atkinson
13 Manu
14 Radwan
15 Furbank

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I reckon Genge will start, and will captain if Farrell is on the bench (though I reckon Farrell will start at 12)

 

[Geordie]

I reckon Genge will start, and will captain if Farrell is on the bench (though I reckon Farrell will start at 12)

Who starts at 10 then if Smith is out? Furbank?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Who starts at 10 then if Smith is out? Furbank?

Read this morning Smith is fine for the weekend, so fingers crossed - if he's not then Farrell will start at 10

 

[Geordie]

Ah ok...So basically ignore all media reports until we see what team runs out lol

 

[Nudger]

Ah ok...So basically ignore all media reports until we see what team runs out lol

Yep

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It's the media saying he'll be fit:

 

[Geordie]

i really am not getting the upset over Simmonds not in the squad. he clearly should have been a 12...and he'd probably be a cracker!

 

[Becca]

I disagree over Simmonds. I think we're wasting a decent talent.
I'm old enough to remember the idiocy regarding Neil Back and how he was too small to play for England. I think we all recall how that worked out.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

1. Back was a out and out 7
2. Find me a 8 smaller than 6ft in 2003 you would be hard pushed to find an 8 even back then smaller than 6ft 2.

Honestly if Simmonds was a out and out 7 which he could've been for most teams we wouldn't be having this talk about size, he doesn't play 7 for club so has to be behind the likes of Curry and Underhill for the England 7.