England vs Tonga (06/11)

[Becca]

Back was still deemed too small to play 7 for ages.
I just think it's a waste. Just my opinion.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

But again it's 7.
You don't need you 7 to truck it up into 3 forwards generally

He has massive talent but he's not the type of player you change your entire pack around

 

[Which Tyler]

But again it's 7.
You don't need you 7 to truck it up into 3 forwards generally

He has massive talent but he's not the type of player you change your entire pack around (unless you're Exeter and don't want to lose him for internationals)

FTFY

 

[FLOBALOB]

It just means he'll be available for Chiefs, so Yeehhaa.

 

[Scotty]

But again it's 7.
You don't need you 7 to truck it up into 3 forwards generally

He has massive talent but he's not the type of player you change your entire pack around

I agree and Its simple a great talent but add him into our current back 3 and it lacks that balance you need.

With Dombrandt i just hope he isnt used in the same way billy is because while he is a good carrier he is wasted carrying into brick walls.

I really hope Genge starts. He just needs to push for first choice pver Marler going forward. Better lose and carriering than marler and better at the scrum than Mako.

So genge george sinks
Itoje hill
Curry Dombrant underhill
Quirke Smith
Manu Slade
Radwan Staward May(who are our wing options i forget)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

He's even got 7 in his social media handle, it's obvious where his heart lies

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I think he's make a great impact sub though so I wanted him on the bench but then I'd rather underhill at 6 than Lawes etc etc it's all about balance.

 

[Becca]

It seems he will be putting Underhill and Lawes on the Flanks and Curry at 8

 

[Scotty]

It seems he will be putting Underhill and Lawes on the Flanks and Curry at 8

God i hope not, thats not balanced at all.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I don't understand why everyone is so convinced Curry is going to play 8,
It'll probably end up happening now but all the media seem to have jumped on the idea despite Dombrandt still being in the squad
They say "based on the makeup of the retained forwards it looks like Curry will be at 8" but why?

 

[Becca]

Because they know how awkward EJ is !

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Regarding Simmonds, if you have a player of such clear ability then shouldn't the argument be made that you should make adjustments to the team to get them in? Granted I don't propose we shift our whole back row to function like Exeter's but surely an 8 who functions almost like a 12 is worth more in the dying minute of a game than a bulky 8?

What I really want to know is what Jones is saying he needs to improve. If he simply won't fit into Jones' plans then he should just say so. I think England have a bad habit of passing up talented players using the argument that they don't fit and yet that won't apply to other players. 2 lightweight locks don't fit into a good squad balance for England either yet we have done that. The lock at flanker didn't fit yet we have done that. Arguably a 3rd distributor at 13 doesn't fit with one at 12 yet we have done that. For ages we completely neglected the breakdown because none of the breakdown specialists fit and were punished for it.

Perhaps the question should be less about if the players fit into the team and more if the team is fit for the players available. England are one of the few teams in the world where repeated players of the tournament and players recognised as some of the top performers in their positions fail to get into the side when fully available.

 

[Scotty]

You want Simmonds to fit in that back row then you put Dombrandt to 6(for the carryingand he has had time there) Curry to 7( out and out 7) and Simmonds to 8. You get 2 attacking threats then Underhill(or JWillis(eventually) on the bench)

Not exactly saying we should do that but im saying if like the above post says we shouldnt just discount talent because it doesnt fit then thats a way it might end up fitting.

But anyways there is no Simmonds in this game and guess we move this chat it to the England thread.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

 

[Becca]

I think we all do.

 

[NickBD]

All we need now is Smith to fail his medical, Steward will somehow not get picked and it's the worst possible outcome.

 

[Wasps92]

Absolute joke if Curry is at 8. I honestly can't wait to see the back of Jones.

 

[BPM]

Firstly, I'd prefer to reserve judgment until I see the team actually play. If Curry starts at 8, we play sparkling attacking rugby and we win all three games, what then? Would you still be so keen to 'see the back of him'?

The selection weirdness annoys me at times, but as I always say - if not Eddie then who?

In the past, the favourites have been Rob Baxter, Pat Lam and Scott Robinson.

Robinson would intrigue me but it would be a gamble. As for Baxter - anyone criticising England's style of play and the championing him, needs to take a look at how Exeter have played for the last 5yrs. He also plays a 7 at 8, an 8 at 6 and a 6 at 7 … and fairly often, Iain Whitten (a centre) plays on the wing.

Lam is getting a bit found out tactically and as much as I like watching his sides, there are quite a lot of rumours about the environment at Bristol that suggest he has a few similar personality traits to Eddie, so the smiling, affable side of his character we see is a bit of a veneer.

In short - give me a better suggestion and I'll listen, until then. I'd prefer to give Eddie the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Firstly, I'd prefer to reserve judgment until I see the team actually play. If Curry starts at 8, we play sparkling attacking rugby and we win all three games, what then? Would you still be so keen to 'see the back of him'?

The selection weirdness annoys me at times, but as I always say - if not Eddie then who?

In the past, the favourites have been Rob Baxter, Pat Lam and Scott Robinson.

Robinson would intrigue me but it would be a gamble. As for Baxter - anyone criticising England's style of play and the championing him, needs to take a look at how Exeter have played for the last 5yrs. He also plays a 7 at 8, an 8 at 6 and a 6 at 7 … and fairly often, Iain Whitten (a centre) plays on the wing.

Lam is getting a bit found out tactically and as much as I like watching his sides, there are quite a lot of rumours about the environment at Bristol that suggest he has a few similar personality traits to Eddie, so the smiling, affable side of his character we see is a bit of a veneer.

In short - give me a better suggestion and I'll listen, until then. I'd prefer to give Eddie the benefit of the doubt.

Don't care who the new coach is as long as team selection is decided by a TRF poll, we are good.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Am I the only one still amazed that Curry is only 23?

In terms of forwards only Martin and Dolly are younger who are in the squad