England vs USA Eagles

[TRF_Olyy]

So according to Jones, Marchant and Dombrandt still recovering from the final and will be considered for Canada.

That's fair enough, then*



*I reserve the right to retract this if they don't feature vs Canada

 

[big ginger 8]

who the **** is Luke Carty?

Jack's brother of course.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Jack's brother of course.

So Luke's the **** brother of the guy who is picked behind the **** brother of Freddie Burns?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Justice for Kelly

Justice for Ratbag*

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Justice for Ratbag*

why aren't you die leaker bru?

 

[Geordie]

Apart from the front row, half backs and 15 that's ****** me right off. What a waste of a perfectly good opportunity to test some unknown players.

Calum Chick at 8 is pretty unknown to most....hes getting a chance. Co captain of the 2016 England U20 world cup winning side....

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

why aren't you die leaker bru?

I don't follow but I'm expecting an insult!

 

[Reiser99]

Calum Chick at 8 is pretty unknown to most....hes getting a chance. Co captain of the 2016 England U20 world cup winning side....

True, however I would easily prefer Dombrandt from what I've seen, but maybe Chick will surprise. Tbh I wrote that before I saw that apparently Dombrandt and Marchant weren't 100%. However I am in shock at Ludlow over Curry. Locks were always going to be a bit disappointing. Slade at centre is just a waste personally. Jones is still picking out of form players (Cokanasiga), still picking those established around the squad. Yes he's chosen some new players, but I feel it's only because some are with the Lions or officially rested, not because he genuinely feels they can challenge.

 

[Geordie]

Dombrandt and Marchant are rested after last two weekends work...so Jones takes the chance to look at chick. Hes a good player you know. An alround 8. You wont be disappointed if he shows up as he has all season...

We have a million 7s like Curry, so Ludlow is a slightly different option to look at. A lineout option at 6 which Jones likes etc. Why not?

Cokanasiga was a huge part of Jones plans with Msnu out and I suspect he wants to see if he can be rejuvenated/ rehabilitated to the player he was. In a game like this why not?

As you rightly the locks were never going to be great but they dont need to be.

Theres a reason to Jones madness at times...we dont know what it is..but there is.

I'm sure next week will have some equally interesting selections....

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Ludlow is slightly different in that he is average

 

[Geordie]

Ludlow is slightly different in that he is average

He may well be, but Jones is just having a look at him.

Bar the 8s I cant see many back rowers pushing into the full England group...so he picking someone who will do a job that maybe lets others show what they can do.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

would rather Hill @6 or Ludlam @7 with underhill @ 6.

It's like why make him captain when all fit and available he shouldn't be near the squad

 

[TRF_Olyy]

We have a million 7s like Curry

Me and you are gonna fall out
We have exactly one other player like curry, and they happen to share the same name/face/dna

 

[Geordie]

Me and you are gonna fall out
We have exactly one other player like curry, and they happen to share the same name/face/dna

Sorry Oly...your right...I should have said we have a large number of 7s all vying for a couple of spots. Not many Tom/ Ben Currys about....

 

[Geordie]

would rather Hill @6 or Ludlam @7 with underhill @ 6.

It's like why make him captain when all fit and available he shouldn't be near the squad

I would FAR rather Ted Hill at 6 and Ludlum at 7.

Clearly Mr Jones has other ideas...

I'm starting to think he really doesnt fancy Hill at 6, over other options...for whatever reason.

 

[Mumbles119]

Was there some talk about Ted being moved to lock on a more permanent basis? For both club and then potentially country too.

Would make sense with his bench numbering before the Curry and Ludlum.

 

[The Seeker]

I'm guessing England is heavily favored. The USA is much better at 7s, and that's why I'm looking forward to the Olympics. But I hope we do well against England in 15s.

 

[Scotty]

Ludlow is slightly different in that he is average

I think Ludlow is above average and worth a shot(not over BCurry) but my issue with him is he can be a penalty machine and do stupid stuff along with the good.

 

[Which Tyler]

Ludlow is rank average.... considering England's current options on the flanks.
If he (or any of them) had been around and competing 10-15 years ago - we'd have had a far better backrow.

These things are cyclical I guess. Some generations have a glut of back rowers, some of props, some of centres; whilst another generation might be struggling to find one upper-international class player for that unit.

Without having your pick of the very best athletes produced, there's no real way of evening that out.

 

[BPM]

Apart from the front row, half backs and 15 that's ****** me right off. What a waste of a perfectly good opportunity to test some unknown players.

Umm … there are 12 uncapped players in the 23 and 8 in the Starting XV. It may be against Tier 2 opposition, but this is a test match, not an A game.

I was a bit disappointed in some areas, but really happy with other areas:

Front Row:

Happy to see Langdon and Heyes.

George and Cowan-Dickie are nailed on, but there's an opportunity for someone to lay down a marker for the third choice spot and Langdon has been very good for Sale. Heyes is arguably the best uncapped tighthead and given the Welsh vultures have been circling, securing his commitment to England is important. Davison on the bench is meh, but fair play to the guy for putting himself in contention.

Second Row:

Meh. Ewels and McNally are starting because there aren't many other available/fit options. I'd have preferred Wells over McNally, but it's a bit of a moot point as I don't see either having a long term involvement with England. The biggest point of interest for me is the prospect of seeing Ted Hill at lock later in the game. I'd have been tempted to start him as I think the potential upside there is way higher than that of capping McNally.

Back Row:

Surprising but not bad. I'd have liked to have seen Curry and Dombrandt, but I can see why Ludlow and Chick have got the nod. I have doubts about Ludlow's ability to stay in the squad when others are available, but he's clearly impressed and full credit to him for doing so. Chick might not be as eye-catching as Dombrandt, but he is a very good all-rounder in a similar style to Faletau which is no bad thing. Not really sure about the point of Ludlam on the bench?

Half Backs:

Almost perfect. Bit of a snub for Robson not starting, but I'm massively excited by the potential of the Randall/Smith pairing at 9 and 10. I'm less enthused by Umaga and would have had Joe Simmonds in the squad, but otherwise, it's spot on.

Centres:

I'm 50/50 here. I would have much preferred Marchant over Slade but happy to see Lawrence getting the nod at 12. Lawrence has been hung out to dry by the players around him in his England games so far, so I'd like to see what he can do with a proper opportunity to show what he can do and build some confidence.

Back Three:

Mixed. I'm delighted for Steward and England replicating the roaming role Malins has had from the wing for Bristol is worth looking at IMO Cokanasiga doesn't really deserve to be there, but the potential gain from playing him back in to form and confidence just about justifies his selection. It would have been nice to see Radwan, but other than that, it's OK.

Bench:

OK. Really not sure why we're going with a 6:2 split. I would have preferred to see Kelly on the bench than

Overall, I'm pretty happy. It's not quite the side I'd have picked, but it's far from dreadful and to suggest that we're not testing untried players is plainly incorrect.

As much as I'd have liked to have seen Dombrandt and Marchant, I can totally imagine that they probably arrived at training feeling a bit sluggish after massive celebrations from our ***le win …