England World Cup Squad

[Which Tyler]

Not sure what Mercer did or didn't do to not make the cut.

Tried to cross the 22 without kicking?

 

[Reiser99]

Not sure what Mercer did or didn't do to not make the cut.

Wasn't there a rumour he questioned the tactics?

 

[Which Tyler]

Wasn't there a rumour he questioned the tactics?

Isn't that what I said?

 

[TW27BA]

Wasn't there a rumour he questioned the tactics?

Now you mention it, that does ring a bell.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Tried to cross the 22 without kicking?

Not even that, simply daring to run with with ball.

 

[Which Tyler]

Not even that, simply daring to run with with ball.

Oh be fair, he doesn't mind his player running into opposition players, it's evasive action that'll get you into trouble

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Oh be fair, he doesn't mind his player running into opposition players, it's evasive action that'll get you into trouble

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Obvious, but ffs anyway

Borthwick gives returning Owen Farrell England captaincy for rest of World Cup

Owen Farrell will return as captain for the rest of England’s World Cup campaign with Steve Borthwick giving his clear backing to the fly-half

www.theguardian.com

Completely over Scum Blagmouth

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Obvious, but ffs anyway

Borthwick gives returning Owen Farrell England captaincy for rest of World Cup

Owen Farrell will return as captain for the rest of England’s World Cup campaign with Steve Borthwick giving his clear backing to the fly-half

www.theguardian.com

Completely over Scum Blagmouth

It's interesting listening to SB talk about smith and Farrell. For smith, he compliments his rugby playing, for Farrell it's only leadership and non 'playing rugby' stuff. Almost as if he's saying he's not that great a rugby player but a great leader.

 

[whocaresaboutthetruth]

It's interesting listening to SB talk about smith and Farrell. For smith, he compliments his rugby playing, for Farrell it's only leadership and non 'playing rugby' stuff. Almost as if he's saying he's not that great a rugby player but a great leader.

Or maybe he's saying smith can play rugby but makes no contribution to the team or maybe we're looking to make something out of borthwicks words that isn't actually there

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Danny Cipriani: ‘I wasn’t a maverick. I was a decision maker’

Former England international talks to Donald McRae about conservatism stifling rugby union, grappling with grief and rediscovering his sense of self

www.theguardian.com

An interesting read. I still think Cipriani is and was a *** but I agree with his comments about the inherent conservatism , old boys network and lack of vision in English rugby.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

ITV building up about Arundel for the Chile match when he won't be eligible after the World Cup is just plain weird. Probably bizarre to most viewers.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Preface this by saying he's absolutely earned a start vs Samoa next time out (I'd start him with May, because Malins and Daly have both been poor)

Need to see much more consistency in the fundamentals before I'm all in - hopefully that starts with this weekend

2 passes, one of them intercepted
2 tackles, 2 missed tackles
1 handling error
1 turnover conceded in own half

None of that really matters considering it was essentially a training session though - be interested to see him vs Samoa, which would be a step up

In comparison, Malins:
4 tackles, 1 missed
3 handling errors
5(!!!) turnovers conceded in own half

 

[Wendigo7]

Just want to see this complete passenger given a go. Plenty of other wingers sat at home.

Soooo…..

 

[West Country Wail]

Soooo…..

Very, very happy with the response given. Glad he reads the forum. Atta boy

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I think for the Samoa game we need our first 15 on the field and given time to gel before the quarters.

I'm really not sure who our best 15 is anymore but here is what I think and then what I think SB will do on the right next to mine.

1 Genge / Genge
2 George / George
3 Sinckler / Sinckler
4 itoje / Itoje
5 chessum / Chessum
6 lawes / Lawes
7 earl / Earl
8 Ludlum / Billy
9 mitchell / Mitchell
10 Ford / Ford
11 May / Daly
12 Manu / Farrell
13 Marchant / Manu
14 Arundell / May
15 Smith / Steward

16 Dan / Dan
17 Marler / Marler
18 Stuart / Stuart
19 Martin / Martin
20 Willis / Ludlum
21 Youngs / Youngs
22 Farrell / smith
23 Steward / marchant

 

[Jimbo]

I think for the Samoa game we need our first 15 on the field and given time to gel before the quarters.

I'm really not sure who our best 15 is anymore but here is what I think and then what I think SB will do on the right next to mine.

1 Genge / Genge
2 George / George
3 Sinckler / Sinckler
4 itoje / Itoje
5 chessum / Chessum
6 lawes / Lawes
7 earl / Earl
8 Ludlum / Billy
9 mitchell / Mitchell
10 Ford / Ford
11 May / Daly
12 Manu / Farrell
13 Marchant / Manu
14 Arundell / May
15 Smith / Steward

16 Dan / Dan
17 Marler / Marler
18 Stuart / Stuart
19 Martin / Martin
20 Willis / Ludlum
21 Youngs / Youngs
22 Farrell / smith
23 Steward / marchant

Are we now calling Smith a genuine 15 option unforced by injury etc?

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Are we now calling Smith a genuine 15 option unforced by injury etc?

I am split on this but Steward is average and poor in attack and although Arundell , Malins and Daly are all actual FBs, none seem to be trusted so the only realistic pick for me is Smith.

We do seem to look way better when he's on the pitch and he's the only player in the backs who actually has some talent and a bit of a rugby brain it seems.

 

[Jimbo]

I am split on this but Steward is average and poor in attack and although Arundell , Malins and Daly are all actual FBs, none seem to be trusted so the only realistic pick for me is Smith.

We do seem to look way better when he's on the pitch and he's the only player in the backs who actually has some talent and a bit of a rugby brain it seems.

Pretty much on the same page, I just don't know how it may go under the high ball and in pressured situations positional awareness is huge at 15, can't see him having that against top 3 teams and their ability to find space, with that said we know what we get with Steward exceptional aerially and that's pretty much where it ends so I guess if at this point we have conceded that without substantial change mind set wise we have no chance, a hell Mary could be the option.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Pretty much on the same page, I just don't know how it may go under the high ball and in pressured situations positional awareness is huge at 15, can't see him having that against top 3 teams and their ability to find space, with that said we know what we get with Steward exceptional aerially and that's pretty much where it ends so I guess if at this point we have conceded that without substantial change mind set wise we have no chance, a hell Mary could be the option.

The thing with smith is he does have the pace to get him out of poor positioning and he will be used to playing back under the high ball as a lot of 10s sit back to return kicks these days.

I'm not 100% it's a good idea but it seems to be a better enfland with him at 15.