New England starting 15?

[gingergenius]

Quins are having a much less fun time of it against the big boys. Hopefully this will quell the calls for their entire team to play for England.

If Allen's back that makes me very excited. If he can get some form up then playing him at 13 vs Scotland would probably be a safer option than Trinder - it would take my midfield's total of caps up from 0 to 2 anyway!!!

what are we going to do about hookers??? I'm loath to pick anyone who doesn't start regularly for their clubs, but Jamie George is really starting to look like a decent option - I've suggested Webber and Gray as backups for Hartley, but Gray doesn't seem to be able to get into the Quins team atm either... and George has looked good whenever he has come on for us. Even though I think he's a useless prop, I'd far rather see Smit play there than getting in George's way at hooker.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

George is looking like a real prospect, gets around the pitch like Brits but is fat and gets stuck in in the tight like real front rower

Will be interesting to see how Webber gets on against Tigers later, Gray had an all right game last night, but not stand out - though Hartley's form is hardly mercurial, with him only really being named as first choice hooker because of his experience there for England.

 

[B10]

Flood is saying his knee injury may not be as bad as first thought now. Says its improved a lot over last few days so could make Scotland game.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Matt Mullan going well for Worcester atm

 

[RAWWeyman]

Burns just let through the slowest fly half in the world.....

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Missed Goode's try,
ODd as Burns is normally pretty good on defence

 

[j'nuh]

True that, he was wrong-footed to make the tackle and was brushed off.

 

[RAWWeyman]

Trinder still looking raw and inexperienced. Set up Marcel's try and looked slightly unstable in defence.

Still not sure whether I'd consider him to start at 13 for England, which leaves a slight hole.

Who else would you consider to put there?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Anthony Allen, as GingerGenius said

He may be a 12 by trade, but he's played some at 13 in his time, as has Barritt, so 12/13 Barritt/Allen could work



Edit:
Youngs and Cole should be nowhere near the England XV on current form - every other pass from Youngs is missing it's target, and Cole is getting done over by.....TIM PAYNE.

 

[B10]

12T's having a stormer at fly half

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If Mike Brown is in the EPS i'd probably take 12trees over Burns atm - Burns covers 10/15, 12trees covers 12/10/13

Youngs was gash in this match, if he wasn't already in the EPS he wouldn't be getting named this time round.

 

[RAWWeyman]

Twelvetrees is a don.

Easily choose him as our first choice 12 with no doubts. The way he just slots into 10 so naturally is pure class.

If Farrell does end up being our first choice 10 for Scotland, then I think he would at least work well with 12Ts, but.. if we have Allen at 13 like it is being suggested then we would have no real out and out strike runners, so Barritt would have to be included over 12Ts.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Agree with all of that, then put Twelvetrees in the 21 shirt and we're flying.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Seems Wasps are now Newcastle's official relegation rivals. ouch.

In terms of the EPS, can almost cross Webber's name off list after that game - can't be doing with a hooker who can't throw straight! Also, he was bloody lucky to not get sinned bin (poor, fat and slow Tim Payne got done instead for 'not getting back quick enough'...)

Daly's one hell of a prospect, but he's definitely not ready to be an 'elite' player. Simpson's passing was wayward when he came on, but he is still almost guaranteed an EPS spot which is good. Anyone else putting their hand up from wasps? Not really to be honest; Flutey's attacking game, imo, has gone downhill so much. It's largely his defensive game making him indispensible for us now, but England don't need him at the mo. Ryan Davis looked good at fly-half, good feet and a good rugby-brain, but he's far behind in the pecking order. Waldouck hasn't played enough because of injury. And of course we haven't seen Tom Rees for about 7 years because his body is made of doritos.

Very worried about wasps now, we're relying on our youth to suddenly blossom and forge their own wasps dynasty. But an inexperienced team doesn't suddenly become experienced just because they've spent a year losing games. And these players will get tempted by the interest from other clubs.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

In terms of the EPS, can almost cross Webber's name off list after that game - can't be doing with a hooker who can't throw straight!

We managed all right with Hartley when he started getting caps - his throwing was dreadful.
Webber is normally all right with throwing, isn't he?
He does well in all aspects of his game as well

 

[Peat]

Absoloutely. He wasn't special last night from what I saw of him, but Croft has been well below par for a long time.

Last two games for Tigers (not including today, haven't seen it) were quite effective, he's doing a lot of unseen work and is the first man to a lot of their rucks. Having said all this, I bet he's had a massive turd today...

Quins are having a much less fun time of it against the big boys. Hopefully this will quell the calls for their entire team to play for England.

If Allen's back that makes me very excited. If he can get some form up then playing him at 13 vs Scotland would probably be a safer option than Trinder - it would take my midfield's total of caps up from 0 to 2 anyway!!!

what are we going to do about hookers??? I'm loath to pick anyone who doesn't start regularly for their clubs, but Jamie George is really starting to look like a decent option - I've suggested Webber and Gray as backups for Hartley, but Gray doesn't seem to be able to get into the Quins team atm either... and George has looked good whenever he has come on for us. Even though I think he's a useless prop, I'd far rather see Smit play there than getting in George's way at hooker.

I like this idea. I like it a lot.

Quins rotate, but Brooker is ahead of Gray at the moment and deservedly so when they play, I'm tempted to pick Brooker instead of Gray - right now I'm saying Gray and Paice, and David Paice would probably be on the bench ahead of Gray. Jamie George is definitley one for the future though and I'd stick him in the Saxons, and consider calling him up if there are injuries.

Edit:
Youngs and Cole should be nowhere near the England XV on current form - every other pass from Youngs is missing it's target, and Cole is getting done over by.....TIM PAYNE.

That's a shame, as they'll still be starting as we have no one else of their quality in those positions. Also, Tim Payne is underrated. No, seriously. Stop laughing!

edit: I'm not sure Webber has the hunger I'd like to see. All the skills (I thought his throwing was ok too), just doesn't seem to put them to good use...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Croft had a good game in the lineout today, can't say I noticed him that much elsewhere, bar one break - Was all about Salvi, who had a blinder. Waldrom also played well

 

[Peat]

I shall be watching when it hits the Premiership tv site and tracking him, if its like his previous games then it will be all about his rucking and speed to the breakdown.

Incidentally, on the subject of Webber's throwing, according to ESPN the best lineouts on their own throw in the Prem are

91% - N'hampton
88% - Quins/Wasps

Well done Mr Hartley, and fair proof that Mr Webber can't be too bad (then again, if I had Wentzel to aim for, I'd do ok too)

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I shall be watching when it hits the Premiership tv site and tracking him, if its like his previous games then it will be all about his rucking and speed to the breakdown.

Incidentally, on the subject of Webber's throwing, according to ESPN the best lineouts on their own throw in the Prem are

91% - N'hampton
88% - Quins/Wasps

Well done Mr Hartley, and fair proof that Mr Webber can't be too bad (then again, if I had Wentzel to aim for, I'd do ok too)

Exactly. The reason for teams winning a good amount of their lineouts isnt because the throw-in was straight; that's expected. The stat compares what ercentage ofthe time the lineout operator or whoever wins it for his team.

That said, Webber is usually fine. I'm just having a moan that the one usually stable element of our game went out the window today!

 

[Aedaphon]

Seems Wasps are now Newcastle's official relegation rivals. ouch.

In terms of the EPS, can almost cross Webber's name off list after that game - can't be doing with a hooker who can't throw straight! Also, he was bloody lucky to not get sinned bin (poor, fat and slow Tim Payne got done instead for 'not getting back quick enough'...)

Daly's one hell of a prospect, but he's definitely not ready to be an 'elite' player. Simpson's passing was wayward when he came on, but he is still almost guaranteed an EPS spot which is good. Anyone else putting their hand up from wasps? Not really to be honest; Flutey's attacking game, imo, has gone downhill so much. It's largely his defensive game making him indispensible for us now, but England don't need him at the mo. Ryan Davis looked good at fly-half, good feet and a good rugby-brain, but he's far behind in the pecking order. Waldouck hasn't played enough because of injury. And of course we haven't seen Tom Rees for about 7 years because his body is made of doritos.

Very worried about wasps now, we're relying on our youth to suddenly blossom and forge their own wasps dynasty. But an inexperienced team doesn't suddenly become experienced just because they've spent a year losing games. And these players will get tempted by the interest from other clubs.

Didn't see Wade playing today. Were they sparing him a crucifixion from Tuilagi or is he injured...?