[November Tests 2017 EOYT] England vs. Argentina (11/11/2017)

[BenJeffrey]

Second half will be really interesting, especially if somehow Brown gets subbed off... George and Genge coming on will add some real speed up front. Excited for Slade to get his chance to show some true class, although at 13 I feel he has more space out wide to create, 12 might see some of his skills muted a little.

 

[curtbob7]

I think Farrell is world class
Totally underwhelmed by England inside centres I could even pick Barrett by far the best 12 playing currently just my opinon

Wow.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Happy with that team prob would start Genge but expect him to start v samoa.

George and Genge off the bench is some major impact imagine adding Sink to that mix, dear god would be like a Geostorm.

Backs not sold on slade at 12 seems to be playing really well at 13 but worth a chance i guess.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Bar resting Itoje and Faz, which he's always signalled, he's gone with the strongest available side which is fair enough. Slightly confusing for Slade to be at 12, but nice to see him given a shot.

Points of interest: Slade, Underhill, Genge and Loz.

 

[Goodey]

Jones has claimed this is our strongest 23 which is obviously tosh. Why say it?

Pleased to see Slade over Loz who is more of a utility back and could feature at 15 here

 

[Scotty]

Happy with that team prob would start Genge but expect him to start v samoa.

George and Genge off the bench is some major impact imagine adding Sink to that mix, dear god would be like a Geostorm.

Backs not sold on slade at 12 seems to be playing really well at 13 but worth a chance i guess.

I was thinking the same with regards to the front row impact. Sinks would have been perfect. Even as a chiefs fan i dont think williams is at this level not yet at least and not sure how high his ceiling is.

Slade at 12 could be a great partnership. But agreed hes been doing the business at 13 so i dont know..


Quietly confident but i shouldnt underestimate the argies

 

[curtbob7]

Jones has claimed this is our strongest 23 which is obviously tosh. Why say it?

Pleased to see Slade over Loz who is more of a utility back and could feature at 15 here

Yeah that's bizarre.

 

[Triple Exe]

And you're saying Slade tackles better than Farrell?

I would (partisan I know!) Farrell may put his body on the line but his technique is often a bit high and wild. I think a lot of his reputation is due to comparison with Ford. Slade's certainly no worse than Farrell.

 

[MarkyH]

What EJ says and what he does are completely different things, but I'm sure he always know's what he is doing. Its confusing for us fans, but his thinking is always clear....

Anyway, despite what I said earlier about Slade being a 13 now, I'm more than happy with him at 12. Offers slightly more of a running threat than Farrell so will hopefully give Ford more options and time from 10.

Worried we haven't got ballast on the bench, not sure who goes 8 if Hughes gets a knock. Simmond is the ideal bench choice but I'm also happy to see Curry get another go from the bench

 

[BenJeffrey]

What EJ says and what he does are completely different things, but I'm sure he always know's what he is doing. Its confusing for us fans, but his thinking is always clear....

Anyway, despite what I said earlier about Slade being a 13 now, I'm more than happy with him at 12. Offers slightly more of a running threat than Farrell so will hopefully give Ford more options and time from 10.

Worried we haven't got ballast on the bench, not sure who goes 8 if Hughes gets a knock. Simmond is the ideal bench choice but I'm also happy to see Curry get another go from the bench

I thought this about Hughes, unless EJ completely flips the cards and moves Robshaw to 8 for cover then Curry to 6. I guess that's the one scenario he does not want to be faced with on Saturday.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Was Jones specifically asked about Itoje and Farrell being left out when asked that?
If he's been planning on resting those two all along, So they weren't in contention for the game, then it would technically be our strongest 'available' side.

Saying Slade is a better tackler than Faz is ludicrous. There must be something in the water down Exeter way

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I thought this about Hughes, unless EJ completely flips the cards and moves Robshaw to 8 for cover then Curry to 6. I guess that's the one scenario he does not want to be faced with on Saturday.

In that scrum video against Wales Robshaw was at 8 so that may be just what he was thinking.

 

[Which Tyler]

Huzzah! - I'm loving that team sheet.
Ford Slade Joseph - I really, really hope that that clicks as it ticks every box for me (except distance / high pressure kicks at goal - but there's always Daly for those ones).
Now, if we can combine those 3 with Watson at FB for a few minutes... Mmmmm, delicious.
A pity that May hasn't recovered in time; let's just hope that Roko's actually allowed out on the pitch, and won't have to surf pine for the entire 80.


IMO Slade's defence is every bit as good as Farrells - they're just used differently.
Farrell's job at Saracens is to rush out of the line and hit the FH's outside shoulder, trying to disrupt the pass or turn him back inside to where the forwards are lurking, and pushing the tackle line as far forwards as he possibly can; his job isn't necessarily to complete the tackle, but to spoil the move.
Unfortunately he too-often forgets himself, and tries to do much the same from IC; where it looks like poor discipline and a fondness to pushing up a little high. Slade tackles like a more classical centre, and will be very effective there; albeit with moving the tackle line a meter or so further back than Farrell has it. Less disruptive, but fewer missed tackles and fewer (hopefully) dog-legs.

 

[Triple Exe]

I think Slade's problem is he's got the 'mercurial' tag and you're not allowed to be that and a solid tackler. Farrell's got the 'scrapper' tag but he throws himself into some horror show tackles (cf knocking out Dan Robson).

 

[Reiser99]

Not sure what the discussion about who will replace Hughes is about. Barring injury he isn't coming off. Played all 160 minutes in Argentina. I think EJ is happy with Hughes and Vunipola. Maybe next year if Billy is still getting injured frequently, but at the moment he has his options. Simmonds is competing for 6 or 7 personally.

 

[Mumbles119]

This is the only mention I can find as I do t use twitter myself. But can someone verify the tweet on ESPN Rugby home page for Tom Hamilton saying Curry is replaced by Simmonds on the bench?

http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/

 

[Mr Ruggleby]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...tumn-internationals-eddie-jones-a8046216.html

Simmonds called up, Curry out with wrist injury according to the independent.

 

[BenJeffrey]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...tumn-internationals-eddie-jones-a8046216.html

Simmonds called up, Curry out with wrist injury according to the independent.

Feel like that gives us better back row cover than Curry if I'm honest, and with Simmonds current form, blessing in disguise?

 

[Mr Ruggleby]

Feel like that gives us better back row cover that Curry if i'm honest, and with Simmonds current form, blessing in disguise?

I agree. Feel like we would have lost a lot of ball carrying potency if Hughes were to take a knock early and we were faced with a Curry, Robshaw, Underhill back row. Plenty of carrying ballast in the front five replacements, but I definitely feel happier knowing that Simmonds can bring something slightly more dynamic to the party if needs be. Not a like-for-like Hughes replacement, but a threat nonetheless.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

With all seriousness I'd have felt better with Genge coming on at 8 than Robshaw moving there. He played there up until about 3 years ago so really... why not?