[Six Nations 2018] Round 1: Italy Vs England (04/02/2018)

[Jakedood]

Te'o to start at 13, Simmonds at 8 in a back row of Lawes, Himself and Robshaw
Mike Brown starting
Hepburn on the bench

 

[TRF_Olyy]

15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13Ben Te'o, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs;
1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Maro Itoje, 6Courtney Lawes, 7 Chris Robshaw, 8 Sam Simmonds

16 Jamie George, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18Harry Williams, 19 George Kruis, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Danny Care, 22 Jonathan Joseph, 23 Jack Nowell.



That is a shithouse backrow,
Teos first rugby in 4 months and it's starting a test....

Other than that it's as expected

 

[MikeTheNative]

I don't get Teo starting, fair enough if he had 20 minutes off the bench but that's a lot to ask coming straight into a test after months off, not sure what JJ did wrong. Lawes is a very good 2nd Row but I'm not sure if he is an international back row, also looking at that your asking Simmonds to take on a lot of the carrying. Also why does Jones love Hartley so much? George is so much a better player.

 

[TommiG88]

Interesting.

 

[MarkyH]

We should beat Italy, Te'o will get 60 minutes of Rugby which will do more for him than 20 against a tired defence. I've no doubt he will be back on the bench vs Wales but at least he would be more cooked and ready than he would be with 20. I'd always pick JJ by default, but EJ is forcing match fitness onto Te'o so I actually don't think it's that bad an idea

Just putting Underhill in the backrow would make it stronger.

England by 25

 

[Aristodemus]

Bit of a slap in the face for JJ that, unless you are correct in thinking it is to get Te'o back into the swing of things faster.

Doesn't look that scary of a team to me, but it should see off the Italians quite comfortably.

 

[curtbob7]

Anyone else looking at that 23 and just feeling at bit meh?

 

[MarkyH]

EJ would've had his arm round JJ telling him he's still his first choice at 13, and to be ready for next week. But this week we want to give Te'o as much game time as possible to get him up to speed.

Nowell and JJ to come on and add some pzazz on 55/60

 

[MarkyH]

Anyone else looking at that 23 and just feeling at bit meh?

Its just the back row that depresses.. The rest of the team is full of winning combinations. I'd rather see Laws than Hask in the backrow (which is the team from last year). We're missing Billy, that's it. But in the long run this is going to make us stronger.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Anyone else looking at that 23 and just feeling at bit meh?

Definitely looks like a step backwards to me

 

[JJFlash]

Would England win the World Cup with this 23?

 

[Which Tyler]

I'm not a fan of that backrow, but it's a compromise. Eddie obviously sees playing Underwood and Simmonds in the same backrow as just too inexperienced.

Youngs > Care seems wrong, but in keeping.

Slap in the face for JJ, but I guess Eddie has earned our trust for man-management. I still don't understand accusations that he has quiet games, I can only presume that the come from people who only office defence when it fails. Maybe he's just one of those player (for some) who value is only noticed by his absence?

I don't see the wings getting much ball, let alone in any space. Faz doesn't have the best mis-pass, whilst Te'o is far more interested in popping the ball out of a tackle rather than passing the ball further out.

I don't really see the point of JJ AND Nowell on the bench. Granted, with Farrell, Te'o and Watson all starting, then all positions are covered. Would seem the perfect opportunity to give Earl a shot.

 

[ncurd]

Bit sad to see Joseph dropped to the bench but it could EJ just resting him for Wales must remember he was dropped for Italy last year only to score a hat trick against Scotland 2 weeks later.

I guess there's absolutely nothing to be gained in playing him against Italy apart from scoring all the points.

 

[curtbob7]

Would England win the World Cup with this 23?

Would England get out of the group with this 23 if France improve a bit and Argentina select all their worldwide players....?

 

[McTallshort]

Would England win the World Cup with this 23?

as it stands no, but the World cup isnt starting on Sunday

 

[JJFlash]

as it stands no, but the World cup isnt starting on Sunday

True, but the team must be picked with the World Cup in mind - just over a year away.

 

[NickBD]

Would England get out of the group with this 23 if France improve a bit and Argentina select all their worldwide players....?

World Cup no but the group, as of right now they would even with that 23, I know people are down on the squad but France and Argentina are in far worse positions at the moment.

 

[JJFlash]

Would England get out of the group with this 23 if France improve a bit and Argentina select all their worldwide players....?

A pertinent question. The answer - they may be struggling!

 

[McTallshort]

True, but the team must be picked with the World Cup in mind - just over a year away.

True but cannot pick players that are injured or suspended no matter how close the WC is.

 

[JJFlash]

True but cannot pick players that are injured or suspended no matter how close the WC is.

True, but there are some players in today's squad who could be standing in the way of others who need to be given an opportunity.