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2024 Guinness Six Nations
[Six Nations 2018] Round 1: Italy Vs England (04/02/2018)
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<blockquote data-quote="Which Tyler" data-source="post: 887408" data-attributes="member: 73592"><p>If you're hamstringing the #8 by selecting 2 blindsides; then yeah, you need a primary carrier at 8.</p><p>I'm suggesting Robshaw and Simmonds on the flanks though, which is an entirely different proposition. Mind you, I'm also suggesting Mercer on the bench covering 6-8 with Billy starting anyway; and considering the option of Mercer starting currently given that Billy and Nathan aren't available - and I still wouldn't be pairing him with Underhill (7).</p><p>I'd also suggest that there's a difference between not being a ball carrier; and not busting holes through the middle. Simmonds is a better carrier than Billy at 1 pass further out (and a little more space), Mercer is somewhere between the 2, being a good ball carrier who relies on nouse and agility to break the line, rather than brute force. They're just different. Billy is currently (much) better; but then he's also 5 years older and 40 caps more experienced.</p><p>As my BMI comparison above shows, there's more than one way to skin a cat at #8. Currently England are the only team to skin it the BillyV way - and that's probably because we're the only team to have access to a BillyV player - the guy's a physical freak; he's also got 2 RWCs left at his peak; so Zach is going to have to wait his turn regardless, or become just as good but different, and give the selectors a headache.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Which Tyler, post: 887408, member: 73592"] If you're hamstringing the #8 by selecting 2 blindsides; then yeah, you need a primary carrier at 8. I'm suggesting Robshaw and Simmonds on the flanks though, which is an entirely different proposition. Mind you, I'm also suggesting Mercer on the bench covering 6-8 with Billy starting anyway; and considering the option of Mercer starting currently given that Billy and Nathan aren't available - and I still wouldn't be pairing him with Underhill (7). I'd also suggest that there's a difference between not being a ball carrier; and not busting holes through the middle. Simmonds is a better carrier than Billy at 1 pass further out (and a little more space), Mercer is somewhere between the 2, being a good ball carrier who relies on nouse and agility to break the line, rather than brute force. They're just different. Billy is currently (much) better; but then he's also 5 years older and 40 caps more experienced. As my BMI comparison above shows, there's more than one way to skin a cat at #8. Currently England are the only team to skin it the BillyV way - and that's probably because we're the only team to have access to a BillyV player - the guy's a physical freak; he's also got 2 RWCs left at his peak; so Zach is going to have to wait his turn regardless, or become just as good but different, and give the selectors a headache. [/QUOTE]
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2024 Guinness Six Nations
[Six Nations 2018] Round 1: Italy Vs England (04/02/2018)
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