Summer tours - England

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

So
Loosehead: Genge, Obano, Rodd
Hookers: Blamire, Langdon, Oghre
Tighthead: Heyes, Hill, Davison
Locks: Ewels, Wells, McNally, Munga
Back Row: Underhill, Curry, Dombrandt, Ludlam, Ludlow, Chick, Kenningham
Scrum Half: Robson, Randall, Mitchell
Fly Half: Smith, Umaga,
Centre: Slade, Lawrence, Marchant, Kelly, Ojomah,
Wing: Radwan, Cokanasigna, Bassett,
Full Back: Malins, Steward, Furbank


RIP Martin
Might as well send him to the U20's dammit.

Feelings
LH: Very Happy
H: Meh
Tighthead: Meh outside of Heyes
Locks: Double meh but missing a **** ton of locks
Back Row: Underhill, Curry, Dombrandt gets me hard, Not sure on Ludlow TBH strikes me as a forever A team player
Scrum Half: Decent would've picked Uren over Mitchell
Fly Half: Smith = amazing, Umaga = mehzing
Centre: Happy outside of Slade
Wing: Malins will play wing so alright
Full back: Alright

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Very happy for Kenningham, his workrate has been absurdly high for Quins. Can't see him cracking the test sides but still happy that he's involved.

Overall it's a squad I'm reasonably happy with. Umaga over Simmonds is disappointing but I've accepted that EJ just isn't going to pick the Simmonds brothers.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Is Kenningham dual qualified?
Genuinely surprised they'd include him with two dedicated 7s already there for a two game test window


Decent side - some players who won't get a look in outside of a lions year, but that's always the case.
Wing looks pretty poor considering all the options - I know (as mentioned above) Malins is likely to start over Joe C or Bassett, but neither of those should be in over OHC/Sleightholme/Loader

 

[BPM]

So
Loosehead: Genge, Obano, Rodd
Hookers: Blamire, Langdon, Oghre
Tighthead: Heyes, Hill, Davison
Locks: Ewels, Wells, McNally, Munga
Back Row: Underhill, Curry, Dombrandt, Ludlam, Ludlow, Chick, Kenningham
Scrum Half: Robson, Randall, Mitchell
Fly Half: Smith, Umaga,
Centre: Slade, Lawrence, Marchant, Kelly, Ojomah,
Wing: Radwan, Cokanasigna, Bassett,
Full Back: Malins, Steward, Furbank


RIP Martin
Might as well send him to the U20's dammit.

Feelings
LH: Very Happy
H: Meh
Tighthead: Meh outside of Heyes
Locks: Double meh but missing a **** ton of locks
Back Row: Underhill, Curry, Dombrandt gets me hard, Not sure on Ludlow TBH strikes me as a forever A team player
Scrum Half: Decent would've picked Uren over Mitchell
Fly Half: Smith = amazing, Umaga = mehzing
Centre: Happy outside of Slade
Wing: Malins will play wing so alright
Full back: Alright

Pretty much agree on the feelings.

Shame about Sleightholme and strange with Martin.

I would have given Slade the summer off and given Marchant the chance to show what he can do.

 

[BPM]

Is Kenningham dual qualified?
Genuinely surprised they'd include him with two dedicated 7s already there for a two game test window

Not AFAIK. Kind of feels like he's an 'apprentice' who is being awarded for excellent form.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Kenningham is 6'3 and I've heard commentators say that he's bulked to ~109kg (although I think that's pretty largely exaggerated). Especially with Evans around at Quins I don't think it's out of the question that his future is at 6 rather than 7.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Umaga over Simmonds is disappointing but not unexpected,

Realistically Ford and Farrell will come straight back in after the summer, so only one new 10 is going to get anywhere near a full EPS - Smith is the best option, so him being there (and hopefully being a starter) is the best option

 

[Jakedood]

Very happy for Kenningham, his workrate has been absurdly high for Quins. Can't see him cracking the test sides but still happy that he's involved.

Overall it's a squad I'm reasonably happy with. Umaga over Simmonds is disappointing but I've accepted that EJ just isn't going to pick the Simmonds brothers.

ONe thing I will say on this, and only because I've seen it with Leinster, OH's look like world beaters when given a free ride of a platform, Smith has actually done well in games where he's been going backwards, and has really developed there. Simmonds, well, I know it's tough to say a whole lot until he's seen there, but Ross Byrne was meant to be the saviour to follow Sexton, and I wonder if Harry Byrne may be the same (we shall see). Smith would be the ideal, best 10 in England right now though, for sure

This thread is dominated by Saffas atm, bloody hell. Never knew they cared so much about English rugby

 

[Reiser99]

So Capon, Martin, Hill and Sleightholme appear to have been cut.

Sleightholme apparently out through concussion in training. Hoping most players get a chance to play even if off the bench. Might as well see as many as possible.

I'd like to see.

Genge
Blamire
Heyes
Wells
Ewels
Underhill
Curry
Dombrandt
Randall
Smith
Malins
Lawrence
Marchant
Radwan
Steward

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sleightholme apparently out through concussion in training.

That's concerning as he got knocked out in like round 21? 22? of the prem as well

 

[Greeno]

So
Loosehead: Genge, Obano, Rodd
Hookers: Blamire, Langdon, Oghre
Tighthead: Heyes, Hill, Davison
Locks: Ewels, Wells, McNally, Munga
Back Row: Underhill, Curry, Dombrandt, Ludlam, Ludlow, Chick, Kenningham
Scrum Half: Robson, Randall, Mitchell
Fly Half: Smith, Umaga,
Centre: Slade, Lawrence, Marchant, Kelly, Ojomah,
Wing: Radwan, Cokanasigna, Bassett,
Full Back: Malins, Steward, Furbank


RIP Martin
Might as well send him to the U20's dammit.

Feelings
LH: Very Happy
H: Meh
Tighthead: Meh outside of Heyes
Locks: Double meh but missing a **** ton of locks
Back Row: Underhill, Curry, Dombrandt gets me hard, Not sure on Ludlow TBH strikes me as a forever A team player
Scrum Half: Decent would've picked Uren over Mitchell
Fly Half: Smith = amazing, Umaga = mehzing
Centre: Happy outside of Slade
Wing: Malins will play wing so alright
Full back: Alright

Ted hill is in the squad as well

 

[will311293]

Still think Robson has to start at 9 for me. It's likely to be a young backline and if you have a new 8 and 10, surely you want someone to control I'd also say i would prefer Randall off the bench as he is electric and will stretch teams as they go.

Delighted for the wasps lads even though apart from Robson i know that they are a little lucky to be there as if anyone from our squad should have been there (bar Robson, J Willis and Launch) it would be T Willis, Barbeary and Paolo.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Pretty good overall. Would have had Simmonds over Umaga, Martin in and not overly keen on Slade but can understand wanting experience somewhere in the backs. Also the usual of Spencer at 9 but guess I have to accept that ship has sailed. At least he is looking at young scrumhalves too (And not Youngs, maybe Jones has just been mishearing us all this time?)

 

[JLK90]

Michael Lynagh seems disappointed the RFU have never contacted Louis to see where he sees his international future. Says Italy and Australia have both been in contact in the last fortnight.

 

[Reiser99]

Re Slade for me he'd be bench at most. Experienced cover for if things go wrong.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Michael Lynagh seems disappointed the RFU have never contacted Louis to see where he sees his international future. Says Italy and Australia have both been in contact in the last fortnight.

I mean maybe he and Louis should have been a bit more open about England in their interviews.
I every piece I had seen it was Michael saying (Prob jokingly) that he wanted his lads to play for Aus, and Louis joked that he doesn't feel english and growing up it was everyone but England.

Don't get me wrong I know people can change etc but it's not hard to see why the RFU might be quiet.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Just to give some context
https://www.news.com.au/sport/walla...a/news-story/38559f4d6033446116562415ea86de79
https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/...d/news-story/1279d51520c59cbe379fb6aedf0d0615
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/r...tarlet-Louis-pressure-living-famous-name.html

I get these are old etc but everyone knows Aus and English rivalry is deep and it's prob more truth than jokes.
and now Michael is publically moaning about not picking him or talking to him. (and everyone who knows Eddie will now know that Louis is prob never going to be selected by him lol)

 

[will311293]

Although Lynaghs brother has gone back to Aus. Wouldn't it be crazy if they both got picked and ended up on the opposite teams.

 

[Wasps92]

I really don't see what Jones sees in Umaga. Decent enough 10 but I can't see any facet of his game which is better than Smith or Simmonds.

Snap and I'm a Wasps fan. He was poor for most of last season before turning it around a bit near the end. Still nowhere near good enough for where Wasps want to be. Certainly he's nowhere near the levels of Simmonds and Smith.

 

[will311293]

Snap and I'm a Wasps fan. He was poor for most of last season before turning it around a bit near the end. Still nowhere near good enough for where Wasps want to be. Certainly he's nowhere near the levels of Simmonds and Smith.

I'd say he got up there or just below before previous selection and since then hasn't been anywhere near that even if he's seen a slight upturn at the end of the season.

The thing i find really odd is that Jones has historically picked 10's who are determined as controlled 10's (player who generally takes less risks, kick and pass rather than runs with the ball), i.e. Ford and Farrell and shunned Cipriani (Smith/Umaga more styled to him IMHO).

Now suddenly he's picking Smith (justified) and Umaga (probably not at the moment) and shunning one of the stand out 10's in terms of team/individual performance in the Northern Hemisphere, which really doesn't make much sense. Marler said it recently on Good, Bad and the Rugby (i think?) that Smith is an outstanding player but maybe doesn't suit the play style Jones uses which is regimented and very kick and defend orientated whilst Smith would fit into the All Blacks in a Richie Mo'unga style 10.

So unless Jones is going to massively change England's playing style and use more running plays and cross field kicks etc similar to Super Rugby/All Blacks, it does seem really strange to pick Umaga who probably would struggle to alter his style more than Smith (who realistically I think is that talented that he could be forced/worked into any team with any style).