Tigersman wrote:I would like to see a test team of (Adding Haskell because i think Eddie would play him).
1. Genge, 2. Cowan-Dickie (will be hartley), 3. Sinckler
4. Kruis, 5. Launchbury (C)
6. Wilson, 7. Haskell (Should be Armand), 8. Vunipola
9. Youngs, 10. Ford
12. Lozowski, 13. Tuilagi
11. May, 14. Nowell, 15. Daly (Honestly i would rest Daly and start Woodward with smith on the bench but can see him touring)
16. Taylor(will be Cowan-dickie), 17. Marler, 18. Williams
19. Isiewke, 20. Willis/Mercer/Underhill
21. Robson, 22. Woodward, 23. Cokanasiga
How has Wilson come back into the reckoning. Is he even starting for Newcastle?
What?
He has started 20 games for them this season he is injured currently.
Tigersman wrote:I would like to see a test team of (Adding Haskell because i think Eddie would play him).
1. Genge, 2. Cowan-Dickie (will be hartley), 3. Sinckler
4. Kruis, 5. Launchbury (C)
6. Wilson, 7. Haskell (Should be Armand), 8. Vunipola
9. Youngs, 10. Ford
12. Lozowski, 13. Tuilagi
11. May, 14. Nowell, 15. Daly (Honestly i would rest Daly and start Woodward with smith on the bench but can see him touring)
16. Taylor(will be Cowan-dickie), 17. Marler, 18. Williams
19. Isiewke, 20. Willis/Mercer/Underhill
21. Robson, 22. Woodward, 23. Cokanasiga
How has Wilson come back into the reckoning. Is he even starting for Newcastle?
What?
He has started 20 games for them this season he is injured currently.
What I really meant was is he even on Jones' list, as far as I can recall he didn't make the Autumn International squad. Or was he injured then?
francoisfou wrote:
Indeed, from what I've read, Woodward would be a good pick for the Boks.
Can we assume that Ben Youngs will be fit and raring to go? If yes, then a new scrum half simply must go as back up to Youngs, and send Danny Care into a Carehome (Taxi!)
At hooker, Hartley needs to be put out to grass and George put into a darkened room until pre-season training, which will allow LCD and Taylor/ANOther to show what they can do.
And Tuilagi, who appears to be finding some form, should also be heading for South Africa.
When Youngs was fully fit and playing for England there were many posters on this board who did not rate him highly because of his laboured service in clearing the ball. For a period he was getting good milage out of his show and go move, until opposing teams figured it out. Would not expect anything great at all on his return and I don't think he'll be the saviour of Englnand's SH play. Pity Care has not been playing his natural ebullient game, which is high risk but can be effective. Time to move on from the lot of them and look at some new SHs. Could Robson/Chudley/Spencer .... be worse?
But If Youngs had quicker ball from the forwards it would help. I don't think people expect Youngs to be the saviour but he is a good international 9 and his box kicking takes away alot of pressure on the 10/12. Around 70% of the clearance kicks where by Youngs before his injury and TBF our kick and chase game was pretty key. With Youngs Eddies Jones England lost what 1 game.
Care's game plan at international level suits coming off the bench v tiring players but he lacks control. chudley is 30 and not even first choice at his club nowhere near england.
Spencer i'm a fan of but he really hasn't impressed with Saracens recently, v Tigers he was really bad.
Robson IMO would be an improvement on Care as a bench option.
Maunder is the obvious successor for me in terms of england starting 9, put he's been injured and looks like he is behind White at Exeter.
That would make Chudley 5-6 years younger than Wiggly. As for not starting at Exeter - it's true, but I can't figure why, since he looks a better SH than White, who is steady and reliable but rarely sets things alight.
Surely Simmonds will go to South Africa, not as no.8, but 6 or 7. It was rather unfair of Eddie to play him at 8 going backwards against the Irish. He's far too good a player to leave behind, particularly on the hard grounds in SA where his speed will be important.
francoisfou wrote:Surely Simmonds will go to South Africa, not as no.8, but 6 or 7. It was rather unfair of Eddie to play him at 8 going backwards against the Irish. He's far too good a player to leave behind, particularly on the hard grounds in SA where his speed will be important.
Agreed. Used properly, I think he could be an excellent option at 7.
francoisfou wrote:Surely Simmonds will go to South Africa, not as no.8, but 6 or 7. It was rather unfair of Eddie to play him at 8 going backwards against the Irish. He's far too good a player to leave behind, particularly on the hard grounds in SA where his speed will be important.
If England want to go the route of a strong, straight running 12 they should just convert him right now. He's more powerful and faster than anyone else currently in that slot. Time to do a Burgess. Who knows - he could wind up playing at 12 outside his brother at 10 for England. A radical solution for Eddie. You know it makes sense!
Simmonds is an 8 at the moment. He's an unconventional one for sure, but that only means he's an unconventional 8, it doesn't as things stand make him a 7 or 12. Though he'd obvioulsy have a better skill set to transfer to 7 than 12.
Before Simmonds is moved anywhere England need to understand what they want to achieve and how they're going to do it. I'm carrying some hope still that Eddie isn't going to stick with his idea we so lack skills as a nation this is the only way we can go about trying to contest games
Tigersman wrote:
What?
He has started 20 games for them this season he is injured currently.
What I really meant was is he even on Jones' list, as far as I can recall he didn't make the Autumn International squad. Or was he injured then?
Think he was fit then.
I'm sure he is on Eddie Jones list he started both games v Argentina.
He started the first game but I thought Eddie dropped him for the second, bringing Robshaw in and hoofing Wilson out of the 23 entirely? Then Graham leapfrogged him into the AI squad to the utter bemusement of everyone on here. Another one of those weird wtf Eddie moments.
He started the first game and was probably our best player. Robshaw replaced him for the 2nd test when he benched.
His omission from any squad this season, given his ultra reliable and consistent form, is a bit of a surprise to say the least. He's been badly done to.
I also seem to recall a particularly notable moment I the second test when Wilson showed real strength to hold up an Argentinian player over the line to prevent what would have been a crucial try.
