The 15 shirt

[Oakboy]

How do you know that Slade would have a more physical and mental presence than Daly?

Observation of the way he throws himself into physical confrontations. I just think he is stronger and braver.

[Which Tyler]

If Slade had ever looked comfortable at international level, then I'd consider it. But he hasn't, whilst Daly is to the manor born at this level.
Surely it's time to put Slade's messianic status to the side now. He may still make it at international level, but I think he's missed the boat to ever be first choice in any position (unless he commits to the IC shirt and find ally realises his potential).

Daly has also looked perfectly good at FB in the past (albeit several years ago), so has already disproved your theory that he'll never be up to the position.

[Timbo]

Slade has a tackle completion rate of 57% this calendar year. By far the lowest of any regular international 13. Re-watching the SA game and some of his defensive efforts were really poor.

[p/d]

That's you told Dors ..................... proposing a part time swing door, what were you thinking man!!!

[Oakboy]

That's you told Dors ..................... proposing a part time swing door, what were you thinking man!!!

Mmmm! Perhaps. I remember Slade coping quite easily with Tuilagi who is everybody's idea of a physical supremo. As for Daly at FB for Wasps, I don't see that as relevant. Goode looks good at FB for his club and plays there regularly currently. He does not look comfortable at international level which is what we were debating.

Maybe, Farrell ought to go there with Ford coming in as FH and captain!

[p/d]

if we do go with a player who doesn't regularly play fb then I would go with Nowell. That said every time I think of putting a winger there the Monye horror show pops up

[twitchy]

Will watson be back before the world cup?

[Which Tyler]

Will watson be back before the world cup?

https://www.bathrugby.com/news/injury-update/
Due back "Early 2019"

[twitchy]

Could we have a back 3 of him daly and ashton or is that too attacking?

[Digby]

From what I've understood Mitchell also has us playing in a new defensive setup which puts more pressure on the fullback, so it may be Daly has a lot to think about.

Yep, our back two need to cover a lot of ground and be very clear in communication. And Daly has Nowell who lacks for pace and May who is a space cadet to guide through the game. It's not a bad plan from Mitchell given our insistence on blitzing, but it'll work better with Watson back

I'd also like to protest again against the obsession with the blitz, it removes variety from our defence and tires the players more looking a set pieces and attack.

[Mikey Brown]

Could we have a back 3 of him daly and ashton or is that too attacking?

Too what?

[twitchy]

Could we have a back 3 of him daly and ashton or is that too attacking?

Too what?

Too woo.

[Puja]

That's you told Dors ..................... proposing a part time swing door, what were you thinking man!!!

Mmmm! Perhaps. I remember Slade coping quite easily with Tuilagi who is everybody's idea of a physical supremo. As for Daly at FB for Wasps, I don't see that as relevant. Goode looks good at FB for his club and plays there regularly currently. He does not look comfortable at international level which is what we were debating.

Maybe, Farrell ought to go there with Ford coming in as FH and captain!

So you tout Slade tackling well for his club, before dismissing club form as irrelevant in the very next sentence? You are Eddie Jones and I claim my £5!

I think Daly will be better this week. He started badly last week and went downhill from there, and I think a fresh start will see him cope very well. He had a rocky first few games at wing for England and then grew into it.

Puja

[Raggs]

If I recall correctly, that was also a season or two back, when Manu wasn't fit and firing just yet. And they were good chop tackles I believe, which is a long way off going up in the air and competing.

[p/d]

I think Daly will be better this week. He started badly last week and went downhill from there, and I think a fresh start will see him cope very well. He had a rocky first few games at wing for England and then grew into it.

Puja

I admire your optimism. That said perhaps he will do more than just put his arms in the air.

[Mikey Brown]

I think as ever the issue is that these guys seem to actually know what they’re doing at their club. Slade seems to lead a defence very well for Exeter, though he has a habit of going high and getting shoved off, but for England he has looked absolutely baffled a few times. Having seen Joseph struggle I can’t say I’m that surprised. I imagine a lot of this might apply to Daly looking a bit ropey at 15 and another conversation elsewhere about Shields looking so utterly lost.

[Digby]

I'm giving Slade a little leeway on the defensive side of things, he's having to cover a lot of ground given some combo of our system and the entertaining and rather idiosyncratic approach Te'o takes to defensive positioning. Though as of today JJ walks back into the side with Slade not making much of a case, hopefully that's only an as yet

[Stom]

Could we have a back 3 of him daly and ashton or is that too attacking?

But what about May? He's one of our best for a while now...

I'd want the pace of May, Daly, Watson. That would be dangerous for all oppositions. With the way they all (May and Daly especially) look to support runners...

[twitchy]

Vs nz I think it's deck chairs on the titanic but in a real fixture like the 6N I would probably go back to brown as depressing as that may be. If fit I would go watson in the long term.

Could we have a back 3 of him daly and ashton or is that too attacking?

But what about May? He's one of our best for a while now...

I'd want the pace of May, Daly, Watson. That would be dangerous for all oppositions. With the way they all (May and Daly especially) look to support runners...

Good points I totally agree.

[Peej]

Have you checked the Super Rugby rosters for a fullback with a Granny from Norfolk?

Tried that, got Woodward.

[Mikey Brown]

Slade has a tackle completion rate of 57% this calendar year. By far the lowest of any regular international 13. Re-watching the SA game and some of his defensive efforts were really poor.

Did you find that here? https://www.rugbypass.com/news/analysis ... ctually-is

It’s about the Scotland game but it’s a pretty interesting look into how a player can be totally hung out to dry by teammates/systematic failure. Slade’s stats do not look good in there, though I think there will be several reasons why.

[Lizard]

Have you checked the Super Rugby rosters for a fullback with a Granny from Norfolk?

Tried that, got Woodward.

Oh, dear me. Did you not notice we had already tried to palm him off onto the Aussies?

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Have you checked the Super Rugby rosters for a fullback with a Granny from Norfolk?

Tried that, got Woodward.

Oh, dear me. Did you not notice we had already tried to palm him off onto the Aussies?

There is an element of doubt he has any Norfolk genes tbh, not enough digits on his hands.

[TheNomad]

Could we have a back 3 of him daly and ashton or is that too attacking?

But what about May? He's one of our best for a while now...

I'd want the pace of May, Daly, Watson. That would be dangerous for all oppositions. With the way they all (May and Daly especially) look to support runners...

That has to be right.

Daly and May on the wings, Watson (assuming he comes back fit and firing) at 15. Manu at 13 to make up for the lack of grunt.

[Mikey Brown]

Let’s see Manu actually make it to a match day squad first.