Team for Japan

[Gloskarlos]

BBC says Kruis out for both remaining tests

[Danno]

30 man training squad is here:-

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/engla ... rnational/

Four hours and 58 minutes after the initial scoop...

Puja

And then some, this time

[Which Tyler]

We're still awaiting Digby's breaking news that the AIs are taking place this year.

[ckeyn]

Times reporting Care will start, George and Ford likely and Mercer in the 23 with a good shot at starting.

[Oakboy]

Times reporting Care will start, George and Ford likely and Mercer in the 23 with a good shot at starting.

Presumably, Farrell at 12 then.

[Mellsblue]

Times reporting Care will start, George and Ford likely and Mercer in the 23 with a good shot at starting.

Presumably, Farrell at 12 then.

They also say they think Te’o will start. So, either Farrell or Slade to the bench. I’ll caution that as they are saying Te’o will start as Mitchell hinted Tuilagi will start against Oz and Te’o will therefore get a rest next week. I’ll further caution that with the idea that we might see Farrell - Te’o - Tuilagi midfield against Oz. Uuurgghhhh.

[twitchy]

Loz is off his ban and deserves a game.

[Oakboy]

Loz is off his ban and deserves a game.

Yet, Jones said he would pick strongest team???

[Mellsblue]

Loz is off his ban and deserves a game.

Yet, Jones said he would pick strongest team???

And Mitchell has said they are treating thins week as prep for the four day Tonga - USA turn around therefore hinting at some rotation......

[Oakboy]

Loz is off his ban and deserves a game.

Yet, Jones said he would pick strongest team???

And Mitchell has said they are treating thins week as prep for the four day Tonga - USA turn around therefore hinting at some rotation......

Ah, got it - Jones and Mitchell aren't talking to each other!

[Mellsblue]

Yet, Jones said he would pick strongest team???

And Mitchell has said they are treating thins week as prep for the four day Tonga - USA turn around therefore hinting at some rotation......

Ah, got it - Jones and Mitchell aren't talking to each other!

Or Jones spouts rubbish to journos!!

[Tigersman]

[twitchy]

Has there ever been a player to make an england squad as quickly as ted hill?

[TheDasher]

EJ's plans on the centres confuse me no end...

He's been going with the 'runner' at 12 (Teo) and the ballplayer at 13 (Slade).

Now he switches to the runner at 13 (Nowell) and the ballplayer at 12 (Lozowski).

Can he make his mind up on what he wants at 12, then what he wants at 13, then highlight 3 players for each position, rather than switching the skills/expertise between 12 and 13 all the time?

Am I mad or wouldn't that bring a bit more cohesion over time?

[fivepointer]

WTF Lawes at 6 and Underhill dropped!!!!.....and then I look again and see starts for George and Williams in the front row, Ewels in, Wilson and Mercer in the back row, Ford to run the show at 10, Loz and Nowell at centre and Cokanasiga to debut. I mean, there is a LOT to like about this selection.
Ted Hill is just a terrific young player. It was a matter of when, not if, he played for England.

[twitchy]

I would say rotated not dropped. Underhill must still be recovering from the impacts of the game last week.

[ad_tigger]

I would say rotated not dropped. Underhill must still be recovering from the impacts of the game last week.

My thoughts entirely. 30 minutes when it's already won for Underhill would be a perfect little work out before going back to a full 80 playing like an idiot against Aus.

[Which Tyler]

Has there ever been a player to make an england squad as quickly as ted hill?

Surely the soonest capped is still Barkley? Capped before making his club debut.

EJ's plans on the centres confuse me no end...

He's been going with the 'runner' at 12 (Teo) and the ballplayer at 13 (Slade).

Now he switches to the runner at 13 (Nowell) and the ballplayer at 12 (Lozowski).

Can he make his mind up on what he wants at 12, then what he wants at 13, then highlight 3 players for each position, rather than switching the skills/expertise between 12 and 13 all the time?

Am I mad or wouldn't that bring a bit more cohesion over time?

TBF his first choice is still clearly a non-runner, non-ballplayer at 12 (Farrell), with a runner/defensiveunfucker at 13 (JJ)

[Renniks]

I'm quite glad Underhill is benching, as long as he is back in the team for Aus - like Twitchy says, it could very well be rotation.

He's a player who has a history of injury, and I think he needs managing well when possible

I'm less glad that we've ended up with Wilson at 7, but then, he's still picked, and Mercer is at 8

---

Nowell at 13 is quite the selection - I think lots of us have agreed that it's a role that Nowell could thrive in, but at the same time - is now the time to try it out?! (Why not Marchant?!)

Hill is a fantastic selection, well done him (and I'm kind of glad £25k has gone to him, rather than Shields or Rhodes or anyone else like that)

---

Wigglesworth on the bench is, yet again, baffling. But at least there's a chance he'll come on with Farrell coming on at 10, and they have lots of history playing together

---

I'm quite looking forward to seeing what this team can do - but I'm a bit resigned to the fact the backs won't resemble this next week

And I'm not sure they can do anything in this game to change that

[Scrumhead]

WTF Lawes at 6 and Underhill dropped!!!!.....and then I look again and see starts for George and Williams in the front row, Ewels in, Wilson and Mercer in the back row, Ford to run the show at 10, Loz and Nowell at centre and Cokanasiga to debut. I mean, there is a LOT to like about this selection.
Ted Hill is just a terrific young player. It was a matter of when, not if, he played for England.

Yeah - I feel the same. Definitely more positives than negatives.

I’m really hoping Lozowski and Mercer can use this as a real platform.

[Oakboy]

If seeking options is the way to go, I hope they try an alternative to Daly at FB for part of the game.

[Oakboy]

WTF Lawes at 6 and Underhill dropped!!!!.....and then I look again and see starts for George and Williams in the front row, Ewels in, Wilson and Mercer in the back row, Ford to run the show at 10, Loz and Nowell at centre and Cokanasiga to debut. I mean, there is a LOT to like about this selection.
Ted Hill is just a terrific young player. It was a matter of when, not if, he played for England.

Yeah - I feel the same. Definitely more positives than negatives.

I’m really hoping Lozowski and Mercer can use this as a real platform.

Won't it be fascinating if the midfield creates a bucketful of tries!

[Which Tyler]

If seeking options is the way to go, I hope they try an alternative to Daly at FB for part of the game.

Are you thinking of swapping Nowell and Daly during play (good call - would certainly keep the Japanese defence guessing).
Or do you prefer Slade at FB for the last 20? Surely he's expected to replace JoCoka on debut.

I'd love to see the former anyway, but may be too much to ask in a one-off game; and have no objection to the latter. Or, sod it, even Farrell at FB - out of harm's way

[Peej]

There's an argument for swapping Daly and Nowell for sure

[Puja]

That team confuses the hell out of me from a strategy perspective, but there's enough fun things in there that I'm still okay with it. Hill coming off the bench is especially pleasing - he looks such a good player. The back row looks oddly balanced as well - I've got no issue with Lawes at 6 if we're pairing him with a very mobile 8, a genuine 7, and two mobile 5.5s at lock.

Puja