Team for Australia

[Beasties]

The Daly at 15 thing has now been confused by the performance of BigJoe on Sat. We really need to see a lot more of him in the coming months, but that's yet another winger to add to the roster instead of yet another FB. If (and it's a big if) Eddie liked BigJoe's performance enough I'd think he'll want to persevere with Dlay at FB simply to get his best players on the pitch otherwise it's Daly at 11 and one other wing.

Personally, I can see BigJoe providing quite a few answers for our muddled backline questions with his heavy carrying. He could become a more skillful version of Ben Cohen 1.0.

[Mellsblue]

The Times think Tuilagi is in the mix for sat.

[Raggs]

Teo Manu or Farrell Manu in the centres?

Do hope we get more of big Joe.

[Beasties]

Just on the subject of BigJoe and a bit OT (soz), what is it about these big wingers that makes them go to left wing rather than right wing? All the ones I can quickly think of are left wingers: Lomu, Nayaravoro, Banners, BigJoe, Savea, Caucau, Nadolo. The mind wanders on a Wed am.

[Raggs]

More likely to get the ball in their hands, as most players will be right handed?

[WaspInWales]

Teo Manu or Farrell Manu in the centres?

Do hope we get more of big Joe.

Be a bit of a risk starting both Te'o and Manu, considering their lack of game time and Tuilagi's likelihood to get injured. I think Eddie will start Te'o with Farrell at 10, then bring Ford on for Te'o, with Faz shifting to 12 and replace Slade with Tuilagi to run over the tiring Aussies and close out a convincing win.

Boom.

*drops mic*

[Which Tyler]

Just on the subject of BigJoe and a bit OT (soz), what is it about these big wingers that makes them go to left wing rather than right wing? All the ones I can quickly think of are left wingers: Lomu, Nayaravoro, Banners, BigJoe, Savea, Caucau, Nadolo. The mind wanders on a Wed am.

Big Joe's a right winger by preference - he's just playing left for Bath as Roko has the right one sewn up.

I think generally though, most players pass better right to left; so the left is the winger better able to make the most of space created by others (whether that's by being faster, or bigger); whilst the right winger neds to be a little more capable of making the most out of nothing - like a Roko or a Wade (so the more agile). Some, like Caucau, JoCoka, Ickle, Wade ought to have the talents to be equally efective on either side (though IIRC Ickle was a specialist left winger).
Of course, being left or right footed also makes a difference in terms of kicking for touch, or stepping infield.


Equally, I could easily be talking bollocks, as a SH, this never really concerned me - both wings were quicker than I was, usually bigger than I was, but usually more of a pussy than I was, with the dodgiest handling skills of any back.

[Oakboy]

Teo Manu or Farrell Manu in the centres?

Do hope we get more of big Joe.

Be a bit of a risk starting both Te'o and Manu, considering their lack of game time and Tuilagi's likelihood to get injured. I think Eddie will start Te'o with Farrell at 10, then bring Ford on for Te'o, with Faz shifting to 12 and replace Slade with Tuilagi to run over the tiring Aussies and close out a convincing win.

Boom.

*drops mic*

Possibly, but it means the bench has no pace on it. Also. I'll believe Tuilagi is fit when I see it. Jones's mind games, as usual?

[Stom]

I would have Ford, Farrell, Tuilagi starting and Te'o, Slade on the bench.

Big Joe and May the wings.

[Digby]

Ford
Slade
Tuilagi

[Puja]

Just on the subject of BigJoe and a bit OT (soz), what is it about these big wingers that makes them go to left wing rather than right wing? All the ones I can quickly think of are left wingers: Lomu, Nayaravoro, Banners, BigJoe, Savea, Caucau, Nadolo. The mind wanders on a Wed am.

Rougerie was a 14 if memory serves.

Maybe it's because right handed/footed players find it easier to step off the right and push away from touch, so tiny people go to that wing and stronger people who are more able to resist being shoved over the line get put in the left wing? I'm guessing; I'm a forward.

Puja

[TheDasher]

Didn't Eddie consistently talk about Manu as a 12 when he started? Now he only ever calls him a 13. Which is odd as you'd think Teo is Tuilagi light, but he plays him at 12.

[Digby]

Just on the subject of BigJoe and a bit OT (soz), what is it about these big wingers that makes them go to left wing rather than right wing? All the ones I can quickly think of are left wingers: Lomu, Nayaravoro, Banners, BigJoe, Savea, Caucau, Nadolo. The mind wanders on a Wed am.

Rougerie was a 14 if memory serves.

Maybe it's because right handed/footed players find it easier to step off the right and push away from touch, so tiny people go to that wing and stronger people who are more able to resist being shoved over the line get put in the left wing? I'm guessing; I'm a forward.

Puja

More than anything they do feel different to play and where possible you'd simply put people where they're more comfortable

[Peej]

In my experience the more nimble guys often played on the left as you get better passes and can make the most of speed, whereas bigger wingers normally played on the right as they could use their size to compensate for worse quality of ball.

I always preferred playing 11 to 14.

[Mellsblue]

Looks like Nowell is out due to a hamstring injury.

[Beasties]

Tough luck for Nowell but tempered by the opportunity to see more of BigJoe. I'm happy we're gonna get another look at him. WC bolter?

[Oakboy]

It now, presumably, means Francis on the bench as the last man standing, unless they risk Tuilagi.

[Puja]

Tough luck for Nowell but tempered by the opportunity to see more of BigJoe. I'm happy we're gonna get another look at him. WC bolter?

Seconded - not happy he's injured, but happy the safe selection option has been denied to Eddie. I do like Nowell, but I think we know everything we need to know about him, whereas Joe has potential still to crack the RWC squad as you say.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Big Joe to start with Francis or Manu on the bench. The "is he isnt he" fitness saga continues.

[Oakboy]

Big Joe to start with Francis or Manu on the bench. The "is he isnt he" fitness saga continues.

If we get a winger injury, presumably it has to be Daly to wing, Slade to FB and Ford on. If it's early in the game and Francis/Tuilagi comes on, to keep Farrell on the pitch, with Ford on later, Jones would risk subbing a sub or ending up with Farrell/Francis in the centres. That makes me think he WILL risk Tuilagi if he possibly can.


A bench of Wigglesworth, Ford, Francis does not exactly excite!

[fivepointer]

No doubt England are pretty desperate to involve Manu. It can only be on the bench, but it seems they are giving him every chance of being fit enough.

[Digby]

Bench duty still seems a daft place to put an injured player. Start them and haul them off after 20 if needs be, or just don't pick them

[Peej]

Bench duty still seems a daft place to put an injured player. Start them and haul them off after 20 if needs be, or just don't pick them

This has always been my thinking too.

[Oakboy]

Bench duty still seems a daft place to put an injured player. Start them and haul them off after 20 if needs be, or just don't pick them

Oh, I agree. I'd have no player in the 23 who was anything other than 80 minutes-fit. The snag is whether Jones thinks the same and I rarely agree with him thsse days. As ever, all debate has to take Jonesism into account.

[Which Tyler]

Bench duty still seems a daft place to put an injured player. Start them and haul them off after 20 if needs be, or just don't pick them

Thirded
Oh, I agree. I'd have no player in the 23 who was anything other than 80 minutes-fit. The snag is whether Jones thinks the same and I rarely agree with him thsse days. As ever, all debate has to take Jonesism into account.

Though going that far is unrealistic beyond the first month or so of the season.