England squad for start of 6N’s

[Freddo]

Robshaw?

[Stom]

Mako, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Lawes, Shields, Curry, Billy, Youngs, Farrell, May, Te'o, Manu, Daly, Brown is what I expect for Dublin.
Bench might be interesting and it will contain Robson and likely LCD. I'd be very wary of making too many left field picks for our toughest game.

This, just with the wingers t‘other way round and probs Slade for Tuilagi.

I think we're far more likely to see Kruis than Lawes, because Courtney isn't the best set piece lock...Jones will pick his best team for the set piece, which will mean places for Kruis, Itoje, Shields in the pack. And he could continue with Daly at FB...maybe even with Brown on the wing, lol.

[Mellsblue]

Mako, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Lawes, Shields, Curry, Billy, Youngs, Farrell, May, Te'o, Manu, Daly, Brown is what I expect for Dublin.
Bench might be interesting and it will contain Robson and likely LCD. I'd be very wary of making too many left field picks for our toughest game.

This, just with the wingers t‘other way round and probs Slade for Tuilagi.

I think we're far more likely to see Kruis than Lawes, because Courtney isn't the best set piece lock...Jones will pick his best team for the set piece, which will mean places for Kruis, Itoje, Shields in the pack. And he could continue with Daly at FB...maybe even with Brown on the wing, lol.

True about the locks; though, I’m happy with any combo from that four starting.

[Scrumhead]

I’m a bit late to the thread and don’t have much to add that hasn’t already been covered. Overall, I’m happier than I expected to be.

I’m pleased to see Clifford involved. Dombrandt has taken the limelight at Quins, but Clifford and Chisholm have done a lot of the donkey work which has allowed him to shine. In Underhill’s absence, I’m happy to see him there and I think he’s a good option to cover across the back row.

[Digby]

Team needs more Launchbury

[Stom]

Team needs more Launchbury

For once I agree with you, Diggers. Launch is our best lock...

[Digby]

Team needs more Launchbury

For once I agree with you, Diggers. Launch is our best lock...

Not sure he's the best lock, but our handling isn't great, there's Mako and Sinckler and ?

So I'd pick Launch for balance, take advantage he's a terrific player to boot and hope to hide he's got some issues strictly as a lock

[Oakboy]

I'd start Launchbury and Lawes and have Launchbury as captain. Discipline will be a major issue. Itoje in general play and Farrell as captain are iffy with the Irish winding them up and a French referee.

As ever with selection, picking who the opposition will like least is worth a shout. The Irish will have their fingers crossed for Itoje and Kruis, I'd guess.

[Beasties]

I'm proper shocked at that squad. It's been a depressing business seeing Eddie's squad announcements since his very first one when he named a lot of promising players and cleared out quite a few to make room for them. Then he didn't play them.

I mean, he's obv gonna pick his tried and trusted names for the 23 though right? Dare we dream of Devoto and Thorley getting some meaningful time? Even if there are injuries I can still see him parachuting the likes of Care in to overtake Robson for a starting birth for instance. Still, at face value that's as exciting a squad as we've seen from Eddie for an actual competition. Really hoping BigJoe is fit and gets to play.

[Stom]

I'd start Launchbury and Lawes and have Launchbury as captain. Discipline will be a major issue. Itoje in general play and Farrell as captain are iffy with the Irish winding them up and a French referee.

As ever with selection, picking who the opposition will like least is worth a shout. The Irish will have their fingers crossed for Itoje and Kruis, I'd guess.

I'm going to have to disagree. I think Itoje treads a fine line, but he rarely gets it wrong. I think he does a very good job, actually. Plus, he offers a balance somewhere between Lawes and Kruis, where Lawes is a good loose lock and Kruis a good tight one, Itoje can do both (though his hands could do with some work).

If I were Ireland, out of those 4, I'd most like to see Lawes. I'd have an upper hand in the set piece immediately and that is a big decision. Courtney is very good at impact: he hits hard and he can link when he feels like it.

[Scrumhead]

With the possible exception of Singleton, I think it’s highly unlikely we’ll see any new caps against Ireland.

I expect it to be the usual tight game with a sub 10 point margin. Discipline is massive and I think Farrell will need to show captaincy credentials that he has so far been incapable of.

[Stom]

With the possible exception of Singleton, I think it’s highly unlikely we’ll see any new caps against Ireland.

I expect it to be the usual tight game with a sub 10 point margin. Discipline is massive and I think Farrell will need to show captaincy credentials that he has so far been incapable of.

Well, indeed. The only questions are Genge or Moon, Williams or Cole, which locks, Shields or Wilson or Curry (and who benches), Ford or Farrell or Te'o or Tuilagi or Slade (and who benches), and Daly or Brown at FB.

That's about it. Sounds a lot, but it's not really...

[Mellsblue]

Wiggler as nailed on third choice 9?

No name check for Joseph as not named in question or not 100% returning when fit?

[Stom]

Wiggler as nailed on third choice 9?

No name check for Joseph as not named in question or not 100% returning when fit?

I imagine not asked about. Both Hartley and Robshaw are meant to be fit in time for the start of the 6N, I guess that's why.

[richy678]

As with most - that squad looks about right to me.

Englands midfield is always the problem. But they have to sort it out now.
I would put Manu at 12 and Daly at 13 - and not pass it to Manu if we want the ball wide.
Faz at 12 - but if he starts shoulder charging people - get him off.

Brown had to come back to sure up fullback. I think he is the type of player to respond properly.

Are we expecting too much to see a proper 6 in Wilson, a proper 8 in Billy and proper 7 in Curry being picked?

lets hope Launch is properly ready and can use his bulk and skill where it matters.

Well - no point f**king around now, were playing the 2nd best team in the world, in a world cup year - get it all out there.

[Mellsblue]

Wiggler as nailed on third choice 9?

No name check for Joseph as not named in question or not 100% returning when fit?

I imagine not asked about. Both Hartley and Robshaw are meant to be fit in time for the start of the 6N, I guess that's why.

I think Joseph is available this weekend.

[Stom]

Wiggler as nailed on third choice 9?

No name check for Joseph as not named in question or not 100% returning when fit?

I imagine not asked about. Both Hartley and Robshaw are meant to be fit in time for the start of the 6N, I guess that's why.

I think Joseph is available this weekend.

Really?

Then fuck, because he's one of the world's best centres...I think other nations would kill for him...insanity.

[Mikey Brown]

I agree he was, and I think a lot of his sub-par performances with England were down to poor play further in, but it's been a while since Joseph has looked top quality isn't it?

Care vying only with Robson is a worrying statement. Youngs gets the starting shirt regardless of how he or anyone else plays?

[Puja]

As with most - that squad looks about right to me.

Englands midfield is always the problem. But they have to sort it out now.
I would put Manu at 12 and Daly at 13 - and not pass it to Manu if we want the ball wide.
Faz at 12 - but if he starts shoulder charging people - get him off.

Brown had to come back to sure up fullback. I think he is the type of player to respond properly.

Are we expecting too much to see a proper 6 in Wilson, a proper 8 in Billy and proper 7 in Curry being picked?

lets hope Launch is properly ready and can use his bulk and skill where it matters.

Well - no point f**king around now, were playing the 2nd best team in the world, in a world cup year - get it all out there.

I don't think there's any real point in having Manu at 12. You want unintelligent, unchallenging bosh in close, you're better off with Te'o. The advantage of Manu is letting him attack the wider channels, targetting gaps between players and making the wide players feel like they need to start stepping in, at which point he becomes the dummy play.

You can use him as a crash ball 12, but it'd be a waste.

Wiggler as nailed on third choice 9?

No name check for Joseph as not named in question or not 100% returning when fit?

Not sure how he's certain Devoto's ready for Test rugby given that he's never worked with him nor had him in camp before. But positive nonetheless.

Puja

[Timbo]

Devoto was part of the 2016 grand slam squad. Got his one and only cap in Eddies first game in charge. Think he made a few training squads in those early days, too.

[Timbo]

I imagine not asked about. Both Hartley and Robshaw are meant to be fit in time for the start of the 6N, I guess that's why.

I think Joseph is available this weekend.

Really?

Then fuck, because he's one of the world's best centres...I think other nations would kill for him...insanity.

Joseph was name checked as one of six unavailable due to injury. Even if he is now technically fit he needs quite a few games before he can be considered again, he’s been out for 8 months.

[Stom]

I think Joseph is available this weekend.

Really?

Then fuck, because he's one of the world's best centres...I think other nations would kill for him...insanity.

Joseph was name checked as one of six unavailable due to injury. Even if he is now technically fit he needs quite a few games before he can be considered again, he’s been out for 8 months.

OK, good. Mells scared me for a moment.

[Mellsblue]

I think Joseph is available this weekend.

Really?

Then fuck, because he's one of the world's best centres...I think other nations would kill for him...insanity.

Joseph was name checked as one of six unavailable due to injury. Even if he is now technically fit he needs quite a few games before he can be considered again, he’s been out for 8 months.

Phew. Good to hear. Was he name checked as unavailable due to injury or/and as 100% returnee when fit, as Robshaw and Hartley were? I’d have him above both as a nailed on selection. Not sure anyone was touting him to be in the squad, I certainly wasn’t, was just trying to work at where he stands in Jones’s pecking order.

[Stom]

Really?

Then fuck, because he's one of the world's best centres...I think other nations would kill for him...insanity.

Joseph was name checked as one of six unavailable due to injury. Even if he is now technically fit he needs quite a few games before he can be considered again, he’s been out for 8 months.

Phew. Good to hear. Was he name checked as unavailable due to injury or/and as 100% returnee when fit, as Robshaw and Hartley were? I’d have him above both as a nailed on selection. Not sure anyone was touting him to be in the squad, I certainly wasn’t, was just trying to work at where he stands in Jones’s pecking order.

The problem is where to fit the centres in. We have Te'o and Farrell at 12, but that leaves just 1 FH. So there's Devoto. But then there's Tuilagi and Slade at 13. And Slade is emergency 10 and 15 cover... So how do we sort that out?

I know I'd probably pick Farrell, Tuilagi, Joseph and Slade as the centres and pick Slade at 12...but that's a risk at this point.

[Mellsblue]

Joseph was name checked as one of six unavailable due to injury. Even if he is now technically fit he needs quite a few games before he can be considered again, he’s been out for 8 months.

Phew. Good to hear. Was he name checked as unavailable due to injury or/and as 100% returnee when fit, as Robshaw and Hartley were? I’d have him above both as a nailed on selection. Not sure anyone was touting him to be in the squad, I certainly wasn’t, was just trying to work at where he stands in Jones’s pecking order.

The problem is where to fit the centres in. We have Te'o and Farrell at 12, but that leaves just 1 FH. So there's Devoto. But then there's Tuilagi and Slade at 13. And Slade is emergency 10 and 15 cover... So how do we sort that out?

I know I'd probably pick Farrell, Tuilagi, Joseph and Slade as the centres and pick Slade at 12...but that's a risk at this point.

If it’s me - drop Te’o and bringing in Cipriani. If it’s working within Jones’s parameters - drop Te’o and coach Tuilagi how to play at 12.