Team for France

[Mellsblue]

Very inexperienced bench, which might be crucial. Huget to play him at 15. Big vote of confidence or another crazy decision from France’s head coach?!?!?

[Digby]

A question, with England running half of a 1331 and then switching back to the two man pods what's happening to our possible attack down the shortside? Still more I wonder this when there's a roving forward hanging behind the 2 pods of 2, and I've got it on good authority (well Raggs) that we're making use of Nowell and Manu in supporting our phase play

Further, what's happening to our defence? If the attack is focused on the openside if we get turned over what cover will protect the blindside? Worth noting we may simply be copying NZ in this, they too all but abandon one side of the field on attack leaving them very exposed to a turnover and counter, though NZ don't set up like that , for them if they start to go forwards they'll suddenly work hard off the ball to overload a defence on one side

Just some thoughts, to which I'll be wondering this Sunday if there's anything behind them and what we're doing about it?

[ckeyn]

Team - strangely quite like the idea of Ashton vs. France. Just hope here's not there vs Wales. Would have preferred Launch to start over Lawes.

[Banquo]

Meh to Ashton.

[ckeyn]

Tony Brown at Pennyhill Park... via. Charlie Morgan

[francoisfou]

What's Nowell done (or not) to get dropped?

[Scrumhead]

Meh to Ashton.

Very harsh on Nowell.

I’m a bit more 50/50 on Ashton. He could be crap or he could be deadly running lines off of Tuilagi and Slade if we get it right.

[fivepointer]

Ashton for Nowell? Nope cannot see the justification for that.
Too early for Joe C, he needs some game time. Shields misses the cut too, which i'm not disappointed about.

[Digby]

To answer MP, Picamoles looked good for an hour,seems fitter notwithstanding Diggers dig at workrate

It might be a little unfair to say he doesn't work hard, it's perhaps fairer to say he'll work hard on the things that interest him, but if the game presents phases wherein he needs to graft he's inclined to wander off and smoke a cigar waiting for the pack to get him the ball he wants. Granted if he grafts he'll be less explosive when he does get his moments he wants. I'd pick him I'd have to say, but there's no denying there are moments he downs tools

Key perhaps to picking Picamoles is ensuring there are graters elsewhere, seemingly they just don't care about that

[Banquo]

What's Nowell done (or not) to get dropped?

No idea. I don't think Nowell is in our top two or three wing options, but he did well last week and brings a lot of go forward plus decent breakdown protection for fellow backs. Not sure why Ashton is getting another chance.

[Banquo]

To answer MP, Picamoles looked good for an hour,seems fitter notwithstanding Diggers dig at workrate

It might be a little unfair to say he doesn't work hard, it's perhaps fairer to say he'll work hard on the things that interest him, but if the game presents phases wherein he needs to graft he's inclined to wander off and smoke a cigar waiting for the pack to get him the ball he wants. Granted if he grafts he'll be less explosive when he does get his moments he wants. I'd pick him I'd have to say, but there's no denying there are moments he downs tools

Key perhaps to picking Picamoles is ensuring there are graters elsewhere, seemingly they just don't care about that

Plenty of graters about

[p/d]

2 weeks on a trot now the back row makes me happy!!

More of the same please chaps.

[Digby]

To answer MP, Picamoles looked good for an hour,seems fitter notwithstanding Diggers dig at workrate

It might be a little unfair to say he doesn't work hard, it's perhaps fairer to say he'll work hard on the things that interest him, but if the game presents phases wherein he needs to graft he's inclined to wander off and smoke a cigar waiting for the pack to get him the ball he wants. Granted if he grafts he'll be less explosive when he does get his moments he wants. I'd pick him I'd have to say, but there's no denying there are moments he downs tools

Key perhaps to picking Picamoles is ensuring there are graters elsewhere, seemingly they just don't care about that

Plenty of graters about

Once upon a time, too much cheese paring these days

[p/d]

To answer MP, Picamoles looked good for an hour,seems fitter notwithstanding Diggers dig at workrate

It might be a little unfair to say he doesn't work hard, it's perhaps fairer to say he'll work hard on the things that interest him, but if the game presents phases wherein he needs to graft he's inclined to wander off and smoke a cigar waiting for the pack to get him the ball he wants. Granted if he grafts he'll be less explosive when he does get his moments he wants. I'd pick him I'd have to say, but there's no denying there are moments he downs tools

Key perhaps to picking Picamoles is ensuring there are graters elsewhere, seemingly they just don't care about that

Plenty of graters about

that's just cheesy .....

[Raggs]

Picamoles quite enjoys hanging out and carrying down the wings, I don't want to see him vs Ashton.

[Which Tyler]

Picamoles quite enjoys hanging out and carrying down the wings, I don't want to see him vs Ashton.

Nor does Ashton

[Banquo]

Picamoles quite enjoys hanging out and carrying down the wings, I don't want to see him vs Ashton.

nor Nowell.....

[Raggs]

Picamoles quite enjoys hanging out and carrying down the wings, I don't want to see him vs Ashton.

Nor does Ashton

I have to say, I doubt we will, Ashton will find a way to avoid it I guess .

Nowell has stopped Picamoles a number of times in the past, I'd be much happier with Nowell. Nowell struggles against pace, not power.

[old-n-slo-2nd-row]

Meh to Ashton.

Indeed. Eddie seems to have a plan that England will score early and it will come from speed down one of the wings. Maybe we'll get to see an early substitution. I am a big fan of Nowell and think England would be better with him on the field.

[Banquo]

Picamoles quite enjoys hanging out and carrying down the wings, I don't want to see him vs Ashton.

Nor does Ashton

I have to say, I doubt we will, Ashton will find a way to avoid it I guess .

Nowell has stopped Picamoles a number of times in the past, I'd be much happier with Nowell. Nowell struggles against pace, not power.

fair, though he is not a great 1-1 defender. but he is a wing to be real about it.

[Puja]

What's Nowell done (or not) to get dropped?

No idea. I don't think Nowell is in our top two or three wing options, but he did well last week and brings a lot of go forward plus decent breakdown protection for fellow backs. Not sure why Ashton is getting another chance.

I think Ashton is a bit unfairly maligned on here. "Another chance" comes off him looking pretty handy in the AIs - it's not like he let us down last time.

He's not perfect, but he is quick and evasive with a nose for the tryline and very good skills at tracking. He is good under the high ball and chasing a high ball. While he's not keen on one-on-one head on tackles, he is a competent defender otherwise, especially side on - from the way England's defence set up vs Ireland, having speed to cover across and make side on tackles is more likely to come up than facing someone head on.

Puja

[Raggs]

He chases high balls well, doesn't compete that well though I believe. He does however love timing the run to absolute smash the catcher just as he hits the ground.

[ExAviator]

I'm not surprised at Ashton's selection for the specific match v France. What does surprise me is that nobody has commented on his bringing to the English team the valuable experience he gained over the recent past playing with and against those selected for the French team.

[fivepointer]

I dont get it.
If we were bringing in a superior player, then fair enough. But no one is saying that - cos it aint so - so we're dropping a player who performed well for us last time out for someone who isnt better, who isnt as versatile and who isnt an established team member.

[Banquo]

What's Nowell done (or not) to get dropped?

No idea. I don't think Nowell is in our top two or three wing options, but he did well last week and brings a lot of go forward plus decent breakdown protection for fellow backs. Not sure why Ashton is getting another chance.

I think Ashton is a bit unfairly maligned on here. "Another chance" comes off him looking pretty handy in the AIs - it's not like he let us down last time.

He's not perfect, but he is quick and evasive with a nose for the tryline and very good skills at tracking. He is good under the high ball and chasing a high ball. While he's not keen on one-on-one head on tackles, he is a competent defender otherwise, especially side on - from the way England's defence set up vs Ireland, having speed to cover across and make side on tackles is more likely to come up than facing someone head on.

Puja

He's getting another chance to start ahead of imo better candidates. Sorry if my language triggers you. BTW a competent defender other than one on one head tackles is not a competent defender.