Oakboy wrote:
Agreed. Jones appears, though, to not like Exeter's back row methods at all. Based on last season as a whole, Kvesic should have been in the RWC squad and based on this season so far, Simmonds can make a case for being our best No 8. With Exeter being our best performing legal club, that is strange.
He also has had a good look at Simmonds. Kvesic was called up briefly too. If you are trying to paint an anti Exeter bias it somewhat falls apart when you look at the facts.
I'm not saying anything about an overall anti-Exeter thing - Devoto and Williams in, Hill out is just marginal opinion etc. I am surprised about the consistent back row rejection, though.
Ah ok, you just seem to always be referencing a Sarries v Chiefs thing. He has actually looked at all of Kvesic, Armand, and especially Simmonds. Think he had Jonny Hill in his spotlight as well?
He’s also had Moon and Hepburn regularly, and LCD and Slade are squad favourites, along with limping Jack.
Mikey Brown wrote:The Shields situation was so odd. . . . He's supposedly very loud on the pitch though which appears to be Jones's top priority in a player.
That could be a fair indication of Jones's priorities. I see him as a strange individual and it may be significant that when Borthwick goes, none of his original assistants remain.
Mikey Brown wrote:The Shields situation was so odd. . . . He's supposedly very loud on the pitch though which appears to be Jones's top priority in a player.
That could be a fair indication of Jones's priorities. I see him as a strange individual and it may be significant that when Borthwick goes, none of his original assistants remain.
I think he’s just pretty blunt.
Plus it was his remit to develop English coaches...he's done that quite emphatically with Gustard at Quins now and Borthers joining Tigers.
Digby wrote:I'd agree Armand has done something or isn't doing something that means Eddie is happy to pass him by. But still, Eddie isn't making it clear there's a pathway from playing well in the GP to getting a chance with England, and whilst that's partly test rugby is a different thing it's not a good look to the players outside the squad, and not enough pressure then coming on players inside the squad
You said he’d missed a trick by not looking at him, which is just incorrect. I accept that you should be able to play your way into the squad, even if the AP is a poor benchmark, and Eddie, like many many coaches, makes the odd decision - cough 9 cough- which dismay many punters. In this case though, he saw Armand plenty up close.
I did say he'd missed a trick but there was the caveat that 'Not because I think he's that good, but it sends a message that playing well in the GP isn't going to get you a look, and that isn't healthy even if the incumbents like the security'
Digby wrote:I'd agree Armand has done something or isn't doing something that means Eddie is happy to pass him by. But still, Eddie isn't making it clear there's a pathway from playing well in the GP to getting a chance with England, and whilst that's partly test rugby is a different thing it's not a good look to the players outside the squad, and not enough pressure then coming on players inside the squad
You said he’d missed a trick by not looking at him, which is just incorrect. I accept that you should be able to play your way into the squad, even if the AP is a poor benchmark, and Eddie, like many many coaches, makes the odd decision - cough 9 cough- which dismay many punters. In this case though, he saw Armand plenty up close.
I did say he'd missed a trick but there was the caveat that 'Not because I think he's that good, but it sends a message that playing well in the GP isn't going to get you a look, and that isn't healthy even if the incumbents like the security'
I understood the point, as I acknowledged, but to castigate Eddie in this instance for this player is ignoring that he did in fact reward Armands form.
Banquo wrote:
You said he’d missed a trick by not looking at him, which is just incorrect. I accept that you should be able to play your way into the squad, even if the AP is a poor benchmark, and Eddie, like many many coaches, makes the odd decision - cough 9 cough- which dismay many punters. In this case though, he saw Armand plenty up close.
I did say he'd missed a trick but there was the caveat that 'Not because I think he's that good, but it sends a message that playing well in the GP isn't going to get you a look, and that isn't healthy even if the incumbents like the security'
I understood the point, as I acknowledged, but to castigate Eddie in this instance for this player is ignoring that he did in fact reward Armands form.
Not in a way which makes sense the players is my feeling. And without that you're not (imo) going to raise the level of competition as much as one could. But it's done, and Eddie isn't for changing
Digby wrote:
I did say he'd missed a trick but there was the caveat that 'Not because I think he's that good, but it sends a message that playing well in the GP isn't going to get you a look, and that isn't healthy even if the incumbents like the security'
I understood the point, as I acknowledged, but to castigate Eddie in this instance for this player is ignoring that he did in fact reward Armands form.
Not in a way which makes sense the players is my feeling. And without that you're not (imo) going to raise the level of competition as much as one could. But it's done, and Eddie isn't for changing
He was picked for the Saxons as soon as eligible, he was then included in the senior tour party for Argentina, where he got capped, and was called into the subsequent 6N squad and was capped again.Also think he’s been in other training camps. I’d think most players would think he’d had reasonable opportunity to impress. There’s a good bit of analysis out there of how Armand plays, and it’s more like a mobile second row than back row- which I’d think was Eddies cup o tea for a while at least.
I guess we have to disagree on what constitutes rewarding good form
