Team for Scotland

[Oakboy]

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Wilson back in the squad for the home games against Ireland and Wales, but I can’t see Eddie abandoning the Curry at 8 experiment just yet.

I’d be perfectly happy to see Wilson back but I’d also say Earl looked immediately lively when he came on.

yep, the upside would be that Wilson has looked at home at the base of the scrum, something that you couldn't say about Curry (and no shame in that). Wilson has looked our most intelligent back row player in the last couple of seasons too.

A back row of Curry, Underhill, Wilson seems a pretty attractive proposition at this point! Mind you, if Jones played Wilson at 6 (far and away his best position, IMO) and left Curry at 8 would anybody be surprised?

[Banquo]

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Wilson back in the squad for the home games against Ireland and Wales, but I can’t see Eddie abandoning the Curry at 8 experiment just yet.

I’d be perfectly happy to see Wilson back but I’d also say Earl looked immediately lively when he came on.

yep, the upside would be that Wilson has looked at home at the base of the scrum, something that you couldn't say about Curry (and no shame in that). Wilson has looked our most intelligent back row player in the last couple of seasons too.

A back row of Curry, Underhill, Wilson seems a pretty attractive proposition at this point! Mind you, if Jones played Wilson at 6 (far and away his best position, IMO) and left Curry at 8 would anybody be surprised?

could just stick Wilson at 8 for the scrums, and then let them use their skills thereafter in phase work. back row did well on Saturday, bar Curry's work at the base.

[Oakboy]

yep, the upside would be that Wilson has looked at home at the base of the scrum, something that you couldn't say about Curry (and no shame in that). Wilson has looked our most intelligent back row player in the last couple of seasons too.

A back row of Curry, Underhill, Wilson seems a pretty attractive proposition at this point! Mind you, if Jones played Wilson at 6 (far and away his best position, IMO) and left Curry at 8 would anybody be surprised?

could just stick Wilson at 8 for the scrums, and then let them use their skills thereafter in phase work. back row did well on Saturday, bar Curry's work at the base.

I like that idea so it won't happen!!!

[jngf]

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Wilson back in the squad for the home games against Ireland and Wales, but I can’t see Eddie abandoning the Curry at 8 experiment just yet.

I’d be perfectly happy to see Wilson back but I’d also say Earl looked immediately lively when he came on.

I was no great fan of Wilson at no.8 but compared to Curry he’s Zinzan Brooke!

[Oakboy]

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Wilson back in the squad for the home games against Ireland and Wales, but I can’t see Eddie abandoning the Curry at 8 experiment just yet.

I’d be perfectly happy to see Wilson back but I’d also say Earl looked immediately lively when he came on.

I was no great fan of Wilson at no.8 but compared to Curry he’s Zinzan Brooke!

I don't disagree with how Curry is NOW at 8. The question is whether Jones is on to a winner long-term. I'm inclined to doubt his judgement - based on Daly at FB, no Simmonds or Hughes, his SH selections, his 12 selections etc. - but he's in the chair for now. Maybe, just maybe, he's right on this one. I won't hold my breath, though.

[twitchy]

6. Underhill 7. Curry 8. Wilson is a really good line up. Ludlam was ok but I much prefer the line up I listed.

[jngf]

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Wilson back in the squad for the home games against Ireland and Wales, but I can’t see Eddie abandoning the Curry at 8 experiment just yet.

I’d be perfectly happy to see Wilson back but I’d also say Earl looked immediately lively when he came on.

I was no great fan of Wilson at no.8 but compared to Curry he’s Zinzan Brooke!

I don't disagree with how Curry is NOW at 8. The question is whether Jones is on to a winner long-term. I'm inclined to doubt his judgement - based on Daly at FB, no Simmonds or Hughes, his SH selections, his 12 selections my etc. - but he's in the chair for now. Maybe, just maybe, he's right on this one. I won't hold my breath, though.

For me Curry’s never going to have the kind of ball carrying power that even a comparably sized player like Simmonds and Earl pocess. To me this selection smacks of Eddie being stubborn and not wanting to do u-turn in public and face yet more of those pesky questions about his initial judgement.

[Puja]

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Wilson back in the squad for the home games against Ireland and Wales, but I can’t see Eddie abandoning the Curry at 8 experiment just yet.

I’d be perfectly happy to see Wilson back but I’d also say Earl looked immediately lively when he came on.

yep, the upside would be that Wilson has looked at home at the base of the scrum, something that you couldn't say about Curry (and no shame in that). Wilson has looked our most intelligent back row player in the last couple of seasons too.

A back row of Curry, Underhill, Wilson seems a pretty attractive proposition at this point! Mind you, if Jones played Wilson at 6 (far and away his best position, IMO) and left Curry at 8 would anybody be surprised?

I will note that, when Earl came on for Ludlam at the weekend, he packed down at flank with Curry staying at 8. This Eddie is not for turning.

Puja

[jngf]

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Wilson back in the squad for the home games against Ireland and Wales, but I can’t see Eddie abandoning the Curry at 8 experiment just yet.

I’d be perfectly happy to see Wilson back but I’d also say Earl looked immediately lively when he came on.

yep, the upside would be that Wilson has looked at home at the base of the scrum, something that you couldn't say about Curry (and no shame in that). Wilson has looked our most intelligent back row player in the last couple of seasons too.

A back row of Curry, Underhill, Wilson seems a pretty attractive proposition at this point! Mind you, if Jones played Wilson at 6 (far and away his best position, IMO) and left Curry at 8 would anybody be surprised?

Funny thing is in run up to RWC 2019 I saw Wilson as a step forward at 6, a sort of turbo boosted Robshaw but wouldn’t have wanted him anywhere near the 8 jersey.
In present circumstances I’d see both Underhill and Ludlum as a further stride forward from Wilson at 6 (both quicker to begin with) but would now gladly welcome Wilson at 8 instead of Eddie’s clownshoes experimentalism with Curry. Would welcome introduction of a natural, ball carrying no.8 into the squad even more though. Any chance of Ben Morgan making a Sinartaresque test comeback?

[Timbo]

No, because other than for 6 months last season, Morgan has been bang average for about 5 years.

[fivepointer]

Wilson played on Friday and will doubtless get another run this weekend. Very good chance he'll be back in the squad for Ireland.
That's far more likely than seeing Dombrandt or Simmonds called up. I think we can safely conclude Ben Morgan's international career is all behind him.

[Mikey Brown]

It would put a very interesting spin on watching Curry struggle at the base if he was alongside a very capable number 8 in Wilson. How far will he let it go on if it all turns to shit? Almost saw it with Earl I guess, but he hasn’t actually had a chance to show it at the top level like Wilson already has.

I’d also love someone to ask Jones how he views the (presumed) return of Vunipola in terms of disrupting this Curry experiment.

[jngf]

It would put a very interesting spin on watching Curry struggle at the base if he was alongside a very capable number 8 in Wilson. How far will he let it go on if it all turns to shit? Almost saw it with Earl I guess, but he hasn’t actually had a chance to show it at the top level like Wilson already has.

I’d also love someone to ask Jones how he views the (presumed) return of Vunipola in terms of disrupting this Curry experiment.

He’ll just stick Billy on the openside when he returns, claiming he sees the signs of the next Richie McCaw

[chris1850]

Curry's control at the base was much better on Saturday in his SECOND match at No.8. Apart from breaking and carrying from the base of the scrum, why is there the obsession that the No 8 necessarily has to be a big ball carrier, if there are other options in the pack. Especially at lock, and with props such as Genge, Mako and Sinckler being much more mobile than your traditional prop? Whilst Curry may not be the carrier Billy is for example, he still isn't half bad. Again, carried well against the Jocks. If Eddie sees something in him at 8 which then allows him to play another specialist flanker, then I am happy for him to experiment.

As long as Curry and Underhill are 2 of the back 3, I am happy for Eddie to try different 3rd players/combinations. Ultimately it may be that a Dombrandt/Simmonds type is preferable but you don't know unless you try.

[Banquo]

Curry's control at the base was much better on Saturday in his SECOND match at No.8. Apart from breaking and carrying from the base of the scrum, why is there the obsession that the No 8 necessarily has to be a big ball carrier, if there are other options in the pack. Especially at lock, and with props such as Genge, Mako and Sinckler being much more mobile than your traditional prop? Whilst Curry may not be the carrier Billy is for example, he still isn't half bad. Again, carried well against the Jocks. If Eddie sees something in him at 8 which then allows him to play another specialist flanker, then I am happy for him to experiment.

As long as Curry and Underhill are 2 of the back 3, I am happy for Eddie to try different 3rd players/combinations. Ultimately it may be that a Dombrandt/Simmonds type is preferable but you don't know unless you try.

That's fair enough, and I did point out that its understandable he struggled at the base, and it had to be an improvement from the 1st game . I don't think we all are obsessed with a huge carrier at 8 neither. Our carrying is an issue we need to keep an eye on- and not just the carriers themselves, but how we set them up.

[Puja]

Curry's control at the base was much better on Saturday in his SECOND match at No.8. Apart from breaking and carrying from the base of the scrum, why is there the obsession that the No 8 necessarily has to be a big ball carrier, if there are other options in the pack. Especially at lock, and with props such as Genge, Mako and Sinckler being much more mobile than your traditional prop? Whilst Curry may not be the carrier Billy is for example, he still isn't half bad. Again, carried well against the Jocks. If Eddie sees something in him at 8 which then allows him to play another specialist flanker, then I am happy for him to experiment.

As long as Curry and Underhill are 2 of the back 3, I am happy for Eddie to try different 3rd players/combinations. Ultimately it may be that a Dombrandt/Simmonds type is preferable but you don't know unless you try.

His control was better, but still not good. He requires time and space to pick from the base and every motion is thought through, rather than instinctive.

I'd be more in favour of him as an 8 project if I thought Sale might play him there, even occasionally, but Eddie's clearly put Diamond's nose out of joint with it (would it have been too much to ask for Eddie to have phoned him and talked through it before proclaiming him the new So'oialo to the press?) and thus it'll never happen at club level on a point of principle. And thus he'll just never get the time to get those instincts ground in.

Puja

[Danno]

Curry's control at the base was much better on Saturday in his SECOND match at No.8. Apart from breaking and carrying from the base of the scrum, why is there the obsession that the No 8 necessarily has to be a big ball carrier, if there are other options in the pack. Especially at lock, and with props such as Genge, Mako and Sinckler being much more mobile than your traditional prop? Whilst Curry may not be the carrier Billy is for example, he still isn't half bad. Again, carried well against the Jocks. If Eddie sees something in him at 8 which then allows him to play another specialist flanker, then I am happy for him to experiment.

As long as Curry and Underhill are 2 of the back 3, I am happy for Eddie to try different 3rd players/combinations. Ultimately it may be that a Dombrandt/Simmonds type is preferable but you don't know unless you try.

His control was better, but still not good. He requires time and space to pick from the base and every motion is thought through, rather than instinctive.

I'd be more in favour of him as an 8 project if I thought Sale might play him there, even occasionally, but Eddie's clearly put Diamond's nose out of joint with it (would it have been too much to ask for Eddie to have phoned him and talked through it before proclaiming him the new So'oialo to the press?) and thus it'll never happen at club level on a point of principle. And thus he'll just never get the time to get those instincts ground in.

Puja

You make an irritatingly insightful, hope-depleting point.

[Digby]

Dimes can play (Tom) Curry at 6 and just let him play 8 from some scrums. If Tom wants it to help his England career it's going to happen

[Puja]

Dimes can play (Tom) Curry at 6 and just let him play 8 from some scrums. If Tom wants it to help his England career it's going to happen

You've come across Diamond before, right? He's almost as big of a d*ckhead as Eddie is.

Puja

[p/d]

When it was Hughes and Billy vying for the 8 shirt it sort of made sense. But now the idea of Simmonds or Kvesic not being in the running just seems, well, odd

[jngf]

Dimes can play (Tom) Curry at 6 and just let him play 8 from some scrums. If Tom wants it to help his England career it's going to happen

Or alternatively another woeful performance at no.8 could seriously damage his mid to long term England career post Jones ....there are past examples - Sanderson, Wood, Ojomoh etc. etc.

[jngf]

Any truth in the rumours that Rassie Erasmus is being sounded out by the HQ Blazers?

[Digby]

Dimes can play (Tom) Curry at 6 and just let him play 8 from some scrums. If Tom wants it to help his England career it's going to happen

You've come across Diamond before, right? He's almost as big of a d*ckhead as Eddie is.

Puja

But he can get what he wants and let Eddie and Tom get a win too. Or he can annoy Tom and just look weird to the other players

There's no win for Dimes in not playing ball to some degree, and say what you will of him, he does like winning

[Puja]

Dimes can play (Tom) Curry at 6 and just let him play 8 from some scrums. If Tom wants it to help his England career it's going to happen

You've come across Diamond before, right? He's almost as big of a d*ckhead as Eddie is.

Puja

But he can get what he wants and let Eddie and Tom get a win too. Or he can annoy Tom and just look weird to the other players

There's no win for Dimes in not playing ball to some degree, and say what you will of him, he does like winning

The win, as with so many stubborn people, is in showing that he was right all along and didn't need to change. And there's no real incentive for him to play along - he's got plenty of 8s in his squad who are better than TCurry, and I'm not sure that TCurry is sold enough on his future being solely at no8 for him to be overly put out by his club manager playing him in his historically favoured and currently best position.

Puja

[twitchy]

Sale have 2/3 better 8's than curry and as dimes says he is a world class 7. If I was him I wouldn't change any thing either.