vs Georgia

[Danno]

One step forwards.....

Ffs.

[Epaminondas Pules]

ENGLAND
15. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 43 caps)
14. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 51 caps)
13. Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors, 1 cap)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 30 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 57 caps)
10. Owen Farrell (c) (Saracens, 83 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 100 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 50 caps)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 4 caps)
4. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 16 caps)
5. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 65 caps)
6. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 39 caps)
7. Jack Willis (Wasps, uncapped)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 52 caps)

FINISHERS
16. Tom Dunn, (Bath Rugby, 1 cap)
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 60 caps)
18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 36 caps)
19. Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 4 caps)
20. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 24 caps)
21. Dan Robson (Wasps, 3 caps)
22. Max Malins (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
23. Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 3 caps)

Happy with that.

I know people will moan, but Lawrence starts, Slade plays 12 again, Stuart and Genge start, Willis starts, Dunn, Robson, Marchant on the bench and Malins is likely to debut.

Yeah but Itoje isn't a 6 and Joseph is on the wing. Wah!

And of course I hate Farrell and Youngs. Wah Wah Wah!

[Scrumhead]

Exactly. Bits I’m less enthused about, but mostly pretty happy.

Itoje at 6 is presumably a nod to the Georgians physicality. I would have preferred to see Curry or Hill there, but not unhappy with Launch coming in and delighted for Willis to start.

Disappointed Thorley doesn’t start, but that’s balanced out by Lawrence starting and Malins likely to get a debut from the bench.

I hope the replacements get some decent game time.

[Digby]

[

Yeah but Itoje isn't a 6 and Joseph is on the wing. Wah!

And of course I hate Farrell and Youngs. Wah Wah Wah!

Agreed

[Epaminondas Pules]

Exactly. Bits I’m less enthused about, but mostly pretty happy.

Itoje at 6 is presumably a nod to the Georgians physicality. I would have preferred to see Curry or Hill there, but not unhappy with Launch coming in and delighted for Willis to start.

Disappointed Thorley doesn’t start, but that’s balanced out by Lawrence starting and Malins likely to get a debut from the bench.

I hope the replacements get some decent game time.

Two flankers on the bench and no lock say's he's going power from the off and then loosening up later on.

[Puja]

Well, that is certainly a side. And look, I was wrong, apparently you can play Launchbury and Itoje together.

Puja

[Danno]

Well, that is certainly a side. And look, I was wrong, apparently you can play Launchbury and Itoje together.

Puja

So this is your fault?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Well, that is certainly a side. And look, I was wrong, apparently you can play Launchbury and Itoje together.

Puja

They'll both pack down on the left.......

[twitchy]

I'm excited to see Lawrence and Willis.

[Mellsblue]

Happy with that in the round. As EP says, it looks primed to loosen up in the last 20/30 mins. Fingers crossed.

[Oakboy]

I hope the replacements get some decent game time.

Most of all, this!!!

[fivepointer]

On the whole thats a good selection.
Some sensible rotation in the front five, with Stuart properly given a start, but still plenty of experience, a new cap at 7 - thankfully none of this introduction from the bench stuff, Willis starts and is a genuinely exciting prospect, and a first start for Lawrence.
Joseph at wing I can go with and even Itoje at 6 isnt going to put that much of a dampener on my overall view.
Bench contains a good mix with prospect of Malins getting capped and Marchant another appearance.
Plenty of pace, power and skill in this 23.

[Oakboy]

I'm a bit disappointed that Umaga is not on the bench and I wonder if Jones will have the farsightedness to take Farrell off for the last 20 minutes. Presumably, with Furbank out, the only FH cover is Slade and he must have practised there in training if the coaches are doing their jobs. Everybody moving in one position, must be worth trying for a period. It is all very well assuming that Farrell will always do 80 (or Itoje, for that matter) but shit happens.

[Puja]

Happy with that in the round. As EP says, it looks primed to loosen up in the last 6/8 mins. Fingers crossed.

FTFY

Puja

[Puja]

I'm a bit disappointed that Umaga is not on the bench and I wonder if Jones will have the farsightedness to take Farrell off for the last 20 minutes. Presumably, with Furbank out, the only FH cover is Slade and he must have practised there in training if the coaches are doing their jobs. Everybody moving in one position, must be worth trying for a period. It is all very well assuming that Farrell will always do 80 (or Itoje, for that matter) but shit happens.

Malins has played 10 far more recently and regularly than Slade and would require less backline shenanigans. Mind, I'm hoping Farrell does the 80 at 10 (for once) - I'd much rather see Malins given a go at 15 to see if he's a viable Daly alternative there.

Agreed that I'd've preferred to see Umaga on the bench. Seemed like an ideal opportunity for him, although I can respect Eddie's judgement if he doesn't look ready in camp.

Puja

[twitchy]

How long is ford out?

[Puja]

How long is ford out?

Apparently was touch and go for this week and very likely back next week.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

I'm a bit disappointed that Umaga is not on the bench and I wonder if Jones will have the farsightedness to take Farrell off for the last 20 minutes. Presumably, with Furbank out, the only FH cover is Slade and he must have practised there in training if the coaches are doing their jobs. Everybody moving in one position, must be worth trying for a period. It is all very well assuming that Farrell will always do 80 (or Itoje, for that matter) but shit happens.

Malins has played at 10 for Bristol this season. I’d imagine he’d be a more likely replacement at 10, but I’d rather have Daly move out to the wing for JJ with Malins coming on at 15. Even if that does mean 80 mins of Owen.

[Adam_P]

When we have quality flankers coming out of our ears, Eddie selects a lock at 6. Why not see what Hill can do? Equally annoying is Joseph on the wing over Thorley, but other than that it's generally OK. At least Willis is in.

[Mr Mwenda]

I assume, it's because Itoje is increasingly key to everything this squad does and it also reduces the number of people who are not part of the squad's core. Still, it's a bit weird to be honest.

[Banquo]

Been obviously better for Willis to be starting in his club position from a set piece defence point of view, and paired with a proper flanker. Other than that, not much to say other than it’s probably worth giving Slade a go at 12, but not outside the current 9 and 10.

[Raggs]

Been obviously better for Willis to be starting in his club position from a set piece defence point of view, and paired with a proper flanker. Other than that, not much to say other than it’s probably worth giving Slade a go at 12, but not outside the current 9 and 10.

Willis plays 7 whenever Young isn't available. It's not exactly foreign to him.

[Scrumhead]

And I wouldn’t have said Willis plays a typical blindside role in any case.

[Adam_P]

I assume, it's because Itoje is increasingly key to everything this squad does and it also reduces the number of people who are not part of the squad's core. Still, it's a bit weird to be honest.

They could just play him in his actual position. We're not exactly finding out anything new about Ewels or Launch

[Banquo]

Been obviously better for Willis to be starting in his club position from a set piece defence point of view, and paired with a proper flanker. Other than that, not much to say other than it’s probably worth giving Slade a go at 12, but not outside the current 9 and 10.

Willis plays 7 whenever Young isn't available. It's not exactly foreign to him.

Fair point, but he’s been genuinely at 6 recently. International rugby is also new for him albeit v Georgia. He will obviously also have to do more openside work than for Wasps. Imo a missed opportunity to bed him in, in a better way. Why not give him the best opportunity to succeed with some more mobile mates in the unit, and able to do what he has been doing for Wasps?