And to finish - Ireland

[Dan. Dan. Dan.]

Saw that too. Seems odd, and would worry about the breakdown but... reckon it will just end up with a 6:2 split again.

[Banquo]

Saw that too. Seems odd, and would worry about the breakdown but... reckon it will just end up with a 6:2 split again.

also insane . Plus also heard that Daly has been standing in at 13.

[twitchy]

No martin, daly in the centres.

[twitchy]

15. Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 7 caps)

14. Anthony Watson (Bath, 50 caps)

13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 51 caps)

12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 92 caps) (C)

11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 65 caps)

10. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 76 caps)

9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 108 caps)

1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 66 caps)

2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 30 caps)

3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 43 caps)

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 47 caps)

5. Charlie Ewels (Bath, 20 caps)

6. Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons, 22 caps)

7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 32 caps)

8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 60 caps)

Finishers

16. Jamie George (Saracens, 58 caps)

17. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 27 caps)

18. Will Stuart (Bath, 11 caps)

19. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 8 caps)

20. Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 12 caps)

21. Dan Robson (Wasps, 11 caps)

22. Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors, 5 caps)

23. Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 4 caps)

[Banquo]

That Daly pick is just odd, given he hasn't started there since 2016 for England- I suppose his distribution MIGHT be deemed better than Ollie or Joe....but both of them on the bench is also weird, save that Daly covers the back three as well.

[Dan. Dan. Dan.]

Curiouser...

[Digby]

Meh, that'd be Daly to 13

[Digby]

Didn't think I'd see an England team with Ewels and Daly in it during this 6N and think Daly was the lucky one. If anything is a constant here it's that Lawrence and Marchant (and Odogwu) all have some conditioning work still to crack on with if they're going to play for England. Though I would have been interested in seeing Marchant going 80 and then getting his take on test rugby Vs Soup rugby, I'm presuming looking at the France game the pace might be similar but with the test game being substantially more physical into the bargain

[p/d]

That Daly pick is just odd, given he hasn't started there since 2016 for England- I suppose his distribution MIGHT be deemed better than Ollie or Joe....but both of them on the bench is also weird, save that Daly covers the back three as well.

Indeed. I’d be amazed if Daly’s distribution is close to being better. Defence also a big worry.
Hey-ho

[fivepointer]

At least Malins gets another start. LCD rightly retained too. Daly at 13 is a bit of a turnup. Can he play better there than he's been managing at FB? Lawrence might justifiably feel a bit hard done by.
Odogwu's non selection in a squad of only 28 has been a complete waste of time. Martin likewise, while Obano has been under used too.

[Raggs]

I'm still very much of the opinion that a youngsters first time in camp, regardless of game time, is going to be a positive experience.

[Mellsblue]

When did Daly last play 13 for anyone?

Ask me next weekend. It’ll definitely be him..........
























or Sam Simmonds.

Let’s just be grateful it’s not S Simmonds. Fml.

[Stom]

Tbf, it does give a chance to see if he can do it for a wc.

That’s about the only positive

[Which Tyler]

I'm still very much of the opinion that a youngsters first time in camp, regardless of game time, is going to be a positive experience.

Exactly this; and for the same reasons as have been done to death with any other player essentialy in the squad as an apprentice.
It lets Eddie run the rule over them in training, and off the paddock.
It lets Eddie see how they respond to instructions given by Eddie & co.
It gets them used to England's structures, plans and requirements; ad gives them some work-ons.
It gets them ready to play if needed in the next international window - or be dropped from consideration if they don't respond as hoped.


This is NOT Colts level at the local club, where everyone gets a go

[Banquo]

I'm still very much of the opinion that a youngsters first time in camp, regardless of game time, is going to be a positive experience.

agreed. Its impossible to know, without being in camp, why folks do or don't get a shot.

[Banquo]

I'm still very much of the opinion that a youngsters first time in camp, regardless of game time, is going to be a positive experience.

Exactly this; and for the same reasons as have been done to death with any other player essentialy in the squad as an apprentice.
It lets Eddie run the rule over them in training, and off the paddock.
It lets Eddie see how they respond to instructions given by Eddie & co.
It gets them used to England's structures, plans and requirements; ad gives them some work-ons.
It gets them ready to play if needed in the next international window - or be dropped from consideration if they don't respond as hoped.


This is NOT Colts evel at the local club, where everyone gets a go

This.

[Banquo]

At least Malins gets another start. LCD rightly retained too. Daly at 13 is a bit of a turnup. Can he play better there than he's been managing at FB? Lawrence might justifiably feel a bit hard done by.
Odogwu's non selection in a squad of only 28 has been a complete waste of time. Martin likewise, while Obano has been under used too.

Turnup or turnip

[Raggs]

I'm still very much of the opinion that a youngsters first time in camp, regardless of game time, is going to be a positive experience.

Exactly this; and for the same reasons as have been done to death with any other player essentialy in the squad as an apprentice.
It lets Eddie run the rule over them in training, and off the paddock.
It lets Eddie see how they respond to instructions given by Eddie & co.
It gets them used to England's structures, plans and requirements; ad gives them some work-ons.
It gets them ready to play if needed in the next international window - or be dropped from consideration if they don't respond as hoped.


This is NOT Colts evel at the local club, where everyone gets a go

It also lets the players see what a top level environment actually looks like, what's expected, what extras players do, recovery etc. A real insight to the very top level.

[Scrumhead]

I'm still very much of the opinion that a youngsters first time in camp, regardless of game time, is going to be a positive experience.

Exactly this; and for the same reasons as have been done to death with any other player essentialy in the squad as an apprentice.
It lets Eddie run the rule over them in training, and off the paddock.
It lets Eddie see how they respond to instructions given by Eddie & co.
It gets them used to England's structures, plans and requirements; ad gives them some work-ons.
It gets them ready to play if needed in the next international window - or be dropped from consideration if they don't respond as hoped.


This is NOT Colts evel at the local club, where everyone gets a go

This.

I’m in agreement too.

Depending on how Odogwu has shown up, I imagine the experience of being in this squad has given him a great chance of featuring over the summer.

I don’t hate the idea of Daly at 13, but I would definitely have preferred to see Lawrence given a shot.

[Puja]

I'm actually cautiously optimistic about Daly at 13. He's surely trained there with England as he's been the 13 cover in several XXIIIs and he'll offer a much better threat as a strike runner than Slade did. My one concern is his defence.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Apprentices in squads of 33+ are fine. When you have a small squad that is a luxury to my mind. And 2 apprentices strikes me as far too restrictive.

Odogwu has had 8 weeks without a minutes rugby. How long does it take for Jones to have a look at him, and for him to absorb enough to be able to contribute? If Jones didnt want to pick him, then let him return to his club.

A chance to blood a young, in form player has been lost.

[Galfon]

Faz n' Daly neither shout out 'tight defence'.
It will need to be this weekend, POC's presence seems to have fired them up a notch and they'll be targeting this midfield I would imagine.
Mind you if they can create 2 scores for every 1 let in, victory can be attained.

[Banquo]

I'm actually cautiously optimistic about Daly at 13. He's surely trained there with England as he's been the 13 cover in several XXIIIs and he'll offer a much better threat as a strike runner than Slade did. My one concern is his defence.

Puja

whole new ball game playing there though, especially as he hasn't started regularly there for anyone in donkey's years. Just look at what les bleus did to Slade.....hopefully he will cope in defence, and he probably is a better runner than Slade, even in the confines of 13.

[Banquo]

Apprentices in squads of 33+ are fine. When you have a small squad that is a luxury to my mind. And 2 apprentices strikes me as far too restrictive.

Odogwu has had 8 weeks without a minutes rugby. How long does it take for Jones to have a look at him, and for him to absorb enough to be able to contribute? If Jones didnt want to pick him, then let him return to his club.

A chance to blood a young, in form player has been lost.

He may well have thought it would do more harm than good to start him (before this season, he was really struggling, lest we forget), but do him a lot of good staying in camp.

(See Mathew Tait )

[Banquo]

Exactly this; and for the same reasons as have been done to death with any other player essentialy in the squad as an apprentice.
It lets Eddie run the rule over them in training, and off the paddock.
It lets Eddie see how they respond to instructions given by Eddie & co.
It gets them used to England's structures, plans and requirements; ad gives them some work-ons.
It gets them ready to play if needed in the next international window - or be dropped from consideration if they don't respond as hoped.


This is NOT Colts evel at the local club, where everyone gets a go

This.

I’m in agreement too.

Depending on how Odogwu has shown up, I imagine the experience of being in this squad has given him a great chance of featuring over the summer.

I don’t hate the idea of Daly at 13, but I would definitely have preferred to see Lawrence given a shot.

If you look at the numerous videos deconstructing Englands attacking shapes, you can see why Daly has been put there v Lawrence.....assuming he can adapt to what Slade was up to.